CV example
Graphic designer CV example
A graphic designer’s CV is a design sample in itself, but it still has to be read by software and busy recruiters. This example balances clean layout with words that show the scale and results of the work.
Below you'll find a full example CV (also called a résumé), summaries for different experience levels, the skills and keywords employers search for, stronger bullet points, and the interview questions to prepare for.
Graphic designer CV summary examples
Your summary is the first thing a recruiter reads. Two or three sentences: who you are, your strongest evidence, and what you want next. Here is the example CV's summary, plus versions for other levels.
Example CV
Graphic designer with 6 years creating brand identities, campaigns and packaging for retail and food brands. I turn briefs into work that looks good and sells, and I deliver on deadline.
Entry level
Design graduate with a portfolio of brand, poster and social media work, including a freelance identity for a local café. Strong in Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign, and quick to learn new tools.
Art director level
Senior designer and art director with 11 years leading brand and campaign work for national retail clients. Direct teams of up to 6 designers and present directly to client leadership.
Skills to put on a graphic designer CV
Hard skills
- Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign
- Typography and layout
- Brand identity and guidelines
- Print production and file preparation
- Digital and social media design
- Basic motion or video, if the role asks for it
- Figma for web and UI assets
Soft skills
- Interpreting briefs
- Presenting ideas to clients
- Managing deadlines
- Taking feedback well
Show soft skills through your bullet points rather than listing them on the CV itself.
Keywords recruiters and ATS look for
Many employers screen CVs with an applicant tracking system (ATS) that matches words from the job ad. These come up often in graphic designer postings. Use the ones that are true for you, in the same wording as the job you're applying for. To compare your CV with a specific job ad, use the free CV keyword checker, or have Litjob tailor your CV to the job description for you.
- graphic designer
- brand identity
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Illustrator
- Photoshop
- InDesign
- typography
- layout
- packaging design
- social media graphics
- print production
- brand guidelines
For live figures, see the skills most requested in Design job ads, updated weekly from thousands of postings.
Bullet points: before and after
Strong bullet points say what you did, how big it was and what changed. Compare:
WeakDesigned logos and branding.
StrongerDesigned the brand identity for a fintech start-up, used across its app, website and investor deck.
WeakMade social media posts.
StrongerCreated a monthly social content system that cut design time per post from 2 hours to 30 minutes.
WeakDid print design.
StrongerPrepared print-ready files for 200,000 brochures with zero printer rejections.
WeakWorked with clients.
StrongerPresented concepts to 15 clients a year, with 90% approved within two rounds of changes.
Only use numbers you can explain in an interview. An honest estimate (“about 30%”) is better than a made-up exact figure.
Tips for writing a graphic designer CV
Keep the CV readable by software
Avoid putting key text inside images or complex graphics. A clean, single-column layout gets parsed correctly.
Portfolio first, CV second
Link your portfolio in the header and tailor the projects you show to the type of work the employer does.
Show scale and results
Number of stores, products, people reached or engagement gives your design work commercial weight.
List the exact software
Recruiters search for "InDesign" or "After Effects" by name. Write them out rather than "Adobe tools".
Common graphic designer interview questions
Your CV gets you the interview, and interviewers will ask about what's on it. Prepare for these:
- Talk me through your favourite project.
- Cover the brief, your process, the constraints and the result.
- How do you handle a client who rejects your concepts?
- Show you dig into the reasons, refer back to the brief, and iterate calmly.
- How do you manage several deadlines at once?
- Describe your planning system and a real busy week.
- What design trends do you follow, and which do you avoid?
- Show awareness and judgement, tied to brand goals rather than fashion.