Submit a Creative Resume Using These Five Tricks

Your resume is a key tool in helping you score an interview, but a great resume is more than just a list of your education and experience. Hiring managers often page through hundreds of resumes per day, meaning a creative resume is essential if you want to stand out from the crowd. Use these five resume tips to craft an eye-catching resume that expresses innovation without losing its professional touch.

1. Craft a Strong Objective

The top one-third of the first page of your creative resume is critical in catching a hiring manager's attention, so focus on creating a resume objective that's both detailed and to the point. The objective should state, in a single phrase, who you are and what type of position you are seeking. Add the name of the company to create an even more positive impression.

2. Create an Eye-Popping Header

A resume should be both sleek and easy to read, but you can craft a more creative resume by designing a unique professional header at the top of the page. Although the rest of the resume should use a standard font, the header can include a more interesting script as long as it's easily readable. Strive for a design that expresses the kind of professional you are and matches your desired position. If you're applying for a creative job such as graphic design, feel free to add a pop of color to the header, but keep it to one subdued shade for the sake of professionalism. For other positions, stick to grayscale.

3. Add Columns

Instead of printing your resume in a single column of text, which creates excessive white space and wastes paper, spice up your creative resume by adding several columns on each page. Each column should cover a single category, such as education or skills. This creates an organized look while making the resume easier to read.

4. Customize the Cover Letter

A cover letter is essential, but a hiring manager can usually tell if the text is copy-and-pasted from every other position to which you've applied. Make your creative resume stand out by crafting a unique cover letter for every position, mentioning the company by name and using a tone that matches the company's overall atmosphere.

5. Take a Minimalist Approach

Crafting a creative resume doesn't mean cramming in as much as you can into a single page. Cut down anything that isn't essential to make your resume readable and visually appealing. For instance, instead of listing your entire work history, include only your four most recent positions. For skills, focus only on those that are essential for the job.

Building a creative resume is more about making small tweaks than big design changes. Some of the best resume tips are to form a concise, readable resume that expresses who you are while drawing in the reader.

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