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Building a resume can be tedious and daunting, but with a little creativity and time, you can make it more interesting. In this post, I’ll explore alternative resume options you might not have considered. We’ll look at strategies like visual, infographic, and video resumes and interactive portfolios. By deviating from the typical templates, you can build your resume without boring yourself (or hiring managers).
Hiring managers see loads of traditional resumes every day, and alternative resumes can stand out as a change of pace and give insight into both your creativity and talents. Incorporating visuals like color, icons, and graphics is a great place to focus, and various design tools and templates are available to help you create a beautiful resume aligned with your brand without much in the way of technical skills. But don’t neglect the readability of your resume in favor of aesthetics—it’s important to strike the right balance so you don’t overpower the important stuff—your content.
Infographic resumes take the visual resume concept a step further by leveraging data visualization to convey your professional story. By transforming your resume into an infographic, you can more easily engage hiring managers. And you don’t need to be an expert in document layout tools to do it. You can use a platform like Canva to create infographic resumes that are visually attractive and easy to digest at-a-glance.
Video is another alternative and dynamic resume option you can use to share your personality, professionalism, and communication skills. Although you probably shouldn’t rely solely on video resumes (most employers require written resumes), you can still enhance your existing job materials to help stand out in a competitive job market. An engaging video presentation can give you more room to express your enthusiasm and passion for the company and role using nonverbal cues.
Video resumes give you a chance to make an early impression and allow employers to glimpse your personality and fit for the company culture. When you’re ready to craft a video resume, think about different video formats, script your content thoughtfully, and pay attention to lighting, audio quality, and body language. If you’re not up-to-speed on the latest video applications, that’s okay. You can use a tool like PowerPoint to create a structured, professional video.
Interactive portfolios are an immersive and interactive way to distribute work samples, projects, and achievements. You can offer employers a holistic view of your skills by curating an online portfolio using any of the platforms and tools (e.g., Wix, WordPress, and Behance). Most allow you to incorporate clickable links, embed media, and create showcases to engage employers and give them a chance to explore your work in-depth at their own pace. An interactive portfolio can be a memorable and dynamic experience for employers.
It’s helpful to approach building your job materials as a creative outlet. Weave storytelling elements throughout your cover letter, use alternative resume formats to inject personality, and give employers a chance to connect beyond the bulleted list of duties. If you focus on your unique experiences and emphasize the value you can bring to potential employers, you’ll have the chance to use the process for self-reflection and personal branding, and you can highlight your authenticity and enthusiasm for the role.
You can make creating job materials into an art by exploring alternative approaches you haven’t considered like video and infographic resumes. Remember, imagination is a good thing and your personality should influence your job materials. Each alternative offers its advantages, whether it’s the visual appeal of a well-designed resume, the visual impact of an infographic, or an online portfolio’s interactivity.