Ever wonder why you have excellent grades and impactful activities which show your ability and passion yet couldn’t receive an offer from well-known companies?
In this case, it may be because your resume isn’t good enough!
Interviewers have to review hundreds of profiles each day, and if you still create the conventional portfolio, how will you be able to stand out from others?
If you want to get a step closer to admission, start by making a creative resume
A creative resume is a resume that doesn't follow the conventional resume format. These resumes are the best way to illustrate your creative abilities and skills to the recruiter. The template/format for these resumes can be a piece of graphic information, a small video, an online portfolio or an entire website.
Tips for making a creative resume:
1. Don't use word processing apps
Text editor apps are best for simple resumes, but if you are applying for design jobs that require creative skills, use more design-friendly apps like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator CC. The recruiters will judge you on the layout of your resume, along with the content.
2. Use colors as needed
For noncreative jobs, a black and white resume works, but for design jobs like a graphic designer or an illustrator, using color to add dimension to your resume is very advisable. Be frugal with the colors and don't go over the top.
3. Use a simple layout
Your creative layout should be simple and easy to understand. Fancy designs or an overbearing typeface shouldn't outshine the importance of the other information on your resume. Provide empty spaces between sections to give your resume a clean look. This allows the employer to skim through the information easily.
4. Share your experience
What most attracts a recruiter to the resume is the experience column. Don't forget to add samples of your work. If you are a recent graduate, include your college internship projects or other internships that you have done.
5. Use fonts appropriately
The primary aim of choosing a font should be its readability. As a creative person, using trendy fonts might appeal to you, but simple fonts keep things easier to read.
6. Content is important
Although you are applying for a design job, content is still as important as the design. Make sure you present a beautiful resume with impressive content as well. It should highlight all of your relevant qualifications, certifications, your publications if any and your professional experience in a detailed manner wherever required.
7. Be brief
Always remember your recruiter is a very busy professional and doesn't have much time to spare on your resume, so be concise and relevant. Your creative resume should not be more than two pages. Impress your recruiter with your resume, then direct them to your online portfolio for more information about your body of work. Choose columns and text boxes in your layout that highlight all of your relevant information in a limited space.
8. Check formats
Check the formatting for easy access to your file. Also, make sure the hyperlinks work properly. Submit your creative resume in PDF format. Also, make sure that your design looks good in both color and black and white printouts.
9. Add your online portfolio links
Don't forget to add your website link or other professional online portfolio links to your creative resume. A peek into the online presence of your personality and your skills, along with relevant experience is a big momentum for the recruiter to consider you.
10. Proofread thoroughly
A wrong spelling or a faulty sentence structure can really be a dampener. Proofread thoroughly to do away with these silly mistakes.
11. Be original
A plagiarized resume can easily dissuade the recruiter from considering you. For a creative position, the basic criteria are originality and imagination. Make your creative resume unique. You can take ideas from online templates, but create your own that reflects your personal style and creative skills.
12. Include awards and references to your published material
Along with experience, make sure to include the awards and publications you have to your name, and mention them prominently.