Graphic Designer
Best for senior and mid-level candidates
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Build my resume You can create a new logo in no time, your friends rely on you when they need help with Photoshop, and you’re always sketching on your notes. You’re a brilliant graphic designer, and it shows.
However, when it comes to making a resume to demonstrate your skills (not to mention writing cover letters), employers want more than just your portfolio pieces. Additionally, discussing your design skills and experience on your CV can require a lot of effort.
Our graphic designer CV examples have helped graphic designers secure highly sought-after positions at companies like Stripe and Apple, so they’re an excellent source of inspiration for creating your outstanding CV.
Why this CV works
- Whenever possible, ensure you quantify the impact of your work with numbers.
- This can be tricky for some graphic design roles, so it’s okay if your work isn’t the sole reason for improvement. Simply highlight your overall impact as part of the graphic design, marketing, or sales team.
- Portfolios are more or less a requirement for graphic design roles, so make sure to include a link to your own.
- If you choose to add a resume objective to your graphic designer CV, you need to customise it for each job to which you apply. One way to do this is to include keywords from the job description. Don’t forget to mention the company by name!
Why this CV works
- Graphic design is a very wide-ranging field, so sprinkle your creative graphic designer resume with keywords relating to your strongest skillsets.
- Some of the most popular media we’ve seen are print media, video, website design, and logo design.
- Companies are no longer just looking for good designers; they want designers with the initiative to take charge and create positive change. Make sure to include any experience you have with managing a project or leading a team.
- Demonstrating an increase in responsibility throughout your career is another excellent way to showcase your initiative. For instance, mentoring other graphic designers illustrates positive growth as a leader.
View more creative graphic designer resumes>
Why this CV works
- Highlighting project-specific use of design tools and resourcefulness is most noticeable on a freelance graphic designer CV.
- Highlight how you’ve utilised Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, or CorelDRAW to deliver creative solutions for client projects, citing specific examples.
- Discuss using project management tools like Asana to meet deadlines and coordinate with clients—all while delivering high-quality work.
See more freelance graphic designer resumes>
Why this CV works
- Hiring managers will be looking for any leadership roles on your senior graphic designer resume, so be explicit about your successes as a leader.
- Demonstrating your impact shows you’re a designer who considers your work within a broader context and does their utmost to help a company grow.
- If you’re wondering what to include, start with metrics relating to time or people. How many hours did you help your team save? How many new customers did you gain? How many people viewed your designs?
- The activities section isn’t always the best option, but it can be a valuable addition in certain situations. If your resume’s section of hobbies and interests shows leadership, perseverance, or other beneficial skills, you can include this section to give you an edge over the competition.
View more senior graphic designer resumes>
Why this CV works
- When creating your visual designer CV, keep your metrics close, but your skills even closer.
- Mention tools like Adobe Photoshop, Inkscape, Figma, and InVision that speak volumes about your artwork. Generating resume skills like these will convey that you’re well-versed with the latest design tools and can create contemporary designs with ease!
Why this CV works
- Even without an extensive employment history, your graphic design student CV can impress by highlighting practical experience gained from personal projects or student work.
- Showcase projects where you’ve used Affinity Designer, Adobe Fresco, or Canva to create compelling visuals, or your use of resources like Pixabay and Coolors for inspiration and project enhancement.
- School work definitely counts as well, so highlight available metrics from completed projects such as marks or peer reviews.
- This approach highlights your practical experience with design tools and your ability to successfully complete projects, regardless of conventional employment.
Why this CV works
- Demonstrate your passion for creativity and letting your imagination run wild with an appropriate degree.
- If you can back your creative designer CV with a fine arts degree in graphic design, you’ll be able to show your enthusiasm for the work and be on the shortlist for any employer.
Why this CV works
- You’re entering somewhat unfamiliar territory, which is why your beginner graphic designer CV should be well crafted to impress recruiters.
- One thing you can rely on is a career objective that’s both inspiring and clear about what you intend to do once you’re hired.
Why this CV works
- What would transform your web and graphic designer CV into a standout piece among recruiters? As Henry demonstrates here, you should specify what you did for the clients and how they responded.
