Using An Infographic Resume
An infographic resume is useful for grabbing attention and highlighting your skills in a creative way. However, in some cases using an infographic resume could come across as unprofessional and negatively impact your chances of landing a job.
Thats why its important to know when exactly its appropriate to use an infographic resume .
Why A Visual Resume Is Essential In 2022
First impressions count when attracting the interest of a hiring manager or recruiter, and an impactful visual resume can make thoughts of your application linger for that little bit longer.
A visual resume is essential in 2022.
The first thought of any job seeker is: “how do I make my resume impressive?”
Their career story will naturally play a leading role, and resume content is critical in a job search, but what if we told you there is something just as important to create that job application wow factor?
Hiring managers will notice the nature of a visual resume 60,000 times faster than your words. The look of your resume format will make a vastly more immediate impact on a recruiter than you expect, but are visual resumes a good idea? What kind of resumes do employers prefer? What really stands out on a resume?
The visual impact of your resume matters just as much as the words. In this blog, we seek to explore:
Let’s consider how to make a reader’s eyes to light up before their brain does.
Split Up Blocks Of Text With Bullet Points
You can make your resume appear clean and organized by splitting up blocks of text with bullet points. Using bullet points instead of blocks of text can improve the readability of your resume. Bullet points can also allow you to highlight specific experiences or skills that you want to bring attention to.
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Import Images In Adobe Indesign
We can also import or place images into our InDesign document. This stylish CV template already has a space in mind for a profile picture. So, let’s add one in to your eye-catching resume template. I’ll use this stock photo from Envato Elements to do so.
First, select the Selection Tool. Then, select the Rectangular Frame or shape where you’d like to import your imagery.
Next, go to File > Place, and select your image from your computer. Click OK once you’ve done so.
Then, InDesign will place your image within the shape. Double clicking on the image will reveal resize handles that you can use to resize the image within this space.
Add A Professional Summary
When creating a resume, this 35 line section should be placed immediately following the header/contact information. This short professional summary in a resume is an introduction to you as the candidate while focusing on how you can help the employer. By adding this, you are immediately showcasing what talents and abilities you can bring to the table.
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Change Color And Opacity
We can also change colors within our resume template. There’s many ways to do this. Let’s try a simple one.
Navigate to the layer with the content you’d like to change. In this example, I’m going to change the color of the purple abstract shape in the composition. Select the layer that holds this content.
Then, go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.
We can use this slider to adjust the hue, saturation, and lightness of this color. Toggle Preview On to see your new color choice before you commit to one. Click OK when you’re happy with your color choice.
Awesome Resume Template Designs On Envato Elements
Envato Elements is the perfect place to get started when you set out to search for awesome looking resumes. Its a subscription-based marketplace that’s got hundreds of resume templates with beautiful layouts. You can find minimalist resumes as well as elegant and creative resume templates perfect for any type of industry.
But, thats not the only reason why you should start your resume search there. Its also a place where you can find fonts and icons which you can use to make your resume even more visually appealing.
You can find beautiful resume templates for free online, but they usually arent as professional as those from Envato Elements. The best part about our offer is that you can download as many resume templates and other design assets as you want and use them in an unlimited number of projects.
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How To Make Resume Stand Out Visually
These are the top 20 resources and video content I found about how to make resume stand out visually. I’ve created this page to highlight the most recently updated resources for “how to make resume stand out visually”. This guide was updated: 2022-06-25. If you are searching for a job, good luck on the hunt!
Write A Resume Introduction That Fits Your Experience
According to the fine people at ResumeCoach, there are 3 main types of resume introductions that you can use.
The first one, called an Objective Introduction, should be used if you dont have a lot of experience in the field or industry. This kind of introduction can be thought of like an abbreviated cover letter as well. The resume example below lists some very interesting information about the applicant:
Next, we have the Qualifications Introduction, which is exactly what it sounds like. With this kind of intro, you should only list your relevant soft skills and abilities. The resume design example below uses their management experience as a focal point as they applied for a more senior role:
And finally, we have the Summary Introduction, which is basically a brief synopsis of your relevant jobs and experience. This introduction is built for people who have a ton of direct experience and accomplishments in the industry.
