3 Multimedia Alternatives to a Traditional CV

Traditionally, a CV is a text-only document which details your educational achievements, skills and work experience. It is the tried and trusted method of applying for jobs.  You may have spent hours crafting your CV, considering what information to include and tweaking the layout so it looks smart and professional. Yet, even though you’ve put in so much effort, there is no guarantee that you’ll be selected to move forward in the process. After all, it’s not uncommon for recruiters to receive hundreds of CVs in response to one job advert. What's more, they spend only around seven seconds on average reading each CV. Tailoring your CV to each specific role can help prove you’re a good match for the role, but if you really want to grab the recruiter’s attention, consider binning the traditional CV for one of these multimedia alternatives. 

What is a multimedia CV?

Well, there’s no official term to define a multimedia CV, but multimedia is described as “any media which uses a combination of images, sounds and words.” Examples of multimedia CVs include: 

1. Video CVs

A video CV is a short film, usually lasting between two to three minutes — any longer and you risk losing their interest — which features someone talking about their skills and experience and showcasing examples of their work.  The video can be uploaded to a video sharing platform, like YouTube, or emailed directly to the recruiter or hiring manager.  A video CV has several benefits in comparison to a traditional CV. For example, you can showcase your personality by injecting some humour and wit into the dialogue, which can be hard to do with the written word. You can also demonstrate your soft skills, such as confidence, communication, motivation and creativity.  Video CVs provide the opportunity for you to talk in-depth about any personal or work-related achievements you feel demonstrate your suitability for the role. Plus, you can explain in-depth how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role. Preparation and forward planning are key to creating a professional video CV. Some things to consider include: 

• Scriptwriting & memorisation: Attempting to freestyle a video CV could mean you end up waffling and going off-topic. Make sure to write a script and commit it to memory so that you come across as natural as possible on camera
• Clothing: Even if the business has a relaxed company culture, you want to come across as professional, and a smart outfit will help you do so
• Location: Don't choose anywhere too distracting — you want all the focus to be on you, not on what is happening in the background
• Equipment: You might want to think about investing in a stand, as there’s nothing worse than having to sit through a shaky video
• Hosting platform: Whether you choose YouTube or send an mp4 file directly, you want to have control over who has access to the video — you don’t want anyone to be able to edit or delete it

2. Interactive infograph CV

An interactive infograph combines the design elements like icons, graphs, images and headline text of an infograph with interactive elements like audio, pop-ups and links to online resources.  Visually appealing in comparison to traditional CVs, interactive infograph CVs are sure to grab the attention of the hiring team. Depending on the industry, it’s unlikely that many hiring managers or recruiters would have received an interactive infograph CV. They’re also engaging, as you can use different interactive elements to guide the recruiter through a narrative of your skills and experience. Interactive infograph CVs are an amazing way to show off your creativity and multimedia skills, and they are ideal for summarising information using visual components like stats, graphs and icons. A lot of skill is needed to create an interactive infograph CV. For those who don’t have design experience, though, there are plenty of templates online that you can modify to create your own interactive infograph CV.  When planning your interactive infograph CV, you should consider: 

• Structure: Will your content be presented chronologically or categorically?
• Colour palette: A mix of too many colours or an overuse of bright colours could make the infograph look childish
• Design & interactive elements: Including lots of different types will make the infograph look crowded and confusing 
• Key information: Will you focus on years of experience in a similar role, academic qualifications or skills? The job description should give a hint as to what is important to the recruiter

3. Online portfolio CV

Online portfolio CVs are built on web-based platforms and are used to showcase work examples or projects. This type of multimedia CV is a favourite of those who work in the creative industry, such as designers, photographers, social media managers or copywriters. But there's no reason why it can’t be used in other fields.  This kind of multimedia CV is popular because it increases your visibility online, creates a professional image with employers, can be created with little or no web design experience and is easy to edit and update. You can also include examples of your work, which can be difficult to do with a traditional CV format. If you’re an illustrator, for example, you can display examples of your illustrations. To create an online portfolio CV that will dazzle prospective employers, consider: 

• Web platform: There are plenty available, though some are easier to use and maintain than others
• Design: Whatever you choose, it needs to represent you and also be appropriate for the industry you want to work in. An artsy looking portfolio may be OK for a design agency, but may not for a professional services firm
• Privacy: As the portfolio is in the public domain, you may not wish to have your address and telephone number on display 
• Content: Will you display everything you’ve worked on or only the best-of-the best? 

It may seem risky moving away from the format of a traditional CV, but if you research the industry and understand what recruiters or hiring managers are looking for, applying to roles with a multimedia CV might just be exactly what you need to stand out.