

Self promotion ideas: Novel resumes - miller_f
http://blogof.francescomugnai.com/2011/04/self-promotion-ideas-15-new-modern-and-inspirational-resumes/

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achompas
These "datavis" resumes exemplify everything that's wrong with data
visualization today:

(1) cluttered and distracting

(2) vapid (a Frank Zappa quote and a timeline with tank top reference? a
quarter page for a pie chart of one's intangibles?)

(3) terrible at actually visualizing data or information (okay...what,
exactly, can these people do relative to others?)

They're beautiful resumes, for sure. But their ideas for communicating
information are too clever, and if I'm hiring a datavis guy I would wonder how
effectively they could visualize real information.

~~~
rsoto
I agree with you, but I'd rather deliver a distracting, cluttered resume than
a boring one. Anyways, most of the time, the resumes tell you very little
about the person. Delivering one that's different tells you more of what you
can expect, even if it's not a creative job, IMHO.

~~~
achompas
_I'd rather deliver a distracting, cluttered resume than a boring one._

I similarly agree with you, except that these poorly-visualized resumes would
hurt if applying for datavis jobs. Why would I hire someone if they cannot
even communicate their experience effectively?

They convey almost no information about the applicant, and they're surely
worse at communicating info than a resume in Garamond that reads "worked with
SQL, Python, and CSS/HTML/JS for 2 years."

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sumeetjain
Some of the posted samples were interesting. The one from Rebecca Baxter
(<http://www.behance.net/gallery/Infographic-CV-Resume/1175821>) was the most
interesting for me, since it offered ideas I might actually use. She seemed
interested in discovering new ways of presenting her information usefully.
Most of the rest seem like they were just motivated by a desire to be
different.

\---

 _Note for miller_f:_

On my 13" MacBook, your website's design is confusing.

The _Info_ section on the left contains the title of the blog post, but it's
pushed down partly below the fold. It took me "forever" to figure out that
it's the post's title.

Then the _Post_ section in the middle begins with a 280px-square ad, which
pushes almost everything but the first header of your post below the fold. And
since that header isn't the post title, it doesn't instantly register that the
post is even there.

Finally, I think it's a symptom of poor design that you need text which
literally points to the "Post" section.

~~~
alecperkins
It's horribly confusing on a larger screen, too. There's no hierarchy or
distinction between ad, meta-info, and actual content.

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cborodescu
I find this a great idea of self-promotion, IF you are looking to get hired in
a creative environment/job/company. It might even do the difference between
you and someone who is not chosen for he job, due to the way in which you show
you are open and willing to work.

But if you are applying for a job like a more down-to-earth straight-up
programmer or a construction engineer, all those little charts, the QR, and
everything shown in the article will dazzle the employer, but won't convince
him you are the best choice for his company - he needs straight facts, not
pretty colored "pies" with information about you.

All in all, it is best you use the format that best reflects your abilities
and your work, but always keep in mind the employer's profile.

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GBKS
5 years ago when I was applying to lots of agencies I sent out custom links to
each one. So when they landed on the site, their company name was used in big
letters at the top of the page ("Hi company X"). It also allows for tracking
whether they actually look at your site. It's easy to do, shows that you're
not just spamming people, and is not as involved as some of those more intense
examples that target one specific company.

------
epenn
I like the ideas of finding non-traditional ways to communicate with would-be
employers. For ex, using Facebook pictures as the article mentions. Similarly,
although perhaps not quite as creative, I like the idea of using submissions
and metrics from various job-related websites if available: Hacker News, Stack
Overflow, etc.

I question the usefulness of the brochure resume from the article though. In
my experience most of my prospective employers have wanted resumes emailed to
them rather than given to them physically. Even the ones that do want a
physical copy will find it harder to store/organize them along with the rest
of most-likely paper resumes that are given to them. Although in that respect
I suppose that would make yours stand out that much more. Actually, I think my
opinion has changed since the beginning of this paragraph. :-P If you're
submitting a resume in person, via snail-mail, etc, it's probably a great way
to get it better noticed.

I come from more of an engineering background though, rather than the graphic
design background that this post seems to be more geared towards. What kinds
of experiences have people had with these types of resumes?

~~~
kgtm
Web-based HR systems that require filling in web forms to stitch your CV
together are the worst. You instantly go from "cool infographic resume" to
.nfo/ASCII-art resume. Whatever happened to simple e-mail attachments...

~~~
sili
Could the forms be a security measure? Is it really smart for your company
employees to be opening hundreds of PDF and Word files sent from random
strangers?

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sili
This is a horrible page design. It literally took me minutes to figure out
where the main content of the post is and where are the navigation and info
links. Add to that the fact that the first link I clicked in the main post
turned out to be an embedded ad.

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skrebbel
I don't know where those guys live, but on my planet all resumes are
communicated as PDFs. Nearly all shown examples lose some or all of their
power when not in physical form.

That said, it seems it's most designers' resumes so maybe that's why. I wonder
what CVs could be cooked up for more technical and/or organisational
positions. A github printout comes to mind.

~~~
oscardelben
<http://resume.github.com>

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FiddlerClamp
Or check out my creative resume, which was designed to be sent as plain text.
It was originally a response to a job site that required me to fit my
experience into boring little boxes...
[http://www.scribd.com/full/39705569?access_key=key-
cwlk7b9tf...](http://www.scribd.com/full/39705569?access_key=key-
cwlk7b9tfinftw80ul9)

------
haraball
I like this guy's idea, which adds a hacker flavor to the resume concept. He
created a business card with his CV on it, and handed it out on a job fare:

<http://www.aftenposten.no/jobb/article4063965.ece>

