3 Reasons Why Creative Resumes Rarely Work

3 Reasons Why Creative Resumes Rarely Work Why Creative Resumes Rarely Work
By Anish Majumdar, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

A major trend these days are websites offering creative resume templates designed to help a jobseeker stand out from the competition. In theory, this should be a great option. After all, who wouldn’t want to sidestep the rigors of creating a traditional resume and take a shortcut to more job interviews? In practice, however, these non-standard templates will cause a host of problems throughout the job search.

Here are the 3 major reasons why you should steer clear:

1. Applicant Tracking Systems Have Problems Scanning Them

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) such as Taleo and Kenexa are often the first gatekeepers standing between you and a job interview. Upon first submitting your resume, ATS will scan it to ensure relevant industry keywords are integrated throughout. In the case of a traditionally structured MS Word or Plain Text resume that contains a brief opening section before moving onto “Professional Experience” and finally closing sections listing education and other details, scanning is accomplished quickly and easily. However, creative resumes often subvert this process through adding unnecessary sections and generally not adhering to ATS requirements. The end result? More rejections.

2. Recruiters And Hiring Managers Dislike Them

Here’s the thing: while the flashy formatting of a creative resume might seem like a good way to nab a recruiter or hiring manager’s attention, in reality it does so for all the wrong reasons. These professionals evaluate hundreds of resumes looking for highly specific information such as what skills a candidate can bring to the table, what accomplishments he or she has accrued in their career, and what kind of training they’ve received. Every visual tweak and strange font usage is another obstacle preventing them from gleaning this information, and the hard truth is that most of the time they will opt to just move on to another candidate rather than continue to struggle with a non-standard resume.

3. When It Comes to Resumes, Simple=Professional

In today’s job search marketplace, content is king. Focus the bulk of your energy on making sure the content shines, keep the formatting bare bones, and get ready for the phone to start ringing with interview offers.

About the Author

Anish Majumdar, CPRW is a Career and Owner at www.ResumeOrbit.com. 98% of clients report and increase in interviews within 30 days, and all work comes backed by a 110% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee. Submit your resume for a free critique today!

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