Recently candidates have been experimenting with resume formats in order to distinguish themselves. Infographic resumes have become one of the more common designs, but Hiring Managers across different industries have opposing views on how they portray candidates.
So, in what instances do infographic resumes put you ahead, and when do they negatively represent you?

Differentiation

The biggest and most obvious advantage is that infographic resumes visually stand out amongst a cluster of traditional bullet point style resumes. Is the Hiring Manager more likely to remember your resume? Yes. Is the Hiring Manager always going to be more impressed with your infographic resume than they would have been with your traditional resume? Not always.

Candidates in the marketing and creative fields are more likely to come across Hiring Managers who have a greater appreciation for infographic resumes, whereas most employers in professional service industries still prefer a traditional type of resume.

Your resume should always clearly display your skills, experience, and characteristics that you have that fit the job description. If you’re creative, you want your resume to display your creativity, so an infographic resume is a great way to do so. However, your qualifications and experience would not be clearly portrayed on an infographic resume if you were, for example, a lawyer. In fact, it could dissuade a Hiring Manager from choosing you, even if you are qualified, if the infographic resume is not received well by the employer.

Telling a story

Infographics allow you to tell a story that traditional formats hinder. Graphics guide a recruiter’s eye to the important parts of your story, and allows you to put a larger emphasis on the points you want to highlight. Similar to marketing tactics that companies use for advertisements, this type of resume allows you to have more control over what the employer focuses on.

Applicant Tracking System

One of the biggest downsides to infographic resumes is that they are not suitable for Applicant Tracking Systems. This means that the resume is likely to get lost without ever having the chance to be reviewed by a Hiring Manager.

Creative Abilities

Before you take steps to try and differentiate yourself, make sure it is for all of the right reasons. You have to think about your ability to create a great infographic resume. If you’re not creative, or it doesn’t tell a compelling story, an infographic resume will hurt your chances of being called for an interview.

However, if you make a living off of your graphic or creative abilities, it is beneficial to make an infographic resume to place online such as websites, blogs, social media like Instagram, or on LinkedIn to market yourself and broaden your reach.

Gainor Staffing Can Help

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