One of the biggest and most important things as designers is to have a good cover letter, portfolio and resume. Different from my experience back in Colombia, we did not use cover letters, we would introduce ourselves with a resume and in some place, also with a portfolio.
When I got to Australia, my brother was the first person that told me that we would have to write a cover letter for any job I applied to. I think it is a whole new career to get a cover letter right and concise. But also, I had to work on my resume. I came from Colombia with a common and boring resume. One that would never make anyone believe I was a designer. Even now, I think there are many more aspects that can be changed to show my creative side.
Be ready to stand out
So how do you let people know that you’re a designer? You can tell them, that can be done in your cover letter, but you can also show them. Both elements are key to show who you are, not only show them that you follow their desired checklist in terms of education and skills, but also that you have that creative spark.
Anyone can say they design, anyone can say they are creative, but everything enters through the eyes, if someone is able to see at your resume and cover letter and see your creative side, that is one skill that they know you possess.
This can also be that special something that sets you apart from the rest. But it is not a matter of putting bright colours and big letters, it is about creating your brand and selling it through a paper.
Fonts, typography, logos... Your brand
It is important to showcase your abilities but taking into consideration that it is not a portfolio. Elements such as fonts, typography, logos and colour schemes can be used to send a message. Show them that you are able to mix and match different things, that you know when a font is suitable and in what situation, when a colour allows a certain element to pop out or when you use negative space, allowing the paper to “breathe.” Anyone of these or all can be used to show your personality, your creative nature.
The most important thing is to be brief, there is no need to having a resume that is 20 pages long, specially being in an industry were everything is very visual. Also, I read once that people do not have time to read the whole resume, they just look at some few points and if they like that person, then they will take the time to read it completely. That is when your resume and cover letter must stand out.
Any professional must undergo through this process of creating their element that introduces them to the professional world. Knowing the importance it has in your development as a professional, will allow you to create innovative elements that reflect you and your brand.
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