The Infographic Resume: Pros, Cons and How-To

Pictures are not only worth a thousand words, they can also help you get a job. Visual content is more appealing to look at and can illustrate quickly, making them ideal for resumes. While many creative types are using infographic resumes, there are some situations in which you’ll want to stick to traditional text in presenting your work history. Learn the pros and cons of infographic resumes, and get tips on how you can create and use one to land a job.

Pros of Infographic Resumes

1. Stand out from the crowd. Competition is fierce for jobs. Being able to differentiate yourself from your competitors is crucial.

2. Visual appeal. As already mentioned, graphics are more interesting and appealing than documents full of text and bullet points.

3. Clearly showcase information. Infographics are designed to sort, arrange and showcase data in an easy to understand manner.

4. Easy to share online. Infographics work well in social media including LinkedIn, Pinterest and posting in an online portfolio. With a single link you can showcase your expertise in a visually compelling manner.

Cons of Infographic Resumes

1. Not all jobs are suited to infographic resumes. Many employers require traditional resumes because that’s what they’re used to and expect. Some employers may use an Applicant Tracking System that scans and looks for keywords to measure the applicant’s fit to the job. That type of scanning doesn’t work with infographics, which means you’re resume would be weeded out.

2. Not all employers are open to infographic resumes. Traditions die hard. There is a difference between differentiating yourself and being annoyingly clever.

3. Infographic resume may be perceived as less professional.

When to Use an Infographic Resume

Because they’re still not accepted by all employers, you should continue to use a traditional text resume when applying for jobs. However, because employers will likely do a web search on you, having your infographic online can be a great way to show off your creativity and seriousness in finding a job. Some places to use an infographic include:

1) Your website or blog.

2) Online portfolio.

3) LinkedIn profile.

4) Pinterest page.

How to Create an Infographic Resume

There are services, such as Vizualize.me and Vizify, that will help you make an infographic resume based on your social media content. The key points to remember in creating an infographic resume are:

1) Cover all the important aspects required on resumes, such as education and job history.

2) Make it easy to read and understand. Your infographic shouldn’t be overly cluttered.

3) Condense data into readily understood snippets. Work timelines and other measurable statistics are easily represented visually.

4) Include a photo of you and contact information.

Republished by permission. Original here.

Infographic Resume photo via Shutterstock

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