I preach often that creative professionals need to have resumes. Case in point: My latest post over at the Creative Freelancer Blog.
I was thinking about some of the mixed views I’ve heard regarding this, and it really baffles me. Why do creative professionals think they don’t need resumes, or that resumes do not apply to them? Is it because they’re indies now? Is it because they’re not on the “hunt” for jobs? Is a resume too corporate?
A resume is much more than a tool to secure a job. Creative professionals that have them are able to appeal to corporate clients that, despite a knockout portfolio, still want to see a resume. Because creatives work for other companies in most cases, they still need to appeal to what the company wants. And companies use resumes. You may be able to show off a portfolio and get the gig, but why limit your arsenal of marketing techniques to a collection of your work? Why not put together a concise document that tells the story of your experiences and showcases your skills?
Aren’t creative professionals supposed to market themselves regularly, since they are businesses, too? In that respect, they are their brand. They have a variety of techniques at their disposal, just like any other business. But a resume is for individuals, so a resume is a great marketing tool for an individual to have. Even if it’s only cited on your website, it still makes you look professional. A large company doesn’t have that advantage, but solo professionals do! Why aren’t more of them taking advantage of it?
Still don’t think that you need a resume?
What if your dream client calls with the perfect job and asks you to submit a resume–would you say no?
I think the question that I’d like to put out there is: Why don’t creative professionals need resumes?
Author:
Kristen is a copywriter and author who enjoys what she does for a living. Kristen is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer. Kristen writes regularly for MediaBistro, SheKnows and FreelanceSwitch. She is a panelist on the biweekly, award-winning podcast FreelanceRadio. Kristen is the author of Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes: An After-College Guide to Life and her new book, It Takes More than Talent: Business Basics for the Creatively Inclined is due out in January 2013. She has been featured on NPR, CNN, MSNBC, and CareerBuilder; and also in the Boston Herald, the New Jersey Star-Ledger and in the Asbury Park Press.
