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Ciarra Maraj 
Ciarra Maraj
Content Designer| Creating better user experiences with words and more ✨
Published Oct 31, 2022
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Whether you print your resume on a cake or expensive paper, finding ways to stand out can be tough. Should you use a fancy font or borders? Being creative with your resume should be exclusive to creative roles, writes CNBC Make It. Job seekers going after creative positions can use color on their resume to convey their artistic message, but they should be mindful of how it reads. Avoid light colors and "keep the rest of the resume clean and stick to a traditional format."
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Should you use color on your resume? Mary Wilson shares tips from CNBC Make It for when it’s okay. #TrendingNowRead More at CNBC Make It: https://lnkd.in/dViFNzzt
Trending Now: Color Resume
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Barbara Burgess commented on this
Gili Malinsky
Lead work reporter, CNBC Make It
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Don't use color on your resume—unless they're 'hiring you for your creativity' cnbc.comWanting to be a stand out among a pool of dozens, maybe even hundreds of candidates for a given role is totally understandable. And some jobseekers look for quirky ways to get a bit more attention (Julie Bauke told me about a woman who sent her potential employer a cake with her resume printed on top ...).If you're looking to catch an employer's eye, should you get a little creative with your resume? Should you choose an interesting font (I like Century Schoolbook) or make some of the writing pink?For the most part, say experts, keep your font black and your page white (with Arial or Times New Roman). But for some, select creative fields, like graphic design, it may be appropriate to add a bit of flair. Ask yourself, are you applying for jobs in which your resume could be an extension of the artistic voice you’re trying to convey? If so, what would best help to convey it?As a journalist, I'll be sticking to the basics. But if one day I become an animator, my resume's going rainbow ... Thanks to Julie and Octavia Goredema for their words!
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Like CommentBarbara Burgess
Using the science of the mind to help Small Business Leaders achieve their goals | Senior Consultant Outplacement First
The priority is getting your CV through the Applicant Tracking Software. Whilst a little colour can break it up a bit, graphics, tables, columns etc. are either not read or can get jumbled up. Also using non-standard fonts is risky (and Times New Roman looks a little dated). I've seen the most interesting and attractive CVs that are getting people nowhere because it never gets to a person in the first place. Not all ATS systems are the same so, while online checkers can give you an idea about whether your CV can be read, if you want to err on the side of safety, save it as a .txt document and see how it reads.Most important, when it does get to a person, is that they can find what they're looking for, which means putting it in an order that is fairly generic. There are ways of adding colour (mainly for the creative industries) that don't affect ATS but you have to be careful.
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Amber Littler commented on this
Gili Malinsky
Lead work reporter, CNBC Make It
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Don't use color on your resume—unless they're 'hiring you for your creativity' cnbc.comWanting to be a stand out among a pool of dozens, maybe even hundreds of candidates for a given role is totally understandable. And some jobseekers look for quirky ways to get a bit more attention (Julie Bauke told me about a woman who sent her potential employer a cake with her resume printed on top ...).If you're looking to catch an employer's eye, should you get a little creative with your resume? Should you choose an interesting font (I like Century Schoolbook) or make some of the writing pink?For the most part, say experts, keep your font black and your page white (with Arial or Times New Roman). But for some, select creative fields, like graphic design, it may be appropriate to add a bit of flair. Ask yourself, are you applying for jobs in which your resume could be an extension of the artistic voice you’re trying to convey? If so, what would best help to convey it?As a journalist, I'll be sticking to the basics. But if one day I become an animator, my resume's going rainbow ... Thanks to Julie and Octavia Goredema for their words!
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Amber Littler
Assoc. Director, Safety Alliance Manager
I agree. Colors and frills would be distracting and annoying to me. I believe it would make me less likely to take the candidate seriously. Let the content speak for itself and customize it in a way to show that you can add value to the organization. That’s what hiring managers really want to see.
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Octavia Goredema
Author & CEO at Fire Memos, a Techstars portfolio company
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Don't use color on your resume—unless they're 'hiring you for your creativity' cnbc.comWorking on your resume is rarely top of the list of fun things to do.In this interview with CNBC Make It, Julie Bauke and I discuss how balance creativity with clarity when it comes to the colors and design you choose for your resume.In chapter 9 of my book, PREP, PUSH, PIVOT, I share a resume revisions checklist that you can use every time you’re preparing a job application. The checklist includes:* Use the keywords referenced in the job description.* Make sure your professional experience summaries are relevant for the role.* Quantify your achievements.* Amplify your achievements with action verbs.* Keep it clear, concise, and easy to read.Thank you Gili Malinsky for the interview.#PrepPushPivot #careercoach #resumetips https://lnkd.in/gBThBwG6
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Angela Jones
Award-Winning Executive Resume Writer * Contributor to Resume & Cover Letter Books * Branding & LinkedIn Profile Expert - I Help Clients Land the Job They Want & the Pay They Deserve
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Don't use color on your resume—unless they're 'hiring you for your creativity' cnbc.comI believe that a hint of color helps your resume stand out from the pile on the recruiter's desk. I agree there is no need to go overboard.
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Adam Vasquez
Lightworker, Entrepreneur, Investor, Author of Toothfish & Consciousness Incorporated Co-Host
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Don't use color on your resume—unless they're 'hiring you for your creativity' cnbc.comCNBC says "nobody wants a creative accountant." I say, everyone needs "creativity" in every function of business. No one function or person has a monopoly on creativity. We are all creative beings and everyone should let their creativity shine--even if it's just a different color on your resume. Go be your authentic self.
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Gili Malinsky
Lead work reporter, CNBC Make It
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Don't use color on your resume—unless they're 'hiring you for your creativity' cnbc.comWanting to be a stand out among a pool of dozens, maybe even hundreds of candidates for a given role is totally understandable. And some jobseekers look for quirky ways to get a bit more attention (Julie Bauke told me about a woman who sent her potential employer a cake with her resume printed on top ...).If you're looking to catch an employer's eye, should you get a little creative with your resume? Should you choose an interesting font (I like Century Schoolbook) or make some of the writing pink?For the most part, say experts, keep your font black and your page white (with Arial or Times New Roman). But for some, select creative fields, like graphic design, it may be appropriate to add a bit of flair. Ask yourself, are you applying for jobs in which your resume could be an extension of the artistic voice you’re trying to convey? If so, what would best help to convey it?As a journalist, I'll be sticking to the basics. But if one day I become an animator, my resume's going rainbow ... Thanks to Julie and Octavia Goredema for their words!
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