creative resume solutions

How to Undoubtedly Show Your Creative Thinking When Crafting Your Resume

Here are the top ways to show your creative thinking skills on your resume. Find out relevant creative thinking keywords and phrases and build your resume today.

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What is creative thinking?

Why is creative thinking important on your resume, what skills and accomplishments help you highlight your creative thinking, creative thinking: key takeaways for your resume.

To be able to think creatively means to be able to think in new ways, to think outside the box. Creative thinking can be applied when solving a problem, resolving conflict, finding a way to work together, or simply drawing new conclusions from a set of data you’ve already considered. It’s the ability to look at something with new eyes and overcome your own thought patterns.

Creative thinking is not a skill necessary only for creative people, artists or engineers. Actually, employees in all kinds of industries are valued for their creative thinking skills, as they bring a new perspective to the company or team.

It is important to break the myth that creativity is a mystical inspiration with a divine source. People often think that being creative is a natural gift, but the truth is, it is only a predisposition, an aptitude if you will. Creative thinking is a skill and just like any other skill, you get better at it by practicing.

Let’s unpack what it means to be a creative thinker. Firstly, it is the ability to stay open-minded and make something new. It’s to look for unexpected and unorthodox resolutions when hitting a dead end. Secondly, it means being able to relate different pieces of information and break down issues in order to solve them in a way that has never been tried before.

Creative thinking is crucial not only in your professional career but also in life. It constitutes solving problems, being pioneering and open-minded, having resilience, viewing obstacles as challenges and not as problems.

It’s safe to say that a person, expressing those qualities and nuances of the skill, would be a very valuable asset to each employer. Companies want people who don’t back away from a problem, but rather tackle it in a courageous and new manner.

This is why it’s important to showcase your creative thinking on your resume.

As you already noticed, there are quite a few different skills that can prove you have creative thinking. The most relevant can be summed up as:

• Analytical thinking : being able to decompose a problem into its integral parts, to get to the root of the issue, gives you the chance to define it better. Coming up with a well-structured action plan is almost a 100% guarantee of success.
• Unorthodox problem-solving : show you can think outside the box by mentioning pioneering solutions or action plans you’ve offered throughout your professional life or education. Think of original ideas you’ve pitched that proved as excellent resolutions in tough situations.
• Open-mindedness : before even talking about analysis or problem-solving, comes being open-minded and not judgmental. Keeping a positive and open outlook allows you to consider different alternatives, lets you weigh in other perspectives, and helps you choose the best course of action. When was the last time you showed that you’re open-minded?

How to demonstrate creative thinking on your resume

• Think of times when you were faced with what looked like an unsolvable problem and the path you took that led to its resolution
• Share examples of original or unexpected ideas you’ve had that got you out of nail biter situations at work
• Describe a time when you kept an open mind and that helped you overcome a challenge
• Talk about a brainstorm session you held or participated in that totally blew everyone’s expectations
• Mention examples of a lateral thinking approach when you and your team solved a problem by adopting an indirect and creative approach
• Tell about a time when you turned a defect into an effect - creativity and invention go hand in hand with reusing and reinventing

It’s easy to say you’re creative, and much harder to prove it. We hear you.

Writing on your resume that “I’m a creative thinker who thrives on change” does sound great, but to persuade your future employer, you need to substantiate your creative thinking skills.

Explore your own experience by asking yourself the following questions:

• What is your problem-solving technique at work?
• Did you participate in any creative thinking workshops?
• What examples of your open mindedness can you think of?
• What is usually your approach when you’re trapped in a corner?

We’ve prepared some real life examples from other Enhancv users. Let’s get down to business.

Example 1: Demonstrate creative thinking in your work experience

Job Situation: Marketing manager applying for a new the role in a big creative agency

• • Grew the team from 2 people to 20+ digital marketing specialists, advertising experts, and content writers.
• • Employed multiple growth hacking strategies to make up for almost 0 marketing budget in the beginning.
• • Achieved a marketing ROI of 273% over a two-year period by using guerrilla marketing tactics for clients like Nike, Iamsterdam, Pllek
• • Managed execution of $1.8M in branding and sponsorships annually.

