Interior Designer Resume Writing Guide with Examples
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Interior Designer Resume Writing Guide with Examples

Interior design is one of the oldest professions, with Elsie de Wolfe reported to be the first professional American interior designer in the early 1900s. A career as an interior designer allows you to use your creativity and decorating skills to make a space look beautiful and ensure the interior is safe for the occupants. The job is exciting as you work with different clients to bring their vision for their living space to life.

Last update:
31/7/2024

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two column interior-designer-resume resume example
Budapest
professional Interior designer  resume template
Perth
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Rotterdam
simple Interior designer  resume example
Chicago

Interior Designer Resume Example

Mary Vigil
Interior Designer
589-890-244
maryvigil@gmail.com
North Wilkesboro, NC
maryvigil.co.ke

Professional Summary

Award-winning Interior Designer with more than ten years of experience in the industry. Expert knowledge in Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Dedicated to contributing to all aspects of projects, including design, implementation, and completion for residential and commercial properties. Seeking a position with Ado Designs.

Work experience

Prime House Interiors
Interior Designer
February 2015-June 2018

  • Actively participated in sessions to share ideas regarding concepts and plans for increased operations.
  • Selected paint colors and textiles for residential apartments after having multiple consultations with clients.
  • Used CAD software to design systems and blueprints following project specifications, deadlines, and budget constraints.

El Interior Designs
Interior Designer Assistant
March 2013-December 2014

  • Demonstrated preliminary designs to clients through sketches and visual aids.
  • Presented accurate estimates to clients after determining timelines and project costs.
  • Worked with clients and held meetings with the senior interior designer to determine initial goals and requirements for the space to be designed.

Education

Diploma in Interior Design
Interior Design Institute
2013

Skills

  • Proficient in AutoCAD
  • Adobe Suite
  • 3D Studio Max
  • Budget creation and management
  • Creativity
  • Problem-solving
  • Detail-oriented
  • Negotiation skills

Additional section

Awards
Best Designer - Interior Design Awards, 2017

Resume Guide
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While an exceptional portfolio is essential to show your previous work to potential clients, a captivating interior design resume will give you a chance to land a job with a prestigious firm.

Here is some of the information you'll get in this article.

  • How to add your work experience and skills to your interior designer resume.
  • An interior design resume example that will be a great guide.
  • How to describe your achievements in your resume for interior design.
  • How to structure your resume to get jobs for interior design.
interior designer

Salary & Employment Rates for Interior Designers

According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, there will be about 7,800 openings for interior designers each year, on average, over the decade.

The industries with the highest levels of employment in Interior Designers include:

  • Specialized Design Services
  • Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
  • Furniture Stores
  • Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods
  • Residential Building Construction

The average salary for an Interior Designer depends on their experience, skills, and education level and is as follows:

  • 0-2 years $48,000
  • 2-4 years $56,000
  • 4-7 years $63,000

How to Write the Best Resume for an Interior Designer?

Interior designers are experts in their field who give advice to their clients and work as consultants for architects, engineers, and contractors. This should be well communicated in your resume detailing any work experience, skill, or educational qualification that helps you showcase your expertise.

Our resume examples will give you an idea of what you should have in your resume, and since it's also important to structure your sections properly, our resume templates will help you with that.

How to Format Your Resume

The format is one of the most important things when crafting your resume.

The first format is the reverse-chronological format, which gives the opportunity to highlight your professional experience. It's perfect for you if you've worked for many years as an interior designer.

The second format is the functional resume, highlighting your skills and educational qualifications. This format is best suited for recent graduates and career changers.

The third format is the combination/hybrid resume. This one highlights your experience and skills and is excellent if you have experience in the interior design industry.

The Layout for Your Resume

The layout needs to be simple with easy-to-read fonts, such as Cambria, Times New Roman, Calibri, and Helvetica. The average hiring manager takes six to seven seconds on each resume and will not hesitate to put your resume aside if it's hard to read. The font should also be visible, and the recommended size is 10-12pt.

The structure of your interior designer resume should have the following sections:

  • The header section
  • Resume summary/resume objective
  • Work experience
  • Education section
  • Skill section
  • An additional section (volunteer work, awards/honors, interests, languages, and certifications)

Begin Your Interior Design Resume with the Header

The header is the first section of your resume and one of the most important ones. If you put incorrect information in this section, you can forget about getting a call from the recruiter.

