Entry-Level Graphic Designer Resume Example
A studio hiring a junior designer knows the work will be small at first. What it looks for is clean files, sound type and someone who takes feedback without fuss. This example shows those things through a degree project, an internship and the first months of a paid job.
Early career · Last reviewed 5 November 2026 · 2 min read · How we write these
Evergreen has no photo and a deep band of color across the top.
Why this example works
- The degree project reads like real work: a brief, a test with 20 commuters and a change made because of what they found.
- Lines about CMYK, bleed and press checks prove the designer can hand files to a printer without a senior fixing them.
- The internship names the product range and the number of labels, so a small job still shows clear scope.
- Bilingual typesetting is listed as a skill and backed by a bullet, which helps with clients who print in two scripts.
How to write your own graphic designer resume
- Treat your final-year project as your first job: state the brief, who you tested it with and what you changed.
- Write down file preparation habits such as color mode, bleed and preflight, because junior hires are judged on clean handover.
- Count your output in your first role, for example posts a month or formats adapted, rather than describing yourself as creative.
- Put a design certificate under its own heading only when it comes from the tool maker, such as Adobe, and give the year.
- If you set type in more than one script, say which ones; regional clients often need it and few juniors mention it.
- Keep the education section near the top while your degree is your strongest piece of evidence.
Skills worth including
Craft for a first design job
Typography, Layout grids, Social media formats, Brochure and menu design, Label artwork, Bilingual typesetting
Software and handover
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Figma, Print-ready files, File naming and versioning
Working habits
Taking feedback from a senior, Press checks, Following brand guides
Only list what is true for you. A skill you cannot talk about in an interview does not help.
Common questions
My portfolio is mostly college assignments. Is that a problem for a junior design role?
No. Studios expect it. Pick the three assignments closest to paid work, write a line on the brief for each, and lead with whichever one had real users or a real client.
Should a design intern list the internship as a job?
Yes, under experience with its dates and the word intern in the title. Describe what you produced and who approved it, so the reader can judge your share of the work.
Is an Adobe certificate worth adding when I already have a design degree?
It helps a little, mainly with agencies that screen for software skill. Add it in a certifications section with the year; the degree and portfolio still carry more weight.
How many pieces should a fresh graduate show in a portfolio?
Eight to ten finished pieces is enough. Show a range, such as a print job, a social campaign and one larger project, and leave out anything you would not want to redo for a client.