I really don't think it is a good idea to make them colorful and over designed. I think you should keep it very simple and clean. Maybe only 1 color, if any. Your resume needs to speak for itself with your experience, not graphics and colors. You should be very clear and careful how your word your experiences as well. My current employer had an ad on craigslist for a while and showed me some really awful ones she got. They were all colorful and over designed. I created mine in illustrator so I could have control over the text spacing and such.
I find it a lot easier to use a tool like InDesign to get a very clean and sleek layout- I wouldn't even touch MS word if you have the option.
trace™
May 17, 11 8:29 am
Abra - that is a good example of a nice improvement.
Same rules apply to all design: clarity and hierarchy. Keep it clean and simple, if using color make sure it is nothing over the top.
Illustrator is a perfect tool for resume making.
J. James R.
May 17, 11 9:23 am
Thanks for that Abraham. That redesigned resume finally gives me a perfect solution for how to demonstrate odd jobs, professional organization roles and volunteering positions!
tcbearth
May 17, 11 2:11 pm
,
Thanks so much all! The GOOD example is great, and there's certainly a lot of food for thought in at smashingmagazine.
da_la
May 17, 11 2:12 pm
keep it simple and clean. be creative with your portfolio. they usually go together.
vado retro
May 17, 11 2:26 pm
don't fear the serif.
drums please, Fab?
May 17, 11 2:53 pm
i shot the serif
but i did not shoot lithography
x intern
Dec 22, 14 11:18 am
My resume looks very similar to the one on the good site and I've had good luck with it. As a design professional at least include a one page teaser with your resume. Your resume and portfolio should be well laid out and easy to read. The work should speak for itself and if you have to splash crazy unrelated graphics, weird back grounds or a lot of effects around to make it look good the issue isn't resume or portfolio layout.
Mr_Wiggin
Dec 22, 14 12:00 pm
Old thread, but if it's going to be a repository for knowledge I'll add a great resource that I used. No Plastic Sleeves
They have a book out as well with a new edition that was published this year. Best comprehensive portfolio/resume/self-marketing resource I've found.
Bench
Dec 22, 14 12:37 pm
I also found No Plastic Sleeves a great resource. In addition, I supplemented it with Harold Linton's Portfolio Design - http://portfoliodesign.com/ . I was only able to get an older copy, so most of the technical information was out-of-date, but the principles were all there and very helpful. They've since released a newer copy (2012 I think?), which I can only assume is even more insightful.
Does any one have good suggestions for CV/resume design - helpful sites or samples?
Not necessarily recommending any of these, but you might get some ideas:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/01/10-handy-tips-for-web-design-cvs-and-resumes/
Google is your friend ;-)
I really don't think it is a good idea to make them colorful and over designed. I think you should keep it very simple and clean. Maybe only 1 color, if any. Your resume needs to speak for itself with your experience, not graphics and colors. You should be very clear and careful how your word your experiences as well. My current employer had an ad on craigslist for a while and showed me some really awful ones she got. They were all colorful and over designed. I created mine in illustrator so I could have control over the text spacing and such.
I always though this was a good example.
http://www.good.is/post/good-redesigns-a-readers-resume/
I find it a lot easier to use a tool like InDesign to get a very clean and sleek layout- I wouldn't even touch MS word if you have the option.
Abra - that is a good example of a nice improvement.
Same rules apply to all design: clarity and hierarchy. Keep it clean and simple, if using color make sure it is nothing over the top.
Illustrator is a perfect tool for resume making.
Thanks for that Abraham. That redesigned resume finally gives me a perfect solution for how to demonstrate odd jobs, professional organization roles and volunteering positions!
,
Thanks so much all! The GOOD example is great, and there's certainly a lot of food for thought in at smashingmagazine.
keep it simple and clean. be creative with your portfolio. they usually go together.
don't fear the serif.
i shot the serif
but i did not shoot lithography
My resume looks very similar to the one on the good site and I've had good luck with it. As a design professional at least include a one page teaser with your resume. Your resume and portfolio should be well laid out and easy to read. The work should speak for itself and if you have to splash crazy unrelated graphics, weird back grounds or a lot of effects around to make it look good the issue isn't resume or portfolio layout.
Old thread, but if it's going to be a repository for knowledge I'll add a great resource that I used. No Plastic Sleeves
They have a book out as well with a new edition that was published this year. Best comprehensive portfolio/resume/self-marketing resource I've found.
I also found No Plastic Sleeves a great resource. In addition, I supplemented it with Harold Linton's Portfolio Design - http://portfoliodesign.com/ . I was only able to get an older copy, so most of the technical information was out-of-date, but the principles were all there and very helpful. They've since released a newer copy (2012 I think?), which I can only assume is even more insightful.