Should My Resume Have Color? How to Stay ATS-Friendly and Score High

Should my resume have color? It can be refreshing, even thrilling, to think about adding color to your resume when you’re faced with so many black and white resumes!  But does it help or hurt your chances of finding a job? That’s the million dollar question for many job seekers when it comes to making a great first impression.

When you’ve asked yourself, “should my resume have color?”, you are in the right spot to assess the pros and cons of applying color to your resume, and how to be sure you stand out for the right reasons while still being compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

There is a very lively debate around the topic of adding color to a resume.  Some career professionals promote color in resumes as a means to demonstrate personality and creativity.  Others fear that doing so can look unprofessional and that your application may be rejected for consideration through automated systems. 

The truth, like many things in the professional space, lies somewhere in between.  The decision to add color to your resume has much to do with your industry and company culture and the degree to which you implement it successfully.

This blog post will cover all you need to know about adding color to your resume. We’ll discuss when it’s advisable to incorporate color into your resume, when it’s best to stick to the traditional black and white, and how to do it in a way that is tasteful and will increase your chances of getting an interview.

Does Color Really Matter on a Resume?

Potential employers form impressions of you in seconds, and visual aesthetics of your resume can easily count for that initial opinion. A good color palette can easily direct the recruiter to the sections to focus on, can emphasize our important information, and will just look better and be unique.

In piles of black and white examples of the template of a resume (and I used to see a lot of those), color is something that can easily differentiate you. 

However, you, your skills, your experience and your accomplishments will always be the most important elements of your resume. Color should be of a complimentary nature and not the defining element of your resume.

Before going to color, we recommend that you run your document through a Resume Score checker, to make sure the “backbone” is strong. A high resume score means we were able to maximize our resume content, so all we need is a little color to finish it off.

How Your Resume’s Color Palette is Perceived

The colors that you decide to wear can provoke different feelings and associations. By understanding some basic color psychology, you can select colors in a way that aligns with the impression you want to create.

• Blue in Using Color in Your Resume: Blue is usually aligned with professionalism, trust and reliability. It is a safe and commonly accepted color in corporate or conservative fields, and is usually an acceptable color.
• Green in Using Color in Your Resume: Green also implies growth, harmony, and ambition. This color is acceptable in the environmental field, non-profits and startups.
• Gray: Gray is classy, sophisticated and neutral, and it has a contemporary feel to it; and, it’s not overwhelming as a base color, and it works well with color too.
• Red/Orange in Using Color in Your Resume: Very upbeat colors, they can mean you are energized, passionate and creative. These colors can come across aggressive, so use them with caution as an accent only.
• Yellow in Using Color in Your Resume: A bright color that shows optimism and creativity. However, it’s a little unfortunate, it’s often hard to read and can be hard to see! This should only be used strategically in very little amounts.
• Black and White: The traditional color palette represents formality, seriousness, and professionalism. When in doubt, you can always fall back on black and white- works every time!

Pros and Cons of Using Color in Your Resume

When asking Should i have color on my resume, it first requires weighing the benefits and disadvantages. 

Pros of Using Color in Your Resume

• Eye-Catching in Using Color in Your Resume: In a competitive job market, a resume with strategic color can engage a hiring manager and make your application more unforgettable. 
• Fixes Readability and Organization: Color can create hierarchy, visually directing the reader through the various sections of a resume and allowing the reviewer to quickly scan the document. 
• Avenue for Self-Expression: A colorful resume can serve as a mini-portfolio of your aesthetic sensibilities for a creative industry, such as design or media. 
• Strengthens Personal Branding in Using Color in Your Resume: Consistent colors across your resume, cover letter, and online portfolio communicate yet another touchpoint of professionalism and a stronger personal brand.

Cons of Using Color in Your Resume

• Could Seem Unprofessional: If the colors are poor quality, or worse if used in a conservative industry, color may come across as unprofessional and be distracting.
• May Affect Readability: Low-contrast colors, such as low contrast pairings like light yellow text on a white background, may make your resume unreadable.
• Printing Problems: colors look different when printed, and some companies may print resumes in black and white or grayscale, which means your colors may be irrelevant.
• ATS Compatibility Issues in Using Color in Your Resume: while some modern Applicant Tracking Systems are now better able to deal with color, there is still concern that older Applicant Tracking Systems are less able to deal with more complex formatting, which can be problematic with parsing. Always check your resume with the Best Ats Resume Checker to be safe.

