Creative CV

Creative CVs are a great way to get yourself noticed before meeting your new potential employer and there are many examples of unique and colourful ones at there to take inspiration from. However, before getting a crazy and fun design down, you need to ensure that the content of your CV is excellent but making sure that the information is clear and communicates quickly as most CVs are kept to two sides of A4. If you are hoping to establish yourself in the competitive world of creative industries, your CV must demonstrate your skills and qualities to stand our amongst the crowd. It is also important that you have done your homework and show a real interest in what the company does.

Your CV will be unique to you and to the person or organisation that you are wishing to send your CV to. It should show attention to detail and originality. Although the content does need to be clear like explained before, there may be some specifications or requirements that is need to “sell” and present yourself. 

With a creative CV, you have a certain flexibility in how you chose to organise the information on the page. Placing more important information or facts higher up the page will ensure that this information is read sooner and will help to keep the readers interest. 

With regards to the personal information part of your CV, you need to take into consideration how you are going to display this important information. 

Details should include:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone numbers
• Email 
• Website or URL of online portfolio

You can display this information however you like.

Another thing that may want to be thought about is a profile. Its an opportunity for you to write a short summary, only three to four lines long, that will grab the readers attention and make you stand out from the crowd.

A list of your qualifications will be required on your CV. They should be written in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent of your qualifications and dates should be included. The more recent the qualification, the more detail is needed. When it comes to your school exams, you don't need to list every subject, just simply summarise the information indicating how many subjects and the grades or levels achieved. 

Example: 2007-2011 Etone, Nuneaton, Warwickshire 

9 GCSEs A-C

In the qualifications section, this is were you could go into more detail regarding to your degree, if there were any modules that may have a significance to the job you are applying for, the subject of your dissertation to show a particular area of interest or even live projects that you may have worked on. 

Employers will be interested in reading about your relevant work experience, whether this be paid work, placements or freelance commissions. Try and keep this separate from other employments however if you see it relevant then include it. Again like your qualifications, this should be done in reverse chronological order. 

Things to include:

• Start and end dates 
• Name of the company/ organisation
• Your position or role
• Brief outline of responsibilities, achievements and results

Also in this section, skills acquired from work experience should be included that make you suitable fro the job you have applied for. This skills could include good communication skills, working in a team, IT skills etc. 

Other information that you may want to include on your CV:

• Achievements, such as scholarships, sponsorship or awards, responsibilities or projects 
• Competitions: indicate date, venue, title, result
• Languages: indicate level of proficiency
• Full, clean driving licence
• Exhibitions 

Interests may be something that you wish to include. It will give a good indication of your personality to the reader. Just list a few activities, try to add something that is memorable and interesting.

Here are some of my favourite creative CVs that can be found online as inspiration: 

https://uk.pinterest.com/barr0007/creative-cv/