These 3 resume supplements are visual resumes and serve as alternatives to a boring text resume. Isn’t it time you show your skills and expertise and grab more attention?
I frequently hear job seekers say:
If I could only get in front of someone, then I know I could prove I could do the job.
The reality is, it’s hard to get in front of someone with the authority to hire you. This is especially true in a competitive job market (when the unemployment rate is higher than normal).
If you are willing to make a bold move to get noticed then creating and using a resume supplement is worth a try.
What Proof Do You Have?
Here’s the question I want you to answer:
If you wanted to prove you could do the job, what would you send the hiring manager instead of your resume?
Well? What have you come up with?
The following 3 examples should get your creative juices flowing.
Visual Proof
I’ve long been a fan of visual resumes, not as a replacement to a resume but as a supplement to a resume.
Imagine having a conversation and presenting something visual that represents your career.
Better yet, imagine embedding a visual representation of your career in your LinkedIn profile? So few people, especially job seekers, use visual content in their profiles.
Visuals like charts, graphics, color design and images increase readership by 80%
Visme
If you can’t envision what to include that would visually represent your career, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.
I recently came across 3 resume supplements that provide visual proof of expertise. Be sure to see how and where to use them!
NEVER use resume supplements when applying online.
That is not their purpose. Nor will an ATS be able to read/parse visual information.
An Infographic
My Career Snapshot provides infographics that are expertly created by designers with fortune 500 experience. It was founded by Rex Roy, a communications and marketing executive.
Rex created this idea and company when he found himself looking for a job. He tapped his network of past colleagues to help design and produce the Career Shapshots. It’s a wonderful story of innovation and collaboration!
Here’s what one looks like.
To create My Career Snapshot, you need to identify the metrics/numbers that are meaningful to your career. But don’t worry. When you order yours, there’s a form you’ll be asked to complete to help prompt you.
The team at My Career Snapshot now provides 2 new options – you can add your photo/headshot or add social media icons to show where you’re active.
Pricing is suprisingly affordable.
Where To Use This
- Add it to the Featured section of your LinkedIn profile
- Share it as a status update on social media
- Email it to your contacts and new people you meet
- Send it as a supplement to your resume
Learn more about creating and using infographic resumes here.
An Online Portfolio
What if you had a portfolio that was a sample of your work? Instructional Designer and entrepreneur, Cara Negri, created an online portfolio that’s actually a course about her and her work.
Cara said she was inspired to create her online portfolio when she saw another elearning professional had one. She injects her own personality and style including a welcome video, downloadable resume and samples of her courses.
In fact, I’ve seen job seekers create gaming resumes, video resumes, and a resume that emulates an Amazon product page, just to name a few examples of creative online portfolios. See why employers like online portfolios.
Where To Use This
- Include a link to your online portfolio in your LinkedIn profile contact section.
- Include a link to it in your Featured section on LinkedIn
- Share the link as a post
- Send the link with your network and new people you meet
- Share the link on social media using hashtags and an interesting introduction.
Present Yourself
Literally. Consider creating a presentation that tells your story as you want it to be told. It’s just one more way to get someone to actually show an interest in your career.
A presentation resume is another form of resume supplement that allows you to inject some creativity while also highlighting your most important qualifications and characteristics. (I’ve shared presentation resume samples before.) Read 3 Inspiring Visual Resume Examples Using PowerPoint
Terrence Seamon is a transition coach who works with job seekers. One of his clients said they had an interview that asked them to create a presentation about himself. This is how Terrence shared the story on LinkedIn.
This was the inspiration for Terrence to create a PowerPoint template. It’s shared in his LinkedIn profile Featured section, which is exactly where you should put the one you create!
And here is the presentation template (free to download for anyone) he created to help other job seekers highlight their most valuable and marketable assets.
You could create an all-purpose presentation resume or you could customize one specifically for a job interview.
Where To Use This
- Include it in the Featured section of your LinkedIn profile.
- Upload it into SlideShare.
- Share it as a post on LinkedIn or anywhere on social media with a link back to the file on LinkedIn.
- Send this to your contacts via email or as a follow-up to a networking meeting, informational meeting, or deliver it during a job interview.
Learn more about creating and using a presentation resume here.
Do Something Different
Investing time to try something different is a small price to pay. When the job market is competitive (unemployment is high), it’s a good time to try new ideas to market yourself.
Some employers are looking for creativity or out-of-the-box thinking. You certainly demonstrate those qualities when you use visual resume supplements.
Video Is Another Option
If you don’t want to be “on camera” but do want to use video to stand out, be remembered and attract opportunities, there’s a solution.
CareerBrandVideosTM were developed to help active and passive job seekers increase their visibility and to expand their personal brand message.
Learn more and see examples here
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
