After getting out of school or graduating, one of the first steps you have to take is putting together your own resume. If you are a graphic designer, then you will need to make sure that everything on your resume, from the font to the layout is what should be expected in order to be considered for a graphic design job. This article will go over how to write a professional graphic designer resume.
Difference between Resume and CV?
Resume and CV look almost the same but have different meanings. On a resume, you should stick to the facts as much as you can while on a CV, you are free to describe your educational and professional background in much more detail. Though CV is better than a resume, there are several things that can still be improved on if you want to step up your job hunt.
A graphic designer’s resume is a little less serious than a CV, but the same rules apply. To start out, the types of individuals who would create resumes are more likely to be recent art graduates or entry-level workers. Because of this, a graphic designer’s resume is less formal and more creative than a CV.
Why is it Important to have a Resume?
There are actually a lot of benefits to having a resume that you may not realize. One of which is that, when it comes to applying for a job, you don’t want to just rely on what the HR manager sees on your LinkedIn profile. You need more details than that. A resume will provide you with these details and is also the only way for you to highlight your skillsets and achievements in a particular industry.
No matter how far digital technology advances, resumes are still in demand. Technology won’t ever change that. Businesses will always seek the best people out there to work for them. Having a resume is one of your best tools to get through all the world’s job applications. Our goal today is to help you build a resume that stands out among all other candidates and helps you land that dream job!
You may not need a graphic designer resume, but you will definitely benefit from it. The resume is the first impression any potential employer might see about you. It is indisputable that it poses a significant role in the way an employer views your application. That’s why even though your portfolio matters most here’s how to write a professional graphic designer resume.
Types of Resumes
When you start searching for a graphic design job, you might be confused about which type of resume to write. There are many things to consider and many resume formats available. The most important thing is not the format you choose, but for you to make a clear statement about why an employer should hire you.
1. Chronological Order Resumes
A chronological order resume is a tried and true method of writing a resume. Chronological resumes are generally organized from the last position and worked backward to the first position with all subsequent jobs aligned in descending order. Most people begin their professional careers in a chronological order resume format.
Chronological order resumes are the most common and oldest resume format type. Its main objective is to provide a hiring manager with a detailed look at the applicant’s work history.
2. Custom Resumes
I’m sure you’ve seen many different resumes for graphic designers, maybe even written a resume for one yourself. Well, if you’re here, it means that you’re thinking about making your own resume for graphic design jobs. And I can say from my experience that writing your own graphic designer resume is the best possible decision you can make. This guide is based on my own experiences of creating custom resumes that helped me land graphics design jobs as well as the experiences of many other professional designers who shared their tips and guides with us.
With increasing the difficulty of unemployment, ensure you get what you deserve in your next job. Customize your professional graphic designer resume and get an edge over other job seekers.
How to Write a Graphic Designer Resume?
A Graphic Designer’s resume is actually quite different from any other job out there. You won’t pad your skills by putting something generic like ‘word processing skills’ or the ‘ability to communicate effectively. Instead, you need to show which programs you are familiar with and how well you can use them.
The first step towards a good manager for your graphic designer resume is to lay the foundation of good graphic design skills. An impressive resume will always start with a well-rounded education in various skills. Take time to peruse the tips and tricks below that can help you craft a better designing resume.
1. Add Contact Information
Your graphic designer resume should include your contact information if you wish to be contacted for potential jobs or freelance projects. It should also state relevant abilities and personal skills that pertain to job requirements.
A graphic designer resume is a great space to list your contact information in the header. Many graphic designers don’t realize this and leave this space blank. But adding contact information to your graphic designer resume is a great way to stand out from the other applicants who didn’t have the same foresight.
2. Add a Personal Statement
Once you know the steps to write an effective graphic design resume, it is time to add a personal statement. Just like your cover letter, your personal statement will be your chance to show off your personality in an introductory paragraph that will show a potential employer you are not just a cookie-cutter designer.
The personal statement is a great way for you to communicate with the employer that hiring you is more than just a business transaction, but an investment in your career.
3. Add Education
The resume Education section is a field that is often overlooked by many job seekers. Most candidates, and even recruiters, do not understand the importance of listing education information on your resume. Do you really need an education section?
Adding education is one of the crucial statements that you should add to your resume. It doesn’t matter what format you use, as long as it is easy to read and you include these details on every resume you send out, it will help someone notice you.
4. Add Past Experience
Another way to create a resume for a graphic designer is by making sure you have past experience, education, and accomplishments listed on it. For example, if you took college-level design or art classes during your academic history, make sure you list those courses! If you took online courses or attended workshops while working at your current job, make sure to include them. Also, any awards or accolades that you have won should be included on your resume as well!
Many people ask me what is the most important part of a graphic designer’s resume. While a strong portfolio is something that can’t be ignored — most designers are asked for past experience. So, how do you include your past experience while making a graphic designer resume? Don’t forget to comment and let us know what do you think about it?
5. Add Skills
Once you have all of your work experience entered into the resume, it’s time to add skills that you’ve gained or improved upon during school or as a hobby. These could be an important part of the job you’re applying for and can separate you from other candidates.
One of the best ways to stand out in your resume is by listing skills that a hiring manager will see as “above and beyond” the norm. The problem is, not every Graphic Design job requirements list skill sets that you should specifically include in your resume.
6. Add Tools
What does a graphic designer do? It is the question that is asked all the time when it comes to graphic designers in today’s constantly changing environment. The work they do now may not be the same as it was a decade ago, and this fact should never be forgotten. Graphic designers are creative people, as well as being innovators that utilize tremendous organizational skills to accomplish a project. These tasks can be applied to a variety of industries, although in specific instances an individual may have to put his or her creative skills on hold to concentrate on other areas of expertise.
In order to get your Graphic Designer Resume noticed, you need to add additional tools for recruiters and hiring managers to review your work. This is done through 2 different methods: leveraging yourself (content marketing) and leveraging your portfolio/reel.
7. Add Awards and Certifications
How to Write a Professional Graphic Designer Resume. Add Awards and Certifications. Career Advice for Graphic Designers. One of the questions I always get from my students is: How do I add awards and certifications to my resume?
You’re getting closer to your dream Graphic Design job every day, but there’s still one problem. You have no idea what skills to include on your resume. Maybe you’ve heard that awards and certifications are important, but aren’t sure where to find this “hidden” section on your LinkedIn profile.
The secret to creating a professional graphic designer resume that will land you more job interviews than ever before lies in your awards and certifications.
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