- By employing the same strategy, achieving 97% customer satisfaction across several projects is a genuine testament to your work ethic and client-focused approach.
Why this CV works
- Securing your first graphic design role is always challenging, but fortunately, graphic design is a very visually-based field. Therefore, your CV can be lighter if your portfolio is strong.
- If you’re lacking relevant work experience, include any pertinent projects or work placements. Just ensure you include metrics where possible, as any recruiter will regard a work placement like a job and will therefore expect evidence of your impact.
- Graphic designers rely on a vast array of software tools to do their job, so employers need to know you have some experience with similar tools. When you’re writing your junior graphic designer CV, include any tools you’re comfortable using in the skills section of your resume.
- You don’t need to be an expert, but generally speaking, only include skills you can discuss in an interview.
View more junior graphic designer resumes>
Why this CV works
- Your logo designer CV is far from complete if you haven’t yet showcased your proficiency in multiple relevant tools. And it’s not just about mentioning the tools, but also how you used them to achieve tangible results.
- Take a leaf out of Ben’s book on how he integrates skills in Blender, Figma, CorelDRAW, and so forth to accomplish tasks and boost user engagement.
Why this CV works
- We understand; putting together an impressive CV for a graphic design intern position to secure a good opportunity can be nerve-wracking. What if we told you that highlighting a relevant seminar you attended could be your secret weapon?
- Harper, for instance, highlights the Typography Precision seminar, which saw him refine his skills in using industry-relevant software (think Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite) and acquire valuable knowledge.
Why this CV works
- It’s likely that the hiring manager will only contact applicants whose skills and experiences align with what the hiring company is seeking—essentially a perfect match. Want to secure a place on that list? Follow Lily’s example.
- Tailoring your Behance graphic designer CV to match the job advert is one of the most effective ways to show the hiring manager that you fit the bill. Notice how Lily recounts that moment when she custom-built animated social media graphics? That could be essential for this role and highlighting it could be her ticket to getting hired.
Why this CV works
- It’s enough for your self-taught graphic designer CV to tell a story of a resilient individual who is self-motivated and goes the extra mile to achieve results. But is that the only surprise you have for a potential employer?
- In addition, arrange one or two projects which, if implemented in real-world scenarios, would help transform marketing trends and outcomes for businesses of all sizes.
Why this CV works
- Imagine a graphic designer illustrator candidate with over 3 years of experience but lacking proficiency in industry-relevant tools. It’s akin to walking the plank in shark-infested waters, and unsurprisingly, recruiters might even overlook such candidates in favour of the newcomer who dared to dream.
- Make the most of the side columns on your graphic designer illustrator CV to showcase the graphic design and illustration tools you’re proficient in. Brandon, for example, compiles a list of tools (think GIMP, Vectr, Prezi and more), and then integrates evidence of him using these tools in the work experience section.
Why this CV works
- You’re more than just a whiz at splashing colours and lines onto a screen; you’re the magician who transforms blank pixels into a full-blown spectacle. When it’s time to spruce up your CV, make sure that impressive portfolio of yours takes pride of place. We’re talking about those breathtaking digital masterpieces, the social media graphics that make people pause their scrolling, and website revamps that don’t just speak but sing.
- In other words, don’t just make a list of job-specific tools like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe XD, and Coolors in your freelance graphic/UI designer CV. Take them on a journey through your past projects, illustrating those moments when your designs stole the show or when your creativity drew gasps and nods of approval.
Why this CV works
- Your production artist resume should be as interesting as your creations; showcase your eye for design by formatting your resume properly.
- You can improve your format by choosing two tastefully contrasting fonts, utilising white space throughout your CV, and using bold (but not garish) colours in your header and titles.
- Don’t get so caught up in formatting that you neglect your content—use a resume template to help speed up the formatting process.
- If you want to further emphasise your skills and interests, you can include any projects you’ve completed in the past. Focus on selecting relevant projects that have some connection to the job description.
View more production artist resumes>
Why this CV works
- Adding a resume summary is a guaranteed way to get a hiring manager’s attention—if it’s done well.
