Four Visuals To Make Your Qualifications Pop - CareerEnlightenment.com

Who Should Use VisualsIf you are seeking a job in a creative field, such as design, marketing or advertising, using visuals is an obvious way to prove your creativity. But even smaller companies and startups tend to look for standout candidates who can demonstrate multifaceted skills and entrepreneurial spirit. If you aren’t using out-of-the-box thinking as part of your job search, you probably should be. Using visuals is like winning the lottery- you can’t win unless you buy a ticket!Four Types of Visual Content To Create TodayThere are four different types of visuals you can use to show off your qualifications. Think beyond the old-fashion method of submitting your resume as a primary means of landing a job. Use visual content as status updates on social networks, within emails, or as virtual portfolios, to increase your odds of getting noticed. Need proof?63 percent of social media is visual (Citrix, 2014)Tweets with photos are shared 35 percent more than text (Twitter, 2014)C ontent with relevant images gets 94 percent more views than content without (Skyword, 2011)Add Images and PicturesDid you know…Posts and pages with relevant images and pictures receive 94 percent more views than text alone. (MDG)Snap photos at professional events, during award ceremonies, or to capture moments that are important to your professional interests. You can also create your own or share memes or visual quotes. You may even want to consider converting testimonials into share-able images using free tools such as Canva or Picmonkey, which allow you to add words to photos or create visuals. Share these images with your social network and embed them into your LinkedIn profile.Create InfographicsDid you know…People are searching for infographics- there was an 800% increase in searches on Google between 2010-2012. (Unbounce, 2012)Infographics simplify complex information and make it easier to understand. Design skills are not necessarily required if you already have a Linked In profile. You can convert it into an infographic by using no-cost online tools such as Re.vu, ResumUP or one offered by Visual.ly and Kelly Services, Inc.Keep in mind, an infographic resume is not a substitute for a text resume. Most recruiters prefer to see the traditional format. You can, however, embed your infographic in your LinkedIn profile, reference it during networking meetings or bring it to an interview or meeting.Shoot VideoDid you know…Over 1 billion unique users visit YouTube per month (YouTube, 2014)Do you feel you come across better in person than on paper? A video can explain your qualifications and interest in the job. Your video should explain why you are a good fit for the job and why you want to work for the company. It doesn’t have to be long. In fact, most marketers recommend keeping videos under three minutes. Companies such as Zappos invite applicants to submit a video cover letter along with the application. Be sure to upload your video into YouTube f or greater “find-ability.”Build PresentationsDid you know…SlideShare receives 60 million unique visitors a month, 215 million page views, and is among the top 120 most-visited websites. (SlideShare, 2014)Sometimes a sheet of paper doesn’t adequately represent your qualifications. A presentation offers the added space and flexibility to showcase your samples of work, testimonials or other recognition. Don’t cram your slides with bullet points and words, instead use pictures, logos or other visuals to represent concepts.For greater reach and easier sharing, upload your presentation into SlideShare. This platform provides an online home for your presentation, enabling you to share the presentation as a link in status updates, emails, or within your LinkedIn profile.Just Do ItWith so many options to show what you can do available today, isn’t it worth at least trying to incorporate unconventional techniques and visuals into your job search?