Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your diverse skill set and creativity can be a daunting challenge, content designer. Our guide provides clear, step-by-step advice and industry-specific tips to help you highlight your unique experience and catch the eye of prospective employers.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
How to ensure your profile stands out with your content designer CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your content designer CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your content designer CV:- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your content designer CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
PRO TIP
Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a content designer CV
- Professional Summary showcases a concise overview of your content design expertise.
- Content Design Portfolio offers direct access to your best work samples.
- Skills Segment lists content design tools and methodologies you're proficient at.
- Work Experience details your history in content strategy and design roles.
- Education and Certifications highlight formal training and relevant qualifications.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your proficiency in design tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, or Figma, which are essential for creating compelling visual content and prototypes.
- Include a portfolio link showcasing your best work, including a variety of content types such as web pages, infographics, and social media posts that demonstrate your versatility and skill set.
- Detail relevant projects where you've applied user-centred design principles and content strategy, as recruiters look for evidence of your ability to understand and cater to user needs.
- Emphasise your ability to write clear, concise, and engaging copy, including any experience with SEO and adapting tone of voice for different brands or audiences.
- Reflect on any collaborative projects, emphasizing teamwork and your experience with stakeholder management, as content design often involves working with a diverse group of people.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your content designer CV header
Right at the very top of your content designer CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for content designer:
- Senior Content Designer | UX/UI Expertise | Certified in Content Strategy | 8+ Years Experience
- Lead Content Designer | Brand Storytelling Specialist | SEO Savvy | MA in Digital Media | 10 Years
- Content Design Manager | User Research Pro | Agile Frameworks | Certified UX Designer | 12 Years
- Junior Content Designer | Interactive Media Enthusiast | BA in Graphic Design | Growing SEO Knowledge | 2 Years
- Content Strategy Director | Multi-Platform Campaigns | Data-Driven | MA Content Strategy | 15+ Years Experience
- Mid-Level Content Designer | Visual Communication | Certified Content Marketer | Web Analytics | 5 Years Experience
Catching recruiters' attention with your content designer CV summary or objective
Located closer to the top of your CV, both the summary and objective are no more than five sentences long and serve as an introduction to your experience. What is more, you could use either to entice recruiters to read on. Select the:
- Summary, if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience. Feature your most impressive accomplishments and up to three skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for;
- Objective, if you're just starting your career off. Provide your career goals and answer how you see the role you are applying for will match your professional growth.
Judging which one you need to add to your content designer CV may at times seem difficult. That’s why you need to check out how professionals, with similar to your experience, have written their summary or objective, in the examples below:
CV summaries for a content designer job:
- With over 5 years of dedicated experience as a content designer within the bustling London tech scene, I possess a robust portfolio of creating user-centred digital content. Skilled in UX writing, interface language, and information architecture, my work was instrumental in increasing user engagement by 40% for a flagship app.
- Adventure turned vocation: As a former journalist with a decade of storytelling expertise, I have honed my craft in engaging audiences. Turning my sights on content design, I bring a fresh perspective on narrative creation, now seeking to shape user experience through clarity and compelling digital interactions.
- Having refined my skills in visual art and communication for seven years, I am eager to transition these abilities into content design. My keen eye for detail and a penchant for clear, impactful messaging will contribute to crafting seamless digital experiences that resonate with users globally.
- After achieving a Master’s in Digital Media, I am poised to embark on a career in content design. Though new to the field, I am eager to leverage my educational foundation in user experience principles and content strategy to create meaningful and accessible online interactions.
- Looking to marry my passion for writing with cutting-edge technology, I am determined to contribute to creating intuitive and engaging content design. Willing to learn and grow with a team that values innovation, I aspire to turn complex information into clear, user-friendly digital content.
How to meet job requirements with your content designer CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Designed user-centric content strategies that increased engagement by 25%, demonstrating an understanding of audience needs and content effectiveness.
- Collaborated with a cross-functional team to develop and iterate on digital products, using content to improve the user journey and drive conversions.
- Managed content projects from conception to delivery, ensuring adherence to timeframes and budgets while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Utilised analytics tools to track content performance, using insights to make data-driven decisions and optimise content for SEO and user experience.
- Created compelling copy for websites, apps, and social media that enhanced brand voice and communicated complex concepts clearly and effectively.
- Developed and maintained a content inventory and style guide to ensure consistency across all platforms and communication channels.
- Conducted user research and A/B testing to refine content strategies, which resulted in a 30% increase in user satisfaction ratings.