The resume design example below includes a nice mix of accomplishments, qualifications, and experience:
Just remember to include only things that are very relevant to the job that youre applying for. Also, dont write a novel on your resume, keep any introduction short and sweet.
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When Should You Use A Visual Resume
Even though visual resumes can work in virtually every industry, they could be deemed inappropriate for certain professions or employers. It’s important to spend time researching the company and position before applying and then tailor your resume to better fit the specific scenario. The ideal usage of a visual resume will vary but there are some professions where creativity, personality and artistic expression are particularly prized, such as:
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Graphic design
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Copywriting
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Social media management
Regardless of your choice of career, it is beneficial to have an alternative resume in addition to your visual resume that will be better suited for different situations. For example, when applying online, many companies utilize an applicant tracking system, also known as an ATS, that scans and analyzes the data on a resume to locate keywords that relate to the specific position you are applying for. These systems are unable to scan graphics and may have a hard time picking up the necessary information from your visual resume. To make sure your resume will make it past a company’s ATS, it is important to:
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Save the text as a separate text layer on your visual resume to ensure that systems can gather and view your essential data.
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Primarily use visual resumes for emailed or in-person applications or to bring with you to hand to a hiring manager when you have gotten an interview.
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Avoid over-using colors or graphics that will make your resume appear juvenile or otherwise unprofessional.
Why Use A Premium Resume Template For Your Next Job Search
Your resume is the most important document when it comes to your job search. Designing attractive resumes is easier than ever thanks to visually appealing resume templates. They already have all the necessary elements in place.
Eye-catching resumes will make you stand out among hundreds of other applicants. This increases your chances of getting called for an interview.
It may be tempting to hunt for free stylish resume templates, but keep in mind that this usually comes at a different cost. You need to invest time into searching. You’ll likely need to invest extended time for edits and customization . Keep in mind that free stylish resume templates may also not be entirely free, especially for commercial use.
Premium options can save time, tend to come with more options, and also include commercial licensing. It’s easier to find what you need and get your project finished, as opposed to hunting for an attractive resume templates free download file. Prepare for a time investment and limited licensing.
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Highlight The Important Information
Even if your information is in bullet format, it may still be difficult to quickly identify the pertinent skills and accomplishments that are important to the potential employer. If a bullet contains an impressive award or measurable accomplishment that illustrates your qualifications, then draw attention to this detail by bolding the text.
This type of strategic highlighting is illustrated below. While both phrases contain the same information, someone quickly scanning your resume will go to the bold information and note that you were exceptional at sales in this position.
Highlight Your Contact Information With A Different Background Color
Like I said above, your contact information should be very easy to find. Preferably it will be placed in its own section of the resume for easy access.
I mean, you dont want to miss out on the job of your dreams because the manager or software cant find your phone number!
One of the simplest ways to draw attention to your contact information is to use a different background color.
For example, the simple resume template below uses almost 1/4th of the page for their contact information:
They made it stand out from the rest of the resume just by changing the background color to a nice shade of beige. This might not seem like an earth-shattering addition, but it will help a reader quickly consume and use your resume!
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Make Use Of Resume Templates
Another way to make the whole resume process easier is to make use of resume templates. Though many believe that creating a visually attractive resume is easy and that its the best way to make it unique, however chances are that if you are not a graphic designer you might need some help in making a good resume and not to mention save time. A resume template will guide you with the design and you can easily unify it and make it yours.
Now you know how to make your resume stand out visually and can use some of these tips on your next resume!
The Takeaway: Top Resume Design Ideas
Keep these resume design ideas in mind when overhauling your CV:
Thats all the resume design tips I have for you today! Hopefully, some of these templates and tips will help you find the perfect job in the future.
And if youre a hiring manager, dont forget to check out top recruiting tips from 10 HR experts.
Ryan Moore, Director of Client Management at PeakSales Recruiting
Jennifer Rogerson, Head of HR at Best Company
Charlette Beasley, Career and Workplace Analyst at FitSmallBusiness.com
Peter Yang, Chief Executive Officer at ResumeGo
Ed Moss, Hiring Manager at Angel List
Nate Richardson, Search Engine Optimization Analyst at BambooHR
Joanna Zambas, CV Specialist and Career Expert at CareerAddict
Iris De Geest, Content Marketer at Survey Anyplace
Anja Zojeska, Recruitment Marketing Specialist at TalentLyft
Samuel Johns HR Specialist and Hiring Manager Resume Genius
Need some more resume design examples or cover letter suggestions? Start with these two articles:
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Make Your Content As Skimmable As Possible
Make your content as easy as possible to skim through so that readers should be able to pick up your strengths and essential information as quickly as possible.