As you can see from the description, this marketing manager used only active verbs to illustrate their experience - “grew”, “employed”, “achieve” all speak of proactiveness and progress.

Also, they used a lot of quantitative measures - 20+ employees, 273% ROI, $1.8M budget. This brings an extra special touch in the description - rock solid proof and specifics.

Apart from that, key phrases such as “growth hacking strategies […] for almost 0 marketing budget” and “guerrilla marketing tactics” imply that this person has creative vision and knows how to employ unusual approaches. We’re left with the impression that they know how to make the most out of their opportunities and be forward-thinking.

Example 2: Resume summary

Job Situation: Marketing specialist applying for a Content marketing manager

This summary hits home for 3 different reasons: it gives background of the candidate’s experience, it underlines the hard skills they’re good at, and it highlights 2 important soft skills - they’re detail-oriented and creative.

Craft your summary carefully - usually it’s enough for an experienced talent specialist to tell if you fit the perfect candidate profile just by matching keywords from the job ad requirements with your resume bio.

Focus on the most relevant details!

Example 3: Achievements

Job Situation: UX/UI designer in the market for a new inspiring gig

“Achievements” is the section where you can write your own recommendation for yourself by showing off key moments from your career and combining that with your strengths.

In the example above, this U/UI designer showcased original creative thinking for achieving publicity and outreach - giving out high-quality freebies and international exposure in web design awards platform. How inventive, huh?

Example 4: Extracurricular activities & Courses

Job Situation: PR specialist describes her extracurricular activities

• • Designed the Creative Writing & Storytelling training program from the bottom up
• • Taught students aged 12-16 about creative writing methods and narrative styles
• • Held multiple workshops on how to think outside the box and develop one's imagination
• • Helped facilitate over 18 different training groups
• • Delivered interactive workshops on subjects such as giving constructive feedback, effective teamwork, creating mindmaps, 6 thinking hats

Job Situation: Software developer describes his coursework

An ideal way to show further your creative thinking is through one of the additional sections - such as volunteering, extracurricular activities, courses or training you’ve undergone. You may even add important projects that have helped you build, improve or shine with your creativity.

• Quantity and quality can go hand in hand: don’t just say what you did, use quantitative measures and results to support your words (%, $, count)
• Make sure to include relevant experience and examples to illustrate your creative thinking skills - be explicit in your description, don’t hint it but explain clearly
• Keep it short and sweet - use keywords and phrases to connect your experience with the job ad requirements, and don’t write walls of texts. Use bullet points and to-the-point sentences to prove how original and inventive you are.

About this report:

Data reflects analysis made on over 1M resume profiles and examples over the last 2 years from Enhancv.com.

While those skills are most commonly met on resumes, you should only use them as inspiration and customize your resume for the given job.

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30+ Creative Resume Templates for 2024 [Grab One Now!]

Want your resume to stand out in a pile of 1,000+ applications?

Then you need a creative resume template!

Here’s the thing - most resumes look alike. They’re all black and white, with a standard layout, and very generic content.

Do you want to impress the recruiter with your creativity and ingenuity, or do you want to just blend in with everyone else?

We’re thinking you want to go with option #1.

So, in this guide, we’re going to cover 30+ of the most creative resume templates we’ve seen on the web.

30+ Creative Resume Templates

The 3 ways you can go about using these 30+ creative resume templates are:

• You can use an online resume builder with ready-to-go templates.
• You can fire up MS word and use a Word template .
• Or, you could use a Google Doc resume template that you can edit online.

We’re going to include both free and paid templates, so you get to pick whichever suits your needs.

Here are 30+ creative resume templates you can start using now.

Creative Resume Template by Novorésumé

Price: Free

As an example, let’s say you work in marketing (or any other creative field).

If that’s the case, then you probably have natural talents for design and understanding what makes a person buy a product.

Think of your resume as the product here.

You can also apply this knowledge and skills to create your own resume and make it stand out from other candidates.

