Creative Résumé? Think Again

Job seekers who think they will get ahead by sending in a creative résumé on flashy paper, using funky graphics and fonts, or mailing it in an oversized envelope need to think again. Recruiters just don't want it that way.

By Kevin Donlin, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: January 13, 2005 - 10:00 PM

But that doesn't mean you can't be creative. That's where a portfolio comes into play. Creative professionals have been doing it for years – sending in a résumé to get the interview, and showing up at the interview with a knockout portfolio that "shows" instead of "tells" the employer they are right for the job. A résumé provides on paper what you have done. A portfolio provides concrete examples and illustrates the work and successes highlighted on the résumé. But do portfolios work?

"It depends on the type of job and organization you're looking at," says Jessica Schmiessing, director of HR consulting services for St. Paul-based Agribank. "If you're going into marketing at an innovative company, it might be something to distinguish you from other candidates. However, for most organizations, the traditional black and white (résumé) is probably most effective."

A recent survey by The Creative Group shows that 63 percent of executives consider a portfolio the single most important factor when reviewing creative talent. Noncreative professionals should consider some of the same strategies that creative professionals employ.

"Sixty-nine percent of advertising and marketing executives most value creativity over variety of experience, range of technical skills, and specific industry experience when reviewing portfolios," says Amy Affolter, an HR professional for The Creative Group, Minneapolis branch.

Send in the résumé first, and then bring the portfolio to the interview, says Becky Hall, career development director for all 17 career centers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Be creative, but don't get extreme.

"I think the important thing about an effective portfolio is that the focus is on accomplishments, deliverables and value-added contributions," says Schmiessing. "People need to think about what will differentiate them from all of the other candidates. A simple summary of your major job duties probably isn't going to do that."

Matt Krumrie is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights, MN,and has seven years of experience reporting on the employment industry. The first Sunday of each month this column will be devoted to readers' questions. E-mail questions or subject ideas for this column to AskMatt@startribune.com.

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