How to Make an Illustrator CV

We know that images are your world. However, how are you with words?

Although it is very necessary to have a high-quality portfolio to obtain a job as an illustrator, the truth is that, before you get the job of your dreams, it is also necessary Another essential requirement: the illustrator CV.

Yes, the visual aspect is important, but the content is the real king of your CV. So you must master all the secrets to make a positive impact on the recruiter and open the doors of your next interview.

Give the Appropriate Format to your Illustrator CV

Yes, yes, we know perfectly well that the visual part is your dominant area. Officially, you are in charge of all the aesthetics of your illustrator CV, however, you should not forget to follow these general guidelines so that your CV looks more professional and easy to read:

• Opt for an A4 size sheet.
• Set a line spacing of 1.5.
• Use margins of 2.5 centimeters.
• Lean for a font size between 10 and 12 points for texts and 13 and 15 points for titles.
• Don’t go too crazy with the font for your CV, better choose a simple and professional font.
• Save your CV Illustrator in PDF format, unless the company indicates another particular expansion.

Pro Tip: Probably you want to make a complicated and spectacular design to test your skills, but do not get too excited. Many companies use ATS (resume reading software), which is not very friendly with non-traditional resumes, so just give your illustrator CV a few creative touches and leave all your display of your artistic talents for your portfolio.

Choose between an Objective and Professional Profile

RGB or CMYK, oil or watercolor, realistic or cartoonish drawing … The life of an illustrator is full of decisions, so, it is not surprising that, when making your illustrator CV, you have to choose between a Professional Objective for a CV or a Professional Profile for a CV.

Career goals are recommended for inexperienced candidates. Students, recent graduates, or people changing specialty areas can use them to highlight their skills, career goals, and how these goals align with those of the company.

Professional profiles, meanwhile, are paragraphs that emphasize the candidate’s experience. They mention previous jobs, as well as outstanding and measurable professional achievements.

Analyze your career path and choose the one that best suits it.

Emphasize Your Experience

A resume without an experience section is like drawing a drawing without a sketch. The section with your professional experience supports your illustrator CV and makes you see yourself as a more competent candidate in the eyes of the recruiter.

This section must include the following information:

• Name of the position.
• Name of the company.
• Year of start and end of the contract.

Brief description of your responsibilities and achievements obtained during your period of employment.

The achievements you include must be measurable. Use numbers, percentages, and other numerical data to further support your illustrator resume. Similarly, add your previous jobs in reverse chronological order, as this is the most popular and easy-to-read resume format.

Even if you are an illustrator writing a resume without experience, some techniques will help you complete this section and give reasons to the recruiter to call you.

Pro Tip: Pay close attention to your spelling, according to a study by the Business and Professional Communications Quarterly, having mistakes when writing is just as damaging as having a bad professional experience, so check the texts before submitting your illustrator CV.

Add your Education

Although it is clear that your work usually speaks for you, that does not mean that you should leave aside your education in your illustrator CV.

You shouldn’t get too complicated in this section. Just be sure to include the name of your degree or degree, the academic institution where you earned it, and the start and graduation dates. If you haven’t graduated yet, then write down your expected graduation date. You can also supplement with some academic achievements or with your average grade or even move this section under your professional objective if you do not have much professional experience.

List Your Best Skills

Clearly, it takes different skills to be a children’s book illustrator or to be a political cartoon illustrator. Therefore, in this section of your illustrator CV, you should highlight what your best skills are.

The ideal way to write this section is by reviewing the job offer and identifying the company requirements. This will give you the guideline to choose which of your qualities you should include in your CV.

29% of recruiters say that one of the skills they look for most in a candidate is creativity, so be sure to include this quality. Similarly, other skills may be useful for your illustrator resume:

Example of Skills for Illustrator Resume

• Adobe Photoshop
• Oral and written communication
• Adobe Illustrator
• Character design
• Linework
• Collaboration
• Fashion illustration
• Graphic novel and comic illustration
• Pencil drawing
• Time management.

Complement with Additional Sections

What would an illustration be without the finishing touches? Without polishing the lines, add a few highlights or details that take the design to the next level? Well, the same goes for an illustrator resume. Although all the other sections are important, adding additional sections will give your CV that extra touch to make the document stand out from the other candidates.

Here are a few examples of additional sections for an illustrator resume that you can use.

Example of Additional Sections for Illustrator CV

• Additional courses
• Certificates
• Languages ​​
• Hobbies and hobbies
• Volunteering
• Availability

Consider Writing a Cover Letter

You have already finished your illustrator resume, but why not go one step further and improve your job application with a cover letter?

There are many reasons to use a cover letter to get a job, but one of the most obvious is the opportunity it gives you to demonstrate your passion for the position.

Follow these tips when writing yours:

• Add a professional heading.
• Greet the recruiter by name.
• Mention your best qualities and achievements in the first paragraph.
• Give reasons for the company to hire you.
• Explain why you want to be part of the company.
• Invite the recruiter for an interview.
• Add a friendly farewell and your signature at the end.