4 Steps for Writing a Graphic Design Resume or CV (+ Template)

Putting a CV together can feel like a daunting step in the job search, especially if you’re starting from scratch. Pulling together your qualifications and experience for aspiring graphic designers may feel overwhelming. Where do you list your skills? How do you design it to look beautiful, easy to read, and professional?

Explore this step-by-step guide to writing a graphic design CV, plus a template you can use to start preparing your document. 

5 steps for writing a graphic design CV

Crafting a graphic design CV can be empowering and an excellent opportunity to evaluate your strengths and achievements. It should look visually appealing but not over-designed, and that balance can be difficult to strike when you want to show off your design skills. Follow these steps for a straightforward approach to CV building.

1. Read the job description and research the company.

For any job you apply for, it is wise to tailor your CV to each job and its specific requirements. Read the entire job description so you understand the employer’s ideal candidate. Keep a note of particular skills and experiences they’re looking for, and be sure to include the ones you possess in your CV. 

Do your research on the organisation to get a feel for its brand, culture, industry, and type of projects. If you are applying for a health tech job, for example, it’s helpful to include any jobs where you worked with a health care client or in public health and how these prepared you specifically for the job at hand.

2. Gather your work and education information.

Start listing your work experience and education on a piece of paper or in a Word document. Typically, you’ll use chronological order, starting from present or recent jobs. You don’t have to include all past jobs and experiences on your CV, but if you have significant gaps in employment, you’ll want to be ready to explain them to hiring managers.

If you switch from another field, such as marketing, your current CV may have marketing-relevant experiences. Consider creating a general graphic design CV that you can copy and customise later by adding or deleting information for each job you apply for.

3. Visualise your CV.

After you decide what information you’ll include in your CV, visualise where each part will go. Look at examples and templates online for ideas. Each section, such as “work experience”, “education”, and “skills”, should have clear headers that make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to scan your CV at a glance. 

Add some design elements.

You may feel compelled to showcase your design skills in your CV—and you should! Choose fonts, layouts, and other design elements that highlight your personality, but keep in mind that your CV should be simple and professional. Save flashy colours and impressive designs for your portfolio. You must also consider applicant screening software (ATS) when writing your CV. Ensure your design elements are compliant to increase the odds of your CV’s acceptance. 

4. Review and revise.

Once you complete your CV, review it for grammatical and spelling errors. Does it follow a logical flow? Did you include all the sections needed? Does each bullet point include a specific impact (in numbers) of your work whenever possible? Consider asking a friend to review your CV to catch any mistakes you may have missed.

Things to include in your graphic design CV

Essential elements to include in your CV include the following: 

• Contact information, including a link to your portfolio and LinkedIn profile

• Professional summary (optional)

• Work experience

• Education

• Skills, including tools and special areas you’re proficient in

Graphic designer CV example

Starting entirely from scratch can be intimidating. Click here for a template you can use for inspiration.

The template is simple so that you can add your own flair. Remove a column or add another one. Play around with colour and fonts. Add a professional summary. Highlight your accomplishments. You can download the template and open it in a word processing program to make certain adjustments, like adjusting the margin size.

CV tips to keep in mind

Peruse a few final tips to help you begin your CV writing on the right foot:

• Keep it simple: Stick to black text so it is easy to read, and choose one, maybe two, other colours to accentuate if needed. Simple fonts are a solid choice. It’s best to keep your CV simple and save your design chops for the portfolio. 

• Use employer-preferred formatting: The job posting will likely tell you whether the company wants PDFs or Word documents. 

• Include numbers: Use numbers to quantify the impact of your work. Underneath each experience, your bullet points should demonstrate, for example, that your designs helped increase brand sales by 15 per cent in the first quarter of 2024. 

• Beat the ATS: Many employers use application tracking systems (ATS) to sift through hundreds of CVs. Make sure you include keywords from the job description in your bullet points. Limit your use of features like text boxes or images that might not get scanned by the system.

• Limit to one to three pages: Employers often require applicants to limit their resumes and CVs according to the amount of experience they have, so include only important and relevant information. 

Learn graphic design with Coursera.

Writing a resume or CV can be challenging, but it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on your accomplishments and experiences and boost your confidence as you work toward becoming a graphic designer. 

Consider the CalArts Graphic Design Specialisation if you’re interested in sharpening your skills as a graphic designer. You’ll learn and apply fundamental design principles toward a comprehensive branding project whilst developing your skills and gaining practical experience.