Just like any job, a designer will need a CV. Working freelance may mean handing your CV to a possible client, whilst applying for agency work is usually very similar to applying for any other job. You hand in your CV, you catch the attention of someone, and you are invited to an interview or internship. So it is still an important aspect of your career.
A CV in the design world is much different to a CV in most other fields. When I designed my first creative CV, whilst applying for an internship at a local magazine, I kept that CV to apply for retail jobs with. A lot of people told me I was crazy handing out such a CV and said it looked unprofessional, to which I now completely understand. A CV needs to be tweaked with depending on the nature of the position your applying for.
With an area such as design, it's important to show your creativity whilst also showcasing your skills alongside. Below are a few of my favourite CVs which really utilize one's skills and advertise a personality.
Things I personally think are important to include for my own CV are:
Contact Details
An obvious one, I know. When working at my current job, I found that employers take note of your address and work out how easy it is for you to get to the area. My manager stated that this is due to a reliance on public transport and if something were to go wrong, would you be able to make it on time and if not, at all? It's also a good idea to have as many contact details as possible, such as email, mobile, and home phone in case of a job offer and one has been detailed wrong, or doesn't work.
Education.
Another obvious one, but you'd be surprised by the amount of people who actually do not include this on their CV. As I am studying design, I feel it would also be valuable to include the different modules I have covered thus far, such as Brand Identity, Competition Briefs, Work Based Learning, Brochures and Editorial Design, Illustration, Typography, etc. As other courses follow different modules, such as moving image and web design, I do think it's necessary to include what I have studied myself. It would allow the potential employer to have a good understanding with where I am at with my design.
Experience
Though most of my own work experience is not relevant to design, I do think it's important to include this within my creative CV. Showing you have a good work ethic, have experience in other industries and also showing that you are loyal to companies, such as not jumping from job to job and sticking with a company for a while is a great example of who you are as a person. Any relevant placements or jobs should also be highlighted and eye catching, and there should not be a huge amount of irrelevant jobs detailed.
Skills
For a creative CV, it's important to add your skills to the position. For example, applying for a job that involves moving imagery, I would find difficult as I have no relevant experience in such programs, and therefore both I and the employer know I am not tailored to the position. However, skills do not make a designer and you should be able to show and explore your idea generation within your CV and also within the interview, should you get one.
Interests and About.
Areas of interest should also be detailed within the CV. This helps the employer know whether you are right for their role, and whether my style and work would suit the position. An "About Me" of such should also be written to explain who you are as a person. Maybe your current interests don't suit the position, but you as a person might: and vice versa.
Handles.
A sign of the digital age, but also quite an important aspect of the industry: Social Media. Twitter is now used as a backbone to employment, looking at how you present yourself and your attitude. It needs to represent the best of you, and really highlight your characteristics. Other's to include would be a blog, online portfolio such as Cargo Collective and Behance, Linked In and Instagram.