This resume template does just that. You can use it as inspiration, or you could also choose and customize according to your needs and job role.

From the colors to the layout, our creative resume template can help you land your dream job in the industry and kickstart your career.

Modern Resume Template by Novorésumé

Need something more modern, that’s both professional as well as flexible?

You can follow our modern resume template to stand out from the crowd in just about any industry.

That’s what’s so good about it - it has pretty much every resume section you’re going to need, and it’s easy to follow as well.

With a clean and modern aesthetic, this resume is a great way to quickly sum up your qualifications and stand out from other resumes with its great design.

Though the focus of this template is on the work experience , you can always customize it to your liking within a matter of minutes.

Functional Resume Template by Novorésumé 

This functional resume template is super simple and works for creative entry-level and senior position jobs alike.

There’s plenty of space for work experience , organizations , honors and awards , and more.

So, you can focus on either of the sections, depending on where you’re at at this stage in your career. 

And with the vibrant colors and a clear layout , you can’t go wrong with this template.

College Resume Template by Novorésumé 

Are you in college or a recent graduate with not a whole lot of work experience?

You can use this college resume template to show off your resume objective , skills, and experience (if you have any).

If you don’t have a lot of work experience though, you can also use the template to prioritize other sections.

The resume is extremely easy to follow, while staying under 1 page, and is an updated version of the 21st-century college resume template.

It’s simple and straightforward.

• Don’t have a lot of experience and need help writing your first resume? Check out our guide on how to make a resume with no experience .

Basic Resume Template by Novorésumé

This basic resume template is very easy to personalize and you can make it truly yours in just under 10 minutes.

If you want something that’s professional , yet also creative , you can’t go wrong with this one.

It has a very straightforward approach and a color scheme design that stands out from other candidates.

And the best thing is, it’s 100% customizable to your liking.

Executive Resume Template by Novorésumé

Do you have a lot of experience as well as technical skills you want to show off without your resume becoming cramped?

This executive resume template might be more up your alley.

It has a contemporary approach with plenty of sections for your work chops, as well as an eye-catching design that will make sure your resume is spotted first.

Just because it’s for a higher-up position, doesn’t mean the design should be boring.

Professional & Modern Resume Template by Hired Design Studio

Where to Get It: Behance

This modern resume template is great for creatives of all levels.

If needed, you can also go onto the 2nd page , and it even comes with a sample cover letter .

The soft colors are a nice change from other traditional resume colors and it’s incredibly easy to follow along with too.

If needed, the resume ALSO comes with a free icon pack of 100+ extra icons and a detailed user guide.

Creatives can go wild with this as it has pretty much everything you’ll need.

All you have to do is fill in the outline .

Intern Resume by Design Studio Teti

Price: $5.50

Where to Get It: Etsy

You’ll save time with this intern resume template and make sure your resume is unique.

If you’re looking to land the internship of your dreams, this resume can help you showcase your skills and accomplishments in the best way possible.

It’s easy to edit in Google Docs and comes with a cover letter template , as well as some extra resume writing tips and tricks.

And since it’s 100% editable, you can switch up any section , color , or even the font of the resume to match your vision.

PS - need more help with constructing an internship resume? Read more on our internship resume examples + writing guide .

Creative Resume Template for Word by Resume Studio Group

Where to Get It: Etsy 

This creative resume template for Word is a modern take on the one-page resume format.

It’s super functional as well as presentable. 

If needed, the template also comes with an easy-to-edit 2-page template , a cover letter , and as a cherry on top - a free interview preparation workbook .

It has just about every section you’d need too. 

Modern Resume Template by MoreProfesh

Price: $18.00

This modern resume template makes sure your name stays on the recruiter’s mind and your resume on top of their stack.

The design legwork is already done for you - it’s fun, memorable, and has just the right amount of quirky.

Professional Minimalistic Resume Template by Ease Design Studio

Price: $2.40

Sometimes, good old minimalism is what it takes to stand out.

If people in your industry tend to use fancier resumes with a lot of colors, a minimalistic resume could be what you need to stand out.

And that’s the case with this professional minimalistic resume template.

