There is a lot of buzz around the internet about creative resumes and how they can make all the difference in your job search. Some people go all out, target in unique strategies, use current fads, and some just make it prettier.
The thing is that having a creative resume can be a great thing. It can make your resume stand out in the sea of others on a desk. It can make a recruiter want to spend a little more time on your resume and impress them with your effort. But, there are some things to consider before you decide to use a creative resume. Here are 5 steps to marketing yourself through a creative resume.
Background research – Is a creative resume right for my needs? First, you need to determine whether having a creative resume will help you demonstrate any characteristics or skills that could be useful in your field. Almost any career path can use a creative resume to show off your creativity, but consider your chosen field when deciding on what type of creative resume you choose.Ask yourself: Does a creative resume help me communicate my skills and goals to an employer better than a normal text resume? If you do choose to proceed and make a creative resume, be sure that it compliments you don’t lose sight of the skills and experience in your resume.
Target Audience Analysis – Is a creative resume right for this company/position? The second thing to consider is your audience. What company are you applying to? Does the creativity of your project align with any of the company’s values or missions? Is there a way you can play off of what the company does or what you will be doing to incorporate it into your resume? Will a creative resume of any kind completely turn them off?
Creative Brainstorming – What type of creative resume will communicate what I want to say? Consider your target and whether your core message will be communicated to them through a creative resume. For example, hijacking a company’s website and demanding a meeting with a creative director might not be the best type of resume for someone in investment banking or going into law, but it worked for this creative team and could work for people in computer security. And for someone going into social media management or design, an infographic resume could be the perfect fit.Remember: Creative resumes come in all shapes and sizes. Most people think of them as being heavily focused in design and graphics, however creativity can be shown in the words chosen to describe your skills or how you position your experiences to align with the job description.
Finalize Collateral – Do I think this resume will impress the recruiter and get me the job? Make sure if you commit to doing a creative resume that it is done well. If the recruiter is spending more time looking at your resume, you have no room for errors in grammar, text or visuals. Showing creativity can be very helpful, but if your skillset doesn’t allow you to perfect the aesthetics, you might be better off with a normal resume.
Execute and Evaluate – Did you get the job? Send out your resume to the right people and assess the results!
