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10 Creative And Eye-Catching Résumés That Are Practically Impossible To Ignore
By Aqila Xiao Qi, 14 Mar 2016

A good résumé not only has the ability to stand out in a pile, but should be one that is a clear reflection of the person who designed it. While there are plenty of résumé templates out there for you to pick from and use, it may be a tad trickier to mould it into something that is truly personalized.
Understanding the importance of creating a résumé design that is both attractive and aligned with your personal style, we have compiled a list of 10 original, eye-catching résumés that are creatively conceptualized and practically impossible to ignore.
These selections will hopefully get your creative juices flowing, helping you to create something that you can be excited about to send to your favorite companies and transforming the mundane application process into a stimulating experience.
Check out some of our favorite résumé designs below.
1. Newspaper grid system

Image via João Andrade

Image via João Andrade
Following a grid system and bold typography strongly influenced by the traditional newspaper layout, the familiar aesthetic allows for designer João Andrade to express his experience and skillset with clarity.
2. A “Top Secret” report

Image via Vidar Olufsen

Image via Vidar Olufsen
Drawing inspiration from a design studio who said they will “file him” for later, Norwegian graphic designer Vidar Olufsen designed a physical résumé that creatively mimics the“top secret” files commonplace in the law enforcement environment. Composed of neutral colors and official-looking insignias, this is one unorthodox résumé that will surely get you noticed!
3. Infographic style” report

Image via Ana Lourenço

Image via Ana Lourenço
An infographic-style résumé is a simple solution to display plenty of information without getting too wordy. Taking cues from Austrian graphic designer Ana Lourenço’s CV, the smart use of graphics to represent a timeline of your experience, the creative fields you are well-versed in and more, can effectively translate your wealth of skills in a visually appealing way.
4. Creative graphs and charts

Image via Alysa Choudri
Injecting a dose of your personal style into the graphs and charts used in your résumé is an easy way to give a template a complete makeover. Try applying your signature aesthetic or colour combinations onto the basic visuals to transform them into attractive graphics that will enliven your entire résumé.
5. Clean and minimalistic

Image via Fernando Báez
If you are into a minimalistic and timeless aesthetic, this résumé design will be right up your alley. Featuring sleek, simple graphics and an obvious absence of color, the résumé design offers a clutter-free skeleton to present your most important information.
6. Illustration and icons

Image via Anton Yermolov

Image via Anton Yermolov
Showcase your illustration chops by replacing text with self-designed icons where appropriate, and experiment with color and typography to pull off a résumé that is informative, enticing at first glance and appealing to read.
7. Experimental shapes and forms

Image via Claire Bruining

Image via Claire Bruining
While convention dictates that résumé come in A4 size, a cool way to stand out is to play around with the form and packaging your résumé in a way that is unexpected and intriguing to any recipient. This résumé is designed to fold out like a map and presents its information in the boxy style resembling travel immigration cards.
8. Video game-inspired character sheet

Image via 私はアバターです
Get inspired by the design elements unique to your favorite pastimes! This résumé pays tribute to the character sheet of role-playing games, featuring an avatar that reflects your personal profile and creatively modified headings like “masteries,” “skill level” and “training grounds.”
9. Creative backgrounds

Image via This Paper Fox

Image via This Paper Fox
If iconography is not your thing, a subtle way to create a memorable résumé is to experiment with creative backgrounds where your text will sit on. Play around with different color schemes—a muted palette might be a good starting ground—and find one that helps your text stand out.
10. Hand-lettered

Image via Na Kim
If hand-lettering is your trade, this résumé is one clever example of how you can showcase your illustrative style. You can either use one of your pre-existing lettering fonts or develop a fresh new type that reflects your personal aesthetic while being easy to read.
Now it's your turn to get creative!
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