For illustrators, list software skills like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. These are essential for the job.

Highlight any experience with digital drawing tools too.

As an illustrator, provide a link to your online portfolio. Employers look at your work samples first.

Include 4-5 of your best pieces in the portfolio.

When you apply for an entry-level role in illustration, you need to show me what you have achieved with your art. You might add any awards or recognitions you've received for your work. This can include contests you've won or exhibitions where your art was shown. It’s important because it shows you have talent and your work is good.

If you don't have formal awards, think about other ways you've been acknowledged for your artistry. Maybe a piece of your work was chosen for a school or community publication, or you received a grant for an art project. Tell me about these. They matter because they show that others see value in your work. This can make your resume stand out.

When you apply for roles as an entry-level illustrator, show skills that match what the job asks for. I look for clear proof that you can do the job well. Make it easy for me to see your skills.

• Show art software you use. Example: Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, primarily Photoshop and Illustrator.
• List any drawing techniques you're good at. Concrete example: Skilled in digital painting, vector art, and character design.
• If you're moving from another field, link past job duties with illustrator tasks. Example: Applied knowledge of color and composition from photography background to create engaging illustrations.

As you create your resume to apply for a job as an illustrator, the verbs you choose can show your skills and experience in a strong light. Think about what you did during any internships, projects, or freelance work. Pick verbs that tell the hiring manager about your ability to create, design, and bring ideas to life. These verbs should be simple but powerful, and they should make your resume stand out.

Here's a short list of action verbs that are good for an illustrator's resume. These words can help you show your talents in visual storytelling, your technical skills, and your creative process. Use them to make your job experiences shine.

• To show your skill in bringing concepts to visual reality, use crafted, rendered, composed, designed, illustrated.
• When highlighting your collaborative work, include verbs like coordinated, contributed, assisted, collaborated, consulted.
• To emphasize your technical abilities, use applied, operated, utilized, navigated, mastered.
• To show how you made your work stand out, try enhanced, refined, polished, adapted, revitalized.
• For your ability to work within deadlines and project scopes, verbs such as delivered, executed, completed, achieved, fulfilled are suitable.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Taught, Hosted, Orchestrated, Used, Spearhead.

As a fresh illustrator, showing any leadership roles or promotions you've had is important. It tells hiring managers that you can take charge and bring value to a team. Even if you're just starting out, think about times when you've led a project or were recognized for your work.

Here are ways you might have shown leadership:

• Managed a group project at school, guiding the visual direction and ensuring deadlines were met.
• Volunteered to lead a workshop on digital illustration techniques at a local community center.

Remember to include any promotions. These can be formal, like moving from an intern to a paid position, or informal, such as taking on more responsibilities over time in a part-time job. Here's how you might include this:

• Promoted from assistant to lead designer for a student-run publication within one year.
• Took on additional duties such as client communications and project management in a freelance role, showing growth and trust from clients.

When crafting your resume as an entry-level illustrator, it's important to highlight specific skills that showcase your abilities. Here are some key skills you should consider including:

• Digital illustration
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Vector graphics
• Color theory
• Sketching
• Character design
• Storyboarding
• Typography
• 3D modeling
• Graphic tablet proficiency

You don't need to list every skill, but focus on those that are most relevant to the jobs you want. For instance, if you're aiming for a role in book illustration, emphasize character design and storyboarding. If your goal is in animation, 3D modeling and digital illustration might be more applicable.

Place these skills in a dedicated section for clarity and to help with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). The ATS scans for keywords that match the job description, so including the right skills can help your resume get noticed. Make sure they are easy to find and read. By focusing on these hard skills, you're telling potential employers that you have the technical foundation for an illustration career.