One specific CV challenge you may encounter as a web designer is effectively showcasing your unique design skills and projects. Our guide provides detailed steps and examples to help you highlight your creative talents and construct a CV that stands out to potential 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 complex should the format of your web designer CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your web designer CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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 web designer CV
- Professional Profile provides a snapshot of your design expertise.
- Design Skills highlights specific web design competencies.
- Work Experience showcases relevant web design projects and roles.
- Education and Training shows formal qualifications and design certifications.
- Portfolio Link allows quick access to your online design work samples.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Showcase your design portfolio by embedding links to your work or including a dedicated section for your online portfolio, as this provides tangible evidence of your design capabilities and style.
- Emphasise your proficiency in web design tools and technologies, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to demonstrate your technical skill set to employers.
- Highlight any projects where you specifically improved user experience (UX) or user interface (UI) design, as these are critical aspects of web design that potential employers will be looking for.
- Include any collaborative experiences with developers, marketers, or other designers to showcase your ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
- Mention any awards, recognitions, or certifications relevant to web design, as they provide credibility and can make you stand out in a crowded job market.
Recommended reads:
Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning web designer CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for web designer:
- Senior Web Designer | UX/UI Expert | Adobe Certified | 10+ years in Interactive Media Design
- Creative Web Designer | Mobile-First Approach | SEO-Savvy | Grad. Dip. in Web Development | 7 Years Exp.
- Lead Web Designer | eCommerce Specialist | Branding Expert | W3C Standards Advocate | 12 Years Industry Lead
- Junior Web Designer | HTML5 & CSS3 Proficient | Recent Bootcamp Graduate | Passion for Responsive Design
- Front-End Web Designer | JavaScript & React Proficient | User-Centric Designs | BSc Multimedia | 5 Years Exp.
- Digital Designer | Senior Web Developer | Visual Storyteller | Masters in Graphic Design | 8+ Years Experience
Choosing your opening statement: a web designer CV summary or objective
At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:
- Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements. Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
- Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for
CV summaries for a web designer job:
- Seasoned Web Designer with over 8 years of experience delivering high-quality, responsive designs. Specialised in creating visually appealing user experiences and adept with the latest industry-standard tools, including Adobe Creative Suite and HTML5/CSS3. Awarded Best UX Designer in the 2021 Tech Innovate Awards for an e-commerce project that increased client sales by 30%.
- Dynamic Front-End Developer transitioning to Web Design with a strong foundation in JavaScript, React.js, and user-centered design principles. Bringing forth a passion for crafting immersive web experiences complemented by a five-year tenure developing engaging, responsive websites for tech startups. Proven track record in project management with a focus on cross-functional collaboration.
- Meticulous Graphic Designer with a decade's worth of experience in visual storytelling ready to leverage my Adobe Creative Cloud expertise into creating outstanding web experiences. Eager to apply my award-winning campaign design background towards conceptualizing and executing memorable digital interfaces.
- Former Marketing Strategist with a profound understanding of user behavior and digital analytics, aiming to employ my 6 years of industry experience in crafting intuitive web designs. Skilled in utilizing data-driven insights to improve user engagement and conversion rates, aspiring to merge strategic vision with design innovation to produce compelling online user journeys.
- Recent graduate with a passion for web design and proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, seeking to apply my academic knowledge and fresh perspective. Driven to learn and grow within a collaborative team where I can contribute to creating impactful user experiences while further developing my design and technical skills.
- Aspiring Web Designer, highly motivated to learn and excel in the field despite no industry experience yet. Enthusiastic about harnessing my extensive background in fine arts and mastery of Adobe Creative Suite to adapt to digital mediums and produce holistic web designs that resonate with diverse audiences.
The best formula for your web designer CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Created visually compelling designs for a variety of websites and digital assets, improving user engagement by an average of 20%.
- Implemented responsive design techniques, ensuring cross-platform compatibility and a seamless experience for both desktop and mobile users.
- Led a team of designers in a large-scale website redesign project that contributed to a 30% increase in web traffic within 6 months post-launch.
- Conducted user research and testing, utilising the feedback to make data-driven design decisions that boosted conversion rates by 15%.
- Optimised website load times by compressing images and leveraging browser caching, which reduced bounce rates by 10%.
- Expertly integrated brand identity into website designs, strengthening brand consistency and recognition across digital touchpoints.
