How to stand out with CV design

Your CV is the heart of your application. According to a study by Stepstone, it accounts for more than two-thirds of the application documents. Therefore it's essential for a successful application process that your resume stands out – ideally, not only in terms of content but also visually.

Before you start designing

Basically, you can say that the design of your resume depends on the recipient. How creative an application can really be depends on the person who reads the CV and in which industry this person is recruiting. For example, a lot of bright colors may be less suitable for an application to a traditional bank.

Make sure the design supports the content of your CV and does not stand in the foreground. Too much design effort can easily look fake and artificial.

The one thing to give first priority to is readability. A resume that is complicated and unreadable won’t get much attention, even with the nicest design. So before you apply, make sure to have your resume proofread by another person and specifically checked for reader-friendliness.

Color choice

Colors are a great way to add your own touch and recognition to your resume. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. The most important rule up front is that when you use colors in your CV, it should always be done thoughtfully and with justification so that your resume isn't perceived as a rash. To help you achieve this, we have summarized three different approaches to color selection:

Your personality

Your CV should reflect your personality in both, its content and its design. This is especially important in professions where individuality and standing out from the crowd are what counts. The center of the color choice should fit your personal branding but also keep in mind to who you will be sending the application.

The company

Another option is to match your color choice to the branding of your potential employer. This means, for example, that you include the unmistakable red tone of Coca-Cola or the dark blue of Nivea in the design of your CV. However, use the brand’s colors discreetly, otherwise, it will quickly look superimposed.

The industry

We know from color psychology that every color has a different effect on the observer. This also applies to the intensity and brightness of colors. Compare color characteristics with the industry you’re applying to.

The right font

Also, the font you choose for your resume can influence how recruiters perceive your application. In general, we recommend you to choose one font and stick with it.

Fonts with serifs, such as the classic Times New Roman, are considered particularly legible, but rather conservative. Sans-serif fonts, such as Arial, appear modern and technical.

	+	-
Arial	modern	does not stand out
Avenir	future-oriented	unusual
Garamond	classic	conservative
Georgia	looks clear also on smaller screens	might be perceived as less trustworthy
Helvetica	elegant	low legibility
Roboto	sharp design	does not stand out
Tahoma	ideal for reading on a screen	might not be available on some devices
Times New Roman	easy to read	conservative

But not only the right font is important for your CV. What matters most is how you use it. Don't use too many different fonts and font sizes. If you want to bring in more typographic variety use capitalization and bolding. Larger line spacing can also increase readability.

Photo or no photo?

The reality in America, rather unusual in Europe: CVs without a photo. In the DACH region, most companies prefer applications with a photo. Especially if it is explicitly mentioned in the job advertisement, you should send a photo. However, there is no legal obligation to do so.

In general, you can say: Better no photo than a bad photo. A selfie or a snapshot from the last beach vacation is certainly not suitable for an application. Find more tips for an application photo in our article about the perfect CV.

Icons and symbols

You can further personalize your CV with small graphics. Starting with a dividing line after a heading, to phone and e-mail icons by your contact details. Again, use such elements with caution. Too much can quickly look unprofessional.

"I'm a big fan of icons on resumes. They immediately jump out at you and show an understanding of detail."
– Sanela Radivojevic, HR Manager at Mindnow AG

Conclusion: Design has an impact

You see, there's a lot more to writing your CV than just the content. With the right amount of creativity, you can emphasize the information in your resume and increase the chances that recruiters will remember your application.

Pro-tip: With our free AI-based CV software Cubra you can create your CV with an appealing design easily. No need to search for suitable colors, fonts or icons yourself – you have a whole bunch of templates ready to use. The coolest thing is that it's all online and super fast as Cubra can pull your skills and experiences directly from your LinkedIn profile. You can create design versions of your CV and compare the different design elements. All in just a few minutes!

Create a free account on cubra.io