What is an Infographic Resume? Examples, Templates, and When to Use It

Everyone knows that competition for a job is stiff now, so everyone has to move to the next level to get a job. But what is an infographic resume and how does one determine when to use it? In this blog, we will explain what infographic resumes are, show you some samples and templates, and guide you on creating a perfect infographic resume that could get you noticed during the hiring process.

What is an Infographic Resume?

An infographic resume is defined as an identification of the job seeker's work background in a graphic format. It is not just text-based like a conventional resume; the infographic resume makes use of graphic interface constituents like icons, graphic timelines, graphic illustrations, graphs, and charts to relay data to you.

The purpose of an infographic resume is to present oneself for the job in the form of a graphical view that assists the employer or the recruiter to glance through the resume to see the skills, experiences, and achievements. It is an excellent method of differentiation, particularly when it comes to industries that embrace design, innovation, and techniques.

When to Use an Infographic Resume

Although infographic resumes provide excellent first impression statements the technique does not apply to every job. Here are some things to consider before opting for this visual format:

Application Tracking System:

Many companies filter resumes using ATS software without even reaching the human eye. Visual graphics can pose a challenge to ATS to read and understand, and as such, if you are using an infographic resume format and load your resume with images, it may not be read by ATS or will be partly read and misunderstood. It is always important to look at the job description to confirm whether an infographic resume is allowed.

Industry Consideration:

Infographic resumes should be used in creative industries such as graphic designing, marketing, advertising, and technology due to the flexibility in presenting design creativity. However, if you are looking to get a more conservative job in finance, law, or the health sector and all that, then you are better off going with the conventional format for a resume. 

Role Relevance:

If the job is creative and your skill is in your ability to present complicated information, then an infographic resume will help you stand out. However, if the job neither requires the creativity nor informality that a portfolio may imply or if the position, for professional or occupational reasons, requires a stiffer, more formal document, then traditional resume format may be preferable.

Infographic Resume Templates

It is simple to create an infographic resume because there exist several tools and templates. Here are a few template styles you can explore, depending on your needs and the job you're applying for:

1. Simple Infographic Resume Template

For those who avoid complex designs, a list of skills and experience in a graphic context may be created using a simple infographic template. For example, Venngage’s simple infographic resume template has lots of white space, sharp lines, and distinct sections to help you include your most important skills (like software savvy) without foregoing important non-work aspects of your life, like your hobbies and achievements.

Tip: Overall having round icons and a clean, easily-to-read layout helps to tie all the resumes together into one single design element.

2. Graphic Design Infographic Resume Template

Therefore, for creative workers such as graphic designers, this template is perfect. It comes with high prospects of attracting attention through sight. A brief overview of the applicant’s skills is provided on top of the design, which gives the reader get horizontal expertise perception. This template is perfect for those career fields that involve aesthetics and design prowess in equal measure.

Tip: To begin with the layout at the top is eye-popping, which offers an overview of an applicant’s skills and it’s possible to grasp their competencies at first sight.

3. Marketing Infographic Resume Template

A marketing infographic resume template is a perfect combination of glamour and order. It includes a combination of technical skills and education and includes a work experience timeline at the bottom. It was developed specifically to meet the needs of marketing professionals who need to present their career advancement along with skills and achievements.

Tip: The progress bar at the bottom helps the audience remember career accomplishments comprehensively by illustrating a person’s advancement in their field.

How to Make an Infographic Resume

Creating an effective infographic resume requires careful planning and attention to design principles. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make your own:

1. Start with a Good Structure

Before diving into design, establish the structure of your resume. Decide on key sections such as:

Contact Information: Make sure this is prominent at the top.

Experience: What roles will you include? Will you focus on your current role or previous positions as well?

Skills: Should your technical skills or soft skills be highlighted first?

Education: How will this fit into the layout?

Tools like Canva, Venngage, and Adobe Spark offer user-friendly templates to help you start building your design. Choose a template that suits your style and the job you're applying for.

2. Take Note of Everything You Want to Include

Once you have the structure, collect the data that you want to bring out into the open. Think about key metrics from your previous roles that can be displayed visually, such as:

• Sales growth
• Social media engagement
• Team performance

These are tangible outcomes, useful to showcase in a chart, graph, or any other way.

3. Select a Sustainable Theme

The choice of color that you use on your infographic resume determines the appearance of the resume. Select colors that are representative of your brand but are not hard for the eyes to read when it comes to the resume. For instance, using black and white together with a shocking color which could be teal or orange is perfect since it is not overpowering.

4. Craft a Strong Opener

The first area of your infographic resume is the best in terms of impact; it will be the first thing that a potential employer will notice on your resume. In this section, briefly outlining your value proposition is important,  it involves what makes you tick and how you would improve the organization. Ensure it is short and sweet but sweet enough to make the reader sit up and take notice!

5. Follow Design Principles

Adherence to good design practices is essential when creating an infographic resume that will not only look good but will also be effective. Keep in mind:

• Balance: Two forms of design can be used to attain a sense of harmony in design and they include symmetrical forms and asymmetrical forms.
• Contrast: Avoid cluttering important data points in which one or more distinguishable sub-elements may be rendered significant (for instance, skills or achievements).
• Unity: The result of this should be a situation where all elements of design complement each other.

In particular, to make the principle work, even when using creativity in resumes, be sure to keep the design of the resume simple and easy to grasp. The end goal is to have a resume that can be quickly read by the recruiter.

6. Make It Actionable

List links to your digital portfolio, profile on LinkedIn, or personal blog site or website. It also means that recruiters can look into your work and yourself with a minimum of effort. These links make your infographic resume more practical and constitute an additional chance to explain more skills.

Infographic Resume Examples

Here are a few examples of different types of infographic resumes:

1. Bright, illustrative, and heavily icon-used CV

This type of resume uses bright colors, and if they are to be used, some important points are illustrated with graphics. For instance, numbers and bar graphs help to highlight the experience in years, accomplishments in terms of sales, or any other numeric performance. It will be useful for someone in a creative or marketing position who wishes to demonstrate creativity in combination with career success.

2. Data-Heavy Infographic Resume

A data-heavy resume focuses on numbers and statistics to emphasize achievements. When you say ‘45% YoY growth’ or “1,400 new subscribers’, numbers are shown and make it easier for recruiters to grasp what you have contributed in previous positions.

3. Minimal Infographic Resume

The most modest of all infographic resumes is the one that features only a few graphical elements. For instance, a basic bar graph or pictogram might state the level of efficiency or effectiveness in the extraction or analysis of some skills. This style is best for individuals who want to balance technical skills with creative elements without overwhelming the reader.

4. Traditional with Graphic Elements

For candidates who wish to dress up their resume but also want to keep it conventional, this resume format retains all main sections with main elements in the form of icons and small graphical representations. As such, it is perfect for those who don’t prefer extreme creativity but still want to stand out.

Conclusion

An infographic resume is one of the most unique and effective ways of presenting oneself when seeking a job. But before that, it is always recommendable whether that particular resume format fits the position and the line of job you are applying for. Suppose you have designed your resume considering the guidelines mentioned above and ensured it is scannable. In that case, you’ll have a different, well-designed resume that enhances your chances of getting your desired job.

Ready to get started? Analyse samples select your format, and build a resume in terms of design and content that reflects your overall expertise. However, make sure that it is not too complicated, well-explained, and specific to the position you have applied for.