Resumes

All About Resumes

What is a Resume

Download the ATS Process for ResumeWriting Article.

A resume is a historical document that summarizes your personal information, educational background, and art-related work experience. You’re first job is based on your potential, attitude, character, personality, willingness to learn, and sometimes your looks ? not on your experience (most graduating seniors don’t very much experience at this stage!). A handsomely designed, typographic resume on nice stock will get you in the front door. An inciting and memorable conceptual self-promotional piece will get you in faster. Your personal information should be straightforward and to the point but a conceptual piece will stimulate greater interest from any potential employer. Your resume will represent you before you get to the front door. Remember, you future employer will see this before he/she sees you.

You, as a creative professional have the option of using two types of styles: chronological or functional. A chronological resume is a history of your accomplishments listed in the form of a timeline, either from the present day backwards (called reverse chronological order) or from early years to the present. Reverse chronological order allows a busy art director or creative director to see at a glance your most recent experiences. Chronological resumes are typically categorized as follows:

Contents of a resume:

  • Name, address, phone number
  • Career Objective: You want an entry?level Graphic Design position.
  • Education: School, address, phone number, degree, year, and major.
  • Experience: Present situation first; then work back in years.
    • Title of job
    • Company
    • Address
    • Phone number
    • Dates
    • Supervisor
    • Duties and responsibilities
    • Equipment knowledge
    • Award, show, and trade associations.

A functional resume uses brief paragraphs to summarize the designer’s abilities in specific areas rather than to list items in a specific order.  Instead of listing historical references you would list categories pertaining to your abilities.  For example, your headings my list Art Direction, Print Ad Design, Magazine Design, Package Design, and Web Site Design. Then you would write brief statements of specific projects you have accomplished under each category.


Writing an Effective Resume

Overview

A resume helps you, the writer; formulate a clear picture of your career goals and competencies. An effective resume markets your skills rather than simply listing responsibilities with the goal of securing an interview. Your resume has to make the employer ask you the kinds of questions you’d like to be asked.

A resume is generally mailed to a prospective employer along with a cover letter. It may be sent either to apply for a job that is currently open or to be kept on file in case a job does open. Sometimes a resume is hand carried to a prospective employer at the time of an interview. No two resumes are exactly alike, but the following guidelines can help you create an effective resume for yourself.

Identifying Information

List name, address, and phone number (with area code) where you can be reached during the day. List two phone numbers if no answering machine is available at the first number.

Career Objective

Prepare a brief, clearly?defined statement indicating the type of work you are seeking, the field or position in which you are interested and what you have to contribute to an organization (skills or strengths),

Develop a focus to target your degree to specific employers and positions. Two or three different resumes may be needed.

Your career objective represents the theme of your resume, with the remaining information supporting your goal.

Education

List your college or university followed by your degree, major and graduation date.

Experience

Give the names and locations of organizations for which you worked, full and part?time in reverse chronological order. List position, title and dates you were employed.

State the positive aspects of your work, i.e., accomplishments and job growth, and how they relate to the position you are seeking. Quantify with numbers.

Use action verbs (refer to list).

List of Action Verbs

achieved

adapted

analyzed

built

coordinated

conducted

delegated

developed

expanded

facilitated

guided

improved

initiated

mastered

negotiated

organized

originated

proposed

provided

researched

selected

solved

structured

trained

Honors and Accomplishments

If you helped defray college costs consider indicating what percentage of your education you paid for (see sample resume).

List offices, committees, responsibilities and results of projects and activities. This illustrates leadership qualities and how you spend your time. Significant offices held should be listed first.

Include memberships, speeches, and publications related to your profession.

Optional Areas

If you have additional experience that supports your objective, it may be presented under Interests. This information allows the employer to see the whole person.

References

You may indicate, “References available upon request.”

Sample Resume > Cover and Thank You Letter >