Therefore, you need to check this section multiple times before sending your resume. Some of the details you'll add here include:

  • Your full name
  • Contact information
  • Location
  • A link to your portfolio or website.
CORRECT
Kim Chandler

Interior Designer

647-234-989

kimchandler@gmail.com

San Diego, CA

Kimchandler.com


INCORRECT
Kim Chandler

Interior Designer

647-234-989

kimchandler@gmail.com

1299 Pike Street

San Diego, CA

House number 24

Date of birth 06/04/1988

Kimchandler.com


📌When writing your header section, focus on the vital details and leave out any information that is not relevant to the recruiter.

One of the most common questions job seekers ask is whether it's okay to add a photo to their resume.

The answer to this question is you should not because most recruiters believe that it increases the chances of discrimination. However, if your potential employer asks for one, you should send it but ensure it's professional.

interior designer

How To Make Your Work Experience Stand Out

The interior design field is competitive, but one thing that will allow you to land your dream job is your previous experience. If you can show the recruiter that you can handle all types of clients, you'll have a chance to get the position.

The work experience section will have your employment history, and it's always better to prioritize the relevant work experience. List each of your previous workplaces, starting with your most recent one. The hiring manager needs to see what did at each place, so you'll list three to five roles and responsibilities.

To stand out, don't stop there.

Use figures and facts to quantify your results and show your future employer the value you bring to the company or construction firm. If you don't have too much experience, showcase your transferable skills from other industries and mention how they will be useful in the new position.

CORRECT

Design Source

Interior Designer

January 2018-December 2021

  • Wrote 20 bid proposals every month to win new clients, which increased company revenue.
  • Picked lighting fixtures for an apartment block consisting of 50 units and ensured that they were all appropriately fixed.
  • Coordinated with engineers and contractors to ensure that wall layouts and furniture fittings were installed according to the client brief.

💡The example above gives the recruiter an idea of the candidate's value to the company from the results they achieved in their previous workplace.

INCORRECT
Terry Designs

Interior Decorator

June 2016- December 2017

  • Drafted designs using 3D software.
  • Executed plans for commercial projects.
  • Created strategies for businesses and office spaces.

💡The example above lists the candidate's roles without mentioning their results, making it hard for the recruiter to see what they bring to the company.

Interior Designer Education Section

In this age of technology, apps like Pinterest have made everyone an artist, and with the right mood board, it's easy for you to decorate your own home. However, you have to agree that hiring an expert can make a huge difference in your space, so most people prefer to look for a professional interior designer.

Most clients will want to know about your education. A Bachelor's degree is the minimum educational qualification for any interior designer from an accredited school. A Master's or Ph.D. makes you stand out even more and increases your chances of landing the job.

In this section, you'll add the degree/diploma awarded, the name of the school, and the year of graduation. If your GPA is exceptional, you can add it too.

Correct example

Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design

Cornell University

July 2013


Strengthen Your Interior Designer Resume With Your Skills

The skills section of your resume is your chance to show the client or the recruiter the unique abilities that make you the best person for the job.

When it comes to design, traditional methods and digital ones can be helpful, and having the right mix of both will put you ahead of your competitors.

Your resume should have a list of hard skills that are technical and take some time to learn and soft skills that are the interpersonal attributes that help you relate with your colleagues.

The job description is a good place to check for some of the skills you should have in your resume. It's also advisable to use bullet points when listing your skills to make them more visible.

Let's look at some of the skills you can add to your interior design resume.

Hard skills
  • AutoCAD
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Color theory
  • Flooring and lighting
  • Hand-drawn sketches
  • Project management
  • Wall design
  • Budget management
Soft skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Time management
  • Attention to detail
  • Negotiation skills
  • Excellent customer service
  • Communication skills
  • Decision-making
  • Problem-solving

interior designer

How To Write Your Professional Summary

The best way to introduce your resume is by having an eye-catching professional summary. This short paragraph summarizes your top achievements allowing the recruiter to know who you are before they read the rest of your resume. It's a crucial section because if it doesn't get the recruiter's attention, they'll probably not continue reading. You'll also summarize your experience and mention some of your top skills here.

