Infographic Resume Guide: When to Use One and Tips for Yours

An infographic resume uses graphic design elements, such as colours, fonts, layouts, charts, and images, to convey your professional experience. This type of resume typically includes all of the important information that would appear in a traditional resume, such as your work history, education, and key skills, but with a more creative presentation.

Unlike the traditional chronological resume, which organises your work history in reverse order starting with the latest job, the infographic format takes a different approach. Keep two key factors in mind as you contemplate using an infographic resume:

1. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are typically not programmed to read infographic resumes.

2. Recruiters and hiring managers tend to have varied opinions about infographic resumes.

These points can make determining when (or whether) you should use an infographic resume challenging. Read on to explore when you might choose this format and discover some tips for creating yours.

Should you use an infographic resume?

To determine whether an infographic resume is proper for you, it’s essential to consider your audience, whether that’s an ATS or a human recruiter. Generally, you should only use an infographic resume if you are submitting your resume directly to a recruiter or the hiring manager and you are confident that the person receiving your resume will welcome the more creative presentation.

Take a closer look at both points below.

Infographic resumes and ATS

It’s common practice for recruiters to use ATS software to organise their hiring process. Any time you apply for a role through an online form, it’s reasonable to assume that you are submitting your application through an ATS.

Recruiters can set ATS software to scan submitted resumes for specific keywords, often related to an applicant’s experience and skills, to identify qualified candidates for a role. Then, the recruiter reviews the applications for those candidates filtered by the ATS. This means that a human recruiter will likely never see the applicants that the ATS deems unqualified.

In general, ATS scanners tend to interpret chronological resumes most accurately, whilst they may not be able to interpret the type of graphics common to infographic resumes. So, if you are applying for a job online, it’s worth using an ATS-friendly resume format.

Hiring managers' opinions of infographic resumes

If you're submitting a resume directly to a recruiter or hiring manager, this eye-catching format may help you stand out as a candidate. Still, opinions vary among recruiters and hiring managers. Some find the design elements distract from the crucial information they’re looking for in a resume, whilst others take a middling perspective, deeming this format appropriate only for creative roles, such as in graphic design or marketing.

Unless you can ask the hiring manager for their preference or they’ve directly requested you submit an infographic resume, it’s generally safest to submit a standard, text-based resume. However, you’ll find several ways to demonstrate creativity in a job application.

Other places to show your creativity include:

• On your resume by describing your creative achievements and outcomes

• In your portfolio by compiling examples of past creative work

• On your website, either by uploading past projects (similar to a portfolio) or including your infographic resume

Free resume template

Many experts recommend submitting a standard chronological resume for general application purposes. This format is the most approachable for programmatic and human resume readers. Consider using a functional or combination resume, depending on your goals and background.

Use this free chronological resume template to start making yours.

Infographic resume tips

From gathering background on the business to applying solid design principles, you can boost the appeal of your document in several ways. If you are creating an infographic resume—either to submit for a role or to publish on your website—keep the following tips in mind:

1. Research the company.

Design can be highly personal, so before you create your infographic resume, research the company you are applying for to get a sense of their visual and aesthetic preferences to ensure they align with your creative sensibilities.

2. Follow design principles.

Applying commonly accepted design principles can make it easier for hiring managers to read and understand your resume. Consider using a template or hiring a professional if you aren’t a design professional. Tools like Canva and Venngage offer plenty of resume templates for those new to infographic resumes.

3. Organise your information clearly.

Your core purpose in submitting a resume is to share your career journey. Make sure your design elements enhance your storytelling rather than distract from or hide your accomplishments.

Boost your infographic resume and build your skills on Coursera

If you’re applying for a role in the creative industry, an infographic resume can prove helpful in illustrating your design skills. Keep building your credentials with Coursera. Earn a Professional Certificate and demonstrate key skills in UX design, project management, social media marketing, and more from industry leaders like Google, Meta, and IBM. Sign up today to begin your free seven-day trial.

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial