Blog #3: The New Way to Resume

File:Resume.pdfAlthough the traditional resume is not completely outdated, it is slowly making its way to the door. With the number of college graduates increasing every year, it is harder and harder to stand out among your peers. When you limit yourself to a single white piece of paper with one-inch margins and Times New Roman text, the task is almost impossible. This is why many hopeful job seekers are finding new, creative ways to show potential employers their qualifications and experiences. Artists, athletes, musicians and others with skills that must be seen to be believed can benefit especially from using an alternative resume. I personally plan to go into the field of business, which is still a fairly conservative field in the way of resumes. For this reason, I do not feel as though something too out of the box, like a video or movie poster resume, would suit me. These could come off as unprofessional in the business world. For this reason, I chose two fairly conservative, but still creative, alternative resumes that I would like to create for myself: the timeline resume and the infographic resume.

(By the way, click here for a great website I found for creating infographic resumes!)

The Timeline Resume

While it is unique enough to make a statement, the timeline resume is still simple and professional. I would personally choose this format because it stands out just enough without seeming too off the wall. I like how it allows you to show your education, work experiences, and other events as a series, rather than a bulleted list. The reader can see a progression, and has a better understanding of the steps you took to get to where you are today. For example, with this type of resume, you can show that you were able to balance school and a career at the same time. You can explain why you were out of a job for six months by adding in your trip around Europe, showing that you were not just unemployed, but that you are adventurous and have an interesting life outside of work. I think this resume is great for standing out as well as thoroughly illustrating your skills and experience, and the life events that made you prepared for the position you are applying for.

The Info-graphic Resume

The info-graphic resume is another way to stand out without pushing the prospective employer awayresume-infographic. I like this type of resume because It includes all the elements of a traditional resume, but adds images, colors, and graphs. This means that although the reader is seeing the same info they would on a normal resume, they are having a much more enjoyable time reading it. In just one page, you are able to tell a prospective employer anything they could possibly need to know about your experience and skills, and it is exciting for them to read. I also think the addition of QR codes is brilliant, because after drawing the viewer in, you are able to provide them with additional avenues to learn more about you and connect with you. I also think this type of resume shows confidence and creativity, two skills that will stand out to many prospective employer. And while it is creative, the color scheme, fonts, and even the layout still make it a look like a professional document. All in all, this type of resume could be perfect for the business world, with its mix of traditional resume with creative flair.

Sources

Traditional Resume

image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Resume.pdf

Timeline Resume:

image: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/65302263316890193/

Vizualize Info-graphic Resume Creator:

website: http://vizualize.me/

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxcHDEccRoM#action=share

Infographic resume:

info: http://www.blogging4jobs.com/social-media/4-ways-to-wow-recruiters-with-technology/#xWALI4pcWEil1GXb.97

image: http://haganblount.com/infographic-resume/

One thought on “Blog #3: The New Way to Resume”

  1. All in all, I think this was a well thought out and articulate blog-post. You open stating that you think traditional resumes are on there way out the door, but because you plan on entering the conservative field of business, you don’t want to progress too far. It seems you want to progress past the old tired resumes but not too far. I, personally, would suggest that if you’re going to break with tradition…. go as far as you can; however, I would understand your reservations.
    I also agree with your take on both resumes specifically the timeline version. You used very good examples to demonstrate how effective the visual mode of the timeline resume would be for articulating one’s accomplishments over the long haul.
    I’m not necessarily a huge fan of the info graphic resume because, honestly, it just seems cluttered. One of the reasons the traditional resume is so effective is because its an easy read. If I were a potential employer, and I had to read one hundred info graphic resumes, by the time I got to the third one, I would just promote from the inside. Nonetheless, your explanation of the info graphic was top notch. Great blog post; I really enjoyed the read.

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