» Student Questions: Should a Graphic Designer put their Resume on their Website?

This probably isn’t one of the most frequently asked questions, however I believe it to be a great question. This is such a great question because I am very hard pressed to think of a definitive answer. After thinking this over for a while, I have come up with a couple of questions that should help a young designer make the correct decision.

What is the goal of your portfolio site?
If the goal of your site is to be used as a tool to help you land a job with an agency then putting your resume online could be helpful. However, if you are trying to land freelance clients it is probably better to focus on your work and past clients rather than your resume.

Does your resume say something different?
If your resume contains some piece of information that really sets you apart from the typical design student then you should probably include it. Also if you feel that the design of your resume is strong in itself, then including it may be a benefit as well.

How strong is your portfolio / resume?
Determine if one item is significantly stronger than the other. If your resume is weaker than the perception your portfolio creates then you should not include it. It is really easy for an employer to read through a resume and see that you may be lacking something and cast you aside. It is a difficult to judge your own experience, so this may require the help of a trusted professional designer or mentor.

Overall, your objective should be to create the perception that you are a qualified and talented individual. If your resume in any way would hinder that objective, then it is probably best to leave it off of your portfolio site. While you will have to show it to a potential employer at some point, it is better to let them see the strength of your work first instead of letting them focus on what you may or may not be lacking in experience.

04/13

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11 Responses to “Student Questions: Should a Graphic Designer put their Resume on their Website?”

Auron
April 13th, 2008 at 9:07 pm

As a psychology major who is running a freelance web design company, I often wondered what purpose my resume would have on my website(s).

I have spent hours trying to craft an impressive resume/cv for my sites based on my experience - all in vain.

As your post proves, if the resume is weaker then your portfolio/skills then forgo including the resume on your site.

Wise advice. Thanks!
Mon T
April 14th, 2008 at 7:39 am

I would have to agree that if your work outshines your resume then drop your resume if you think it might take away from the actual work. We work in the creative industry. We are designers, art directors, writers and the such. Unlike someone whos trying to land a job on Wall Street or in some other type of shirt and tie environment we don’t have to bullsh!t our way into jobs. We dont have to sit there and let the suit and tie and resume sell us, we have portfolios. Unfortunately there are some people in our industry that would look at your work and think its amazing but then see you didnt go to college or what not and totally dismiss your work after that, which is sad. This usually though stems from some inner jealousy of the person now passing you over because they more than likely shucked out big bucks to get that prestigious peice of paper on the wall and here you are with work that surpasses thier own and you havent really set foot onto a university. I dont think every creative can do this, but some can. If you have it you just have it.

In my opinion if I were in a hiring position, I want to see the work. I dont care about your resume. Granted I dont want you to be a mentally unstable Silence of the Lambs type of personality but if your work is top notch, nothing else matters. Now if I’m going to be cut open and operated on, OR I need a good trial lawer, I want to see that resume and that big shiny degree on the wall..but for creative s, I think its overrated in some aspects…but not always.
Mike Greenberg
April 15th, 2008 at 8:07 am

Good Post! - a few comments.

I would not suggest posting your résumé because I have found that customized résumés work more efficiently. You want to keep it brief and focused, so I never include experience that I don’t believe is relevant to the position/gig I want.

Another tactic I have found effective is what I call a “skill table” (I’m sure I’m not the first to use it but I didn’t learn it anywhere)I’m work in multiple mediums (graphic/interactive/motion design, and video) so I rank 3-6 relevant or technical skills on a 1(novice)-5(guru) scale in a table. I have found this to work very well.

I would create a page/post on your site:

Why you should hire me: with 2-3 case studies and a couple honors or organizations you belong to. This provides the BEST of features of your résumé.

Cheers!
Steph
April 15th, 2008 at 8:37 am

Completely agree to all posts including article. A few weeks ago, I was redoing my portfolio and wondering what purpose my resume has, and so I deleted it.

But thanks for clarifying!
David Sparks
April 15th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

My resume is on my site for 1 reason.

So I never have to answer an email asking for it and then attach it to the email. If they make it to my site and need it. Viola
Ted Goas
April 16th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

I think it depends on what kind of work you’re hoping to get. If you want to be a straight-up designer, developer, and/or freelancer, perhaps a resume doesn’t speak as loudly as a portfolio.

But I’m a senior designer in a Fortune 500 company. I am often asked to list notable accomplishments (not just URLs), quantify the results of my projects, etc. This is where my resume comes into play. My resume also does a good job of explaining exactly what I did at each of my previous positions.

Having a download-able resume also helps if one applies to a company with an HR department. Again, this might only apply to larger companies.
Jason
April 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

Great comments and great article.

I think posting a resume/CV on your site is conditional upon the design of your site, the content, and descriptions. If you have case studies along with your work, why post a resume? it’s just a one-sheet replica of what is already on your site.

If your site simply displays “project” and said project with one screenshot, it’s obvious that a resume with work history and duties is essential for a future employer or client to even consider you.

Simple answer: yes. you can always place less prominence on it by putting it in your footer links. at least it’s on your site so if someone wanted it, there it is.
Lil
April 19th, 2008 at 6:19 am

I’ve been designing a separate portfolio website to showcase a few pieces of strong work and any skills I may have. For a student I reckon I have a fairly strong resume, but I’ll think twice before making it the focal point of my website. Cheers for the advice!
aAndrea
April 20th, 2008 at 10:25 am

what background music should i use in my graphic design portfolio?? i have no clue on what music to use, please! its important
Zinni
April 20th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

aAndrea,

None. Unless the music ties into some sort of concept then I do not believe that you should use it. More times that not, background music is just an annoyance, I know I instantly turn it off 99% of the time.