You're going to need an awesome resume. This guide is your one-stop-shop for writing a job-winning Graphic Designer resume using our proven strategies, skills, templates, and examples.
All of the content in this guide is based on data from coaching thousands of job seekers (just like you!) who went on to land offers at the world's best companies.
If you want to maximize your chances of landing that Graphic Designer role, I recommend reading this piece from top to bottom. But if you're just looking for something specific, here's what's included in this guide:
Here's the step-by-step breakdown:
What do companies look for when they're hiring a Graphic Designer?
Companies typically look for Graphic Designers with a combination of technical skills, creativity, and relevant experience. Technical skills include proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite — like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign — Figma, Microsoft Suite, G-suite, and an understanding of design principles and techniques. Creativity, on the other hand, is a valued skill in developing unique and compelling designs that appeal to the company's audience.
Plus, relevant experience demonstrated through a portfolio of past work shows an ability to complete projects and tackle challenges in a professional setting.
Companies may also value communication skills and the ability to work well in a team, as designers often collaborate with other departments.
Your resume should show the company that your personality and your experience encompass all these things.
Additionally, there are a few best practices you want to follow to write a job-winning Graphic Designer resume:
Let's dive deeper into each of these so you have the exact blueprint you need to see success.
Keywords are one of the most important factors in your resume. They show employers that your skills align with the role and they also help format your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
If you're not familiar with ATS systems, they are pieces of software used by employers to manage job applications. They scan resumes for keywords and qualifications and make it easier for employers to filter and search for candidates whose qualifications match the role.
If you want to win more interviews and job offers, you need to have a keyword-optimized resume. There are two ways to find the right keywords:
The first is to leverage our list of the best keywords and skills for a Graphic Designer resume.
These keywords were selected from an analysis of real Graphic Designer job descriptions sourced from actual job boards. Here they are:
The second method is the one I recommend because it's personalized to your specific resume and target job.
This process lets you find the exact keywords that your resume is missing when compared to the individual role you're applying for.
Here's how it works:
ResyMatch is going to scan your resume and compare it to the target job description. It's going to show you the exact keywords and skills you're missing as well as share other feedback you can use to improve your resume.
If you're ready to get started, use the widget below to run your first scan and get your free resume score: