How to Build an Eye-Catching Modern Resume
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash
Hey, Everyone!
Last time I talked about presenting yourself during job interviews, but this time it’s all about resumes. Out of the daunting process of job-hunting, this one is arguably the most fun and least intimidating. You get to be creative with templates, list some of your most outstanding achievements and skills, and you’ll stand out to employers because of your visually-appealing resume.
Here’s what you should do to make an attractive resume and Portfolio.
Choose a Graphic Design Software Program or App.
Say goodbye to those boring Microsoft Word resume templates, and hello to using software apps!
Personally, I use Canva to make my resumes or cover letter. They have a variety of templates, you can convert to PDF (Note: PDF is often more accessible for employers to see) once your customizations are done, and the layout is easy to adjust. While Canva is looked down upon by most graphic and product designers, it’s easier for people who are beginners in graphic design or want a quick attractive template for their own use or for social media.
You don’t need to be an expert in graphic design to use these software programs/apps such as Adobe Illustrator/Spark, Canva, or WordPress. If you’re uncertain about how to use software programs, they have resources and step-by-step tutorials on their programs/apps. There are even tutorials on YouTube you can follow. The beauty of the Internet is that information is accessible, so use it while you can.
Choose More Neutral-Toned Colors
Depending on your field, you don’t want to go all out with bright and vibrant colors. Bright and vibrant colors are more for designers and marketers–people who have to be creative and innovative in their field. If you’re not in those fields, you don’t need to be too elaborate with the design process of your resume.
However, if you still want to be creative, by all means, it’s nothing wrong with having a few pops of color here and there. But, it’s best to play it safe and go with more neutral-toned colors such as beige, black and white, and pastel colors for your resume.
My best advice would be to look at not only the template sample below, but also look at professionals in your field in how they format their resumes and that should be able to give you an idea. I recommend not only playing around with the tools provided but also looking on Pinterest for resume inspirations! It’s a great inspo platform to bounce ideas of!
Precision is Essential
I cannot express this enough, not only as a professional journalist but also as a person who is a perfectionist. Perfecting your resume takes time; therefore, the blank spaces between the texts and subtexts should be even, your resume should be proofread/copyedited for any grammatical errors, clarity, or phrasing, and even the color schemes should be complimenting one another and be consistent.
While the little and big details seems like a lot to look out for, once you start creating your resume, you’ll be able to see how you can customize and adjust it. Do not complete your resume WITHOU T LOOKING AT IT TWICE! It’s essential that you’re able to look at your mistakes before an employer notices it!
Below is a template for making an attractive resume:
Please see the details and annotations in the template for the best tips and advice.
Canva template provided by me! :D Feel free to contact me for the shared version of the template.
Remember, every career and industry is different, but also every employer is different. You don’t have to curate a ton of resumes to cater to these employers, it’s time-consuming and very inconvenient to do so. When you’re applying to jobs in your field, if a potential is really interested in you, then they will contact you for an interview because of this one resume you created. Creativity takes time, so does job hunting. If you do make that time to create a beautiful and modern resume, then I can assure you, you’ll be having employers contact you left and right.
Good Luck!
