Tips for Good CV Design

July 10, 2018

Your CV is a form of communication and marketing that enables potential employers to gauge if you are a suitable candidate for employment. If you are not sure about how to go about designing the perfect CV then this article is for you.

Simplicity is Key

When applying for a new job, the aim of your CV or resumé is to make a very good impression. Potential employers would like to see how creative you are as a designer or developer and having too many pages cluttered with information can appear very bland in the eyes of the reader. To prevent this from happening it would be good practice to ensure that your contents fit on a single A4 page. This may seem quite daunting at first but this is an opportunity for you to show off your layout and presentation skills as best as possible.

Design Your Own Brand

Creating your very own brand identity is the best way set yourself apart from other designers and developers in the industry. Your professional career does not have to be defined by a black and white document. Therefore, it would good to design a brand that communicates your unique selling proposition and skills as an individual. Use colour to further distinguish your brand among the rest.

View our Useful Tips for Logo Design blog for a detailed explanation.

Keep Yourself Updated with Trends

As a designer or developer it is part of our everyday lives to remain updated with latest trends in every aspect of our careers. This knowledge should maintain a consistent relevance throughout your CV and portfolio of work. Therefore, it is imperative that you do some research to be clued up about design and development locally and internationally.

Things to bear in mind:

• Typography Trends (Fonts)
  Think of your CV or Portfolio as a design project you will need to be selective about font choices and ensure that they carry an aesthetic that resonates with your brand and most importantly: IT MUST BE LEGIBLE!

View our Typography and Design blog for a detailed explanation.

• Colour Psychology
  Colour plays a big role in societal decision-making, in most cases people have already made a decision about hiring you based on the colours of your brand. If you choose to use no colour for your design you will have to be very smart and creative with your design layout or your CV might just end up at the bottom of the pile or even in the trash. However, you can win them over with the use of two colours and an interesting design that speaks about your brand.

View Making 2017 A Colourful Year  for a detailed explanation.

• Resumé Layout Design
  This is where you are able to put your skills to the test. Design your CV that upholds a consistent and clean brand look and feel that captivates the reader when viewed. Take the initiative by making use of invisible grids and shapes and lines to divide content equally on your page. Here you are able to boast your design aesthetics and promote your skills as a designer or developer.
  
• Minimalist Design
  You often hear people make use of the term ‘less is more’, this refers to the Minimalist movement of the 1940’s suggesting that there is more value in simplicity rather than complexity. This term has become one of the fundamental principles of design that used today to define a new level of aesthetics.
  
• Illustration (Optional)
  Designing illustrations for your CV and Portfolio would be dependent on the particular job you are applying for, perhaps an illustration studio or if you’re applying for a role that requires to see additional skills in your arsenal. Therefore, you can design your resumé with storytelling illustrations that best describe your abilities.

Accurate Information, Always

Every resumé should include mandatory details such as your name, contact number and email address. You may include a URL link to your online portfolio, if you’re not sending it as a PDF already. Furthermore, it should be followed by the breakdown of your educational career and work experience with references and dates as well as a short description of your role at each company.

We are always told to do research about the company we are applying to work for, however, companies in turn will do their research about you. Ensure that your information is factual, not fictional, and you will stand a better chance to impress your potential employer.

Cover Letter For The Better

Writing a cover letter could prove quite useful in your job application as this allows your potential employer to get an idea of your personality, however, keep in mind that it is a professional document. Remember that you will need to write this complementary to your CV, short and sweet with a maximum of three paragraphs.

Do Not Plagiarise

It may be quick and easy to find a resumé online that looks appealing to pass as your own design. You’ll soon find that the bright idea to copy and paste an existing design would have been seen by an art director twice or even thrice before you. This does not work in your favour as it proves your lack of creativity and the ability to design something innovative. Step up to the plate and showcase your talents as best as possible.

Spell Check!

Last but not least, spelling and grammar errors on your CV can give the impression that you are uneducated or ignorant about your job and you may even come across as lazy, these terms does not convey kind the message about designer or developer you would like them to know. It’s of utmost importance to double-check your spelling and to get someone to proof read them for you. Once you have completed your resumé, you are free to apply for the job you desire. Good luck out there!