The clear structure guarantees to stand out from other candidates and the resume also comes with a guide on how to write a strong resume and a catchy cover letter .

You can edit pretty much the whole template (from the text to the colors and the font), and if needed, it also comes with its own icon pack.

So, if the design catches your eye, the template has pretty much everything else you’ll need.

One Page Resume With Photo by GetLanded

Price: $15.21

Want to beat the competition?

Get ahead with this photo resume template!

If the price tag seems expensive, know that this template also comes with detailed instructions , a FAQ file, and a guide on more resume tips and tricks.

As for the actual resume layout , the primary focus is on work experience, and if needed, you can continue onto the second page.

If you have the experience, this resume has the design.

All you have to do is fill in the blanks.

PS - wondering if you should include a photo in your resume? It might depend a lot on your location. Check out our full guide on including a photo on a resume for more info.

Clean and Simple Resume Template by ZokiDesign

Where to Get It: ZokiDesign

Clean and simple resume template with a minimalistic aesthetic, easy to format, and a layout that covers a lot of sections.

You can show off your work experience , background , education , skills , and even your hobbies .

There’s plenty to do here.

You can change the color scheme too, and with its format and layout - it’s ideal for almost all creative roles.

Clean Resume/CV + Cover Letter Combo by Tamzid Hasan

This clean resume/CV cover letter template is both professional AND creative!

It follows a clean color scheme and a layout that mainly focuses on work experience.

Other then that, it also comes with:

• Microsoft Word (Docx) files.
• CV/Resume + Cover letter and references.
• 1 and 2 page version.
• Paragraph styles and free fonts.

Not too bad, right?

If you have plenty of work experience (5+ years), you can easily continue onto the 2nd page with this template and it’ll STILL look good.

Professional Personal Brand Resume by Mukhlasur Rahman 

Price: $8.86

Have a bright personality and want to express within your resume?

You can now do so with this professional personal brand resume template.

As long as you work within the creative industry, you can get away with having a resume that shines personality.

The Word template follows a consistent color scheme and a layout designed specifically for being loud.

It’s professional, beautiful, and most importantly - unique .

If needed, you can customize just about every detail of the resume.

But even when left as it is, it’s still going to stand out from a folder of resumes.

Free Resume/CV Template by Pune Design Studio 

With this creative resume template by Pune Design Studio, the default bright colors help you stand out, and you can always edit or customize them based on your vision.

The package comes with 4 PSD files so, the whole template is 100% customizable.

If you know your way around Photoshop, you can edit the layers as you wish. And if not, the resume also comes with a help file of instructions .

And once everything is to your liking, the resume is automatically print-ready.

Simple as that.

Resume Template 4 Pack by Refinery Resume Co

Where to Get It: CreativeMarket

Your life doesn’t fit into one page?

Then you might want this resume template 4 pack to get your resume refined and noticed.

As long as you have the experience for it, this resume has the space.

From the first hello in your cover letter down to the references, this pack is the full package.

What’s included:

• Photoshop, Illustrators, MS Word file.
• Optional 2nd page (and more), template.
• Optional references and cover letter template.
• All the fonts used.

Infographic Resume Template by Microsoft

Where to Get It: MS Office Templates

Show you know your way around design and you’re not afraid to get creative with this infographic resume template.

It follows a modern chronological order, starting with your most recent job experience, going down to your previous jobs.

With it, you can list your qualifications in an extremely unique way, while still being easy to follow.

This is a great example of custom tailoring your resume to your industry.

As far as creative resumes go, this one will definitely catch some eyes.

Free Resume Template by Fernando Báez 

This free resume template screams high quality.

After using it to get a few jobs with the very same template, Fernando is now sharing his resume secrets.

A free resume that’s already been tried-and-tested? 

What’s not to love.

In it, you’ll find all the fonts used, a free icon set , and an Adobe Illustrator file .

PS - Wondering what font to use in your resume? Check out our guide on what’s the best resume font, size, and format .

Creative Resume Designed by MOO

This creative template by MOO was made for jobseekers wanting to show off their creativity and eye for design.

