Enter your text here …A graphic resume aims to present your resume content in a more graphical manner by using a combination of images and texts. Apart from looking attractive, the main purpose of a graphical resume is to help the employer in grasping the information quickly as they tend to spend only a few seconds on each CV. A graphical resume can benefit only if it is well designed and contains equally strong content to match the design elements. The emphasis should always remain on the content. Focus on using strong action verbs, achievements and figures.
Pros and cons of a graphical resume
Graphical resumes work very well in creative fields such as media, design and advertising where there is a need to showcase design abilities. It provides an avenue to display your talents to the employers and since a resume is the first thing they view, many consider it as a good starting point. It also allows you to get attention and stand out from the competition. An infographic resume is also great for networking purpose or if you decide to go for a CV distribution service, wherein, you CV is distributed to major recruitment firms and employers in the region.
On the other hand, many believe that graphical resumes are not suitable for every role and industry. Certain employers and professions are still quite conservative in their approach and may find a graphical resume to be gimmicky. It is also not accepted on some online portals due to format restrictions. Application Tracking Software is not designed to read graphics and thus, your CV will be stripped off all formatting and graphics if it passes through an ATS system.
Conclusion
Graphical resumes are still not widely accepted and cannot replace the traditional resume. If your field of work requires you to be creative then you can keep two versions of your CV and use the graphical version only when the situation demands. Also, the key is not overdoing the design. Use of graphics should be kept moderate. It should be easy to read and not deviate from the ultimate goal of the CV which is to display your top achievements, experience and education.
