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A Senior Graphic Designer or Director of Graphic Design is no small gig. You're responsible for shaping the visual aspects of a brand and ensuring it remains consistent across all platforms. Lately, many companies require not just proficiency in design software, but also a solid understanding of digital and interactive design. When writing your resume, remember that while showcasing your design prowess is fundamental, so is demonstrating leadership skills and strategic thinking as they're crucial in steering the design team and efforts.
In today's job market, employers are looking for Senior Designers who can balance the art and science of design. That means being able to back up your design choices with data and understanding how your work fits into the bigger marketing strategy. So, as you craft your resume, think about how your design work has directly contributed to business results.
Mention instances where you've led a team or a project. This could involve coordinating with other departments, managing timelines, or mentoring junior designers. A Senior Graphic Designer or Director role often involves more responsibility and managerial tasks, so showing that you've got experience in leadership is key.
If you were instrumental in a design that led to improved website traffic or conversion rates, include this on your resume. Quantify your results where possible. This adds credibility to your work and shows you understand the link between design and business outcomes.
As a senior graphic designer or graphic design director, you’ll be taking on high-level responsibilities and overseeing an entire department. Your resume needs to show significant experience as a graphic designer, as well as the capacity to lead a team to success. Make sure you’re emphasizing past leadership roles you’ve held as well as a commitment to ensuring the overall success of a company.
If you want to land a senior role, you’ll need to show a steady pattern of career growth. If you’ve landed a promotion that represents a significant increase in responsibilities, you can list the positions separately under the same company heading. If the job title alone doesn’t make it clear that this was a promotion, your bullet points will.
It’s always a good idea to use the exact title of the job you’re applying for on your resume. If you’ve held a position with the same responsibilities but under a different name, or if the titles are often used interchangeably, you can list both job titles at the start of your resume.
We spoke with hiring managers who recruit for senior graphic design roles at companies like Apple, Nike, and Pentagram. They shared insider tips on what they look for in resumes that stand out. If you're applying for a Director of Graphic Design position, use the expert advice below to craft a compelling resume that will impress employers and land you interviews.
Hiring managers want to see how you approach design challenges and develop creative solutions. In your resume, highlight projects where you:
Avoid simply listing your responsibilities or software skills without context. Instead, paint a picture of your design process and the impact of your work.
A resume summary for a Senior Graphic Designer or Director of Graphic Design position is optional, but it can be a valuable addition if you want to provide context or highlight key qualifications that may not be immediately apparent from the rest of your resume. It's especially useful if you're a career changer or have a lot of experience to summarize. However, avoid using an objective statement, as it's outdated and focuses on what you want rather than what you can offer the employer.
When crafting your summary, focus on your most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that align with the job description. Keep it concise, typically no more than 3-4 sentences or a short paragraph. Avoid repeating information that's already covered in other sections of your resume.
When writing your work experience section as a senior graphic designer or director of graphic design, you want to showcase your ability to lead design projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and drive business results through effective visual communication. Focus on highlighting your most impactful achievements and quantifying your success whenever possible.
To make your work experience section stand out, consider the following tips:
Start each bullet point with a powerful action verb that demonstrates your leadership and design skills. For example:
Avoid using weak or generic verbs that don't convey the impact of your work, such as:
When writing your education section, be strategic about what you include and how you list it. For most senior graphic designers, keep it short and sweet. Only include what's necessary to show you're qualified. Here are some tips for crafting a compelling education section on your resume.
Your skills section is one of the most important parts of your resume as a senior graphic designer or director of graphic design. It's where you showcase your expertise and qualifications that make you the perfect fit for the job. Here are some tips to help you write a strong skills section that will catch the attention of hiring managers and recruiters.
Here are examples of popular skills from Senior Graphic Designer / Director of Graphic Design job descriptions that you can include on your resume.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Senior Graphic Designer / Director of Graphic Design job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.
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