{"id":139640,"date":"2015-02-10T13:00:26","date_gmt":"2015-02-10T19:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/?p=8432"},"modified":"2024-01-18T10:11:29","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T16:11:29","slug":"formal-resume-versus-creative","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/formal-resume-versus-creative\/","title":{"rendered":"The Differences Between a Formal Resume and Creative One"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many designers will remember taking classes that focused on how to format a resume. Usually, you would open Microsoft Word, learn how to properly align text, and discuss the embellishments that were acceptable to add. You may even remember being scolded for trying to think outside the box. As a creative, it’s hard not to feel stuck in a cage of boring design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many designers will share similar frustrations when building a traditional resume. But luckily for creatives, we live in a world where you can use blue, or any other color, anywhere you want on a resume. Designers have the option to not only have a formal resume, but a creative one, also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point you may be asking, \u201cWhy does it matter?\u201d or \u201cDo I really need both?\u201d The short answer is: Yes, you do. Because even though creative and formal resumes are both, well, resumes, they have a lot of differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re Physically Nothing Alike<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned before, formal resumes follow a very specific format. If you stray too much from the guidelines, your resume just looks wrong. In a pile, it will stand out in a negative way. You pretty much need to stick to the black-and-white, grid layout that everyone else is doing to have what\u2019s considered a successful formal resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"image<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Creative resumes, on the other hand, allow you to break the rules. If you want a colorful header, go for it. If you want your resume to look like an infographic, with more icons than words, no one can stop you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the fun of a creative resume; you can share information about yourself in whatever way you want. It\u2019s like designing a printed version of your logo or website. It\u2019s a design free-for-all with essentially no limitations other than your own creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re Not Created for the Same Purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your formal resume is meant to share your facts in a very clear and concise manner. Employers know exactly what information they can expect to see and exactly where to expect it on the page. These resumes are created to make your written qualifications easy to read and recognizable to employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formal resumes tell <\/i>employers why you should be hired. Creative resumes show<\/i> them why you\u2019re the right fit for the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your creative resume might not even have all of the same information that your formal resume does. But it doesn\u2019t matter, because you\u2019re literally demonstrating the skills you normally list on a formal resume. There\u2019s no question about your level of expertise with a creative resume. You\u2019re proving that you\u2019re awesome at your skillset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"example<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Creative resumes are also great at showing off your personality. Since you get to create it however you want, you can put some character into it. Instead of simply saying, \u201cThis is who I am as an employee,\u201d you can say, \u201cThis is who I am as a person.\u201d Build a creative resume when you want to share a particular story about yourself, instead of sharing the buttoned-up, corporate version of it like you would in your formal resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re Not Created for the Same Audience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No matter how proud you are of your creative resume, you have to face the fact that not every employer will be amused by it. If you\u2019re applying to a creative agency, sure! They\u2019ll probably love it. They\u2019ll probably even expect<\/i> you to submit a creative resume. If you find yourself applying to a large corporation, however, it\u2019s best not to risk it and stick with submitting a traditional, formal resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have to think about the audience receiving your resume. Is their company culture casual and fun, or more professional and formal? Using the wrong type of resume is an easy way to throw away a job opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Both at the Ready<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, formal resumes and creative resumes are very different documents, so it\u2019s important to have both completed and on hand at all times. You never know when a new opportunity is going to come your way. Having your story ready to be told both creatively and formally means you\u2019re ready to grab that new gig before it slips by!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a digital resume or portfolio to enhance your application, make sure it’s hosted with WP Engine! We provide lightning-fast WordPress hosting<\/a> to ensure your site or sites load quickly from anywhere in the world!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many designers will remember taking classes that focused on how to format a resume. Usually, you would open Microsoft Word, learn how to properly align text, and discuss the embellishments that were acceptable to add. You may even remember being scolded for trying to think outside the box. As a creative, it’s hard not to…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146980,"template":"","resource-topic":[1396],"resource-role":[1397],"resource-type":[916],"class_list":["post-139640","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Differences Between a Formal Resume and Creative One<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As a creative person, it can be frustrating to be confined to a formal resume template. 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