A few years back, presenting an infographic résumé was something completely unthinkable, even if you were applying to a job where creativity and graphic skills were important. It simply didn’t happen. Then, with the rise of the online portfolios and social networks like Behance and DevianArt, it became more common for graphic designers to present their professional background and skills with a more visual appeal.
But now, they seem to be everywhere, a trend greatly motivated by success stories like Chris Spurlock’s, who got hired by The Huffington Post after his infographic résumé went viral. Soon, web services that transform your social media activity and LinkedIn profile into visual displays start popping up, making it possible for those without the necessary graphic abilities to have their own illustrated curriculum.
Now, even with all of this ‘frenzin’ going on, those ‘in the real world’ know how hard it is to get a job using an infographic resumé. Recruitment agencies and headhunters, in general, are not yet comfortable with this new format, so be sure you know to whom you’re sending your CV before getting your expectations too high. Above all, look for creative environments that see the value of the work you put into making your infographic résumé.
The best option, for now, is to look at this type of display as an addon to the traditional format. And if you decide to create your own, look around for examples, like the ones we bring here today. They range from the most complex ones to others that are more minimalistic in their approach. Both types can be effective, if the objective is to stand out from the crowd.
And one final piece of advice: be creative, but be professional, which means, it’s your brand you’re building. Take good care of it.
Hope you enjoy these examples:
Shelley Ward (actually, an autobiography, but an amazing one)
Keith Paul
Alessandra de Robertis
Michelle Campbell
Mohit Lakhmani
Angelo Sandron
Brad Crabtree
Paulo Estriga
Avinash Birambole
Raquel Ferreira
Bob Vermeersch
Loyez Geoffrey
Luis Manuel Amaro
Usen Esiet
Benothman Najer
Dealmeida Romanelli
Scott Stedman
Ana Lourenço
Omondi Abudho
Alan Dangerfield
Mark Simmons
Daan van Hulten
Ana Rita Cruz
Werner Schrul
Victor Westman
Branko Vukelic Yamasaki
Duncan McKean
Ryan de Cua
Tania Bakkes
If these are not enough, our Pinterest board has dozens of other examples and it’s being constantly updated. And if you decide to create yours, share it with us on Twitter or Facebook, we’ll be happy to add it to the colection.
Written by Tiago Veloso
Tiago Veloso is the founder and editor of Visualoop and Visualoop Brasil . He is Portuguese, currently based in Bonito, Brazil.