It’s customizable to your needs, and with its neutral color scheme, you can show off your creative side with just a minute or two of editing.

It’s accessible for job-seekersof all levels. Even if you don’t have a lot of work experience, you’ll at least stay memorable with this resume.

And sometimes, being memorable is all that it takes to land the interview.

Slick and Elegant Resume Template by InkAndOcean

Price: $15.36

First impressions are everlasting.

Get noticed by employers with this slick and elegant resume now.

All you have to do is customize your text in the simple resume layout.

You can also easily edit text color , as it’s an MS Word format, and change the font type as well.

The cover letter also follows a similar black and jade design. So, if you want to stay memorable, half the work is already done for you.

All that’s left for you to do is fill in your background.

Bold Monogram Resume by Microsoft

Is your resume as bold as your personality?

If you’re using this bold monogram resume - you’re practically making a statement.

And that statement is that you’re not afraid to present your experience and talent in a stylish way.

The template also includes helpful tips for building an effective resume, with the focus being on your resume objective.

Meanwhile, the rest of the resume follows a smooth order in a way that makes sense.

Creative Watercolor Template for Word by TheArtofResume 

Price: $5.09

This watercolor template follows an interesting color scheme design that would only ever work in the creative industry.

If you’re a creative by craft, then you’re in luck.

The watercolor template is 100% customizable and there is no need to download anything else except just the resume pack.

The pack also comes with extra page templates, a cover letter, a reference page , 250+ extra icons, and even a resume writing guide.

A unique design with plenty of customizable options.

What else would you need?

Attention Resume by Spovv 

Where to Get It: Creative Market

Possibly the most unique resume template on this list so far, the attention resume template definitely lives up to its name.

And if it’s unique for this list, you know for a fact it’s going to stand out from other job applicants applying for the same job.

The template has been professionally designed, so editing it is a piece of cake for every beginner.

The clean and elegant look aside, the pack is also:

• A4 and US letter paper size.
• Print ready.
• Efficiently labeled with organized layers
• Easy to use.
• For any creative job.

Clean Resume Template by HalfCircle 

Where to Get it: Creative Market

A large part of having a clean resume that catches eyes is the design and the colors.

And that’s the case here.

This template comes with 3 different color schemes, with a clean layout and an easy-to-read font choice.

Though, probably the best thing about this template is the use of white space.

There’s plenty of space between each section, and nothing feels cramped.

No doubt the HR manager reading this resume will find it easy to do so.

It’s the exact blend of professional and creative that’ll be the main factor in landing you the job.

2 Column Resume Template for Word by OdonoDesign 

Price: $0.80

This 2 column resume is easy to use and professionally designed if you don’t have the time to format your own layout.

The template also comes with a 2nd page (if needed) and a cover letter file.

But unless you have a really long and extensive work history, you’ll have no problem fitting all of your work experience with 1 page.

And because of the column design, it’s all going to look great and be easy to follow.

For people in the creative industry, this is a really concise way to show off your qualifications.

Elegant Resume by Horea Nicodin 

Where to Get It: Dribble

Feeling fancy and want to leave a lasting first impression?

Why not do so with this elegant resume template.

Everything about it screams classy, while still being professional and modern.

If you’re the type of person who enjoys the finer things in life (yes, including your resume), this template might be more up your alley and be worth the price tag.

Though, remember the design can’t do all the work for you.

You won’t get hired just for the looks of your resume - the content inside has to be good too!

2 Page Resume/CV Combo by ResumeTemplates 

If you’re going to break the 1-page resume rule, then you’ll want to do so while looking good.

And that’s where this 2-page resume combo comes in. 

It’s compatible with Word, all image-editing software, and everything is well-layered and editable.

To top it all off, it’s also ready to print.

You can be up and running with your resume in your hands, after just 10 minutes of editing the template.

Professional Profile Resume Template by TheArtofResume

Where to get it: Etsy

Need a professional resume that presents your profile the best way?

This creative template has just the right amount of space for the About Me section. 

