Applying for Graphic Design Roles: How to Stand Out from the Crowd

Applying for graphic design roles, in the highly competitive industry that it is, can often feel like an uphill battle.

There’s a mishmash of information, a lot of it conflicting, on the best practices, tips, and advice on applying for roles in the graphic design industry.

In this article, I wanted to share the various things I’ve learned about creating both CVs and portfolios as a graphic designer. The tips will help you stand out from the crowd in the competitive design industry!

Crafting an Outstanding CV

It may feel like the age of paper CVs, or resumes, has been and gone. But the reality is that a lot of businesses still much prefer this form of application, as they provide a simple, easy-to-understand overview of a candidate's skills and experience.

This can, of course, be present on a portfolio – and in fact should be – however it’s often buried in several layers of pages, scrolls, and clicks. The benefit of a simple CV is that all the information is right there for the recruiter to see.

What are the best practices and tips when it comes to building a traditional CV?

Tailor Your CV for the Role

Customization is key. Align your CV with the specific requirements of the job you're applying for. Highlight relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that resonate with the position.

The first thing you should be doing, when applying for any role, is customising your CV for the job in question. Take a look at what it is the position description is asking for, and think about how you “hit the brief”, so to speak.

If the role is specifically seeking someone with proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, but that’s not included in your current CV, make a copy and add it in! But keep in mind that you should only make factual changes. If you don’t have experience with Photoshop, don’t add it in. You get the idea!

Showcase a Strong Personal Statement

Begin your CV with a compelling personal statement. Use this section to convey your passion for design, your unique approach, and your commitment to delivering creative solutions.

This is essentially the overview section, giving you a chance to introduce yourself and what you stand for. Ideally, it shouldn’t be any more than a short paragraph, so making use of each word is paramount.

Depending on your career goals, the role you’re applying for, and many other factors, your personal statement can also be customised to the job. If the position description says there’s a chance for promotion within the business, include something to that effect in the statement.

For example: I’m a forward-thinking individual who’s looking to make a big impact. I’m passionate about all things graphic design, and want to contribute my skills and experience, whilst also increasing my knowledge.

That shows the candidate is a) confident in their ability to do the job with skill and precision, and b) they’re interested in being at the business “for the long haul.”

BONUS: Here are more tips for creating a graphic design CV.

Highlight Key Skills

Feature a dedicated skills section that emphasizes your technical and soft skills. Include proficiency levels in design software, project management, and any other skills relevant to the role.

Again, customise this to the job you’re applying for. Say you’re sending in your CV to a business that primarily works with web design projects, and you have experience in this field, write it down!

Something to note is that if you’re researching graphic design CV layouts and styles, you’ll often see little icons and charts that denote skill levels with particular pieces of software or systems. See the above image for an example.

I’ve spoken to a few different people about this, and the consensus is that whilst they look visually interesting, they don’t show anything of real value. Employers want to know about concrete skills and examples of you using them. These charts don’t provide that.

Include Relevant Experience

Prioritize relevant work experience, emphasizing projects that align with the prospective employer's industry or design focus. Provide concise descriptions of your roles, outlining responsibilities and achievements.

A CV, as much as it is there to sell yourself and your skills, it also acts as a record of employment, showing other relevant businesses and places in which you’ve worked.

You of course don’t need to include every single place you’ve worked (that pizza delivery job you worked as a teenager won’t be relevant for a design agency), but you should aim to include things relevant to the role you’re applying for.

Say you’re looking to send your CV to a design agency, and you have experience working at other agencies before now, this is information that should be included in the CV. Be concise, but describe your roles within the other businesses and organisations, how you contributed to the success of them, and the responsibilities you had within.

This will allow the hiring manager to see exactly what you’ve previously brought to the table in other businesses, and let them see the value you can provide for theirs.

Incorporate a Portfolio Link

Include a link to your online portfolio. Make it easy for employers to access and explore your work. Ensure the link is clickable and prominently placed on your CV.

Graphic design is a highly visual job. That’s not something that needs to be said, but I said it anyway. Anyway, as such, you need a way of showing your previous work. It’s not feasible to send out a printed portfolio or attach a huge PDF, to every application you send.

But what you can do, in the About section of your CV, include a link to your portfolio. If a recruiter is impressed by your CV, the next step they’ll likely want to take is seeing real-world examples of the work you’ve done. Be that branding, web design, or anything else.

This is why including a portfolio link on your written CV is so important!

Building an Impressive Portfolio

Now that we know how to write an impressive CV for graphic design roles, it’s time to switch focus a little and look at the top tips for building a winning portfolio.

As we saw in the previous section, a portfolio will act as an archive of your work. It’s your chance to really wow recruiters, and show them the skills you’ve got to offer.

But what should be included in a winning graphic design portfolio? Let’s explore that below!

Curate Your Best Work

Quality trumps quantity. Select projects that showcase a range of skills and highlight your versatility as a designer.

When someone visits your portfolio, they want to be able to see the work you can do, and what you can potentially bring to the table for their business.