- Collaborated with front-end developers to implement custom CSS and JavaScript solutions that enhanced site functionality and interactivity.
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously, consistently meeting deadlines for clients in various industries, including e-commerce, healthcare, and education.
- Spearheaded the adoption of a mobile-first design approach, which resulted in a 25% increase in mobile conversions for client websites.
- Led the redesign of the company's main e-commerce platform which catered to over 1 million monthly users, increasing overall user engagement by 35%.
- Developed and implemented responsive design strategies that decreased the website's bounce rate by 25% across various devices.
- Collaborated closely with the marketing team to create visually compelling online campaigns, lifting conversion rates by 15%.
- Spearheading a team of 5 designers to overhaul the user experience for a suite of enterprise SaaS products, driving a user satisfaction increase by 40%.
- Pioneering the adoption of a design system that improved the consistency and speed of design iterations across the product line.
- Forging partnerships with cross-functional teams to align design initiatives with business goals, resulting in a 20% faster time-to-market for new features.
- Executed over 50 unique web design projects for various clients, enhancing their digital presence and brand identity.
- Integrated SEO best practices into web designs, leading to an average of 50% improvement in organic search results for clients.
- Provided expert-level proficiency in HTML5/CSS3 to deliver dynamic and interactive websites that increased user time on site by an average of 45%.
- Produced high-quality visuals and graphics that contributed to a 30% increase in social media traffic due to compelling CTAs and banners.
- Collaborated with front-end developers to ensure design integrity in the final product.
- Enhanced branding for mid-size businesses by designing engaging website layouts that reflected each company’s unique value proposition.
- Instrumental in developing and maintaining the front end of high-traffic websites, reaching up to 500,000 visits per month.
- Implemented A/B testing for various web design elements, which improved CTRs by up to 20% on prioritized pages.
- Streamlined cross-browser compatibility checks to ensure flawless website presentation, enhancing user experience and minimizing technical support inquiries by 30%.
- Independently managed a pipeline of 10+ projects simultaneously, consistently meeting or exceeding client expectations on deliverables.
- Implemented custom CMS solutions that allowed clients to maintain their content effectively, saving them an estimated 15 hours per month on website management.
- Utilized Google Analytics to fine-tune design features according to user interaction data, resulting in a 25% increase in user retention for client sites.
- Assisted in the redesign of three corporate websites, which led to a 50% increase in traffic within a year of relaunch.
- Created custom graphics and icons that were incorporated into various web projects, enhancing visual appeal and navigation.
- Participated in the testing and feedback stages of the web design process, providing critical insights that improved end-user satisfaction.
- Conceptualized and executed a mobile-first website design that increased mobile user engagement by over 60%.
- Conducted comprehensive website audits which identified and rectified UX pain points, thus increasing the average session duration by 40%.
- Crafted wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups to effectively communicate design ideas to stakeholders and the development team.
- Produced visually appealing website designs that captured the essence of client's branding and improved overall aesthetic scores by 70%.
- Researched and integrated modern web design trends, keeping the company at the forefront of design innovation.
- Worked closely with UX researchers to validate design concepts and implemented findings to enhance site navigability and accessibility.
- Played a key role in a project team that delivered a comprehensive website renovation for a multinational client, which won an industry award for best design.
- Managed the website's visual content calendar, aligning with strategic marketing initiatives and seasonal promotions.
- Optimized load times and core web vitals for dozens of web projects, consistently achieving scores above the 90th percentile in PageSpeed Insights.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your web 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.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your web designer CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your web designer CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your web designer CV:
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Responsive Design
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
UX/UI Design
Cross-Browser Compatibility
CSS Preprocessing
Web Performance Optimisation
Creativity
Communication
Problem-Solving
Time Management
Attention to Detail
Teamwork
Adaptability
Project Management
Client Relations
Continuous Learning
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.
Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your web designer CV
Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your web designer CV. Once more, when discussing your higher education, select only information that is pertinent to the job (e.g. degrees and projects in the same industry, etc.). Ultimately, you should:
- List only your higher education degrees, alongside start and graduation dates, and the university name;
- Include that you obtained a first degree for diplomas that are relevant to the role, and you believe will impress recruiters;
- Showcase relevant coursework, projects, or publications, if you happen to have less experience or will need to fill in gaps in your professional history.
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.
Recommended reads:
Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your web designer CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
