When crafting a resume, several expert suggestions should be considered, such as ensuring that the language used mirrors that of the job description and your experience, incorporating strong verbs to describe your responsibilities in each role effectively, and quantifying your achievements with impressive figures.
In terms of making an impact, one might question whether adding additional elements to their resume is beneficial. For instance, would incorporating accent colors like green or purple be advantageous instead of using the standard black font?
Stefanie Fackrell, a former NVIDIA recruiter turned HR consultant, discourages this approach, stating that it can come across as gimmicky. She generally advises making your resume "boring" instead, emphasizing the exclusion of colors, charts, graphs, or pictures.
Creativity Over Legibility
Regarding the use of colorful fonts, experts concur that its suitability largely hinges on the specific industry you belong to.
Julie Bauke, founder and chief career strategist at The Bauke Group, notes that there is generally less interest in having a creative approach in professions like accounting or IT. This principle likely extends to other sectors, such as finance and medicine. Bauke recommended sticking with standard fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri, in 11-point size, with black text on a white or cream-colored background.
However, in fields where creativity is valued, such as graphic design or animation, there is more flexibility to experiment. If you work in one of these fields, consider whether your resume could serve as an extension of the artistic voice you aim to express when applying for your next position. If it does, think about what elements would effectively convey that voice.
Octavia Goredema, a career coach and author of "Prep, Push, Pivot," also emphasizes the importance of considering legibility, noting that bright colors can be challenging to read. If you have opted for a color other than black, it is advisable to print out your resume and check its legibility before finalizing it for use.
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Color Will Not Make Any Difference in Your Skills
If you decide to include color, ensure the rest of your resume stays neat and follows a standard layout. Bauke stresses the significance of simplicity in resume design, highlighting that excessive use of boxes, colors, and arrows can lead to confusion. Clarity is essential for ensuring that others can readily comprehend one's experience and objectives.
Goredema suggests seeking guidance from a senior professional in your industry, preferably someone involved in hiring decisions, if you are uncertain about your chosen resume design. Furthermore, Goredema emphasizes that the color of the font will not matter if your skills, expertise, and accomplishments are not pertinent to the position you are applying for.
Ensure that your resume highlights relevant experience and impactful bullet points demonstrating why the employer should consider hiring you, irrespective of purple font, squiggly underlines, or any other quirky design element.