Whilst including a lot of content may seem like the best way of showing your skill, more often than not it has a negative effect. With there being so much to choose from, you may be surprised at how many recruiters will decide to choose nothing, and leave your portfolio altogether.

So instead of uploading anything and everything you’ve worked on, you should instead look to include a small number of high-quality projects.

Provide Context and Process

Accompany each project with a description that provides context. Explain the goals, challenges, and your design process. This gives employers insight into your problem-solving approach.

Each piece in your portfolio, where possible, should be accompanied by a case study. This is where you explain the overall goal of the project, the role in which you played, and how you created a final product that was right for the client.

If you don’t know where to start, I’ve written a guide on how to write high-quality case studies for your graphic design projects!

Update Regularly

Keep your portfolio current. Remove outdated or weaker pieces and replace them with new, stronger work. Regular updates demonstrate your commitment to growth and improvement.

The reality is that a portfolio is never complete. As you work on more projects, there are more things to include in the portfolio, and thus more edits and updates to be made.

You should make a point to keep your portfolio updated. This should involve pruning old projects that are no longer relevant, updating existing case studies to ensure they’re up to date with SEO standards, as well as publishing new projects you’ve worked on.

When a recruiter looks at your portfolio, they want to see recent projects you’ve worked on. So if your portfolio is full of projects from five years ago, this is your sign to update it!

Include Personal Projects

Integrate personal projects into your portfolio. This not only adds a personal touch but also showcases your passion and initiative outside of professional obligations.

There’s a myth that personal projects shouldn’t be featured in portfolios. This simply isn’t true at all!

Including personal projects in your portfolio is a perfectly valid way of showcasing your skills, and the value you can provide to any potential employers. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that personal projects are hugely important to showcase.

They not only show that you’ve had the initiative to begin a project, and see it through to completion, but they also show that you’re always looking to hone your skills. So don’t be afraid to put personal projects on your portfolio!

Mobile Optimization

Ensure your online portfolio is optimized for mobile viewing. Many employers may browse portfolios on various devices, and a seamless mobile experience is crucial.

Did you know that 92.3% of internet users access the internet using a mobile phone? What this means is that there’s a very high chance that anyone looking at your portfolio will be doing so on a mobile device.

Because of this, optimising your portfolio to display well on both desktop and mobile is an essential part of portfolio creation. If you don’t have web design or development experience, that’s fine! With the huge range of online portfolio creators available, you’ve got plenty of tools to work with.

Final Tips for Standing Out

And that’s it! Now you know all the best and most important things to consider when applying for graphic design roles. You know how to optimise both your CV and your portfolio to give you the best chance of securing your next job!

But we’re not done yet! In the following section, we’re going to look at a few more tips to help you stand out from the competition when applying for your next graphic design role.

Research the Company

Demonstrate your genuine interest in the company by researching its values, design aesthetic, and recent projects. Incorporate this knowledge into your application to show a tailored understanding of the employer's needs.

Many companies will ask for either a cover letter or some words about why you want to join their team. This is your time to flex your knowledge and show that you’ve done your research.

Things like founding dates, services, key clients, and even some ideas for how the business can be improved are good things to include. Be careful with the last one though! You don’t want to come off as arrogant or a know-it-all.

Follow Application Instructions

Pay close attention to application instructions. Whether it's submitting work samples, a cover letter, or answering specific questions, following instructions showcases attention to detail.

You may be surprised at how many businesses hide little easter eggs in their job descriptions. Whilst it’s not a deal breaker if you miss them, finding them (and doing what they say in your application) will show that you have a keen eye for detail.

So this bit of advice is simple. Even if there are no easter eggs, be sure to follow the application instructions as closely as possible. This will give you the best chance of being considered for the role, along with all the optimisation you will have done!

Show Personality

Don't be afraid to inject a bit of personality into your application. While professionalism is crucial, conveying your unique style and personality can set you apart.

Things like quirky ways of writing, injecting humour into your personal declaration, or even including your own easter eggs on your portfolio can go a long way to showcase your personality. Remember though, it doesn’t take long for things like this to get overbearing and annoying, so use it sparingly.

Start a Blog

Whilst not essential, a regularly updated blog on your portfolio can show potential employers that you know what you’re talking about. You can use your blog to share tips and advice you’ve learned, showcase projects, or even talk about things that have happened in your life (providing they relate to the design industry).

If you don’t know where to start, my 7-step guide to writing content online is a good place to start!

Seek Constructive Feedback

Before submitting your application, seek feedback from peers or mentors. Constructive criticism can help you refine your CV and portfolio for maximum impact.

When you’re working on a CV or portfolio, you can become a little blind to potential errors and shortcomings. This is where asking someone with “fresh eyes” to look over it can provide you with some valuable pointers for improvement.

Conclusion

The graphic design industry is very competitive. There are thousands of people out there in the same position as you. The result is that you need to be doing everything you can to stand out from the crowd.

But the good news is that by making use of the tips, tricks, and advice in this guide, you can give yourself the best chance of making an impression on potential employers.

But before you send off any applications, do you know the best way of working for you? In this guide, we explore the differences between working freelance, in-house, or with an agency!

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