COLORS

You may have noticed some splashes of color in the resume examples included earlier in this blog (more resume examples here).

Resumes in 2021 – more than ever before – will include more color.

That said, resume color usage and effectiveness is largely dependent on industry, company, and job type.

More conservative or traditional industries / companies / jobs may not appreciate color as much as industries / companies / jobs that are more innovative or progressive.

So, if you’re applying for a job in finance or law, you may want to opt for a black-and-white resume; if you’re targeting a job in marketing or design, some well-placed color may be a huge benefit.

Beyond knowing whether color is right for your resume from an industry/company/role standpoint, it’s also important to understand how color interacts with online Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Based on recent testing in some of the most-used ATS (shared by Certified Graphic Resume Architect Marie Plett in her webinar, How to Create Graphically Beautiful, Yet ATS-Friendly Resumes for the National Resume Writers Association), color in and of itself doesn’t affect the way the ATS reads your resume.

However, graphs, tables, charts, shapes, textboxes, and other ‘add-in’ elements DO affect how the ATS reads your resume – and it’s usually for the worse.

So, it’s important for any elements like that to be created in the document, then rendered as images and re-entered in the place of the original element.

Images can be fully ignored by ATS, so long as you mark the image as ‘decorative’. This will allow your resume to look great and be easily read by ATS.

Need a little more help deciding if color is right for your resume?

Let’s take a look at some other expert opinions:

• Back in 2017, Marguerite Ward said in a CNBC article stated that, “Color as a rule is a distraction”. While it’s been a few years since then, I think it’s safe to bet that many hiring managers still feel that way.
• A (more recent) Indeed.com article states, “The personality and character you show in your resume can help the reader decide if you would be a good fit for their company culture. If you are applying for a job at an office with an informal, modern atmosphere, a bright color scheme could help you stand out as a compatible prospect. Alternatively, if you are submitting your application to a company that is more formal or traditional, a muted color palette would likely be more successful. Researching the company ahead of time will help you choose colors that showcase your ability to fit in with their team.”
• On the subject of color psychology, Kendra Cherry says in a VeryWellMind article, “Despite the general lack of research in this area, the concept of color psychology has become a hot topic in marketing, art, design, and other areas. Much of the evidence in this emerging area is anecdotal at best, but researchers and experts have made a few important discoveries and observations about the psychology of color and the effect it has on moods, feelings, and behaviors.”

Taking color psychology a step further, let’s take a look at some of the most popular resume colors and how they affect moods, feelings, and behaviors.

RED

In reference to psychology, Cherry at VeryWellMind states that, “In color psychology, red provokes the strongest emotions of any color. While cool colors like green and blue are generally considered peaceful and calming, red is considered the warmest and most contradictory of the colors. In fact, this fiery hue has more opposing emotional associations than any other color: Red is linked to passion and love as well as power and anger.”

Word Associations:

• Danger and Warning
• Excitement and Energy
• Aggression
• Dominance
• Passion and Desire
• Power

From a marketing standpoint, a recent article from CoSchedule has Ashton Hauff saying, “Red is a very powerful, dynamic color that reflects our physical needs whether to show affection and love, or to portray terror, fear, and survival. Red is also a very energizing color that can portray friendliness and strength, but can also be demanding and show aggression depending on its context.

Overall, if you’re looking to have a really powerful presence or get someone’s attention fast, red is your go-to color. Just remember to use it sparingly to avoid the extreme negative reactions it can so easily awaken.”

BLUE

Looking first as psychology, Cherry asserts that, “Blue is a color often found in nature such as the pale blue of a daytime sky or the rich dark blue of a deep pool of water. It is for this reason perhaps that people often describe the color blue as calm and serene. Yet as a cool color, blue can sometimes seem icy, distant, or even cold.

Because blue is favored by so many people, it is often viewed as a non-threatening color that can seem conservative and traditional. Blue is often used to decorate offices because research has shown that people are more productive in blue rooms.”