Here are a few ways to make your resume skimmable:
- Use columns to organize your resume that is bursting at the seams with info. You can also experiment with using columns that are different sizes.
- Format your content by using headings, subheadings, bullet points, and white space.
- Try using an infographic and help those text-weary recruiters by using visuals instead.
s infographic resume below is a good example.
Put The Impressive Stuff Above The Fold
Above the fold comes from the world of newspapers and refers to the top half of a folded newspaper, the area that people see first. This top half is prime real estate and so the most important news items are placed there.
The same principle applies when designing a resume as well. The top half is the area your potential employer will focus on first. Dont waste space with huge headers for your name. Place the important information like your personal brand statement and work experience at the top. Heres an example of good resume design:
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Use Design Thats Right On Top Of The Trends
If you are applying for jobs in creative industries, you will be competing with a sea of candidates that will be thinking out of the box when it comes to their application.
In order to stay ahead of the pack, you should consider designing your resume in a way that is spot on with graphic design trends to avoid looking outdated.
For instance, flat design is currently right on-trend with website and apps. Using this type of design in your resume, like in the example below, will communicate to hiring managers that you are on top of your design game.
Great Tools To Turn Your Resume Into A Visual Masterpiece
Visual information is important. Some sources say visuals may account for as much as 90 percent of the information transmitted to the brain, though other sources question the validity of this stat. Still, we cant deny that visuals are a powerful way to communicate. So, if you want to make a lasting impact on an employer, you may want to consider making your resume visually attractive.
Word is that recruiters spend roughly six seconds screening a resume. A visually appealing resume could be a great way to hold a recruiters limited attention span and increase your chances of landing in the selected tray.
Visual resumes are especially perfect for professionals in creative fields, as they give job seekers the chance to demonstrate their skills and abilities.
There are various tools that can help you convert your resume into a visual masterpiece that will have recruiters knocking down your door for job interviews. Lets take a look at them:
1. Visualize.me
Visualize.me is simple and very easy to use. It imports data from your LinkedIn profile and uses that data to build a visual treat. You can choose from a variety of styles, themes, and colors. This website also helps you share your profile on most social networking sites. This tool allows you to creatively project your ingenuity via a well-designed visual resume!
Example of a Visualize.me visual resume.
2. Venngage
Sample Venngage infographic resume.
3. SlideShare
SlideShares Professional Journey feature.
4. ResumUp
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Apply Formatting Tricks To Create Stand Out Resume
Watch Out For White Space
According to an eye-tracking study from Ladders Inc, resumes that lack white space turn recruiters off.
The easier your resume reads, the more chances there will be that the recruiter reads every section of it.
If you have a lot to put on your resume, use smart layout and custom sections.
The two resume examples feature the same amount of information, yet the second one is much more engaging and comfortable to digest.
Pro tip:after you filled all the sections of your resume, look at it with your eyes squinted. If your resume feels like a big cluttered black spot, start decluttering it.
Include A Header And Summary Or Objective
Recruiters review a large volume of resumes each day. Including a header and summary or objective can help hiring managers notice your resume among others. When adding a header, make sure your name is at the very top. If you have space, make the font size slightly larger. Include your address , phone number and email address. Include contact information where the hiring manager is most likely to reach you.
Right below your header, write a summary or objective. A summary is no longer than three sentences and reviews your relevant experience and skills. An objective explains your career goal and what skills you can bring to the company. Its no more than two sentences. Including one of these statements summarizes your resume at the top so hiring managers can review it and learn more about you quickly.
Read more:Resume Objective Writing Guide
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What Makes A Visually Appealing Resume
Back then, a simple typewritten or text-based resume will suffice, and depending on your line of work, it is still pretty much accepted by some companies and recruiters. However, most companies nowadays are more interested in seeing a creative resume design.
To create a graphic resume, you can experiment with different resume templates, layouts, and styles to make your resume stand out visually. But first, you need to keep in mind a few things in order to achieve the best presentation for your resume: