Designing a Digital CV to sell yourself

In graphic design, we know the importance that a pictures has, it is capable of transmitting important and long-lasting messages. Speaking of image, did you know that your CV can speak much more than you if you take care of your design?
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A design is the practical and aesthetic solution for a problem. Whether to transmit a message in advertising, give identity to a brand, and even for your personal image, taking the design as a tool to sell you and show all your skills when searching for a job will show you how you can make your CV stand out from the others.

As a blank canvas begins with the first strokes...
Introduce yourself, as a brief but direct cover letter allows the reader to know a little of you, your name, profession, age, interests, what you expect to achieve in life or a project in which you are working on. Be careful with your writing because it shows your personality and do not exaggerate in this part, it is just the beginning and you don’t want them to get bored.

1. Highlight your experience and achievements 

It is perhaps the most important part in a CV, shows that you are a person capable, organized and secure, work experience will be a big factor when choosing you as a candidate in a vacancy and you bragging about every aspect that you've developed. If you don't have experience in your profession speak about anything else that you have made, your development by doing this, your accomplishments, never leave this section in blank, remember that employers are looking for self-confident people, show yourself versatile, that you are in constant learning and you’re capable of everything.

2. Mention your skills 

As speak from your experience, now make clear that you're skillful, use keywords depending on your profession, software that you have mastered, machinery that you drive, tools you know and can use, languages, any knowledge of something is your tool and you must take advantage of it.

3. Mention your abilities

Key phrases work perfectly here, you can describe yourself as a person able to solve problems, to act smartly under pressure, be good working individually and in teams, creative, innovative, responsible, with values of respect and tolerance, for this point be careful not to sound like a cliche, think your sentences, make them match with your experience. ​

4. Choose the visual content 

Now there’s something that will make the difference of a common to a different CV. 
The visual content is the first impression, much before reading all your information, you must draw attention in a positive way with the design of your CV, choose colors, the arrangement, the typography, and a good picture of you, your photo must be current, It makes it clear that you are ready for the moment and is not an old file that you upgraded a bit. Show a picture according to your profession or the profile of the position for which you postulated. If you are a lawyer or you postulate for a vacancy in a corporate, pose serious, formal dress, but do not look angry. If your job or vacancy is something more relaxed, such as graphic design or human resources, you can smile, appear in black and white, color, with less formal wear, but always with good presentation. The photo is important because it can reflect the confidence and degree of professionalism that you give to your image. In terms of colors and the placement of the sections, will depend on what you want to convey, seriousness, creativity and enthusiasm because, how do you want to look like?  Do you want to show a personality extrovert, artistic, conservative, formal, neat... ?
The design can be simple but well-highlighting sections of interest in your CV will extend beyond the others. Take this as the first tool to sell your image, show you different. ​

5. Diversify your CV 

Keep your resume available in several ways, online, LinkedIn, such as a download, saved in USB and sure, printed, because a CV with your own design will always make the difference of common leaves purchased in a stationery store. Spread your CV as much as you can, you'll have more chances to get interviews.
Remember to express yourself positively when you talk about you, your experiences and skills, check out the meaning of the colors, the best reading on web fonts and play with the arrangement of the sections as often as necessary to highlight your strengths.
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There are web pages with design tools that can facilitate the creation of your CV, for example: Canva

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Betzabé Guzmán
Graphic Designer at LAAgencia

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