- Providing a brief overview of your career in two to three sentences can be challenging, so break it down into three components: who you are, your greatest achievement, and what skills you bring to the company.
- Reflect on your career and list your biggest achievements that you can quantify or explain in a single sentence. Did you increase site engagement by 72 per cent by incorporating a more modern, user-friendly layout and graphics? Did you design the company’s newsletter which was sent out to 2,000 customers?
- Looking to further demonstrate your commitment to graphic design? Include certifications at the bottom of your senior apparel and graphic designer CV.
- Adobe offers certification courses for many of their Creative Cloud products, and there are many courses offered through universities to give you an advantage over the competition.
Why this CV works
- Graphic design is a great skill to have on its own, but when you can combine it with other skills like marketing, you’ll be miles ahead of everyone else. Your graphic design specialist CV can highlight work that spans multiple disciplines.
- For example, you mention how your work generated more traffic on social media or how you helped the marketing team create a campaign.
- Including numbers that highlight your impact will significantly increase your chances of securing an interview. Companies often receive hundreds of applications for a single position, so as you craft your resume, keep in mind how you can stand out.
- Graphic designers are expected to be proficient with many different tools, especially the industry standard, Adobe Creative Suite. So make sure to let employers know if you’re skilled at Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Why this CV works
- It doesn’t matter at what level your career started. What matters is what you did with the first opportunity you had to show the world what you’re capable of.
- An experience at a junior level, along with what you learned and your contributions, can be an effective anchor to enhance the chances of your motion graphic designer CV progressing beyond the shortlisting stage.
Why this CV works
- Even if you don’t have much work experience, you can still show off your skills by adding any projects you’ve completed and even some of your resume-related hobbies and interests.
- Since you’re in a creative field, you can include a wider variety of projects than a technical role would permit, but try to limit your selections to activities/projects that involved taking initiative, additional research, or learning a completely new skill.
- Make your graphic designer/administrative assistant resume stand out by including an objective to express your eagerness and your qualifications.
- If you choose to include one, you’ll need to ensure it’s unique and personalized for every application you submit.
- While including a resume objective is optional, it gives you an opportunity to address the employer by name and outline what they will gain by hiring you.
Why this CV works
- Your CV should be as full of flair and precision as your work. Whip out those dynamic verbs that show you’re not just on the ball but also you’re the ball—words like conducted, executed, spearheaded, designed, structured, and systematised.
- Essentially, sprinkle those gems throughout your graphic designer/production specialist CV like confetti, a trick Michael executed well at the start of each bullet point. You want every line on that CV to shout from the rooftops that you’re the hands-on visionary who doesn’t just do the job but redefines it.
Why this CV works
- Make your marketing/graphic designer coordinator resume stand out even more by including a focused career summary. Though including a resume summary is optional, we highly recommend one if you have more than 10 years of experience in the field.
- If you choose to include a summary, you’ll need to ensure it’s unique and personalised for every application you submit. Otherwise, skip adding it and focus on your work experience instead.
- Tailor your summary by mentioning the specific job title you are seeking, the company’s name, and any examples of work you have done throughout your career that are highly relevant for the role. Just ensure you keep it to under three sentences.
Why this CV works
- Ideally, your graphic and UI/UX designer CV should be the ultimate first impression—like a homepage that captivates users instantly. So use a layout that’s sophisticated yet exudes a modern vibe.
- This is exactly what our Modern template is all about. It’s got everything you need (clean lines, excellent typography, and all the space in the world) and nothing you don’t (sorry, Comic Sans). Remember, if your CV isn’t visually appealing, employers may not trust you with their web designs.
Why this CV works
- As a versatile pixel expert, you need to demonstrate to employers your array of tools that transform raw footage/images into visual masterpieces.
- Think Adobe Photoshop, Blender, and Final Cut Pro. Such software platforms are industry benchmarks for a professional editor. Simply mentioning them in your graphic designer and video editor CV will give hiring managers a strong impression that you truly understand the difference between good editing and transforming something mediocre into something mind-blowing.
