CV best practices for UX designer: what employers look for in CV
A CV is the first step towards successful employment because it determines whether we will be invited for an interview and offered a job. A quality CV is the key to success, so you should ensure it is as attractive as possible.
I talked to a design leader who reviews hundreds of CVs and found out what attracts employers’ attention. I’m sharing this information with you.
A portfolio is an essential addition to UX designers’ CVs
A designer should add a portfolio to their CV. It is the one on which work skills are usually judged. The portfolio should be of high quality, consist of at least three projects and be relevant to the position you are applying for.
For example, outsourcing companies working with a variety of clients and projects should show a diversity of skills: landings, websites, complex systems, mobile, and web applications. For product companies focused on in-house products, experience with similar tasks will be crucial.
How to make your portfolio easy to view
Your portfolio should be accessible and easy to view. Behance, personal website, Dribble, in Figma — choose any format. The main thing is that it allows you to view all your essential work quickly. Avoid Google Drive, which has a lot of folders; it can be confusing and repel the recruiter.
Projects completed for real clients add weight to a portfolio. If you have such work, include links to client websites.
An additional plus is animations demonstrating how applications work, which immediately makes the portfolio dynamic.
Work experience is an important point in your CV.
In your CV, you need to include your actual work experience, stating the companies you’ve worked for and the time frame of your work. You should not overstate your experience, as this can lead to awkward situations at the interview. If your CV shows frequent job changes, this can also raise questions. It is optimal to change jobs no more than once a year. The less often, the better.
Avoid unnecessary information
Do not overload your CV with methodologies that you are not 100% sure about. This may cause additional questions at the interview. The simpler and clearer the information, the better.
List of programmes and SHI tools in your CV
List the programmes you know how to work with, even if they are not directly related to the position. This will demonstrate your versatility. In addition, mastery of essential artificial intelligence tools is a sought-after skill in today’s market; familiarity with text and image generators can be one of your strengths.
Simple and concise style
A resume should be simple, without unnecessary aesthetic elements. As for the photo in the resume, it is better to choose a neutral one or do without it so as not to affect the employer’s subjective opinion. It is better to add a photo to your CV only if it is explicitly required in the job advert.
Social media and salary expectations
If you add social media links, use only work profiles like LinkedIn. Also, adequately estimate salary expectations by considering your experience and the market’s average pay.
Cover letter
A cover letter can play a significant role in catching an employer’s attention. Analyse the company and its values and reflect this in the letter to show that your values are aligned and that you are a perfect fit for the position.
CV screening tools
Today, there are various artificial intelligence-based tools that you can use to check the quality of your CV. For example, you can use:
I hope these tips help you create a great resume and find your dream job.
