How Resumes Can Create a Positive Visual Impact

When Applying for Work it’s Okay to be Creative and Professional

Jul 15, 2009 Deborah S. Hildebrand

Job applicants are routinely told that their resume needs to look a certain way to be considered for a job. Keep in mind a little creativity is okay, too.

There is a lot of information out there regarding how to create a resume in order to land a good job. The best resumes are well formatted, free of typos or grammatical errors and they contain certain key pieces of information such as the applicant’s name, contact information and job history.

What many resume experts don’t tell job seekers about their resume is that it is also okay for it to have a personalized look -- as long as it still looks polished and professional. What does that mean exactly?

According to the people at JobMob it’s okay to add a little zest to a resume as long as it’s done with a purpose and some amount of restraint. That doesn’t mean everyone should pull out their smiley face stationery and start typing or use curvy or italic lettering throughout their resume; however, it is okay to incorporate certain graphics for a more sophisticated look.

Create a Resume by Creating a Brand

The purpose of a resume is to conjure up a positive image in the mind of the reader which suggests that the job seeker has the skills, abilities, and work experience that will blend nicely with a current opening as well as the company culture. Job seekers can do this by enhancing the look of their resume with a variety of lettering and formatting styles.

Incorporating unique graphics and format styles can lend a look for professionalism as long as they are well thought out and don’t distract from the content. Many of the examples at JobMob illustrate the kind of resume graphics and formats which provide an element of sophistication without detracting from the resume and which communicate something unique about the job seeker.

Resumes Still Need to be Practical

On the other hand, there are still certain elements in resume design that cannot be overlooked as well as potential issues which need to be kept in mind when incorporating graphics into a resume.

For instance, funny little pictures may not be appropriate for non-creative jobs; though sections separated by lines and shading, unique formatting and stylized initials can enhance the look of a resume and make it stand out from the others.

Some things which job seekers need to keep in mind when creating their resume is that many employers utilize scanners to download resume information into their resume databases and certain graphics may not translate well. It is also important to consider the industry and company culture when creating a personalized look on a resume.

Even though job seekers still need to have the talent and abilities to get the job done, now they can make sure that they communicate one more skill that employers may be looking for in candidates: creativity.

The copyright of the article How Resumes Can Create a Positive Visual Impact in Career Advice is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand. Permission to republish How Resumes Can Create a Positive Visual Impact in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Creating a Resume