CORRECT
Talented Interior Designer with eight years of experience in producing exceptional designs and creating unique commercial and residential displays. Exceptional skills in reading blueprints, plumbing layout, and Adobe InDesign. Seeking a challenging role with Roller Designs to share my skills and career advancement.

💡The example above summarizes the candidate's experience and skills and expresses their interest in joining the organization.

INCORRECT
Energetic and creative Interior Designer with proven ability to adapt to changing situations. Resourceful leader and team player.

💡The example above is vague and fails to detail what the candidate is experienced and skilled in.

Professional Objective (and why it's essential)

What happens when you've not worked in your field before and don't have any achievements to add to your professional summary? Do you miss out on the opportunity you want?

The answer is no!

You'll add a professional objective instead, which serves the same purpose. In the objective, you'll add your career goals and express your enthusiasm for the job. You can also show the recruiter how your career goals align with the company goals and mention any skills that will be useful in the position.

CORRECT
Recent Interior Design Graduate looking to share my knowledge and skills in digital media and architectural structures with this organization. Extensive history of cooperating with renowned galleries, including Lisson and Prism Park.

💡The example shows the candidate's interest in the position and mentions some of their experience working with galleries.

interior designer

Additional Headings To Improve Your Resume For Interior Designer

The additional sections are essential for every resume. In short, they will let you highlight important facts, skills, and achievements in an entire separate section to help the reader spot them at once.

Here are some sections that you can add to your interior designer resume.

Computing Skills & Certifications

Interior designers require certain computer skills to perform their duties efficiently. While you can add them in the skills section, having a separate section makes it easier for the hiring manager to see them. You also get a chance to explain the specific skills and expound on them if you need to.

Certifications can make all the difference for you when you're looking for a job as an interior designer. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification is one of those certifications that are an important requirement for interior designers. Other certifications that will make your resume stand out include:

  • Certified Health Interior Designer(CHID)
  • American Academy of Healthcare and Interior Designers(AAHID)
  • Council for Interior Design Accreditation(CIDA)

Languages

Interior designers work with people from different cultures, so if you're bilingual, this qualification allows you to stand out. The best way to list your languages is by adding the official language reference as follows:

  • Goethe Zertifikat or TestDaF for German
  • IELTS or TOEFL for English
  • DELF for French
  • SIELE for Spanish

Awards/Honors

The interior design industry recognizes talented individuals at awards ceremonies, and if you've previously received a prize, you should not leave it out of your resume.

Example

Awarded the 'Best Interior Designer for Commercial Properties' award in 2018.


Tips & Tricks to Enhance Your Resume

  • Tailor each resume to fit the job you're applying for because the industrial designer industry covers many areas.
  • Use the right keywords and action verbs so that the ATS systems do not filter your resume.
  • Summarize your resume on a single page because some recruiters will not look at it if it's longer than that.
  • Write a captivating professional summary/objective to get the recruiter's attention.
  • Highlight your relevant experience and skills for every position you apply for.
  • Use a simple layout and the format that represents your best qualifications first.

Summary: Writing An Exceptional Industrial Designer Resume.

  • The structure of your resume should have all the vital sections.
  • The header section should have relevant and accurate information.
  • Include figures and facts in your work experience to show the recruiter the results you could bring to the company.
  • Always add your education without leaving any detail that will help you stand out.
  • Have an additional section that highlights your extra qualifications.
  • Proofread your resume before sending it to your potential employer to ensure it has no mistakes.

Stand Out With a Cover Letter

Having an outstanding resume is important, but so is having a great cover letter. In most instances, if you send a resume without a cover letter, your application will be incomplete. This is only allowed when the recruiter asks you not to send one.

A cover letter summarizes your best accomplishments and experience in a fun way that a resume does not allow you to. This is your chance to showcase your personality and writing skills and draw the recruiter in. With the help of excellent cover letter examples, you can craft one that will allow your application to stand out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which top companies are hiring interior designers?

According to Glassdoor, the best companies hiring interior designers include:

  • Gensler
  • Perkins and Will
  • AECOM
  • WeWork
  • IKEA
  • HOK
  • Staples
  • Stantec
  • IA Interior Architects
  • La-Z-Boy

What careers can I get into with an Interior Design degree?

  • Furniture designer
  • Production designer in theater/Film
  • Floral designer
  • Lighting consultant
  • Art director
  • Interior designer.

Check out The Best Resume Templates for Interior Designers

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