Start with a summary of your qualifications and skills, and then back them up with your work experience and skills sections .

All this, while having plenty of space within the sections and space to breathe.

If needed, the template also goes up to 3 pages, and even comes with a cover letter.

And on top of that - everything is customizable.

But even if you were to go with the default colors, you’d probably be fine as the color scheme and the design is on point here.

Key Takeaways

To recap, design isn’t everything.

But typically, it’s the first thing recruiters notice when looking at your resume.

Start there.

Pick a creative resume template that lets you stand out without costing you professionalism.

Once you’ve picked the right template, you need to work on the contents. Not sure how? Here are some of our best guides on perfecting your resume:

Suggested Reading:

• How to Make a Resume - Complete Guide
• How to Pick the Best Resume Format in 2024 [+Examples]
• 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job in 2024

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Creative Resumes (With Examples)

• Combination Resume
• Chronological Resume
• Functional Resume
• Creative Resume
• Infographic Resume
• Resume For Graduate School
• Federal Resume
• Skills Based Resume
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• Career Change Rresume

When most people hear the term “resume,” they picture a neat, single page typed resume that lists skills and experience in bullet-point form. While this format of explaining one’s professional abilities is the most common, many people choose to use a creative resume instead.

Creative resumes allow candidates the room to customize their profile in a way that paints a vivid and enticing picture of them. It encourages more free-thought and puts an applicant’s skills on display before ever walking into an interview .

Key Takeaways:

A creative resume can be something as simple as implementing color patterns, bold text boxes, or playing around with spacing and margins.

Examples of creative resumes include:

Having a unique layout

Video resume

Using unique graphics

Using infographics

Using a unique resume can help your resume stand out from other candidates and helps clearly demonstrate your skills.

The downside to using a creative resume can be some employers don’t appreciate them and may find them unprofessional depending on the industry you are going in to.

What Is a Creative Resume?

How creative resumes work, examples of creative resumes, pros and cons of creative resumes, is using a creative resume worth it, expert opinion.

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Creative resumes utilize the space for catching an employer’s eye by being unconventional while still getting across the information about their professional profile. This can differ from the traditional text style resume dramatically.

The purpose of a creative resume is to showcase your personality and summarize your skills in a way that makes you stand out from the crowd of your competition for a position. Creating a creative resume can be especially useful for people who work in the arts who depend primarily on showing their abilities, rather than be just another candidate who tells.

How a creative resume works vary based upon the person creating it. The whole point of choosing the alternative option of a creative resume in place of a classic one is to display what makes you a distinctive candidate. You have to tailor the resume to portray your skills accurately. It emphasizes an applicant’s creativity and demonstrates that they’re up to the task of handling the job.

A creative resume can be something as simple as implementing color patterns, bold text boxes, or playing around with spacing and margins . Even doing minor changes to the typical format of a resume will make a hiring manager remember you. If you’re looking for a reference about where to start, do some research into examples of creative resumes.

People who work in the arts may also incorporate their niche into the performance of their skills. For example, if you work as a video editor , a more impactful structure could be in the form of editing together clips from your reel into a video resume. This shows a potential employer clearly that you’re qualified and resourceful.

Alternatively, for people who work in a field like website coding, a strong presentation could be coding a resume website. This will draw a hiring manager into what you have to say because your experience jumps off the page more than if they were reading from a list of hard skills .

A unique layout. The layout of a resume might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re thinking about how to get creative. However, if you work in a job that leans towards more traditional styles, this can be a great way to capture attention without compromising professionalism. Play around with where your resume sections go on the page , how large certain texts are, and where colorful patterns can fit in.

Video resume. A video resume can mean a few different things. For people who work in film, it will act as more of a reel to show all the work they’ve done thus far in their career. However, for people working outside of film looking to record a video resume for a different job, it can function a little differently.

Implement unique graphics. Consider what graphics you could use to take your resume to the next level. The graphics that you choose to implement in your resume should be relevant to your career and the job you’re applying for.

Infographic resume. You can take the use of graphics within your resume a step further by structuring it around being an infographic. Infographics are a subset of creative resumes in which the candidate demonstrates their past accomplishments and abilities using detailed and informative graphics.

