Designers are visual people and can come up with creative images at ease most of the time. However, they are relatively weak in phrases and words. It is by no accident that most designers' resumes fall short of catching the attention of potential employers. A resume is not just a list of your practical experience and educational qualification; it is actually a sales advertisement about you.
Designers have the advantage of showcasing their portfolio full of attractive images as promotional tool; but without a solid cover letter and resume to highlight their notable achievements; most of them won't make it through the first round of elimination.
A resume is basically a compilation of your knowledge and experience in a specific field that you are pursuing. It is like the specifications of a product which highlight the unique features and potential this particular product possess. This information about you has to be precise and concise in order to unleash its full potential as a marketing tool. Writing an effective resume which successfully summarizes your strength and achievements may just land you that job interview you want.
Although the main description about you is included in a resume; you should not neglect the cover letter. A good cover letter complements your resume and might make the difference between getting your resume read or ended in the trash. A candidate who submits a resume without the cover letter might be perceived to be insincere and unprofessional. A cover letter is like the front cover of a book which creates the crucial first impression about you to your potential employer. It is here that you have the opportunity to introduce yourself and briefly describe why you are the perfect candidate for the job.
In general, there are 2 major types of resume most commonly used by applicants. The first one is the chronological type which list down your job positions with the most recent one listed at the top. This type of format is arranged by date and most employers find it to be straightforward and organized. This type of resume works best for those who have been in the industry for an extended period of time and have accumulated valuable experience. As for fresh graduates, this type of resume does not work in their favor because they have very limited working experience to list down in a chronological order.
The second type of resume is written with the Skill Based format. It categorizes the employment history of an applicant into different sections based on areas of skill and experience. This format is best suited for those with a diverse job history that involves different types of positions which are not necessarily related. It is also great for people who have gaps between their jobs as it helps to play down this fact. However, this type of resume may appear to be messy and hard to read.
If you think both formats have certain elements that can best highlight your strength, you can always combine the two by using the basic structure of the chronological format while highlighting your skill and achievements. In fact this is the best format that can help to promote you.
After you have finish writing your resume, you should then focus on your cover letter. Most people write boring cover letters which simply state that they are looking for the job without putting extra effort in stimulating their potential employers. Before writing your cover letter, you should first do some research on the company that you wish to work for. The content of your cover letter should target on the needs of the company. Most people make the common mistake of focusing on what they want and not on what they can contribute to the company. Keep in mind that you must first offer your service before someone may consider hiring you. In the body of your cover letter, you should highlight your strength and what you can do. This is the section where you need to promote yourself to your potential employer. You may also briefly list down your notable achievements throughout your employment history.
Always keep in mind that the cover letter and resume are the only tools you have to create the first impression to your potential employer. If you put enough effort in preparing them, your chances of getting short listed for interview will be higher.
As long as you are passionate in what you do, you will achieve success sooner than you think. My name is KEAT TAN and I'm happy to share with you my experience in the design industry hoping that you would get inspired and start pursuing your dream at the same time.
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