Every year reports on hot resume trends come forth, encouraging job seekers to try new methods of making their resume stand out from the competition. Employment BOOST wanted to deliver to you a short report on the Resume Trends of 2013. Everything from video resumes to Twitter pitches are recommended—even colored paper is touted for being unique.
With every hot resume trend (or fad, as it often turns out), there is a hiring manager shaking his or her head. “Not every trend is appropriate for every candidate,” explains Vanessa Smith, a career services expert. “Certain positions can call for more creative designs or layout, but a clean, well-written resume is still the way to go for most professionals and executives.”
Avoid splashy or colorful resumes that resemble infographics unless you’re applying for an equally artistic job. Likewise, stick to clean layouts without distracting shapes or flourishes to keep the reader’s eye flowing down text naturally.
And while using social media like LinkedIn and Twitter are great supplements to the job search, they can’t replace the resume itself. Always have an up-to-date and well written resume on your computer to send out or bring along to interviews. It’s great if your LinkedIn Profile got you noticed, but you still need to send or bring your traditional resume to the one-on-one interview.
So the bottom line is this: it’s great to incorporate new trends to your resume if it applies to the industry you’re applying to. But don’t forget the most important part, which is the skills and experience you’re trying to convey to the reader. Make sure your accomplishments are what stand out, not the swirling Ed Hardy design on the edge of the paper.