Professional Practice Unit 4
All of these following items should be either printed off and put into a ringbinder folder with dividing sections or be compiled as a digital portfolio of work using InDesign and saved as PDF and presented on CD or USB.
Research existing good and bad examples of designers CVs that reflect the area of design that you are interested in working within. Analyse those CVs thinking of their good and bad points - reflect on typography, information, effectiveness and ease of reading.
One which is a creative CV
One which is a simple black and white formal CV
1. Keep to an A4 size
This is pretty obvious. Who's gonna print out an A3 CV for their records anyway? Provide your potential employers the convenience as they are really busy people. It's politeness. They will need to print out your CV for their own records and references. Try to keep it to one A4 page, maximum two.
2. Keep It Simple, Stupid (K.I.S.S)
Make sure your CV looks simple, easy-to-read and not full of visual jargon. It's too easy to get carried away with over-decorations of your CV. Easy reading and relevant content are your utmost priorities, NOT aesthetics. Type your contents on white space. Not only does it make reading easier and gives breathing space, potential employers wouldn't want to waste so much printing ink on CVs they would throw away after the interviews, so don't expect them to print your beautiful graphics in full colour. Try to stick with white, black and/or grey. Be creative, even within the box!
Use 2 columns instead of one so that you can maximise the space on one page. You are the designer, so demonstrate your graphic solutions here.
If you are planning to send your CV by snail mail, you are free to be creative with it. However, content, readability and relevance are still the mandatory rules!
3. Content Structure and Relevance
Your CV should include the following (in order):
a. You don't necessarily have to put in the words âCurriculum Vitaeâ or âCVâ. It's already understood that it's a CV. Also, it saves space.
b. Your full name should be the heading, followed by your job title.
c. Avoid putting your photograph. The same applies for date of birth and gender. According to UK laws, this is to prevent age and sex discrimination.
d. Make sure your contact details are visible. Include your website, email, phone number and address so that it's easier for the potential employer to contact you. If you are quite conscious about your privacy, at least include the postcode and city in where you live, so that potential employees will know where you are based.
e. Objectives must be written in third party format. For eg:
Wrong
âI am a competent graphic designer who is flexible. I can work within tight deadlinesâŠâ
Correct
âA flexible and competent graphic designer who is able to work within tight deadlinesâŠâ
Keep your objectives to a minimum of 30 words.
f. Skills should be put first rather than your education, followed by the next important information in line. Because you will have to impress your potential employer in the first few seconds, make sure you sort the information according to priority, as stated in the list above.
Categorise your skills according to the following: Advanced / Intermediate / Basic
This will give potential employers a clear gauge on where you stand.
g. Okay, so you've worked as a cashier in MacDonalds, and a sales assistant in a clothing shopâŠ.but how is that relevant to the graphic design job you are applying for? If it's not relevant, remove it.
If you had experience working in a design agency, it'll be good to give a short description of what you did. Highlight your key skills in here.
h. Include the clients whom you've worked with under the category âClients'. Not only does it enhance your work experience, it shows your professionalism. If you've non, just leave the category out.
i. If you've won awards or you had your artworks exhibited, list them in the category of âAchievements'.
j. Make sure your latest education qualification is on top, followed by the earlier ones. The same applies for achievements and work experience.
k. This may look like one of the easiest to fill, and the most neglected, but it's actually one of the trickiest. Interests allow employers know a bit more about you. If surfing the net or youtube-ing is your hobby, chances are you are put in a more negative picture because it gives the impression that you may surf the net and not work! Avoid the terms âclubbing' or âsocialising' as this may give employers the connotation that you âplay around'. Unless you are working for a tour agency, âtravelling' may not be a good idea as it makes certain employers think that you may want to take more leave. Include interests that would not otherwise jeopardise your image.
4. Use bullet points
It makes reading a lot quicker and easier. Remember, employers scan, not read!
5. Be honest
Common sense really, but if you choose to go down the dark route, it will show, and you'll soon be discovered.
6. References
Be sure to prepare at least 2 references (if you've got no work experience, include your tutors' references) in advance, as some employers will request them. While you do not necessarily need to include that in your CV, it is essential that you put a phrase at the bottom: âReferences available upon requestâ
7. Use appropriate mediums
CVs are to be saved in pdf format, not doc.(except for a few exceptions) or jpeg. Make sure that the file is saved for web viewing (you can do this in InDesign > File > Adobe PDF Presets > Smallest FIle Size), so that it is small and does not clog up the inbox.
Write ups on any live projects or creative work experience you have done:
Include examples of work done and any client feedback you have. You should also write about what you learnt in these projects, and how your design work improved through this work.
Research the opportunities that are on offer to you in the area of Design you would like to go into:
Research Jobs, Job requirements and necessary skillsets you may need to progress in your career.
The link here will help you get started! http://www.ycn.org/opportunities
Research how you can promote yourself:
Facebook, blogs, Twitter, websites, flyers, business cards, instagram, Youtube
How much do business cards cost to be printed? Research and printscreen and include.
How much do flyers cost to be printed? Research and printscreen and include.
How much does web hosting and a domain name cost?
Design your own identity to use within your promotional material:
Produce portfolio website
Write up a conclusion (around half a page) on how you are going to promote yourself and evaluate this - identify any future opportunities you might pursue eg. Website, on-line portfolio etc
A creative portfolio that is appropriate to your chosen path eg:
