The findings revealed that those who embrace emerging tools and visual mediums, and create a strong professional brand, have a better chance at standing out. These “visual-first applicants” demonstrate their skills with interactive resumes and portfolios, and hiring managers are taking notice.

“Today, standing out among countless applications for a job can be tough. However, by leveraging social media, design tools, and embracing AI, job seekers are unlocking new opportunities to get noticed. Curating a professional brand and designing a visual resume have become essential steps to securing your dream job,” said Faye Longhurst, Regional People Lead at Canva.

Over 390 million resume designs were published from Canva last year as professionals worldwide seek to inject creativity into their job applications. Canva’s New Year, New Job survey of 4,200 hiring managers and 6,000 job seekers shows how creativity trends play out for millions currently operating in the job market. The survey was conducted by Sago in the US, UK, Australia, India, Germany, Spain, France, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan.

AI is here to stay – for both job seekers and hiring managers AI has become an integral part of the job hunt, with 97% of UK candidates who used AI in their applications receiving callbacks for interviews. Beyond content creation, AI is driving speed and sparking inspiration at every step of the process – but job seekers should still exercise caution when using it: 

• Over a half (52%) of UK job seekers, particularly those who are Gen Z (65%), have used AI to update their resume
• On Canva, Magic Write was used 13.7 million times in resume designs in 2024
• 69% of UK job seekers felt more creative using AI in crafting their resume, helping to transform a blank page into a winning CV
• Besides giving their CV a glow-up, UK job seekers have turned to AI to prepare for interviews (41%) and research companies (40%)
• 90% of UK hiring managers have used AI for some part of the hiring process, including to summarise resumes (38%) or screen applications (36%)
• 63% of UK hiring managers believe candidates should disclose generative AI use in application materials, highlighting the importance of transparency

From bland to brilliant: hiring managers want to see colourful, interactive applications

In a world driven by virtual interactions and a visually-oriented Gen Z workforce, job application norms are following suit:

• 80% of UK hiring managers prefer candidates who present a portfolio showcasing their work, via a website or presentation. Yet, only two in five (40%) of UK job seekers use portfolios, indicating many might be missing this opportunity to stand out
• 71% of UK hiring managers prefer resumes with interactive features, while over half (53%) are in favour of video cover letters
• UK hiring managers who are “very satisfied” with the resumes they see describe them as modern (52%), visually appealing (47%) and personalised (43%), with 64% of respondents preferring colour over black and white CVs
• 85% of job seekers, particularly those who are Gen Z (89%), wish to add more visuals to their resumes to make them more engaging 

Social media is essential for personal branding

UK hiring managers (65%) scope out candidates’ social media profiles most if not all the time and job seekers are now leveraging this to boost their chances of getting noticed.

• Nearly nine in 10 (88%) of job seekers globally believe that having a strong professional brand is key, up 45% from last year
• 93% of UK hiring managers value candidates that have established a social media or online presence related to their career
• 84% of UK job seekers post on social media to brand themselves as industry experts, with over half (52%) posting about their current job or business trends
• Three in four (76%) of job seekers, particularly those who are Gen Z (88%), now use social media platforms to hunt for open roles and learn about career opportunities

New hire onboarding gets an AI-era makeover

As AI continues to transform the workplace, HR teams and hiring managers are finding ways to speed up the onboarding process while new hires use it to show up strong on day one:

• 92% of UK hiring managers agree that visual materials enhance the onboarding experience
• 79% of UK hiring managers use AI to create visual materials to help onboard new hires
• 77% of new hires said that design skills and creating polished materials were important while starting their new role
• 66% of new hires said AI made it at least somewhat easier to make an impression and get up to speed

Joining forces with Canva to enhance creativity and innovation in the hiring process, Orit Tayar, Global Talent Acquisition Professional Leader at monday.com, said: “Job searching begins with self-reflection – what drives you and where you want to grow. A strong CV tells that story with clarity and measurable achievements that show – not just tell – your value. AI can sharpen how you present your journey, but the heart of the story remains uniquely yours.

“Onboarding works best when technology simplifies the process. HR teams should automate repetitive tasks to clear the way for meaningful moments where new hires feel supported and set up to succeed. Platforms like monday.com ensure HR teams spend time on what truly matters: setting employees up for success.”

Similarly, Lamees Butt, CEO and Founder, Riser App, believes in the power of authenticity: “As algorithms reshape the job market, blending in has become the new career killer. Job seekers need to think of their unique perspective and experiences as their superpower. By cultivating their personal brand and bringing their true self to the table, candidates create meaningful connections that unlock transformative opportunities in ways traditional resumes cannot.”

Canva’s AI-powered visual suite makes it simple for 220 million people worldwide to achieve their creative and professional goals. With thousands of resume, cover letter, social media and portfolio templates, a visual Docs product, and generative AI tools like Magic Write and Magic Edit, hundreds of millions of people have turned to Canva over the last year to give their job applications a glow-up.

To help job seekers kickstart their career goals and embrace the digital, visual job hunt, Canva has curated essential tools for candidates in one place with its New Year New Job hub.