- Led workshops and training sessions on content best practices, improving team capabilities and fostering a culture of content excellence.
- Implemented content governance frameworks to streamline content production and align with organisational goals, resulting in more coherent brand messaging.
- Spearheaded the redesign of the user experience for the flagship product, leading to a 25% increase in user engagement.
- Collaborated closely with product management and engineering teams to ensure content strategy aligned with technical constraints and business objectives.
- Conducted comprehensive research, including A/B testing and user interviews, to inform content decisions and improve the overall user journey.
- Managed a team of 5 content designers, setting strategic direction for content across multiple platforms and leading the content creation for major product launches.
- Implemented a content governance model that increased content reuse across departments by 40% and reduced content production costs.
- Oversaw the creation and maintenance of a unified brand voice, improving customer satisfaction scores by 15% in the first year.
- Developed an SEO-optimised content strategy that grew web traffic from organic search by 300% within 18 months.
- Produced and managed over 500 pieces of content, including blog posts, white papers, and social media updates, tailored to customer personas.
- Trained and mentored junior content designers in SEO best practices and analytics tracking, resulting in a 20% team efficiency increase.
- Designed interactive online experiences, contributing to a 50% increase in average page duration and a 30% bump in conversions.
- Partnered with cross-functional teams to align interactive content projects with larger marketing campaigns, resulting in a cohesive multi-channel strategy.
- Leveraged user data to personalize content, which led to a 45% improvement in lead qualification rates.
- Liaised with the customer service department to turn customer feedback into actionable content updates, decreasing support tickets by 25%.
- Implemented a streamlined content production workflow, which accelerated content delivery timelines by 35% without compromising quality.
- Contributed to the digital transformation project by creating user-focused content, supporting a successful platform migration that saw a 20% user retention improvement.
- Redesigned the company website content structure using user-centric design principles, leading to a 70% reduction in bounce rate.
- Coordinated with freelance writers and graphic designers to produce innovative content, driving a 45% increase in social media shares.
- Introduced metrics-driven content strategies that guided the editorial calendar and drove a 60% increase in online community engagement.
- Led a content experience overhaul for mobile applications, increasing user retention rates by 38% in the first year post-launch.
- Integrated content with AI to deliver personalised recommendations, lifting customer satisfaction rates by 30%.
- Authored a company-wide style guide, standardising content creation and ensuring consistency across digital touchpoints.
- Provided consultancy services for content design projects, reducing average project timelines by 22% while improving content effectiveness.
- Developed a content measurement framework for clients, enabling better tracking of engagement metrics and KPIs.
- Facilitated workshops to train client teams in content best practices, enhancing their internal capabilities and content output quality.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your content designer CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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PRO TIP
Describe how each job helped you grow or learn something new, showing a continuous development path in your career.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your content designer CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your content designer CV:
Content strategy
User experience (UX) design
User interface (UI) design
Graphic design
Copywriting
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
Content management systems (CMS)
HTML/CSS
Information architecture
Data analysis
Creativity
Communication
Collaboration
Problem-solving
Adaptability
Time management
Attention to detail
Empathy
Critical thinking
Project management
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
CV education and certificates: your academic background as proof of your skill set
A common misconception about your content designer CV education is that you only need it, if you have less professional experience. That is completely false. The CV education section serves to back up your technical (and sometimes personal) capabilities, fill in gaps in your work history, and show you have the initial industry background and know-how. When creating your education section:
- List your degrees in the reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent (and relevant) ones first;
- Include your degree and university names, start and graduation dates. It's optional to also denote you received a "First-Class Honours" for diplomas that are more relevant to the role;
- Curate your relevant university coursework, projects, or thesis work if you happen to have less professional expertise and need to integrate more job keywords and skills.
Your professional qualifications don't need to stop at your academic background. It's advisable to also select up to three of your most noteworthy (and relevant) industry certificates and feature them in a dedicated section. Once more, include the certificate name, the institution that issued it out, and the date you obtained it on. You could feature both hard skills and soft skills certificates, as in the examples below:
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Write your professional content designer CV by studying and understanding what the role expectations are. You should next:
- Focus on tailoring your content to answer specific requirements by integrating advert keywords through various CV sections;
- Balance your technical know-how with your personal skills to showcase what the unique value would be of working with you;
- Ensure your CV grammar and spelling (especially of your key information and contact details) is correct;
- Write a CV summary, if your experience is relevant, and an objective, if your career ambitions are more impressive;
- Use active language by including strong, action verbs across your experience, summary/objective, achievements sections.