Related CV guides
Writing Your Graphic Designer CV
Graphic design is one of the most profitable professions in the freelance industry, and the role is becoming increasingly popular. Graphic designers act as visual communicators who create concepts with a stroke of their pen or a click of their specialised graphic design software.
Their main aim is to convey ideas to inform, inspire, or capture customers through physical and virtual art forms like words, images, and abstract elements like colours and shapes. However, graphic designers aren’t just glued to their drawing boards—they spend a lot of their time communicating with clients, customers, and other creators to ensure that their designs replicate the intended message and reach the intended audiences.
Standing out in the graphic design field isn’t easy. There are about 266,000 graphic designers already in the competitive market, and the number continues to rise. Even if you’re working on your letter of resignation email and giving your job application your best shot, you don’t want to end up in the “reject pile” because of your CV.
The best way to increase your chances of getting hired is with a AI resume builder. You can showcase your skills, explain your experience, and quantify your impact in a way your portfolio can’t.
When it comes to your graphic designer CV, we’ve got four crucial tips for taking your CV from the bin to the top choice. When you understand the role of your skills section, CV formatting, metrics, and customisation, you’ll be well on your way to landing your next job.
Highlight your graphic design skills
Most recruiters don’t have time to go through the nitty-gritty details in your graphic designer CV. They have only seconds to spare, which they’ll likely use to examine your resume’s list of skills and determine whether or not they’re relevant to their needs.
Recruiters aren’t the only ones you have to impress; when recruiters have a stack of CVs to sift through, they rely on an applicant tracking system (ATS) to filter out CVs lacking keywords—skills relevant to the specific job.
That’s why the skills section of your graphic designer CV is vital. Because graphic design jobs can differ greatly in duties and requirements, your skills section should reflect your knowledge and abilities in relation to the company or organisation. If you properly showcase your various skills, you can easily beat the ATS.
Here’s how you can highlight your skills in your graphic designer CV:
- List specific skill keywords in bullet points in the skills section of your CV
- Use numbers and examples to quantify and demonstrate your skills in the employment history section
- Emphasise your most relevant skills in the CV objective or summary
We don’t recommend adding more than 10 skill keywords to your skills section, but there’s still plenty of room to catch an employer’s eye. Here are some of the top hard (technical) and soft (general) skills you could include in your graphic designer CV:
- Graphic Design Software and Tools:
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe InDesign
- Canva
- Figma
- Gravit Designer
- Sketch
- Design Principles:
- Activating negative space
- Colour theory
- Typography
- Visual hierarchy
- Basic Coding:
- JavaScript
- Java
- Python
- HTML
- CSS
- Soft skills:
- Communication
- Creativity
- Organisation
Formatting your graphic designer CV
Your CV is more than just your relevant experience, employment history, education, and skills; it also serves as a marketing tool. Recruiters only spend seconds looking at a given CV and tend to overlook the dull or generic ones. They want to see your unique achievements and the value you can bring to their company.
This is a direct ticket to an interview. That’s why you should ensure your CV reveals the best you possible. As such, you’ll want to choose the right resume format for your graphic designer CV. While many job seekers choose skills-based or hybrid formats, it’s almost always best to choose a reverse-chronological format. Employers can focus on your most recent and relevant experience, allowing your most pertinent accomplishments and achievements to stand out.
Consider these vital points when crafting your graphic designer CV:
1. Improving your CV’s appearance:
- Consistency in layout, punctuation, typeface, and font size
- Work experience is in bullet points for clarity
- Minimal colour (headers and titles only)
- Left-aligned text (your contact header is the exception)
- Headings to distinguish sections
2. Meeting organisation and technical requirements:
- Just a page long
- A recognised file format (such as PDF)
- An objective/summary when necessary
Graphic designer CV objective
Speaking of an objective/summary, perhaps you’re wondering whether you need one in your graphic designer CV. First, let’s explain the difference between the two.
A summary is a two-to-three-sentence statement that outlines your skills, work experience, and any specialisations. It’s best used when someone has been in graphic design for over 10 years.
Conversely, an objective is a two-to-three sentence statement that outlines your interests, qualifications, and how you’ll contribute to the role you’re applying for. A resume objective is most suitable for those changing careers or entry-level job applicants.
