FAQ / Creating VisualCVs
These are some of the questions we've been asked about creating VisualCVs:
Getting Started
- I'm ready! How do I get started?
- I already have a resume. Can I upload it, or do I have to start from scratch?
- Can you help me write my resume?
Working with Privacy Settings
- What do the Members, Internet, Private, and Offline settings mean?
- What is the difference between my "public" and my "private" VisualCVs?
- Can I choose which VisualCV is my public one?
- I want to tailor my VisualCV for different kinds of jobs or audiences. How do I create different versions?
Working with VisualCV Sections
- Why are there so many VisualCV sections? Do I have to use them all?
- I don't see a section that applies. Can I create my own?
- Can I change the names of the sections in my VisualCV?
- Can I move sections around?
- Can I swap columns?
- Why don't you recognize my company or school?
- Can I change the overall look of my VisualCV?
- Will you check my spelling?
Working with Portfolio Items
- How does the portfolio section work?
- Why would I want to add a video?
- Can I send just my video to someone?
- How many photos, videos, and documents can I upload?
- The file I want to upload is huge. Will that be a problem?
- What file types do you accept?
- Can I show images in my portfolio as a slide show?
- How do I add a chart to my portfolio?
- If I delete a portfolio item, does that delete it from any VisualCVs I used it in?
- If I delete my VisualCV, will my portfolio items disappear?
Saving and Printing VisualCVs
I'm ready! How do I get started?
Glad you asked! Now that you've signed up, you're ready to start creating your first VisualCV. Here's how:
- Update your member account settings. Tell me more
- Upload images, documents, charts, videos, or audio clips to your portfolio gallery. Tell me more
- Create your VisualCV by building resume sections and adding items from your portfolio gallery. Tell me more
Need some creative inspiration? See examples of VisualCVs that other members have created in the Example VisualCVs folder on the Professionals page.
I already have a resume. Can I upload it, or do I have to start from scratch?
Unlike other online resume and job search services, we don't ask our members to upload a carefully formatted existing resume only to mangle it beyond recognition. VisualCVs are an entirely different beast than traditional resumes—instead of formatted tabs and columns, your VisualCV will have sections that include text and multimedia, and you'll be using our VisualCV editor to create them. For more text-heavy sections, you can paste text into the section from your existing resume and format it in your VisualCV as you like.
Can you help me write my resume?
We don’t currently offer one-on-one resume writing assistance (but we plan to). However, we do offer an excellent (and free!) eBook called the Insider’s Guide to the VisualCV. Written by Louise Kursmark—Master Resume Writer and one of the leading resume-writing experts in the United States—this helpful guide will lead you through decisions about what material to include in a resume, how to include it, and how to position it for maximum impact within a VisualCV and in the minds of recruiters and potential employers. Take me to the Insider's Guide
Why are there so many VisualCV sections? Do I have to use them all?
Most resumes follow a fairly typical format, with similar sections. We included what we feel are the most common sections that recruiters look for when scanning resumes to learn more about you. You can incorporate as many or as few of these sections into your VisualCVs as you like.
I don't see a section that applies. Can I create my own?
Sure—there's a category called Custom for that very purpose. Just add a custom section and click its title to rename it to whatever you'd like.
Can I change the names of the sections in my VisualCV?
You can change the titles of the sections that you add to a VisualCV. You can also change the name of your VisualCV itself. Here's how:
- Click the title you want to change. (Make sure you are in VisualCV edit mode, not preview mode.)
- Type the new name.
- Click OK.
Just remember that any changes you make apply only to this one VisualCV, not to any other VisualCVs you have created.
Can I move sections around?
You may have noticed that your VisualCV can be structured in two columns: a small column that typically contains your references and portfolio sections, and a larger column that contains your VisualCV's other resume sections. You can move sections within—but not across—columns by clicking 
in the top left corner of the section in the VisualCV editor and dragging the section to its new home.
Can I swap columns?
Yes. Just click the Swap Columns button in the VisualCV editor.
Why don't you recognize my company or school?
We have more than 350,000 companies and educational institutions in our databases from leading information providers such as The Princeton Review, Dow Jones VentureSource, and Standard & Poor's Capital IQ. But that still leaves a lot of unlisted companies and schools. It gets even more complicated when you consider mergers, acquisitions, and rebranding activities that change the name of organizations from the time you were affiliated with them. Differences can also exist between the legal entity name and the more well-known name a company or school may go by.
