Best Art Director Resume Examples (Plus Resume Summary & Template)

Versatility, design, conceptualization, creative thinking, as well as communication skills, are skill sets that need to be highlighted when seeking art director job vacancies. Art directors observe with a keen eye for details and know the importance of prior research in any work to be done.

Art directors might be confused with an artist or a designer. In fact, art directors often lead artists and designers, acting as communicators with creative and aesthetic aptitudes. This article will cover all you need to know for crafting an artistic director resume that would be considered a “masterpiece”.

There are fundamental steps when it comes to crafting an art director resume. Here are 6 steps to know when crafting an artistic director resume:

Step 1: Learn the differences between an art director CV and an art director resume.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) and resume are both documents detailing your career but are clearly different. An art director CV deals with all aspects of your life. On the other hand, an art director resume displays your qualifications for a job.

If you go through an art director CV sample, it can even surpass 10 pages; while an art director resume does not exceed 2 pages. In the vast majority of Asia, Australia, and North America, an art director CV is a preferred choice for academia, while an art director resume is preferred when it comes to job applications.

Step 2: Go through some art director resume examples online.

Take a look at some art director resumes samples on the web and observe any aspects you may like. You can adjust and reword your artistic director resume based on your observations for better improvement.

Step 3: Modify your artistic director resume for the job position.

Highlight the most relevant responsibilities or skills from the job requirements and include them in your art director resume.

Step 4: Pick the right format for your art director resume.

Choosing a format for your art director resume relies on where you stand in your professional career. Let’s take a look at 3 types of art director resume formats:

• Chronological format:
       - Displays most recent position first
       - Ideal for directors with plenty of work history
• Functional format:
       - Highlights skills and experience
       - Ideal for career changers or professionals with employment gaps (for example if you are crafting a junior art director resume as it emphasizes skills and key qualifications from a few years of experience)
• Hybrid/combination format:
       - Combines elements from a chronological resume and a functional resume, emphasizing skills while also showing work history.

There is no “best format” in general when crafting an art director resume as it depends on your background.

Step 5: Proofread.

Check your art director resume thoroughly for any errors and be sure you have all the necessary details.

Step 6: Craft an art director cover letter. 

Your cover letter can portray your key qualifications, projects, and passion in ways a common resume cannot do. 

Crafting an art director resume may look dull for art professionals, but it is a simple task if you follow a structure and its guidelines. Here is a thorough explanation of each section of your artistic director resume.

1. Resume Profile

A resume profile in an art director resume contains your full name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile, and/or your work portfolio. Make sure your details are up-to-date and avoid putting irrelevant personal details such as salary, marital status, religion, etc.

2. Resume Headline

The headline in your art director resume is your “artistic banner” in a single sentence. Insert a highlight or achievement you think employers will find interesting. 

3. Resume Summary (Summary Statement)

Now it is time to choose between a resume summary or a resume objective for an art director resume. A resume summary or summary statement is a short paragraph summarizing your skills and relevant experience from past positions in your career.

If you are making an art director resume with plenty of experience, using a summary over a resume objective will be more appropriate, as a resume summary clearly shows your value from past work experiences. It is usually composed of sentences detailing your skills, past role duties, years of experience, and accomplishments.

4. Resume Objective (Career Objective)

Using a resume objective in an art director resume is a great way to match with the company by stating what you seek in your career based on the skills and qualifications you currently possess. If you just have a few years of experience or you are changing careers, a resume objective for your art director resume is more appropriate.

5. Skills

Individuals in creative industries have to display their skills in an art director resume.

6. Work Experience

For each organization you have been employed, include the following:

• Job titles
• Name of organization
• Dates of employment
• Duties and responsibilities
• Awards or accomplishments 

7. Education

In an artistic director resume, the education section contains the name of the university or school, degree or diploma obtained, and years of study.

Take a look at the following recommendations if you want to make an art director resume that stands out from the competition.

✅ Make your art director resume tailored to the job.

Make adjustments in your art director resume based on the job description for a better match.

✅ Craft an ATS-friendly art director resume.

ATS (Applicant Tracker System) is a tool that organizations use to screen job applicants when they receive a large number of resumes. In order to make your art director resume pass the ATS, use a simple format that is easy to read, such as a chronological resume format, and avoid charts and graphs. 

✅ Insert keywords.

As previously stated before, adopt keywords from the job description so that your skills and qualifications show relevance towards employers.

✅ Quantify your work results.

Numbers and measurable outcomes show your skills and capabilities much better than generic adjectives, so do include these in your art director resume.

✅ Use action verbs.

Action verbs gives your art director resume an extra edge when listing your responsibilities and achievements. 

✅ Include your portfolio.

Don’t forget to include links to all your personal work and projects for employers to see your artistic work.

An art director cover letter is made up of the following parts:

1. Header: Your contact information goes here. This includes your full name, email, and phone number.

2. Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and state the position you’re after.

3. Motivation: Involve your desire to work there and how you align with the organization on goals and aspirations. Search for what the organization stands for and try to speak to those values.

4. Qualifications: To prove that you are the right person for the job, talk about your past work experiences, skills acquired, and what you achieved during that time. You can elaborate on details that aren’t shown in your art director resume.

5. Closing: Restate you are the best person for the position and that you are looking forward to learning more about the company and the position.

--- Originally written by José J. Rosales ---