What Does Your Visual Resume Look Like?

In my line of work I see volumes of resumes daily and like most talent management professionals, I struggle to manage them all. The battle is a daily one. How to quickly read and identify the most qualified prospect from a 1-2 page document in front of me. With only a single document how do I do justice to the applicant that poured hours of time and thought into this communication piece?  A visual resume gives your more eyeball time with recruiters and hiring managers.

Every day I hear from job applicants about their struggles in the marketplace and about the broken recruiting process which will be the subject of a future blog. For now, I wanted to share an idea. A few weeks ago while pouring over my normal pool of daily resumes I ran across something a little different. An applicant, Daron,  submitted a visual resume that contained live links, graphics, arrows, and icons. It caught my attention, was easy to quickly read, and it really resonated with me. I knew I was looking at a creative person who figured out how to deliver content concisely and get my attention. He was a problem solver. He was applying for a Business Development position for a Digital Marketing Agency so the format was indeed appropriate.

I am not suggesting this would work for every position or company. Clearly, HR’s Applicant Tracking Systems won’t be able to adequately parse from documents that get too creative with graphics, logos, and links. Most HR workers are stuck in a traditional mode and won’t appreciate anyone stepping out of the process. Still, a “Visual” resume could add value when reaching out to an individual recruiter, a hiring manager, or other connection. You can view my Visual Resume on my Linkedin Profile page. This is what I used to apply to the Humane Society of the United States and it worked. Though the position is volunteer they still have an interview process.

If a visual resume is something you want to pursue you may even want to consider an infographic. Infographic resumes present data from your traditional resumes in a visually appealing way and allow prospective employers to quickly scan your experience, skills, and education. After creating an infographic resume you may even want to try creating an online portfolio and a personal landing page. I have listed some helpful links and would love to see your results.

On a final note, Daron was hired by my client, Method Savvy in Durham, NC.

https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-digital-tools-that-will-make-your-resume-infinitely-more-beautiful

Tricia Lucas has over 25 years of demonstrated success in recruiting, marketing communications, and social media and helps technology companies recruit more efficiently by focusing on Recruiting Efficiencies, Employer Branding, and Social Media.

At Lucas Select, based in Raleigh, NC, we are passionate about technology startups and about sales and marketing as professions and have built extensive national networks of top-performing executives and managers. Unlike typical staffing agencies and headhunters, our recruiting services ensure that your company maintains a sustained growth model that is supported by strong sales management, talent recruitment at scale balanced by on-going people development while aligning with your Company’s core values.