The Ultimate Guide to Crafting a PowerPoint CV

Should You Create a PowerPoint CV?

A PowerPoint CV differs significantly from the standard, text-based CV format. It gives you scope to play with different page formats and layouts and offers the possibility of introducing creative elements such as icons and images, and even other media, including video. Instead of presenting your credentials in a linear, text-based document, PowerPoint uses a slide-based format to organise your CV more like an engaging presentation than a formal document.

Benefits of using PowerPoint for your CV

Switching from a text-focused software application such as MS Word or Google Docs to PowerPoint, gives you far more scope to add engaging, creative elements to your CV. This can help you to highlight different skills and qualities that a traditional CV may not showcase effectively.

Another potential advantage of the PowerPoint CV is that it allows you to break from the traditional CV layout and structure. PowerPoint gives you the chance to play around with how you present your key information, to showcase the parts of your career and skill set that you’d most like to draw attention to.

Drawbacks of using PowerPoint for your CV

While PowerPoint has many benefits, there can also be some disadvantages to using it to create a CV. For more formal, traditional, professional industries, a PowerPoint CV may be frowned upon, with many employers preferring the familiar layout of a traditional, text-based CV.

A PowerPoint CV can be harder to read at a glance. It may demand more attention than a traditional CV. If the hiring manager has been inundated with applications, they may find they have very little time to read each CV, in which case they might find a PowerPoint document off-putting.

Finally, PowerPoint CVs can be difficult for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan and parse. Many employers use these software applications to help manage their recruitment processes. Depending on the type of software, you might find that a PowerPoint CV reduces your chances of success, as the application may struggle to identify keywords and sections of your CV.

When to Use a PowerPoint CV

If you’re considering using PowerPoint for your CV, first read the job description to see if the employer specifies the format for submitting your application. If the employer encourages CVs in different formats, PowerPoint could be a viable option. You could even consider creating a PowerPoint CV alongside a traditional text-based version to enhance your chances of success.

Generally, PowerPoint CVs are more likely to be welcomed for roles in media, marketing or other creative industries. If you’re applying for a sales role, a PowerPoint CV could also help you to display your presentation skills.

How to Structure Your PowerPoint CV

A traditional, text-based CV is typically one or two sides of A4, with the information presented in a highly structured, organised layout. The document tends to include a header with contact information, a CV summary and sections for work experience, education and skills. It can also include additional sections such as volunteer work, certifications and hobbies and interests.

A PowerPoint CV template can include all the same information and sections as a text-based CV, but with greater scope for presenting the information in interesting and engaging ways. When you’re planning the structure and content of your CV in PowerPoint, follow these simple steps:

Identify the key information to include

Firstly, identify the main information that you need to include in your CV. For most CVs, this includes the following:

• Header with contact information
• CV summary
• Work experience
• Education
• Skills

You may also choose to include optional sections, such as volunteer work, certifications, languages or hobbies and interests. Consult the job description to understand what the employer is looking for. This can help you to work out which section you’ll need to include, to show you have the right credentials for the job.

Organise the content into clear sections

The format of PowerPoint gives you the opportunity to create separate slides for each section of your CV. Try to keep your CV as brief as possible and avoid adding much more than you would include in a standard text-based CV. One slide per section is probably sufficient to communicate everything you’ll need to show the employer you’re a viable candidate.

Choose a consistent design theme and colour scheme

PowerPoint provides a wealth of design options for your CV. You can even choose the size and format of your slides, arrange your content into columns and add master design elements that run through every slide in your presentation. Select a colour scheme, layout and fonts that make your CV as readable as possible, while aligning with your personal brand and helping you to stand out from the crowd.

Creating Your PowerPoint CV: a Step-by-Step Guide

Once you’ve decided on the main details of your PowerPoint CV, follow these steps to make sure you create the strongest impression possible with employers:

Step 1: Setting up the slides

Start by creating a blank presentation and navigating to the ‘Design’ tab. From there you can navigate to the ‘Slide size’ dropdown menu and select the type of slide you want for your CV. The two main formats are 4:3 (standard) and 16:9 (widescreen), but you can create a fully custom layout if you prefer. Most modern screens are in a widescreen format, and this also suits printing in landscape format on A4 paper, so this could be your best option, but select the format that you feel works best.

Step 2: Selecting or designing a template

From the ‘Design’ tab you can also select a pre-designed theme or template for your document that fits your own personal style, and that’s appropriate for the role you’re applying for. Alternatively, you can design your own PowerPoint CV template using the ‘Slide Master’ function. This creates design features that duplicate across all slides of your document. You can access the ‘Slide Master’ editor in the ‘View’ tab.

Step 3: Add content to each slide

Add the content to each slide and section of your CV. With PowerPoint you can add titles, text boxes, links, images, infographics, charts and icons. Try to keep the document as brief and concise as possible, and only add extra visual features that enhance the document.

Step 4: Utilise animations and transitions

Introducing animations and transitions can enhance the content in your CV. Both of these have their own tab in the main PowerPoint menu ribbon. Just remember to use these features sparingly, and ensure they don’t distract the reader from the written content. 

Step 5: Add multimedia elements

With PowerPoint it’s possible to add multimedia content, such as embedded video clips or even voiceovers that talk through each slide. These can help to showcase different skills and engage the reader in a way a traditional CV simply can't do.

A PowerPoint CV template can include all the same information and sections as a text-based CV, but with greater scope for presenting the information in interesting and engaging ways.

Tips for an Effective PowerPoint CV

Follow these tips to make the most of your PowerPoint CV:

• Use a simple, uncluttered design that allows you to showcase your skills in a clear, readable format.
• Don’t crowd too much information on each slide, but focus on one theme or section per slide to maximise clarity and take advantage of the strengths of the PowerPoint format.
• Use fonts and text sizes that are clear, readable and professional. Aim for size 10 to 12 for your body text, and leave reasonable margins and line spacing around your text to make it easier to read.
• Be aware of colour contrast when adding background colours and other design accents. Aim for the greatest possible contrast between text colour and backgrounds.
• Use visual aids to enhance your written content, rather than replacing it. Your PowerPoint CV should still be a readable document, but with added design features, visual content and media that shows your suitability for the role.
• Deploy video, voiceover and other multimedia content with caution. These can make your file very large, and may make them impossible to email or submit via online jobs portals.

Sharing and Submitting Your PowerPoint CV

Consider the best way to share your CV with the employer. For ease of reading and sharing, a PDF version is ideal, though you will lose any animations or transitions you’ve added. You could also host your CV online (via a personal website or Google Slides) and provide a link to the employer. However, be mindful that requiring any additional work from the employer to access your CV may be off-putting.

Before you submit your CV, test it thoroughly on different devices and platforms to ensure compatibility and readability. Try different screen sizes and make sure you print a copy of your CV as well, to be sure it prints correctly and all the elements of the document remain readable in this format.

Key Takeaways for a Perfect PowerPoint CV

A PowerPoint CV can be an ideal way to differentiate yourself from other applicants and showcase your creative qualities. Experiment with different slide designs and layouts that reflect your personal style and add graphics, icons and multimedia content that enhances the written content, rather than distracts from it. CVwizard’s online CV maker has various tools and resources to help you create a professional and visually engaging CV. Sign up today to review CV examples and find a template that helps you to create a successful job application.