You’re a graphic designer, aren’t you? You’re astute. You have a lot of imagination. Daily, you create unique commercials, product packaging, and websites. But you need help with writing a graphic designer resume.
So, how do you write a resume for a graphic designer?
Is it the same as a resume for a different profession? Do you include a portfolio with your resume? Or do you put the links on the inside?
When it comes to creating a graphic designer resume, many things are unclear, which leads to this essay.
We’ll take you through the full process of how to write a graphic designer resume from start to finish!
Table of contents
What is a Graphic Design Resume?
Resumes for graphic designers are more than just documents; they’re also work samples. A creative Resume for graphic designers demonstrates their design skills in font, spacing, and color selection.
The resume design should be unique enough to stand out but not so unique that it detracts from the content of the Resume.
Because most organizations utilize Acrobat or similar applications, PDF works well as a technical format. Also, unprofessional document names like “My Resume” should be avoided.
What skills do you need to have to be a graphic designer?
To be a graphic designer, here are the skills you need to have:
- Outstanding computer abilities, particularly with design and photo-editing tools
- Unparalleled inventiveness and originality
- Excellent time management and organizational abilities
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Knowledge of current trends and their importance in the business world
- Professional attitude toward time, costs, and deadlines
What should a graphic designer put on a resume?
You can make your graphic design resume as you like, but be sure to include the following four sections:
#1. Contact information
Name, phone number, email address, and physical address. Don’t forget to include your online portfolio URL as well.
#2. Professional experience
Share your professional experience in the form of a bulleted list. You don’t have to list every design work you’ve ever done; only the most spectacular ones should be listed.
#3. Educate yourself
What school did you attend to learn your craft? You can mention four-year degrees, two-year degrees, certifications, and so on.
#4. Design skills section
In the abilities section, you can indicate your knowledge of computer languages such as HTML and CSS, as well as tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Indesign (anything in the Adobe Creative Suite).
Extras
Add a profile section with some background on yourself for some added flavor: work titles, specializations, or even simply personal information – whatever you want employers to know about you.
How do I list my graphic design experience on a resume?
Begin the experience part of your original graphic design resume with your most recent employment. Then, in bullet points, list your responsibilities and accomplishments.
Make your experience relevant to each job opening. Resumes that are customized to you stand out like a Dali painting.
Take, for example, a job offer. This position requires someone who can convert written text into graphics and layouts. The successful candidate will be familiar with retail marketing.
You can read this: How To Write A Best Sales Resumes | Sample Templates
Graphic Design Experience Section Example
Image Source: zety.com
Image Source: zety.com
Do you see the distinction?
Both are excellent resume experience examples. It’s only that one is suited to the job (and will almost certainly land an interview), and the other is trash-bound.
How to Write a Standout Graphic Designer Resume
Here are a few rules to follow when writing your graphic design resume.
#1. Resist the Temptation to Experiment Too Much
I understand that being creative is a necessary talent for a graphic designer. It’s also tempting to brag a little on your resume.
However, if you plan to apply for jobs online, you’ll almost certainly have to deal with an applicant tracking system (ATS). These systems have a hard time reading files with odd fonts, graphics, or text boxes.
“A graphic designer’s resume needs to make it through the applicant tracking systems first, and those programs use keyword matching, not aesthetics, to determine who makes it through to the next step in a recruiting process,” says Terry McDougall, CEO of Terry B. McDougall Coaching and a former marketing executive.
#2. Include Links to Examples of Your Work
While keeping your resume as simple as possible is important, there are still methods to show off your inventiveness. Take a look at your portfolio or personal website.
“Graphic designers should always include a link to a website or portfolio [on their resumes],” McDougall says.
And you’ll want to ensure that these external links are not only on your resume but also easy to find.
You might include links to your work in a separate portfolio area on your resume or sprinkle them throughout.
In the experience part of your CV, you can also provide links to previous work. For example, if you designed a startup logo, you could include a bullet point that reads:
- From research and conceptualization to draft, production, feedback, and finalization, worked with the founders of BeeHive & Co. on the design of the new “Bee Free” logo (link)
Remember that certain ATS will just read the URL of a hyperlink, so don’t use anchor text that is important to your resume.
#3. Tailor Your Resume to Each Position
While the content of your resume is unlikely to alter significantly from one application to the next, you should always prepare to devote time to customize it for each job ad to which you apply.
