The Resume: Traditional or Creative?

First impressions are very important when it comes to interviews. When hunting for a job, that first impression is your resume. The resume is a quick summary of yourself that determines whether or not you will secure an interview.

In the “old days” (that were not too long ago) people would apply for jobs using a traditional resume that listed their experiences. In today’s competitive job market, people are reconstructing their resumes to more creative formats in order to make it stand out. For instance, adding your LinkedIn URL to the header is very common. Also, people are testing out different layouts and adding graphics to spice it up.

The biggest question with this new trend is, do employers like it? The answer is, as with most things in the professional world, it depends. Where you are applying and what the job entails will be deciding factors in how you format your resume. For example, a traditional corporate Public Relations firm may simply want to see what education and experience you have and could care less about the creativity aspect. However, a new hip boutique would probably love the creativity! 

Doing some research on the job you are applying for is a must! Research what kind of company it is and tailor your resume accordingly. Also, have a second pair of eyes look over your resume to make sure it is flawless. It really comes down to what YOU feel is right. You are the only one who can make yourself stand out. So, do whatever it takes!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kelly Dougherty