Ten Careers That Require More Than a Standard Resume

For most careers, a solid and striking resume is the considered the top priority when applying for jobs. So much emphasis is placed on having a dynamite resume that some professionals in specialized areas of work tend to stick to the standard format, even when they would be much better served by thinking outside the box. While resumes are an important aspect of every job application, there are several careers that need more than the standard white paper credentials to truly captivate potential employers. Specifically, careers that deal primarily with creativity and allow for a great deal of variance between each applicant often need to supplement their standard resume with various extras in order to get themselves noticed. Below are ten careers that require unconventional resumes and additions when seeking employment.

1. Graphic Designer

Bearing in mind that your resume should in some ways reflect the job you are trying to apply for, the field of graphic design is arguably the biggest example where plain white-paper resumes simply wont do. Too many graphic designers fall into the trap of sticking to the traditional format. You don’t have to make that same mistake. Think about it, if you are applying for a job that requires you to put your creative visions to work for the company, utilizing expert knowledge of design software, how could a regular one page resume set you apart from the rest? By itself, it cannot. This is why it is crucial to prepare a small portfolio of your best work to send along with your resume, so that your prospective employer can get a better sense of your skills and style.

2. Musician

Musicians are a unique breed of applicants. Whether applying for a performance or teaching position, the fluency and style with which you play your instrument, and your knowledge of the theory behind music, is what matters above all else. Of course, a resume with impressive past credentials never hurt anyone, but as someone who is being hired on the basis of the music they can make, it is especially important to include a CD of your recorded music. Whomever you are applying to is going to want to hear the brilliance with which you play, and no resume can speak to that better than an included recording.

3. Film Editor

As a film editor looking for work, your primary concern is to demonstrate to production teams and companies that you can edit film like no other. Remember, whomever you are applying to, be it Hollywood or office buildings, have ideas about what they would like their film to look like. If you could only show them that you are the person who can make those visions come to life! There is a way to do this, include a data CD or DVD with examples of your best work! After your paper resume has impressed the reader, he or she can pop in the disc and smile at the realization that you hold the skills and style necessary to do amazing work for them.

4. Actor

Actors have to be especially careful when applying for positions. Generally speaking, every paper resume is customarily accompanied by an audition. To give other professionals an idea of how stressful this can be, imagine if your getting a job rested upon you creating a successful advertising campaign for the prospective company before you are even hired! Whether applying for a commercial, movie, or Broadway play, actors should begin rehearsing a standard audition routine and get it down perfect. Your audition is generally more crucial than your resume itself; make sure that it is the best it can possibly be. You should strive to have several possible auditions perfected and ready to give at any time. Try to choose your routine on the basis of the part you are auditioning for. In other words, don’t audition for a comedy with a tragic routine.

5. Architect

Architects are another group of professionals that need to take special care in preparing an unconventional resume. As those responsible for the appearance and structure of entire buildings, great care is taken in selecting the “right man for the job.” How might you go about solidifying your place as that “right man?” There a couple great things you can tack on to your traditional resume to help give you the edge. You might want to include photographs of buildings you have helped design in the past. Perhaps you can include sample blue prints for buildings that either have or haven’t been built yet. If you have ever designed a very well known building, be sure to include lots of pictures of it and testimonies from those whom you created it for.

6. Model

Models frequently have some of the most interesting resumes of all. As a model, a resume will only do you good insofar as you have good references. Outside of that, it’s all about your physical appearance and how well it meshes with the campaign’s needs. This is why a portfolio of your best past photo shoots is essential. An employer may be seeking a very certain look, and you may be the one they need, however they cannot make such a decision without seeing examples of your past work! You may even want to create a video resume if you have the resources. Here is an example of one model’s video resume that is done right. Perhaps it will help you creating your own:

7. Clothing Designer

Standard resumes are a good start as a clothing designer, but it wont do on its own! You simply cannot express your creativity and vision on paper. Every fashion designer has their own style that is not done justice through words alone. As a fashion designer you will be literally creating the products that bring the money into the company. This is one of the most important aspects of the company, for when it comes down to it, if their clothing isn’t desirable, they won’t have any customers anymore. You need to make it clear to them that you have the skills to create original clothing in line with their image. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you include a portfolio with your resume. Perhaps you’ll want to include photographs of original clothing you have designed in the past. You could even be very creative and send a sample of original work along with your resume!

8. Writer

Here is a career you might not have expected to see on this list. As someone who writes sales copy, magazine articles, instruction manuals, etc, you may think that a regular paper resume is all that is needed. Quite the contrary, every professional writer’s resume should include several examples of his or her work. This is not to say that you should inundate your prospective employers with 50 pages to read through. That sort of thing will just annoy them and work against you. Keep it to a few pages containing excerpts of what you feel is your best work. You might also want to try to cater what you send to the company’s specific needs. For example, you wouldn’t want to send sales copy to a nature magazine, nor would you want to send nature articles to a sales department. Keeping it relevant and targeted will boost your chances of being selected.

9. Photographer

Much like the graphic designer, your work as a photographer is all visual art. A regular paper resume is necessary but not sufficient. Employers want to see your talent and style. Be sure to include a photo portfolio of your best work with your resume. Every photographer takes pictures, but you want to let them know why yours are the best. To this end, you should try selecting your best work from a wide variety of past projects. Of course, you will want to try and tailor each portfolio to fit each company’s style, thus, your portfolio for an art museum should contain different photos than the one for a travel agency. You want to portray yourself as the perfect photographer for their needs, and your portfolio should echo this.

10. Voice

This unique career rests entirely on the dynamics of your voice, and how well it will fit for various ad campaigns, instructional videos, etc. Every company has a different voice in mind for their unique purposes. How might a company assess you as a candidate unless you provide them without a few samples of what you sound like? This is where you can get quite creative. You can do such things as including a vocal reading of your paper resume as though you were doing it for a campaign. You can include samples of your past work. You can even include a video of yourself talking about your goals and experience. Anything that you can do to put your voice on display should be considered critical.

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