Job hunting can be very competitive indeed. Especially in a world where there are millions of other talented individuals, you need to stand out. A creative director, for instance, can earn anywhere between $45,000 and $165,000 yearly. Payscale shows that the average salary for this position would be around $89,000 yearly. These numbers may even go higher depending on the industry.
That’s why it is very important to use professional resume templates to ensure that your application has an edge over others. Show the HR managers that you have what it takes to be part of their company’s creative team.
Additional Information About the Creative Resume
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are plenty of careers available for people who are creative. Here are some of the primary sectors that hire creative individuals along with their median annual wage as of 2017.
Artists and Related Workers
- Art Directors – $92,000
- Craft Artists – $34,000
- Fine Artists – $49,000
- Multimedia Artists – $70,000
Designers
- Commercial and Industrial Designers – $65,000
- Fashion Designers – $67,000
- Floral Designers – $26,000
- Graphic Designers – $48,000
- Interior Designers – $51,000
Media and Communication Workers
- Editors – $58,000
- Technical Writers – $70,000
- Writers and Authors – $61,000
- Photographers – $32,000
Of course, the above numbers depend on many factors including one’s location, skills, experience, position, and the company they’re working with among others.
Example of a Creative Resume
Graphic Designer
+1-123-123-1234
joannareeves@gmail.com
Orlando, FL
Highly skilled and creative graphic designer with 8 years of experience in the advertising and publishing industries. Created packaging designs, posters, billboards, marketing collateral, and more. Conceptualized and designed book covers including 12 best-selling fiction novels. Extensive knowledge and skills in Adobe Creative Suite including programs such as InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
Work Experience
Multimedia Designer
ABC Advertising and Design Co.
Orlando, FL
September 2019 to August 2021
- Submitted design proposals to clients from a wide range of industries and completed approved design until ready for final artwork submission.
- Collaborated with the design team to come up with the best designs and proposals according to client requirements.
- Designed posters, billboards, marketing collateral, and packaging for a variety of products and services.
Book Designer
XYZ Publishing Inc.
Orlando, FL
June 2013 to August 2019
- Conceptualized and designed over 100 book covers for print and digital publication.
- Interviewed authors and editors to come up with the best design and concept for their books.
- Worked with the design team to collaborate on various art and creative projects including storyboard creation, marketing collateral, and more.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts and Emerging Media Management
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
2009-2013
Skills
- Creativity
- Attention to detail
- Originality and uniqueness
- Decision-making
- Critical thinking
- Marketing and branding
- Book designing
- Typography
- Basic web design
- Adobe Creative Suite
- CorelDRAW
- Affinity Designer
How to Make a Creative Resume
When you are competing with many creatives for a position, you need more than just good luck to beat other candidates for the job. A simple resume template might be good but at this point, it is best to search for the best resume templates. You want yours to stand out.
While you are free to show your creativity on your resume, it must still look like it is professionally designed. From the color scheme to just the right amount of white space to the actual resume format, feel free to add your touch of creativity without going overboard. You might want to use a modern resume template to appeal to the creative market, but it must still look professional.
Aside from using a perfect resume template to create your attractive resume, you can also keep these tips in mind.
- Use the correct resume format for your resume.
- Read and understand the job description and highlight your relevant skills and experience on your creative resume.
- Take note and use keywords in the job description as many hiring managers use applicant tracking systems to filter the resumes they receive. These keywords can help get your resume on top of the pile.
The Layout of the Creative Resume
Since you want to appeal to the creative market, your resume must also have a unique and eye catching design at the same time. However, the content of your resume should include all the necessary information needed by your potential employer to decide whether you’re the right person for the job.
Many career experts say that if you want your application for a new job to stand out, it is ideal to have a one page resume with a unique style. You are applying for a creative position so your resume style matters greatly.
If you have plenty of job experiences and skills, it would be best to use the reverse-chronological format on your resume. This type of resume format allows you to highlight your most recent and notable employment history.
The Structure of the Creative Resume
If you believe the reverse-chronological format won’t work for you, you can choose from the two other formats for a professional resume including the functional and combination layouts.
A functional resume is ideal for those who do not have plenty of work experience but a lot of great skills. It enables you to highlight your skills that show hiring managers you deserve to be given a chance to get hired for the job.
On the other hand, a combination resume combines the feature of both the reverse-chronological and functional formats. This type of layout is ideal for those who have at least some previous work experience.
Use a resume template as a guide to help you decide on the correct structure or format to use for your resume. Just make sure that your resume includes the following sections.
