The Risky Business of CV Creativity

By: Together Abroad by Caitlin Margoulis 24-11-2014 12:59 PM
Categories: * CV / Resume,

We have all come across those beautiful curriculum vitae templates reminiscent of an online dating profile. The question is, do we take the risk and try a new format or do we stick to our safe basic CV? This, of course, depends on the position you are applying for. If the company is historically conservative and the position requires strict professionalism, perhaps bubbly graphics will only decrease your chances of an interview. But before you throw away your creative ideas, try some slight changes and updates that are possibly the slight edge you need to make your CV more appealing. 

  1. Color me Pretty: Adding some color to your CV is a great option for anyone intimidated by extravagant modification. In the past you may have shied away from a brightly accented CV, but this can be a simple update. A single accent color is generally encouraged, but the more color you add, the more distracting it will be. Keep in mind shade and complimentary color variations.
  2. Fun fonts: As you can recall from “Common CV Mistakes”, Recruiters from Halliburton were not fond of distracting fonts. But carefully placed interesting fonts are becoming more popular. Related content on your CV should be in the same font. Keep the font of headings consistent, and bulleted lists should all be one font of your choice; but your name is one artistic freebee.
  3. The new order: The order in which you present yourself can have an impact. Some CV designers place the contact information in a header; others have a side panel of information. For a creative position, you could even try to place your personal statement in a side panel. Be aware of the company however. If it is a conservative company, perhaps stick to a basic layout.
  4. Social media identification: For a position that may require examples of your work, travel or personality, listing social media. Offering links to Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn or even Facebook can save an applicant some trouble and offer a hiring agent more information. Be forewarned that your social media must be appropriate and relevant. Great for positions related to: freelance writing, photography, graphic-design, and marketing.
  5. Stickers and pictures: Graphics are becoming more popular- but before you start bombarding your CV with inappropriate but adorable graphics- keep in mind they should not distract from the information, but rather enhance it. Great for positions requiring knowledge of trends, marketing, or visual presentation.
  6. The personal website: websites like wix.com offer online business cards, resumes, and CVs that are presented like a personal web page. Often applications ask for website links or various media. It will most likely not replace the traditional CV, but is a great way to add value to your application by showcasing some projects you have worked on. Websites also allow for more playroom in terms of creativity, which is a safer place to unleash it.
  7. Videogram: Video CV overviews are a great source for conveying your personality, expanding on limited CV content and showing off your artistic ability. Albeit, employers are not specifically asking for video clips or providing a standardized way to submit them, some applications leave a space to upload any relevant media that fits the size limitation. Keep in mind that submission of a basic CV may still be needed with your video.
    If you are confident in your media skills and wish to create your own, be sure that the sound, lighting and editing are on point. If you are not the next Spielberg, no need to fret; companies such as CV-Clips make your personal marketing video inexpensive and professional.

by Caitlin Margoulis

 

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