Word Associations:

• Sincere
• Calming
• Intense
• Inspiring
• Stable
• Sadness

And from a marketing standpoint, Hauff at CoSchedule says that, “Unlike red, blue lends a more mental reaction rather than physical that allows us to destress, calm down, and think of the most ideal situation. Unfortunately, it also is one of the last colors to be seen, and can be perceived as distant, cold, or unfriendly if used it great amounts.

Overall, blue is a well-liked color that can bring a sense of calmness and trust when building relationships, especially in marketing.

Blue is one of the more popular colors as it stretches even beyond color blindness.”

GREEN

Cherry’s take on this color is that, “For many people, [green] has strong associations with nature and immediately brings to mind the lush green of grass, trees, and forests.

Green is a cool color that symbolizes nature and the natural world. Perhaps because of its strong associations with nature, green is often thought to represent tranquility, good luck, health, and jealousy.

Researchers have also found that green can improve reading ability. Some students may find that laying a transparent sheet of green paper over reading material increases reading speed and comprehension.”

Word Associations:

• Calming
• Exciting
• Compassion
• Nature
• Optimistic

On marketing, Hauff states, “Green is a color of balance and harmony. It lends us a clearer sense of right from wrong since green incorporates a balance of both the logical and emotional. Green is one of the most-seen colors in nature reflecting life, rest, and peace. It is also a sign of growth, whether that’s in a physical object like plants or in our income and wealth.

Overall, if you’re looking to portray health, rest, and to relieve stress, green is your color. While green does have minor negative aspects like over-possession and materialism, it has a more positive affect than most other colors.”

ORANGE

On psychology, Cherry says, “Orange can be a very strong and energetic color. Like yellow and red, it can be very attention-grabbing, which is perhaps why it is often used in advertising.

People often describe orange as bright, happy, and uplifting. In some cases, however, it can seem too bright and overwhelming. Much like purple, orange tends to be a controversial color. People tend to either love it or hate it.

Orange is often used to draw attention, such as in traffic signs and advertising. Orange is energetic, which is perhaps why many sports teams use orange in their uniforms, mascots, and branding. Orange is also the color of bright sunsets and fruits such as oranges and tangerines, so many people might associate the color with the beauty of a setting sun or the refreshing taste of citrus.”

Word Associations:

• Spiritual
• Energetic
• Attention-Getting
• Happy

For marketing, Hauff says, “Orange has a very interesting psychological meaning as it combines red’s power and energy with yellow’s friendliness and fun. The mix makes orange a good representation of physical comfort in our warmth, food, and shelter. (It even stimulates our appetite so watch out if you’re hungry!)

Orange is also known to be a color of motivation, lends a positive attitude, and general enthusiasm for life. Overall, orange is great for bringing comfort in tough times, and creating a sense of fun or freedom in your visuals.”

PURPLE

Cherry: “People often describe this color as mysterious, spiritual, and imaginative. Purple tends to occur rarely in nature, so it is viewed as rare and intriguing. While violet occurs naturally in the visible spectrum, purple is actually a combination of blue and red.

Like many other colors, the feelings that the color purple evokes are often due to cultural associations.

Visually, purple is one of the most difficult colors to discriminate. It also has the strongest electromagnetic wavelength, being just a few wavelengths up from x-rays and gamma rays.”

Word Associations:

• Regal
• Sensual
• Wealth
• Wisdom
• Mysterious
• Exotic

GREY

Cherry: “In color psychology, grey represents neutrality and balance. Its color meaning likely comes from being the shade between white and black. However, grey does carry some negative connotations, particularly when it comes to depression and loss. Its absence of color makes it dull. Grey can be used for font color, headers, graphics, and even products to appeal to a mass audience.”

On marketing, Nicole Martins Ferreira says in a recent Oberlo article, that “Apple is an example of a brand who uses the color grey in their branding. After all, many of their laptops are in a grey or silver-tone as its neutral color doesn’t put anyone off. On their website, they use the color grey for their header to contrast against a white logo. However, throughout their branding, you’ll see a balance between white, black and grey used which can help maintain a clean, neutral look.”