Now that you know what they are, there can be some pros and cons of creative resumes.

There are a few key benefits to opting for a creative resume for a job seeker.

Clearly demonstrates your skills. While traditional resumes commonly use a skills section to make note of your strong suits in the industry, a creative resume puts this on display in a very blatant way. It gets right to the point of where your experience level is and makes it a lot easier for a potential employer to see if you’re a good candidate for the position they’re looking to fill.

It makes your resume stand out . It’s difficult to make yourself appear unique when there are a lot of other people competing for the same role. Even if you have the skills to fulfill the duties of a particular job successfully, this information can easily get lost in the chaos of many applicants. Using a creative resume lessens the chances that you’ll be overlooked when words on the pages of resumes begin to blend together for a hiring manager .

It gives a positive first impression. Before ever reading a word about your background, your resume’s look will influence a hiring manager. This may not even be intentional on the employer’s part, but rather, human instinct to gather first impressions from what we see. Creative resumes tend to be more visually attractive than the standard words on a page. This can positively impact a potential employer’s perception of you before getting to your qualifications .

Highlights your creativity. Your resume is an opportunity to make an impression on a possible employer that could boost your career. If you’re involved in a vocation based in the arts, like writing or design, hiring managers in your field will be the most interested in applicants who capture their attention with creativity. Curating a nontraditional resume to fit your field is a great way to highlight your creative ideas.

Even though using a creative format for your resume can have some compelling pros, it can also present some challenges.

Some employers don’t appreciate it. While the goal of a creative resume is to wow a hiring manager, sometimes this reaction of surprise won’t be a positive one. Creative resumes are growing increasingly popular in artistic positions. However, a lot of jobs still want a traditional resume for applicants they’re considering.

It neglects to account for buzzwords . Keywords are an essential consideration to make when deciding how you’d like to format your resume. A creative resume can present limitations in terms of including keywords. This means that although your creative resume may be very innovative, it probably won’t pass a company’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which is the test that scans resumes for skills required to work in a specific position.

It can seem like overkill. Creative resumes can definitely be attention grabbers, but once this objective is achieved, many employers may view extra graphics or color in it as overkill. While you want to have a hiring manager’s focus, you don’t want it to be on how outrageous your resume is. Being nontraditional can have pay-offs, but it can quickly become overdramatic.

Deciding whether to format your resume traditionally or creatively can be challenging for many job-seekers. It doesn’t have to be a difficult decision, though. You should consider the position you’re seeking, your experience level, and what’s appropriate for the industry you work in.

For someone whose job and skills are based mainly in visual arts that can be more easily shown than told, making a creative resume may be worth it.

Alternatively, a person whose career is in administration probably won’t receive many interview calls from going the non-traditional route.

You should also think about if your abilities are strong enough to be showcased in such an unconventional way. If you’re a recent graduate in graphic design without any professional experience in the field, a creative resume that accomplishes the goal of informing an employer about you may be a more difficult task to achieve.

What are simple improvements most people can make to their resume?

Dawn Smith-Camacho Master Imperfectionist Whole Life Solutions Coaching

The number one issue I see with clients redoing resumes is sticking to old-school, traditional formatting — trying to get all of their experience in black and white, 12 pt. font, onto as many pages as necessary.

I highly recommend all clients use Canva to find a dynamic resume that resonates with their personality type. Not only does it stand out visually, but all of their resume templates leave little space for work experience — which I love. This forces us to pare down our experience into the handful of bullet points that will most stand out for the person on the other end who’s often reviewing hundreds of candidates.

Their templates also help you emphasize your unique skills and abilities — not in a comprehensive list, but through pie charts or bar graphs that clearly illustrate your level of expertise.

Some clients are a bit resistant, and I do acknowledge the level of how design-heavy and modern you should go are industry-dependent, but I also encourage job seekers to really reflect on what position you want. Do you want to work for an employer that will reject your resume because it’s not a 3-page, black and white, 12 point Times New Roman one?

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

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