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.