Graphic Artist Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Graphic Artist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Graphic designers are responsible for creating visual content for print, web, and other media. They’re often tasked with creating branding materials for businesses, designing advertisements, and creating illustrations or photographs that tell a story or capture an emotion.
Because graphic designers are so versatile, they can work in a variety of industries and specialize in a wide range of areas. Graphic designers in fashion might design the lookbooks that accompany collections or create illustrations for runway shows. Those in the publishing space might be tasked with designing book covers or magazine layouts. And those working in the tech space might create graphics for apps or websites.
Regardless of where you end up working, your resume should reflect the level of skill, creativity, and professionalism that will set you apart from other job seekers. Here are some tips and an example to help you write a great graphic designer resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers everywhere.
How to Write a Graphic Artist Resume
Here’s how to write a graphic artist resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
When it comes to your resume, it’s important to use clear and concise language. Bullet points are a great place to do this by using specific examples and numbers. So rather than saying you “designed graphics,” you could say you “designed infographics for social media campaign, resulting in increased engagement by 20%.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about what you did and the results of your work.
Related: What Is a Graphic Artist? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you submit your resume online, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for specific terms related to the job opening, like “graphic design” or “illustration,” in order to determine whether or not you are a match. So, if your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, your application might not even be seen by a recruiter.
One way to make sure your resume contains the right keywords is to read through job postings and take note of the terms that are used most often. Then, use those same terms on your resume. Here are some common graphic artist keywords:
- Graphic Design
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Logo Design
- Adobe InDesign
- Graphics
- Page Layout
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Typography
- Advertising
- Illustration
- Photography
- After Effects
- Brochures
- Web Design
- Corporate Identity
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Mac
- Concept Development
- Art Direction
- Design
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- Visual Communication
- CorelDRAW
- Adobe Acrobat
- SketchUp
- Visual Arts
- Corel Painter
- Microsoft Access
- Drawing
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a graphic artist, you rely on a variety of software programs to create your art. Programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are essential, and most recruiters will expect you to be proficient in them. Additionally, many graphic artists also use 3D rendering software, like Autodesk 3ds Max, and animation software, like Adobe After Effects. So be sure to list all of the programs and software that you are familiar with in your technical skills section.
Including a link to your online portfolio is also a great way to show off your work to potential employers.
Related: How Much Does a Graphic Artist Make?
Remember The Basics
As you’re crafting your resume, it’s important to keep a few basic guidelines in mind.
Make Sure Your Resume Is Easy to Scan
There are a few things you can do to your resume to make it easier to read. Left-align your text, use a standard font type and size, and use bullets instead of paragraphs to list your experiences. You should also avoid centered text, and use all-caps and bold sparingly. Additionally, you can include some white space on the page to make the document easier to scan.
Be Concise
There is no set length for a resume, but it is important to keep it concise and to the point. A one-page resume is ideal for recent graduates or those with less than 10 years of experience. When you have more experience, you can make a two-page resume. However, be selective about the information that you include.
Proofread
Proofreading your resume is an important step in ensuring that it looks its best. There are several things to watch for when proofreading, including spelling mistakes, punctuation mistakes, and grammatical mistakes. It is also important to be aware of easily confused words, such as their/there/they’re and to/too/two. Spell checking your resume is a good start, but you should also have someone else proofread it for you to catch any mistakes that you may have missed.
Use a Summary
When you’re writing a resume, it’s important to have a strong summary statement to help introduce your experience and skills to potential employers. A well-written summary can help to show how your past experience will translate into the role you’re hoping to land, and can be a great way to explain your intentions and goals. When creating your summary, be sure to focus on your most relevant skills and experiences, and keep it brief and to the point.
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