Rosana Stojcheva
Preparing your CV is a very exciting process, whether it is the first time that you are doing this, or it’s an update of your existing resume. Additionally, you are aware that you need to make your CV pop in the sea of other resumes. But, is colour the right approach to succeed, or will the traditional clean black and white version be your ally? There are ongoing discussions on this topic. Some argue that the colour will help your CV make an impression, while others claim that traditional balck and white give the professional vibe.
Recently, it has become a practice to use colour in the CV. Nonetheless, all of this is subjective, and it is up to you to decide which approach you will take, of course, as long as it is tastefully done. The important thing is to evaluate the situation and to decide what colour and whether you should use it?
When to use colour in your CV?
Colour can be a powerful tool when it is used skillfully. With this in mind, it should be used only when you want to 1) direct attention to something, 2) show compatibility, and/or 3) show creativity. Using colour can help you draw the attention to the wanted section in the CV. This is a big plus having in mind that recruiters and HR managers spend only a few seconds on a CV before deciding whether they will keep it or discard it. Therefore, you can use colour to highlight your name, headings and subheadings. This will ease the process for the recruit to find what he needs.
The character you present in the CV can often help recruiters decide whether you are a good fit for them. In light of this, always do research on the company and decide if you should go with brighter colours. Finally, whether you should show creativity it depends on the position that you are applying for and the industry. For example, if you are applying for a job position that requires creative skills, learn what the employer needs, and present that knowledge of the program or colour palette in the process of creating your own CV.
When to go black and white?
It is more than clear that when you apply for a position in politics, finance or law, less is more. This is your chance to impress the recruiters with your knowledge and skills instead of colour. Also, if you are a beginner, and lack design experience, go as simple as possible. Introducing colours can be risky if you are not confident in your abilities. Lastly, if you are applying through an online applicant tracking system, colour can only confuse the scanning software.
Finally, there are no strictly established rules whether you should use colour or not when creating your CV. Our recommendation is to use very little colour because it delivers the best results. But, if you believe that adding more colour to your CV will improve your chances of getting hired, feel free and use colour.
