In the world of job hunting, you need to give yourself a competitive edge.
This is where your CV comes in. Use it to show an employer that you don’t just meet their requirements but exceed them. A well written CV that is aimed at the job you are applying to, will do this.
A reality of the job application process is that you have to write a different CV for every role you apply for. Sending the same CV to every vacancy will not do. For a role like this you’ve got to make it unique and show you can create visually stunning interiors where people can live comfortably, safely and in luxurious surroundings.
If you’re tired of looking for ways to make your CV different and stand out then you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out how to create a CV that’ll show employers you’re qualified, experienced and ready for their job.
By: Iejaz Uddin – 27 June 2024
Page overview
- Areas to focus on in an Interior Designer CV
- How to write an Interior Designer CV
- Contact information
- Personal summary
- Work Experience
- Skills
- Education
Areas to focus on in an Interior Designer CV
Interior designers create visually appealing but also functional and fashionable spaces inside buildings.
This article provides real CV examples, invaluable tips, and expert advice on how to show you can create harmonious, liveable and captivating environments. Learn how to distinguish yourself from other applicants by giving the employer what they really want.
Innovation
Designers need to be able to think creativity and come up with innovative approaches, ideas and suggestions when overcoming challenges.
Problem solving
A must have skill for a challenging role like this. You must be able to solve problems such as poor building work, official regulations, tight budgets and unrealistic client expectations.
Keeping up with trends
Designers have to keep up with the latest trends and stay informed about what people want. This means continuously carrying out research into what’s in and what’s out by reading design magazines, seeing what the competition is up to and following influential designers on social media.
Building industry
Mention your knowledge of the wider construction and design industries. It’s important you know about building regulations and any relevant health & safety requirements.
Sustainable interior design
With more clients becoming aware of environmental issues it’s important that designers stay informed about eco-friendly materials, practices and options.
Interior Designer CV example
How to write an Interior Designer CV
A CV is similar to shaking a hiring mangers hand and looking them in the eye. It’s you chance to speak directly to them and say ‘Hello, I’m the person you’re looking for.’
Do this by quickly explaining what you know, what you’ve accomplished, and the most relevant skills you possess. Combined all of these will project the right image of you.
Target the job
A great way to stand out and be noticed is to write your CV specifically for the job you are applying to. This is quiet easy to do. Simply gather as much information about the vacancy as you can from the job advert and employer’s website.
Remember that interior designers use a combination of creative skills and technical knowledge to renovate internal spaces and create stunning structures. So, make a list of all the required skills, experiences and qualifications to do this. Then if you have these, list them in your CV.
Mention your ability to:
- Undertake design projects from concept to completion.
- Accurately interpret and translate a customer’s needs into detailed plans.
- Hold meetings with clients so as to gather information about what they want.
- Illustrate design ideas using storyboards, process flows and sitemaps.
- Present design concepts to clients and senior managers in order to gain their approval.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Work as part of a team of designers.
Describe your experience of:
- Collaborating and coordinating with builders, architects and contractors to ensure that any design work is implemented accurately.
- Travelling to clients’ properties and building sites and wearing hard hat and overalls when on site.
- Preparing and presenting rough design drafts to clients, colleagues and key stakeholders.
- Ensuring that timelines are met and budgets not exceeded.
- Bringing design projects to life through hard work.
Contact information
Without your email or phone number, recruiters would not be able to contact you. You want to make this process as easy and convenient as possible for them. Do this by putting as many contact options as possible, specifically your;
Name: Put your first and surname here. Make it stand out by using a text size that is larger than the rest of the page.
Address: Full address – If you are concerned about your privacy, then simply give the town or city you live in. There is no need to include your street name, district or house number etc.
Phone number: Provide your current mobile phone number along with any country code (if relevant).
Email: List your most current email address, and make it it’s a professional sounding on and not a social one.
Personal summary for an Interior designer CV
At the top of your CV, you’ll find the personal summary which is an introduction to your CV. It’s a great opportunity to communicate your professionalism, and enthusiasm for the vacancy.
A good one will have a bit of your personality in it and show off your communication skills.
Immediately build a rapport with the hiring manager by mentioning the employer’s reputation and how you think it’s different from its competitors. Then go on to tell them about your strongest and most relevant points.
Interior designer personal summary example:
“Maxine possesses the expertise needed to bring creative visions to life.
She comes to you with a wide-ranging portfolio that showcases a successful track record in residential and commercial interior design. Her career mission is to create not just exceptional spaces but also a better world.
As per your requirements she has the communication skills needed to collaborate closely with clients to understand their needs, vision, and goals. Furthermore, she is proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3D Max, Illustrator and other design programs.
Right now, she would like to work with a company like yours that is values driven and sees people as our greatest asset.”
Interior designer CV Work Experience
What you’ve done in your previous roles can be key that unlocks the door to your future employment.
Write your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent ones and working backwards through your career.
Keywords
If a hiring manager spots any keywords in your CV, they’re more likely to stop and read what you have to say. It’s therefore imperative that you include relevant ones it this section.
Career gaps
It’s not unusual to have gaps in your career, if you have taken time off for travelling, studying or parenting then you need to explain these. The best way to do this in a CV, it to just briefly mention it in a single sentence. You can give a lengthy explanation in any interview.
Work experience example
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Start Date – Present Employers name – Location
Responsible for meeting with clients and creating interior design plans for them that take into account space layouts, furniture selection, lighting design, and material specifications.
Duties;
- Collaborating with senior designers to develop innovative interior design concepts.
- Delegating workloads to capable members of the design team and then checking to make sure it is done properly.
- Creating detailed joinery drawings for production.
- Providing timely quotes for interior design clients.
- Giving expert advice and guidance to clients regarding the design process.
Interior design skills
Designers tend to need a fairly extensive CV list of transferable, soft and hard skills.
The correct ones can overcome an Applicant Tracking System and steer your CV in the path of a hiring manager. They can also further prove you’re competent for the position by reinforcing everything else you’ve listed in your CV.
Write your key skills down as a simple list or incorporate them into sentences that show how you’ve used them during your career to get results.
Communication
This is a job where you have to work in tandem with clients, contractors and other professionals. Meaning you must be a good communicator who can build both social and formal relationships with other third parties. You must also be a good listener who can quickly understand what a customer wants and doesn’t want.
Time management
A great way to improve productivity is to manage you time better. This will enable you to plan your daily tasks and prioritise what needs to be done first, thereby doing more in less time.
Examples of Interior design skills:
- Design plans
- Space layouts
- Time management
- Layout design
- 3D visualizations
- Mood boards
- Furniture selection
- Colour schemes
- Building regulations
- Interpersonal skills
- Project management
Education
For a role like this you need a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in Interior Design or a related field.
The education section can create the image of you as a well rounded candidate. It’s here that you list their GCSEs, A levels, university degrees, technical courses, vocational training, and certificates. Done properly it can also help you to stand out from applicants who don’t have same level of academic achievements as you do.
In a chronological CV it goes below everything else and sits at the bottom of your CV. This is the opposite of a functional CV, where it goes at the top of the document.
Education section layout:
University name Degree details Study Dates
College name Qualifications Study Dates
School name Subjects / Grades Study Dates
Interior Designer cover letter examples
Interior Designer cover letter
Online degrees
Online interior design degree courses