Showcase your technical skills

Hiring managers want to see that you have the technical chops to excel in the role. Be sure to highlight your proficiency in key software and tools, such as:

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
• Cinema 4D
• Maya
• Blender

Don't just list the software names though. Provide concrete examples of how you've used each tool to create impactful designs. Quantify your impact where possible, like:

Created 15+ animated explainer videos using After Effects and Illustrator, resulting in a 30% boost in viewer engagement

Expand

   Link to your portfolio

In the motion design field, your portfolio is often even more important than your resume. Make it easy for hiring managers to view your best work by including a link to your online portfolio in your resume header.

Curate your portfolio carefully, featuring only your strongest pieces that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. Aim for quality over quantity. 6-8 standout examples are better than 20 mediocre ones.

In addition to linking to your portfolio, consider embedding 1-2 high-impact visuals directly in your resume. A powerful still frame or GIF can make your application much more memorable.

   Highlight successful projects

Don't just list your day-to-day responsibilities in your work experience section. Instead, call attention to the motion design projects you're most proud of. Provide specific details about your role and the positive outcomes you achieved.

Here's an example of a work experience bullet point that misses the mark:

• Created motion graphics for social media and digital ad campaigns

And here's how you could improve it:

• Designed and animated a series of 6 social media videos for the company's flagship product launch, resulting in 500K+ views and a 10% lift in sales

The second example provides much more compelling details about the project's scope and impact. Aim to include similar specifics for your key projects.

   Tailor your keywords

Many companies, especially larger ones, use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to automatically scan resumes for relevant keywords. If your resume doesn't include enough of the right terms, it might get filtered out before a human ever sees it.

To avoid getting caught in the ATS trap, carefully review the job description and make sure your resume contains relevant keywords, such as:

• Motion graphics
• 2D/3D animation
• Visual effects
• Storyboarding

Sprinkle these keywords throughout your resume in a natural way - in your summary, skills section, and work experience bullet points. But avoid keyword stuffing or awkward phrasing. Your ultimate goal is still to write for human readers.

   Show off your artistic side

As a motion graphic designer, you need more than just technical know-how. Hiring managers are also looking for candidates with exceptional artistic vision and creativity. Use your resume to showcase your unique aesthetic and design sensibilities.

One way to do this is by crafting a compelling professional summary that captures your artistic ethos, like:

Imaginative motion designer with 5+ years of experience creating surreal, mind-bending visual effects. Passionate about pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling through cutting-edge 3D animation techniques.

You can also highlight specific projects where you flexed your creative muscles, like:

• Developed a series of wildly creative animated characters for a new children's show, inspired by the works of Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl

   Quantify your achievements

Whenever possible, use hard numbers to convey the impact and scale of your work. Metrics help hiring managers understand the real-world results you're capable of delivering.

Not sure what kinds of numbers to include? Here are a few ideas:

• Number of videos/animations created
• Views, likes, or shares on social media
• Audience size or engagement rates
• Increases in web traffic or conversions
• Size of the team/project budget you managed

For example, instead of saying:

• Created animated explainer videos for the marketing team

Try quantifying it like this:

• Produced 10 animated explainer videos for the marketing team, driving a 15% increase in sign-ups and a 25% boost in user retention