Taking Risks in Your Resume

Taking Risks in Your Resume Taking Risks in Your Resume In order to find work in these treacherous waters (in other words, in this economy), sometimes you have to take risks. Here are some risks worth taking on your resume.Infographic ResumeOne way to stand out from the crowd is to create an infographic-style resume. Infographics are eye-catching compositions of text and images that often include bright colors and geometric shapes. They turn information into bite-sized, easy-to-scan elements- which is exactly what you want when hooking the interest of a harried human resources manager.Job-hunting expert Pamela Skillings praises infographic resumes. People love infographics because our brains are wired to respond to visual storytelling. Images grab our attention. If graphic entwurf isnt part of your skill set, you can hire a freelancer to create a visual resume for you or use a program like Visualize.Me or Visual.ly.Video ResumeVideo resumes are a bold choice for job seekers, especi ally those with a winning personality. To make the most of your video resume, make aya to use a decent camera, good lighting (daylight is better than your desk lamp), and make sure that everything in the frame is clean and professional looking. That means picking up any stray socks or dirty dishes in the room as well as dressing up as if you were going to an interview. Use video editing software to create a high-quality reel after all, a poorly produced video resume isnt going to impress anyone.According to Erin Carson from TechRepublic, video resumes arent for everyone. Carson advises that using a video resume to get a job in a more creative field like marketing, might be more effective. Ask yourself if the company youre applying to has the type of culture that would welcome a video more than a regular resume.Mixed Media ResumeThere are hundreds of creative ways to make your resume stand out, from wrapping it around a chocolate bar, creating a storybook, or even embroidering your a ccomplishments on fabric. If youre going to go the mixed media route, make sure that it reflects your talents and skills. An insurance actuary, for example, probably wouldnt get much mileage out of a resume designed to look like a movie poster, but someone looking to break into the film industry might.Of course, you want to avoid standing out in a bad way. Grammatical mistakes careless misspellings, misplaced commas, and a host of other easy-to-make errors can negatively impact your chances of getting that interview. No matter what medium you decide to use to present your resume, make sure that you proofread thoroughly. Dont rely on your word processing programs spell check get a trusted friend to look over your resume, and run the text through Grammarlys automated proofreading tool.Whats the craziest risk youve taken to land your dream job? Share your story in the commentsMaster the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were S HRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.