In many lines of work, creativity earns you points. However, be careful not to get too creative with your resume. While an interesting design can help you stand out, it’s important not to go overboard.

Step 1 – Determine How Far Is Too Far

It depends on the accepted decorum in the field you seek to enter. While purchasing a billboard with your image and a job statement might hit a home run for an advertising position, it likely won’t get the same reaction in a more conservative field like banking.

Certain resume tactics are likely to get negative attention in most fields: adding glitter or a weird background. Wear perfume. Appear in disguise at your prospective employer’s office to drop off your resume. If such tactics are considered outside the norm in the field you’re applying to, you may find yourself the butt of jokes rather than the recipient of a juicy offer.

Step 2 – Make Sure Your Resume Remains Readable Regardless of Layout

While an interesting layout used on your resume can help you stand out from the pack, you don’t want graphics and formatting to overwhelm and wash out the content.

Step 3 – Having Fun on Your Resume Can Have Unintended Effects

You may become the butt of jokes rather than the recipient of a juicy offer because of:

– Try to be funny or cute.

– Give the impression of boastful or arrogant.

– Use slang, profanity or emoticons.

– Sharing very personal information.

The best way to set yourself apart from the rest is to find out what qualities hiring managers in your specific field are looking for on resumes. While most organizations want to see evidence of your technical and functional job skills, they also look for clues about your:

– Emotional intelligence.

– Passion for their work and work ethic.

– Ability to work as part of the team.

– Professionalism.

– Communication skills.

– Tracking capacity.

Distinguish yourself means giving the impression of being professional, competent and creative.

Step 4: The Right Ways to Stand Out

You want to appear innovative, but you don’t want to go so far as to not be considered a serious candidate. There are ready-made solutions, like a branded online profile instead of a standard resume, or non-traditional resume examples that will make a positive impression. Social recruiting platforms can help you transform your resume and stand out from the crowd without going too far.