- Header Section
- Professional Summary or Resume Objective
- Work Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Additional Sections
Start with the Header of the Creative Resume
A professional resume must start with a header. This should include your full name, contact information including your phone number and email address, title, and location. When you take a look at resume templates, you will see that there’s usually a link to a portfolio so that hiring managers will be able to check that as well.
Example of a Header
Graphic Designer
+1-123-123-1234
joannareeves@gmail.com
Orlando, FL
jrartistportfolio.com
Example of a Bad Header for a Creative
Graphic Designer
+1-123-123-1234
joannareeves@gmail.com
Orlando, FL
artistportfolio.com
45 W North St, Orlando FL, 32805
Female
DOB: September 9, 1989
Is a Photo Required in the Creative Resume?
Some people choose to add a photo to their resume, but please know that many modern resume templates now do not include a picture. Although there are no strict rules about it, a pro tip going around the hiring industry says that one should not include a photo on their resume anymore.
There are claims that many US companies decide against calling applicants with pictures on their resumes for interviews anymore.
If you do decide on adding a photo to your resume, it is best to make it a professional one. Leave your selfies, party, and vacation pictures to your personal social media accounts. Your resume photo should have a neutral background. Wear something decent and professional looking.
Choosing Your Creative Title
Your title of your resume can be as simple as the most recent position you’ve held or the position you are applying for. This portion of your resume greatly depends on the job title and may vary with each position or company.
Professional Summary for Creative
Keep the professional summary for your creative resume short and simple but impactful. This is your first opportunity to grab the attention of the hiring manager. Many times, even the prettiest-looking resumes aren’t considered by HR managers if the content is not interesting at all. So, take this chance to impress your future employer.
When writing the professional summary, include your professional and most notable achievements, work experiences, and relevant skills that make you the right person for the job.
Try looking for free resume templates that you can use as a guide when writing this section.
Work Experience in the Creative Resume
For creative jobs that require proof of skills, your work experience plays a truly crucial role. Check on the job posting and use a modern resume template to help you properly list down your experiences that are relevant to the requirements and qualifications for the position.
Check out our resume templates that can serve as a guide while writing this section.
Describe Your Professional Experiences on Your Creative Resume
In your work history section, it is not enough for you to list down just the companies you’ve worked with. Aside from the company name, include the company’s location, dates of employment, and your responsibilities.
If you have plenty of work experience, make sure you’re highlighting those that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Again, pay attention to the job description as it typically already includes all the requirements and qualifications for the job.
Resume writing is not exactly simple. Especially for creative resumes, you have to make sure that you’re displaying your experiences creatively so that they will stand out to the hiring manager. You’ll find some free resume templates that showcase a simple resume layout
Examples of Professional Experiences for Creative Beginner/Junior
ABC Publishing
Orlando, FL
January 2020 to July 2020
- Gathered materials, illustrations, stock photos, and other materials needed by the graphic design team.
- Created social media posts using Adobe Photoshop and Canva.
- Assisted the graphic design team in finalizing artwork such as book covers, marketing collateral, and more.
Examples of Work Experience for Senior Creative
ABC Advertising and Design Co.
Orlando, FL
September 2019 to August 2021
- Submitted design proposals to clients from a wide range of industries and completed approved design until ready for final artwork submission.
- Collaborated with the design team to come up with the best designs and proposals according to client requirements.
- Designed posters, billboards, marketing collateral, and packaging for a variety of products and services.
Education in the Creative Resume
Although there are numerous creative jobs that do not require bachelor’s or even associate degrees, it is still ideal to include an education section for your resume. You can get ideas from creative resume templates on how to list down this section, but you can also check out our resume examples.
Higher ranking positions in the creative industry may require you to have a degree. Make sure you are checking the description of the job to see the required qualifications.
Should You Start With Education or Work Experience for a Creative Resume?
Depending on your chosen resume format, you can start with either the work experience or education section on your resume. If you choose to go with the reverse-chronological format, you will be starting with your work experience. Functional and combination formats usually start with skills.
How to Properly List Your Education in a Creative Resume?
Feel free to look at modern resume templates to see how the education section is listed down. Just make sure that this section includes the name of the degree you’ve earned, years of study, name of college or university, and its location.
Example of the Education Section of a Creative Resume
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
2009-2013
Skills to Put in the Creative Resume
More than anything else, your skills matter greatly in a creative job. You have to be competitive enough and better than other candidates. You can prove this by having enough skills that qualify you for the job.