The two are very similar, so it’s less important to understand the difference between them and more important that you pay attention to what you write for them. Vague statements and generalisations waste your and the recruiter’s time, so if you’re in doubt or are struggling to get it right, leave it out altogether.
If you’re a graphic designer looking for a junior position, an objective can specifically emphasise personal qualities and skills. To get the recruiter’s attention, mention the company by name and share how you intend to contribute to your desired company.
How to measure your impact as a graphic designer
Clients and customers value your designs, but it can be challenging to connect graphic design to business growth. Don’t overlook metrics, though; they’re worth the additional effort.
Design can become a key contributor to success, but only if you demonstrate how design is related to growth. There are various ways you can measure your impact on your graphic designer CV:
- Online success: if you’re handling digital design projects such as a website or email marketing, it’s straightforward to track metrics like engagement and conversions. A/B tests can also assist you in comparing specific design elements to determine which projects perform best.
- Improved sales: your design project(s) may lead to an increase in the number of customers or the quantity of goods purchased, indicating successful work on your part.
- Increased customer retention: if your graphic design work captures a customer’s interest, they’re more likely to stay and make a purchase. Alternatively, they might share your work and expand your company’s reach.
- Customer reviews and comments: keep track of positive client feedback to demonstrate to companies that your work is appreciated and makes a difference.
You might be thinking, “that’s great, but how do you translate that into a CV?” Our examples can provide some worthwhile inspiration, as seen here:
Create a bespoke graphic designer CV
For every graphic design job you apply for, you need to tailor your CV accordingly. Customising your graphic designer CV not only demonstrates competence but also care and attention towards the employer and the specific position. Trust us: there aren’t many job seekers taking the extra time to tailor their CVs accordingly, so make yours unique by tailoring your skills, work experience, and objective/summary sections for every job.
We also have customisation tips for different graphic designer job descriptions and graphic designer cover letters.
Graphic designer or graphic design specialist CV
- As a graphic designer or graphic design specialist, you likely have solid experience under your belt already, so this might be the time to include a summary statement highlighting your best skills and achievements.
- Since you have more skills than a graduate candidate, it’s fine to include up to 10 keywords in your skills section.
- Once more, pay close attention to the skill keywords listed in the job description.
Creative graphic designer CV
- You’re most likely involved in the advertising and marketing sector, so choose work experience that showcases your abilities.
- For example, if you design adverts for social media, reflect this in your skills and work experience.
- All graphic designers are creative individuals, but this job title implies a higher level of creativity and adaptability. This may also involve a role where you’re leading the creative team.
- Utilise your job description bullet points to highlight your leadership and teamwork skills. Include any work on various projects with colleagues or cross-functional teams.
Senior graphic designer CV
- If you’re seeking a senior role, the most important thing you can do is demonstrate your seniority. This means you must confirm your ability to:
- Lead a team
- Communicate with cross-functional teams and internal management
- Manage (and complete) projects
- Additionally, with this level of experience, you may choose to include a career summary. Don’t forget to tailor it to the new role you’re seeking!
Junior graphic designer CV
- Landing that first proper job can feel daunting when most employers want at least a year of experience, but all is not lost.
- Include any work experience placements, if you have them. If you don’t, consider getting a placement to gain useful skills and a new addition to your CV.
- Projects can also be invaluable. Have you designed a bespoke website for a friend? Did you create a logo for your aunt’s small business? These types of one-off projects may not pay well (or at all), but they can demonstrate that you have what it takes to do the job.
Key points for your graphic designer CV
By taking your graphic designer CV seriously, you’ll be well ahead of the average applicant and much closer to accepting a job offer.
Now it’s time to put your foot down and actually write your CV. Upload an old CV or start from scratch with our free resume maker. You can choose from our best resume templates for an attractive and ATS-friendly layout that’s sure to catch the attention of recruiters.
Your dream job is just around the corner, so get your CV in tip-top shape and land the job you’ve been waiting for!
Social Media Graphic Designer CV
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Why this CV works