Top Tips to Create a Standout Resume for Creative Jobs

The Creative Art of Resume Writing

You committed to finding new creative jobs as you entered 2021, but you’re stalling at the first hurdle: the resume.

According to Forbes, the majority of jobseekers suffer the same fate. 75% of qualified applicants are rejected before even reaching a hiring manager’s desk.

The fact you’re applying for creative jobs makes it harder, as you struggle to balance rigid resume criteria with showcasing some creativity.

In this article, we’ll show you how you can add that creative kick to a perfectly formatted resume, and land interviews for creative jobs.

Keep It ATS Friendly

The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) reviews resumes to ensure only those with matching skills reach the hiring manager.

Sending a resume that has not been optimized for ATS can take you out of the running immediately.  In order to make it through the first cut, you should identify keywords in the resume – for example, Adobe Creative Cloud. The job outlines this as a specific requirement. Personalize each resume with the keywords the system will be looking for, making it easy for the system to match your skills to the job description.

Showcase Your Creative Flair

You must ensure you showcase your creativity carefully with resumes. Graphics can’t be read by ATS, and will also mess with the formatting. Your attempt to be creative could eliminate you immediately. Make sure your resume:

  • Is in Word format, not a PDF
  • Doesn’t include text boxes or columns
  • Avoids graphics and borders
  • Uses only widely available fonts

Your resume should demonstrate your experience, skills, and achievements. So how can you get some creativity in? Here are some ideas:

  • Include a link to your LinkedIn profile – make sure it’s aligned with your resume, and optimized professionally
  • Include a link to your own website – a great way to give them an insight into just how creative you can be, especially if you’re a web designer or content manager
  • Include a link to your online portfolio
  • Include a list of your creative skills
  • Highlight impressive clients or projects you’ve worked with
  • Highlight your specialism or advanced experience

Tread cautiously with creativity in resumes. Keep the format clean and clear, and provide plenty of evidence through links and achievements.

The Dos and Don’ts

We’ve covered the main challenges in creative jobs resumes. Now it’s time to go over some dos and don’ts to sweep your resume:

The Don’ts

  • Don’t disguise employment gaps – they’ll be discovered and lose employer trust. Give a brief explanation (e.g., laid off).
  • Don’t use an inappropriate email address – employers will never contact it
  • Don’t include irrelevant information
  • Don’t use clichés – writing ‘I’m a hard worker’ wastes valuable space and loses the hiring manager’s attention (at best)
  • Never lie – if you’re not skilled for the role, you won’t enjoy it or succeed in it, and lying will damage your professional reputation

The Dos

  • Keep it concise – stick to two A4 pages, with bullet points instead of paragraphs. This will make it readable and more appealing.
  • Look for keywords – we’ve covered this, but it’s a big deal. Get those keywords from the job description and into your resume.
  • Use creative language – put some pazazz in your adjectives to create engagement.
  • Get it proofread – don’t let spelling and grammar spoil your presentation. Get a friend to read it with fresh eyes, or have it professionally checked.
  • Quantify your achievements – use firm and impressive numbers that let employers easily identify you as a successful candidate.
  • Check your contact information is correct – you’d be surprised how many standout candidates fail on this and destroy their application.
  • List your career in reverse-chronological order – with the most recent at the top.
  • Ensure it’s consistent with LinkedIn – and make sure your social media is clean. 54% of employers have rejected candidates because of their social media.

Boost Your Creative Jobs Search Today

Are you resume ready? It’s time to channel it to the best creative job opportunities out there. But applying to regular jobs boards may be half your problem. You’re in a sea of other applicants. Hiring managers must tirelessly sift through these. The hiring process is long and enduring. The vacancies themselves aren’t always the most fruitful opportunities.

What can you do differently?

Submit your resume to TECHEAD. We have vacancies you won’t find on regular job boards. Your application is refined and well-matched to the vacancy and the employer. We fast-track and enrich your career opportunities in creative jobs.

What are you waiting for? Submit your resume to TECHEAD today.

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