What are the Main Skills Sought for in a Creative Resume
Hard skills, sometimes called technical skills, include skills that can be measured and learned. They are what qualify you for the job. Soft skills, on the other hand, are your personal characteristics. These are what make you the right person to hire.
Hard Skills
- Adobe Photoshop
- Dreamweaver
- Photo editing
- Illustration
- Storyboard creation
- Videography
- Photography
- Typography
Soft Skills
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Teamwork and rapport
- Communication skills
- Organizational skills
- Writing skills
- Attention to detail
- Integrity
What Skills for a Junior Creative?
- Photo editing skills
- Microsoft Word
- Creative and unique
- Photography skills
- Basic videography skills
- Basic video editing
- Social media posts creation
- Basic coding skills
What Skills for a Senior Creative?
- Advanced graphic design skills
- Advanced photo editing skills
- Copywriting
- Storyboard creation
- Coding
- Web development
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Branding and Marketing
- Social media management
Write the Ideal Resume Hook for a Creative Resume
A resume hook is typically a one- or two-liner that highlights or summarizes your value proposition or most notable achievements. This section of creative resumes can help add points to your application. If you want to get hired for your dream job, then start writing a winning resume hook or tagline.
Example of a Tagline for a Junior Creative
Determined and strong-willed graphic designer with excellent drawing and illustration skills.
Sample Tagline for a Senior Level Creative
Experienced videographer and content creator with over 10 million content views on YouTube.
Additional Headings for Your Creative Resume
While some applicants might stop at the primary sections we’ve already gone over above, many more would include additional headings to further create a great impression.
Showcase more of your creative skills to ensure that you stand out over other candidates. Aside from adding links to your portfolio, career blog, or social media channels, you can also add certifications, interests, and even languages that can increase your chances of getting called for an interview and eventually being hired.
Take a look at free creative resume templates to see how others are listing down these sections to have an idea of how to do it while writing your own resume.
Computer Skills and Certifications in a Creative Resume
Although computer skills and certifications probably won’t matter a lot for traditional creatives such as painters, sketch artists, and others, many more creative jobs require you to be computer literate and tech-savvy. Sometimes, your MS Word or MS Office knowledge won’t be enough.
Check the job requirements and qualifications to see if some certifications are necessary for the job. Here are some examples.
- Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS)
- Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)
- Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
- Autodesk 3ds Max Certified
- UI/UX Design Specialization Certificate
Interests in a Creative Resume
If you still have a lot of white space or white background on your resume, you might be tempted to add some of your interests. In fact, you will see a lot of creative resume templates that include this section.
Although unnecessary and sometimes inconvenient as they can possibly even disqualify you for the job, you can still add some of your interests to your resume if they are significant or related to the job. Some examples include drawing, sketching, photography, and videography.
Languages in a Creative Resume
If you speak more than one language, it would be great to include a languages section on your resume. When you do this, include the official language references or certifications you have along with your scores, if available.
For example, you can use IELTS for English, DELF for French, or SIELE for Spanish along with your percentage or points.
Summary: Key Point for Writing a Perfect Creative Resume
Here’s a quick summary of the tips you have to keep in mind when writing your creative resume.
- Make sure that your contact information is clear, updated, and accurate.
- Follow the correct format for your professional resume.
- Include all primary sections. You may use a creative resume template as a guide. Sections include the header, resume summary or objective, work experience, education, and skills.
- It is not required, but it is best to attach a cover letter when submitting your resume.
Write a Cover Letter That Goes With Your Creative Resume
A cover letter is a brief letter attached to a resume when applying for a job. Although not a strict requirement for most companies, it is ideal for you to write a cover letter as this helps your application stand out.
Use this opportunity to express your intentions of working for the company and your availability for an interview. Let the hiring manager know about your passion for the job and why you are the perfect candidate to hire.
Frequently Asked Questions for a Creative Resume
How do I put a creative on my resume?
Showcase your skills and experience and include a link where the hiring manager can see or download your portfolio on your resume to show that you are a deserving candidate for a creative job. Save time when preparing your CV by using free modern resume templates.
How do I make my resume creative?
You want your resume to appear professionally designed, but you can still make it look creative in many ways possible. Feel free to be creative with the color scheme or use a creative template that can help you out.
What are examples of creative skills?
Add creative skills that are significant or relevant to the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a graphic designer position, it would be best to include skills in specific programs such as Adobe Creative Suite, GIMP, CorelDRAW, and more.
