Interior design CV examples and CV writing tips

Interior design is a highly competitive field of employment, but the right CV can make the difference between you landing a design job, or missing out. Follow these guidelines to help you create a CV that is as striking as your design work.

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Here are some of the more common jobs that can benefit from a solid interior design CV:

• Interior designer
• Spatial designer
• Exhibition designer
• Production designer (e.g., for theatre or film)
• Visual merchandiser
• Showroom designer or merchandiser

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When a hiring manager considers your interior design CV, they will be looking for certain skills and experience above others. The CV structure outlined below is for job seekers who have less experience (also known as a functional CV format). If you have ample work experience, you should place your work history section above your skills section.

Skills

The skills section should be a summary of all the skills that make you suited for the role you are applying for. Whether you are applying for an entry-level role or a position in senior management, there are certain skills that will be desirable. The most commonly listed skills on an interior design CV are:

• InDesign 
• Sketchup 
• Space planning
• Problem-solving skills
• AutoCAD
• Revit 
• Adobe Photoshop 
• Project management
• Autodesk 
• Commercial client relations
• Developing design concepts
• Creating design plans
• Interpersonal skills
• Managing a design team
• FF&E
• Graphic design
• Interior design skills
• Producing renderings
• Microsoft proficiency
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Illustration

Notice that this list contains soft skills (intangible abilities such as teamwork and time management) and hard skills (specific knowledge acquired through training) that are required for decorator, interior designer or design creative work. Take the time to read the job description you are applying for to identify which skills the design firm in question wants most and prioritise them when creating your skills section.

Work experience

List your job titles in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent, and go back 10 years at most. When discussing your employment history, specify projects that were particularly successful or challenging. Internships should be listed in a separate section.

Education

The education for recent graduates or those entering the industry should be more fleshed out than for applicants with years of relevant experience. List your education in reverse chronological order unless it makes sense to do otherwise, like list your most relevant education first.

When hiring for interior design jobs, industry employers in the UK look for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree (BSc and above) in interior design or in relevant subjects. For interior design, employers are interested in degrees in subjects such as interior/spatial design, textile design, 3D design, architecture, furniture design, interior architecture, art and design, or even fine art.

In the Education section, list each of your degrees, the university or institution from which they were awarded, the location of the university, your field of study and the year graduated if applicable. Read on below on how to list any additional honours, recognition, achievements or awards that might set you apart from other candidates.

Achievements and awards

Awards and notable achievements are fantastic additions to any interior design CV. If you can, list two or three notable achievements, recognitions or awards, giving some details about the achievement. For example, don’t simply say, “Jane Drew Award (2013),” but instead list it as “Recipient of Jane Drew Award for Architecture (2013)” and note which project in particular won you the award.

Certifications

If you have any interior design certifications or qualifications beyond a college or university degree, you should list them here.

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If you want to take your CV to the next level, it is a good idea to consider CV samples that are relevant to your field of work. The CVHelp CV directory has a range of interior designer CV samples you can consider:

• Interior Designer CV Example
• Senior Interior Designer CV Example
• Set and Exhibit Designer CV Example

As well as analysing these example CVs, there are some basic CV writing tips of which you can make use.

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When it comes to writing your own interior design CV, here’s six tips for writing the best CV possible. They are:

1. Use professional sans serif fonts (e.g., Arial).
2. Be concise and clear – use punchy phrases and bullet points instead of lengthy sentences.
3. Don’t list irrelevant hard or soft skills – always check the job description to make sure you’re focusing on the right skills.
4. List internships and volunteer work when they are relevant.
5. Ensure your page margin sizes are between 0.5 and one inch.
6. Proofread twice before submitting your CV.

These simple CV tips will ensure that no small details undermine all your hard work. If you want to make the process of creating your CV even more efficient, use CVHelp’s CV Builder for step-by-step guidance that results in a professional, polished CV.

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