• Try “portfolio”, “ink”, “branding” or a code like “PRS 101”.

PRS 115Professional Identity and Online Presence

Resume Development for Designers

Build a clear, readable resume and a matching one-page creative CV for design, illustration and studio roles.

Planned

About this course

Creative resumes fail in two ways: they're so designed nobody can read them, or so plain they say nothing about your eye. This course covers structure, content and typography for a design resume, the difference between a resume and an exhibition-style CV, how applicant tracking systems read files, and how to tailor a resume to a posting in under 30 minutes. You finish with a resume, a CV variant and a tailoring checklist.

Who it’s for: Designers, illustrators and production artists applying for jobs, internships, studio contracts or residencies. Basic layout skills helpful.

You will be able to

  • Structure a one- to two-page design resume with a clear reading order
  • Write achievement-based bullet points using specific, verifiable detail
  • Produce an accessible, text-selectable PDF that applicant tracking systems can parse
  • Tailor a resume to a specific job posting using a checklist

Studio project

A resume package: a design resume, a creative CV, and a resume tailored to a real posting with a written rationale.

To complete this course

  • Complete every required lesson.
  • Have the assignment “Resume package” accepted by an instructor.
  • Records of completion are issued only for courses whose content has passed instructor review.

Syllabus

Working titles: they may change as the course is written.

  1. Module 1: Resume or CV?

    Choose the right document for the opportunity.

    1. 1.1Resume vs creative CVReading · 20 min
    2. 1.2What reviewers scan forReading · 20 min

  2. Module 2: Content that earns the space

    Specific, verifiable, relevant.

    1. 2.1Experience entriesExercise · 40 min
    2. 2.2Skills and tools sectionsReading · 15 min
    3. 2.3Education, training and extrasReading · 15 min

  3. Module 3: Design and format

    Show your eye without hurting legibility.

    1. 3.1Resume typography and layoutStudio · 50 min
    2. 3.2Applicant tracking systems and accessible PDFsReading · 25 min

  4. Module 4: Tailoring and sending

    A fast, repeatable tailoring routine.

    1. 4.1Reading a job postingExercise · 25 min
    2. 4.2The 30-minute tailoring checklistExercise · 35 min

Author: Ricketts University curriculum team (draft for founder review) · Not yet reviewed

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  3. PRS 102

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    The habits that make people want to work with you again: reliability, file hygiene, feedback, deadlines, ethics and responsible tool use.Professional Identity and Online Presence    Foundation13 lessons · ~8 hPlanned
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