CV Ideas

I really like this i accidently stumbled across it, its very much something i would create in fact i recently did a project working with origami and had the idea to made a really visual CV using origami and pattern work, both are closely connected to me and my work. What i like about the above CV is that its layout and design could work across a range of media using the same layout and style.

My current idea for my CV i mentioned above is similar to the photograph below, i really want it to look interesting and to make my potential clients interested before they even read the contents, i feel it needs to be something to capture their attention and interest not just blend in with everyone else's.

Interesting CV

Soap isn't the usual CV but these were used as a fundraising partnership in Tennessee, they were use to help strengthen the bond between themselves, their work and the client. Not the obvious CV but i like the quirky side to them.

CVs and Portfolios

curriculum vitae [ˈviːtaɪ ˈvaɪtiː]

n pl curricula vitae

(Business / Industrial Relations & HR Terms) an outline of a person's educational and professional history, usually prepared for job applications Abbreviation CV

[Latin, literally: the course of one's life]

Structure and Presentation

The layout should be, informative, easy to read and printed on good quality paper.

It should use short sentences.

Use the same type throughout.

Avoid gimmicks like brightly coloured paper or folded airplanes.

Content to include in my CV

• Name
• Occupation
• Address
• Telephone Number
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Nationality
• Marital Status
• Next of Kin
• Health
• Driving License
• Religion
• National Insurance Number
• Secondary Education
• Higher Education
• Professional Qualifications
• Employment History (chronological)
• Other (interests, achievements)

As well include a few core clean line pieces of work, nothing roughly put together or traced.

http://www.graphic-design-employment.com/graphic-design-resumes.html

I have been browsing around and found this blogs comments quite interesting, its nice to see others are a little confused but it also has some different ideas to cv's such as the cv on the t-shirt i think this is a really interesting and quirky idea which would be really beneficial to think of something different to appeal to a larger area of industry.

http://www.graphicdesignblog.co.uk/how-creative-should-a-designers-cv-be/

Tips for a creative CV

Start by producing a standard CV. Only when the wording is excellent consider into something that is a bit different: get the content right before focusing on the design. The considerations for 'Creative CVs' aren't that much different from normal CVs. It is the content and presentation that will make the impact and not gimmicks. Eccentric CVs can put off employers. CVs have to be filed. How can you file a 3 dimensional CV?

A well designed CV would be expected from students who have studied a design-related degree. You need to balance eye-catching/different with a sharp and professional promotion of your style. Presentation is particularly important but that does not necessarily mean an unusual CV. These are difficult to compose and tend to detract from the key purpose of the CV (the range of skills that relate to the job). Your creative skills can be assessed via the portfolio.

It's the content, practical skills, and work experience that employers are particularly interested in. and evidence of what you have created: listings of exhibitions etc. and work experience take priority over education. For example for a multimedia CV include your technical skills (Flash, Maya, Photoshop XHTML etc.) For advertising jobs, evidence of an interest in music, art, photography or film may help.

Provide a link on your CV to a web site with examples of projects from your portfolio. Let your real work do the talking, not the CV layout. Work experience used to demonstrate the soft skills that most employers want - teamwork , customer service etc. Creativity is demonstrated in your portfolio not your CV.

Once you do start introducing more of a design element to a CV you have to recognise that this is more of a high risk strategy. Some recruiters may love your design, others may hate it, so show your CV to other people first.

The same will go for many big organisations. Where they have specialized recruitment functions, a well formatted CV will always work better. One large advertising agency recommended a standard CV. Some smaller companies may like a more individual approach. They may be more impressed by an unusual CV because they have fewer to look at.

Online Portfolios

I felt it would be a positive move to post some online portfolios that i really like and inspire me when creating both my physical portfolio and online.

This first portfolio if for Jenny Su Kostecki-Shaw, what i really like about this is the hand crafted look its still has, it hasn't moved too far into the digital look. I this this sort of style would really suit my online portfolio it fits in with my style of work.

She hasn't piled too much on the screen, to take away from the illustrations, its easy to navigate around with forward and back buttons and along the top navigation bar, this different types of work she has produced set out, illustration, books etc. There is one improvement i feel this portfolio could have is to state what the piece of work it is showing has been used for.

The second online portfolio is for Serial Cut, it is very clear and interesting to move around. They don't have much white space which adds to the the clean quality the portfolio has. The whole website is based around the portfolio, with it full of work. Each section is clearly set out with different types of work separated, this really helps you find what your specifically interested in rather than having to look at everything. This portfolio also includes small descriptions with each image which i really like.