When a Colorful Resume Helps You Stand Out

So, should i have color in my resume? For some situations, the answer is yes, positively yes! A well designed colorful resume can be an asset in these scenarios: 

• Creative Industries: For jobs in graphic design, web design, marketing, advertising, and other creative industries, resumes that are visually stimulating are more common and often expected. Showing your design ability and creativity in your resume is an excellent way to do so. 
• Start-ups and Modern Organizations: Modern organizations are typically more willing to accept resumes that have personality. You can take more risks. Consider reviewing the organization’s website or social media to get a feel for their branding and aesthetic.
• Digital Portfolios: If a resume you submit electronically links to your digital portfolio; using the same color scheme can make for a tidy and cohesive professional brand.
• Networking & Events: A unique looking resume can be a conversation starter at career fairs or networking events; thereby creating a lasting memory of you.

Situations Where a Black‑and‑White Resume Is Best

While a bright and colorful resume is attractive, consider those times when the best option is to stay with the classic black-and-white option. 

• Conservative Industries: When your industry is law, finance, accounting, and government; most employers prefer a traditional, conservative resume. A colorful resume may be seen as unprofessional.
• Academics & Scientific: In most cases, readers are focused on the reader’s research publications or their research; a simple and direct resume is an accepted norm.
• When You’re Not Sure: If you are unsure of the company culture and/or the expectations of your industry, a good default option is to select the classic black-and-white resume. Professionalism is timeless.
• There Are Instructions to Write in a Format: Always follow the instructions. If it says follow a plain text or indicate a format, follow those instructions.

Choosing Professional Color Palettes for Resumes

If you have concluded that a colorful resume fits your style, the next step is to determine a professional color palette. You want to discriminate against your color usage. Here are some guidelines: 

• Limit Color Usage: It is a good rule of thumb to use two or three colors besides black and white. 
• Choose Professional, Muted Colors: Not necessarily black, but possibly tones of navy blue, forest green, or even gray. Avoid bright or neon colors, as this may distract from your qualifications. 
• Ensure High Contrast: You never want to read something that appears unreadable. Use dark text on light text. A common color combination people use if dark gray or navy text on a white or off-white background. 
• Consider Brand Color Palette: If they have strong brand colors, perhaps consider incorporating thin margins of their brand colors to align with the company values. You are demonstrating interest in the company and working culture.

Tips to Apply Color Tastefully Without Hurting ATS Scores

The fear of the “ATS black hole” is real, but the use of color on your resume doesn’t need to be an ATS dealbreaker. Modern ATS can typically read color, but it is all about the way it’s used. To ensure that your resume will be visually appealing and ATS compliant try these tips:

• Use Color in Headings and Accents: Use color in your name, section headings (i.e., “Work Experience,” “Skills”) or in horizontal lines to break up sections. Do not use color in your main body text.
• Do Not Include Text of Any Kind in Images or Graphics: ATS cannot read text that is contained in an image. Ensure that all your important information is written in standard text.
• Get Use of Standard Fonts: Use common, an easy to read font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Save Your Document as a PDF: Saving your resume as a PDF will maintain your formatting and color choices regardless of what device or platform it is accessed on.
• Test Your Resume Salary: Prior to submitting your application, use a Resume checker or an ATS checker to see how the system has parsed your document. This will help confirm that your resume will be read correctly, despite its colorful aspects. You can also refer to resources that explain What Is a Resume?, if you feel like you need a broader comprehension of what a resume is and what it should do.

Conclusion: Should my resume have color?

Should my resume have color? It’s not a yes or no answer. If you create a great colorful resume, it can be of great use to you to wow potential employers and help you stand out, particularly in lengths or creative industries, but it is a thoughtful choice and depends on your audience and industry.

However, the one thing to remember is that color is used way to enhance the resume, not detract from its content. Your skills, experience, and contributes will land you the job.

If you follow the tips in this guide, you will have enough information to decide whether to add color and how to do it professionally and with an eye to not hampering your ATS performance and ultimately gaining points with recruiters.

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