A CV is the most important document for any professional and it can help you land your dream job if made correctly. The purpose of a CV is to showcase all your experience, skills, and qualifications in an organized and easy-to-understand way to the hiring manager. A hiring manager might receive thousands of CVs daily and all the candidates might have the same qualifications as you, after all, they are applying for the same job as well. So, how do you present yourself as an exception?
Well, a well-written and formatted CV can do the job for you. Having an infographic CV can help increase the impact even more since they are not so common and chances are that no other candidate will have it. Using an infographic does have its pros and cons and this is why it is best to consider things thoroughly before you decide if you want to use an infographic. Here are some of the pros and cons of using an infographic CV:
Infographic CVs are visually appealing due to the fact that they have graphics and use images whereas regular CVs only contain text and bullets. According to professional CV writers in Pakistan, recruiters will definitely find an infographic more pleasing than a regular CV because it is pleasing to look at and will give them a break from all the basic CVs, they have been looking at all day.
Infographic CVs use minimum text and the information is presented in a concise way. They also have separate sections that are all different from each other, unlike a regular CV where all the sections look the same. This means that infographics are easy to read and comprehend. Just a look at an infographic and you will be able to spot the information you are looking for. This makes things easier for the recruiter and this is what might impress them.
An infographic CV will make you stand out from the other candidates and seeing the tough competition that exists in the job market nowadays, can make you win. With thousands of candidates applying for the same CV with the same regular CVs, the recruiter is bound to notice a candidate who shows up with an infographic CV that is really different from the rest of them.
An infographic is not suitable for all jobs, you cannot use it to apply for a job in a really professional corporate field or if you are applying for a senior executive position. It is also not recommended to use an infographic in the medical field. This is because the recruiters might view them as unprofessional and still not be open to them as they require traditional CVs.
According to professional CV writing services in Pakistan, infographics are suitable if you want to present all your skills and experience in a summarized way. Since there is not much space for writing detailed versions of everything, you will not be able to talk about the responsibilities, tasks, or accomplishments from your previous jobs in great detail. The recruiter might require more information and your CV might be rejected due to the lack of details and information.
One of the biggest cons of using an infographic CV is that it is not ATS-friendly. So, if you are applying in a multinational or any big company, it is recommended you do not use an infographic because they use Applicant Tracking Systems that will be unable to scan the format of an infographic which is either AI or PSD. An infographic CV might not even reach the recruiter as the ATS will reject it.
So, should you use an infographic or not? Well, it purely depends upon the type of job you are using it to apply for and the target job industry.
It is best to use an infographic CV when you are applying for a more creative job as it will showcase your creativity and all the skills that are relevant to the target job. Using an infographic to apply for creative jobs and jobs that require you to have a design sense will work to your benefit. Although there are no rules regarding not sending in an infographic for a corporate job, it is not recommended. Still, if you are using an infographic then make it as professional as it can be, do not use too many colors, and avoid inserting random headings.
You can also check if the job ad contains any specific requirements about the CV and you can also try to find out if the company you are applying to uses ATS software for the recruiting process or not. Here are some jobs where an infographic has a higher chance of working and actually impressing the recruiter:
Creative industries related to the Arts or Film and TV fields will be more open to infographic CVs and will highly value it if you use an infographic to apply. You can also attach your portfolio along with an infographic CV to make it even more effective. You can also look up the company you are applying for and try and incorporate their design sense in your CV to further create an impression.
However, if you are using an infographic to apply for a job in more corporate fields like Banking or Marketing, then it is best to choose a standard infographic template that has a minimal design. Another foolproof way to get around this problem is to send in an infographic CV along with a traditional CV. This will guarantee that the recruiter will like one or another. You can also include a professional Cover Letter with your infographic to show your professionalism.