This may appear a difficult task, but it is rather simple. When in doubt, remember that if a skill, expertise, or technology is stated in a job description, it should also be listed on your Resume (so long as you have experience with that given skill, proficiency, or technology).
What’s better? You can eliminate anything that isn’t relevant to a specific position. This will allow you to keep your resume on one page.
This is your chance to demonstrate to potential employers that you are not only a brilliant designer but that your aesthetics and abilities are also a good fit for their requirements.
#4. Select the Correct Keywords
In order to establish whether an applicant is a suitable fit for the post, applicant tracking systems are built to scan resumes for specific keywords.
As a result, resume keywords are important. Especially if you’re applying for a job online. You don’t have to include every graphic design phrase known to man in your resume.
However, it’s a good idea to double-check to ensure you’ve included as many important keywords as naturally as possible.
While the “correct” terms will differ from job to job, here is a list of common graphic designer keywords to get you started.
- Adobe
- Advertising
- Concepts
- Artist
- Branding
- Brand Consistency
- Campaigns
- Client
- After Effects
- Color Theory
- Composition
- Creative
- Graphic
- Illustrator
- InDesign
- Layout
- Marketing
- Photoshop
- Portfolio
- Media
- Production
- InVision
- Product Design
- Projects
- Sketch
- Strategy
- Typography
- Visual
- Web, etc.
#5. Put Your Work in Its Rightful Place
So, because graphic design is a visual medium, it’s easy to believe that your designs will be enough to get you hired.
On the other hand, the best resumes go beyond referring to previous jobs and identifying firms you’ve worked for to put your skills in perspective, using specific instances, outcomes, and even numbers when appropriate.
“Resumes that include examples that speak to collaboration, creativity, time management, deadline orientation, knowledge of how the medium in which their designs will be used—such as print production, video, or web—will always stand out,” According to one of the graphic designers.
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#6. Emphasize your technical expertise.
Prospective employers will expect to see programs like Photoshop, InDesign, or Illustrator on your CV because most graphic designers use these tools proficiently. Don’t stop there, though.
Consider adding extra talents that are relevant to a specific function if you have them.
Show that you know marketing tools like Mailchimp and TweetDeck in addition to pure design tools like Adobe.
These complementary skills will increase your value as a designer,” Chevallier says.
You might try dividing your technical talents into buckets like design, coding languages, and marketing tools, or indicate your level of experience for structure and scannability (e.g., expert InDesign user or proficient with MailChimp).
To put your technical skills in context, weave them throughout your resume’s experience sections.
#7. Master the Fundamentals of Resume Writing
There are a few easy guidelines to follow when it comes to resumes that apply to all roles and sectors. When you’re writing your own, keep these fundamental criteria in mind.
#1. Keep your resume to one page in length.
Your resume should be a snapshot of your work history rather than a comprehensive description of everything you’ve ever done.
Furthermore, you can control the length of your resume by tailoring it for each job you apply for (and leaving out anything irrelevant).
#2. Use a clean, scannable layout.
Recruiters prefer a chronological resume structure because it is simple and easy to scan. Still, a hybrid or functional resume layout may be a better fit for job transitions or persons reentering the workforce (just be aware of the pros and cons of each format before you commit).
Whatever layout you choose, ensure that section headings are clearly defined to make your resume scannable.
#3. Include a summary if possible.
Resume summaries are a wonderful way to put your previous work experience and future aspirations into context, especially if you’re changing careers.
They don’t have to be too long—just two or three phrases describing who you are, what you do, your finest feature or skill, and what you want to do next are sufficient.
#4. Double-check your work.
Because graphic designers require great attention to detail, you’ll want to double-check your resume before sending it to the world. If you’re unsure, have a trustworthy friend or colleague read it through?
Conclusions
Do you want a resume to help you land a job as a graphic designer? Then take the following steps:
- While innovative resume templates are interesting, a traditional reverse-chronological style with strong content is preferable.
- Put a well-written graphic designer resume objective or summary at the top of your resume.
- Use action phrases to showcase your accomplishments in your work experience section.
- Every detail should be tailored to the job offer. Regarding the graphic design job description, every bullet point should be as comfortable as a pair of yoga pants.
References
- Creativelive – Graphic Designer Resume Tips and Templates to Land Your Dream Job
- Zety – Graphic Designer Resume: Examples & Tips for 2023
- Target jobs – Graphic designer: job description
- The Muse – How to Write a Graphic Designer Resume That Goes Beyond Looks (Example Included!)
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