It's okay if your organization doesn't show up in a menu as you enter it into your VisualCV. That just means there won't be a "hover" associated with it. But you can provide details within the text of your resume section, including adding hyperlinks to an organization website where a reader can go for more information about your company or school.
Can I change the overall look of my VisualCV?
In addition to swapping columns, as we mentioned in a previous FAQ, you can change the cover scheme (or "skin") used in your VisualCV. To do so, click the Professional, Executive, and Creative style buttons above your VisualCV in the VisualCV editor. Play around with these buttons to see which look you like best!
What do the Members, Internet, Private, and Offline settings mean?
These settings are privacy settings that determine who gets to see your VisualCV. In a nutshell, here's what they mean:
- Members: Any member can view your VisualCV when he or she logs in to VisualCV.com.
- Internet: Anyone with an Internet connection can view your VisualCV.
- Private: Nobody can view your VisualCV unless you explicitly share it with someone.
- Offline: Nobody can view your VisualCV (even if you have previously shared it with someone) until you put it back online. This setting is helpful when you are still working on your VisualCV and it's not quite ready for people to view.
The first two settings, Members and Internet, apply only to your public VisualCV. Tell me about my public VisualCV
You can change a VisualCV's privacy settings on the Home page. Tell me more
What is the difference between my "public" and my "private" VisualCVs?
When you first joined VisualCV.com, we created two starter VisualCVs for you—a public one and a private one.
Your public VisualCV
Your public VisualCV is referred to as My Public VisualCV on your Home page. By default, other VisualCV.com members will see this VisualCV when they log in to VisualCV.com.
When you joined VisualCV.com, we also created a member web address (URL) for you that looks like this:
www.visualcv.com/LoginName
The LoginName portion of the URL comes from your VisualCV.com login name.
If you change the privacy setting of your public VisualCV to Internet, anyone with an Internet connection will be able to view it using your member URL. You can include your member URL on your business cards, in your email signature, or on other web sites to point to this VisualCV. Tell me the pros and cons of the Internet privacy setting
You can also change the privacy setting of this VisualCV to Private, which means that nobody can view your VisualCV until you explicitly share it with someone.
You can choose a different VisualCV as your public one. Tell me how
Your private VisualCV
Your private VisualCV and any additional VisualCVs that you create remain private until you explicitly share them with someone.
Can I choose which VisualCV is my public one?
Yes, you can choose which VisualCV you want to be your public one. Here's how:
- Click the Home button to display your VisualCV.com Home page.
- In the My VisualCVs section, click the Management tab.
- From the Your Public VisualCV list, choose the VisualCV you want to be your public one.
TIP: If the VisualCV named "My Public VisualCV" is no longer your public one, consider renaming it to avoid confusion.
How does the portfolio section work?
Toward the top of each VisualCV page you'll see a button called My Portfolio. The My Portfolio page is where you can upload and store tangible evidence (in the form of documents, images, videos, audio clips, or charts) of your capabilities and accomplishments. Consider this section as a gallery of multimedia items that you can add to each VisualCV that you create.
- To upload portfolio items to your portfolio gallery, click My Portfolio at the top of any VisualCV page. Tell me more
- To add a portfolio item to a VisualCV that you are editing, click Add Content to Your VisualCV, and then click Portfolio. Tell me more
You can enrich your VisualCV even further by linking portfolio images to other portfolio items (tell me more) or to external websites (tell me more).
Why would I want to add a video?
A video enhances your VisualCV by showing off your presentation skills. Stand out by telling prospective employers why you are a great fit or why you love being a developer, a product manager, or a salesperson. You can also use a video as a "stand-in" for a first interview, especially if you follow the tips in the "Video Resume Tips" section of our Insider's Guide to the VisualCV eBook. Take me to the video tips
Can I send just my video to someone?
No. Other people can view your video on your VisualCV, but you can't just send a video separately to someone via VisualCV.com.
How many photos, videos, and documents can I upload?
We don't currently limit the number of items you can upload to your portfolio. As long as our members remain considerate and don’t use VisualCV.com to store umpteen photos of their kids’ birthday parties, we don’t anticipate ever running out of storage space. However, please plan to use any items you upload to your portfolio in at least one VisualCV; if you're taking up too much storage space for portfolio items that don't have a home in at least one VisualCV, we may ask you to trim down.
The file I want to upload is huge. Will that be a problem?
The portfolio does limit the size of items you can upload. Limits are as follows:
- Image and audio files: 25 MB
- Documents: 100 MB
- Video files: 200 MB
TIP: If you want to include a video file that is larger than 200 MB, you can publish it elsewhere (for example, on YouTube) and then link your portfolio to it. Tell me how
What file types do you accept?
