Graphic Designer CV: Portfolio Link, Tools, Achievements and an ATS-Friendly Layout

Designers face a trap: a highly creative CV impresses humans but often cannot be read by an applicant tracking system. The answer is not to choose. Keep the CV clean and readable, and let the portfolio carry the visual work.

The portfolio comes first

• Put the link in the header, next to your email — short and clickable (Behance, Dribbble or your own site).
• Make sure it opens on mobile and shows 5–8 of your best projects.
• Mention two or three key projects on the CV with a result, so the reader knows what to look for.

Layout: creative but readable

• One or two columns with real text, not text inside images.
• Standard section headings so the ATS finds your experience.
• Colour and typography as accents, not as obstacles.
• Export to a text-based PDF.

Sample profile: Product designer with 6 years in fintech and e-commerce, focused on checkout and onboarding flows. Redesigned a checkout that lifted mobile conversion by 18%.

Achievements that work

• Redesigned the checkout flow, raising mobile conversion by 18%.
• Built a design system of 120 components used by 4 product teams, cutting UI build time by 30%.
• Created a rebrand rolled out across 40 stores and 3 markets.
• Ran 25 usability tests that reduced support tickets about onboarding by 40%.

Tools and keywords

Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Sketch, Framer, Miro; UX research, wireframing, prototyping, design systems, accessibility (WCAG), branding, typography, motion design. Use the ad’s exact wording.