15 ways to write your resume — Part 3
Recap of Part 1 and Part 2
Working from home and virtual applications have lowered the barriers for you to apply anywhere, and for other applicants to compete with you for the attention of the recruiters.
In this series of articles, I am discussing some creative ways to stand out, using a lighthearted tone, but also including some ideas that you can grab and run with.
11- The podcaster style: talk to me
We love our podcasts. It’s a very convenient format to consume information while on the go. And if it’s convenient to you, it might also be convenient to a recruiter you want to impress…?
One way to think about this would be the one these podcasts host discuss (you can skip to minute 10:00 and go straight to the specific discussion): creating a podcast resume that highlights your abilities in podcasting. The barrier to podcasting is pretty low, and anyone could record a few audio clips, post them online and add “podcaster” to their resume, so this could be a way to stand out and show that not only can you host, but you can also edit and produce.
Another, even more, creative way, could be to use your podcast skills to interview some of your professional references to discuss the experience of working with you (some people take it even further and interview themselves as part of a podcast-like content generation scheme). Think of it as a tasting sample of what an employer could get by hiring you.
The trick is to learn how to talk about yourself without coming across as so full of yourself.
12- The traveler style: tell me where you’ve been
The most traditional way to organize information on your resume is chronological. But that’s what everybody does. Maybe you’ve been lucky to travel and experience the world, working and learning different skills in different cities or countries. Perhaps you could create a version of your resume as a map with pins that mark the highlights of your career and take the visitor on a more visual tour of your professional history. It could be like a travel album with photos that illustrate your journey and make it more vivid and enjoyable.
13- The gamer style: it’s dangerous to go alone, take this CV
Here’s another cool idea: create an interactive version of your resume that looks and behaves like a videogame, like this designer did back in 2013 (here’s the story of how he approached it).
With the advances in technology since 2013, there’s surely no shortage of tools you can use for this, including a VR experience resume.
14- The organizer style: a place for everything, everything in its place
If you’re a project manager, or a Scrum master (or you have a like-minded disposition), one idea to explore would be to approach your job history and your job search as a project. Your job history can easily be represented in a kind of Gantt chart like this candidate did. Or you can go the more painful data science way and plot it with R as this other candidate did.
Even if you don’t want to use it on your resume, it is a helpful way to plan the efforts involved in your job search and tell a powerful story about it.
15- The Product: a product can be copied, a brand is unique
Ultimately, what you’re trying to do with your job search and with your resume, is to sell the product that is you, developing your personal and professional brand. Some candidates have excelled at this by creating examples like this Amazon page one and this LEGO toy one.
Conclusion:
There are many ways you can try to stand out, and choosing the best one depends on your own brand, your experience, and the type of position and employer you’re aiming for.
In any case, always remember that the resume is nothing more than marketing collateral that helps support the campaign that is your job search, following a carefully defined strategy. Your resume is not your strategy, as much as it is not the full representation of you or your experience.
Share in the comments any other examples of original ways to present yourself and your resume!.