We accept the most common types of media files, including:
- Video: .avi, .3gp, .mov, .rm, .mp4, .wmv, .m2v, .flv
- Audio: .wav, .mp3, .ra, .aiff, .qt, .au, .mp2
- Documents: most common document types (for example, .doc, .pdf, .ppt, .xls) except .exe
- Images: .gif, .png, .jpg
You can also upload external videos from YouTube, Yahoo! Video, and Veoh. Tell me how
Can I show images in my portfolio as a slide show?
No, but we handle images in a way we think is just as cool. Slide shows give your readers little control over how they view your images. Suppose you include 12 photos of your work samples in a slide show, and your reader spots one she particularly likes. (Was it the 4th one? Or maybe the 8th?) She has to replay the slide show and sit through the other samples she didn’t like so much just to get back to the one she did. Instead, we present portfolio images as thumbnail images in your VisualCV. That way, your viewers can see them all at once. You can also link an image to a larger version (the default action) or even to a web site or to another portfolio item. For example, if you are a web designer this is a great way to showcase the sites you've designed.
How do I add a chart to my portfolio?
If you have already created a chart in Excel or a similar chart application, you can upload the chart to your portfolio either as a document or as an image:
- As a document: To upload the chart as a document, you can upload the original .xls file in which the chart resides. You can also create and upload a PDF version of the chart. This method is quicker than uploading the chart as an image, but you can't always guarantee that those viewing your VisualCV will be able to see your chart (for example, if they don't have Excel installed on their computer).
- As an image: To upload the chart as an image, you can copy the chart from Excel or other chart application and paste it into PowerPoint or into a graphics program like PaintShop Pro or Photoshop Elements, and then save and upload it as an image file such as a .jpg, .gif, or .png.
How do I save the information in my VisualCV?
When you add or change information in a VisualCV section, be sure to save the section before you leave it to preview or work on something else in your VisualCV. To do so, click the Save button at the bottom of the section. If you forget, we'll remind you!
If I delete a portfolio item, does that delete it from any VisualCVs I used it in?
Yes! Deleting an item from a portfolio will also zap it from any VisualCVs that use it, so delete with caution! On the other hand, if that letter of recommendation you uploaded when you were a lion trainer is no longer remotely useful in your present career and none of your current VisualCVs use it, it’s probably safe to bid it adiós.
If I delete my VisualCV, will my portfolio items disappear?
No. If you delete a VisualCV, all of your portfolio items will remain in your portfolio gallery for you to reuse in another VisualCV.
Note: You can't delete your public VisualCV.
I want to tailor my VisualCV for different kinds of jobs or audiences. How do I create different versions?
If a sudden opportunity arises for which your existing VisualCVs don’t quite fit, you can quickly pull together a new version by copying an existing VisualCV and tweaking text and sections as needed. This way, you’ll be able to respond almost immediately when opportunity knocks. Tell me how to copy my VisualCV
Can I save my VisualCV on my computer?
You can export your VisualCV as a PDF, which you can save on your computer and, theoretically, even forward to others. But that kind of defeats the purpose of a VisualCV. Doing that means your VisualCV won't be taking advantage of the rich multimedia capability that our service has to offer. For example, depending on your VisualCV's privacy setting, inline hovers won't hover, videos won't play, and documents won't open without additional action by your viewer.
See, here's the thing... Clicking a link to one of the more interactive elements will take your viewers to your original VisualCV on VisualCV.com. That's no big deal if your VisualCV's privacy setting is Internet, but suppose it isn't? Your viewer may be asked to log in before they can view it. And if they're not a VisualCV.com member, they may be asked to join before they go any further. Bottom line: your viewers will have a much better experience if they view your VisualCV as it was meant to be viewed, in all its glory, online.
Inline hovers? Sounds like something out of a science fiction flick!
An “inline hover” is just a fancy name for useful information that pops up when your cursor wanders over the name of a company or school in your VisualCV, such as size, type, and company revenue. VisualCV.com derives this information from credible sources such as Standard & Poor's Capital IQ, Dow Jones VentureSource, and The Princeton Review.
Can I print my VisualCV?
Sure. We'll convert your VisualCV to a PDF, which you can print by clicking the View as PDF button in edit mode or by clicking the PDF link at the bottom of your VisualCV in edit or preview modes.
Will you check my spelling?
We won't check your spelling or your grammar, so be careful. Have a dictionary handy or consider running your VisualCV by someone who can wryte and spel gud.