As a graphic designer, you have a wide range of possibilities when it comes to exploring new job opportunities. There are a ton of industries that require design expertise, including advertising agencies, marketing firms, publications, e-commerce companies, and even tech startups. With CVapp.ie, we'll help you create a perfect, job-winning CV in minutes. Before we begin, it’s important to understand that every CV should contain the following elements:
- A professional profile
- An employment history section
- An education section
- A skills section
Let’s begin with the professional profile:
Professional Profile
Your professional profile showcases who you are to potential employers. It serves as a brief introduction to your career and professional identity, but it's important to keep it concise, limiting it to around 3-5 sentences. This is your opportunity to emphasise your key graphic designer strengths, any relevant awards and any outstanding achievements that could grab employers' attention. In this section, we recommend using creative, actionable language in your profile and reviewing the job description so you can include relevant keywords where possible. Here’s a great example of a graphic designer professional:
Innovative. self-motivated graphic designer and design consultant with over six years experience working with brands and clients to bring their creative visions to life. Proficient in a number of design software, including Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and AutoCAD. Strong communicator with a knack for conveying brand messages and ideas to the world.
Employment History
The employment history section is typically considered the most important section of a CV, so it's important to invest a little extra time and effort optimising this section. When applying to a company, it goes beyond showcasing your skills and accomplishments. Employers also seek evidence of your ability to collaborate effectively within a team and adhere to a corporate structure. Your employment history serves as concrete proof of these qualities. To best outline our abilities, you can use bullet points to describe any key responsibilities or roles you possessed in previous employment experiences.
Don’t have much work experience yet? No worries! You can include examples of internships and volunteer work or examples of freelance and personal projects you have completed. Check out our example below for some extra inspiration:
Graphic Designer at Kavanaugh Design Consultants, Limerick
December 2014 - Present
- Worked with over 600 clients to earn Kavanaugh Design Consultants over $1,400,000 in sales
- Edited images using Adobe Illustrator for high-profile clients, including LORDES magazine
- Collaborated with other graphic designers and design professionals to create effective marketing campaigns for clients
- Presented design briefs to senior staff members based on client feedback
Graphic Designer at Indigo Creative Co., Limerick
November 2008 - July 2013
- Met with over 350 clients to develop and prepare design sketches and projects, earning Indigo Creative Co over $600,000 in sales
- Drafted reports for senior management and stakeholders on project progress, potential risks and key findings
- Presented international marketing campaign mock-ups for global marketing brands entering the Dublin and London markets
- Created brochures and advertisements for local government to support the "SPEAK OUT NOW LIMERICK" campaign
- Created seamless, professional designs for clients utilizing Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and other Adobe software.
Education
The education section of your CV should list any details that are relevant to your academic background. This includes details such as the institutions you attended, the corresponding cities where these institutions are located, the qualifications you acquired, and the duration of your studies at each institution. To enhance this section, you may consider including additional information, such as the majors or fields of study you pursued, any honors or awards you received, relevant coursework, thesis or research projects, or even your GPA if it's impressive!
It's important to note that the education section is not always make or break for some employers. Some employers would prefer working with graphic designers that have a seamless portfolio and successful track record over a candidate with an illustrious academic background but limited professional experience.
Here’s our education example below:
Bachelor of Arts at Limerick School of Art & Design, Limerick
Sep, 2004 - Jun, 2008
Skills
As a graphic designer, being able to communicate and convey your skills to employers on your CV is essential. From creating captivating logos and eye-catching advertisements to designing memorable websites and engaging user interfaces, your expertise has a significant impact on how businesses and individuals communicate their message to the world. Your skills have the potential to transform ideas into visual realities, and in this section, you'll want to share your skill-sets with employers effectively and efficiently. It's important to tailor your skills section to the specific position and employer you're sending your CV to. Take some time to carefully evaluate the job description and identify the skills that align with your own strengths and experiences.
Here’s a great example below:
- Adobe After Effects
- Digital Photography
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Lightroom
- Adobe InDesign
- AutoCAD
Formatting
At CVapp.ie, we offer an impressive array of professional templates to help you make a lasting impression. Whether you're seeking a more creative approach or prefer a more traditional format, our diverse collection caters to everyone's needs. Explore our CV Builder to access our templates and embark on your career journey today!
