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design-ux
Entry Level Illustrator
Resume Example
4.5 / 5
Mia Parker
Junior Digital Illustrator
[email protected] | +1 (555) 987-6543 | linkedin.com/in/ella-green | artstation.com/ellagreen | San Francisco, CA
Professional Summary
Junior Digital Illustrator with 2+ years of freelance, internship, and studio experience creating character art, vector assets, icons, and educational visuals. Comfortable turning creative briefs into production-ready illustrations for mobile apps, storybooks, and game concepts. Skilled in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, and collaborative feedback cycles with designers and clients.
Work Experience
Junior Digital Illustrator
09/2023
Artistic Creations Inc.
San Francisco, CA
•
Created 50+ vector illustrations and character assets for educational apps, keeping files organized for animation, UI handoff, and future reuse.
•
Collaborated with UI/UX designers to align icon sets, character expressions, and scene assets with product style guides across app screens.
•
Built a reusable color and texture reference system for the Bright Future app, reducing repeated revision requests during stakeholder review.
•
Worked with 3 illustrators to deliver 6 complex background scenes for an animated learning series one week ahead of schedule.
Freelance Illustrator
01/2022 - 08/2023
Creative Solutions Ltd.
San Francisco, CA
•
Illustrated 30+ characters for a children's book series, adapting sketches after author feedback and helping secure follow-on project work.
•
Created detailed fantasy maps for an independent role-playing game, clarifying landmarks, routes, and visual hierarchy for player navigation.
Intern Illustrator
06/2021 - 12/2021
Graphic Design Studio
San Francisco, CA
•
Designed 20+ mobile app icons from rough concepts through final export, improving visual consistency across onboarding and settings screens.
•
Assisted senior designers on 5 animated tutorials by preparing layered artwork, expression sheets, and clean production files.
Skills
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, Sketch, Digital Painting, Character Design, Color Theory, Sustainability Practices
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration
09/2013 - 05/2017
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA
Projects
Sustainable Storybook Series
artstation.com/ellagreen/sustainable-storybooks
Created illustrated storybook pages that explain environmental topics for children through clear visual storytelling, expressive characters, and age-appropriate scenes.
Eco-Friendly App Icons
Designed a cohesive set of sustainability-themed app icons for a startup, balancing friendly visual style with simple shapes that remained readable at small sizes.
Certifications
Sustainable Design Practices
06/2025
Educational Illustration Techniques
03/2024
Why This Template Works
This resume format is designed to be highly effective for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) by including relevant keywords such as 'digital illustration', 'character design', and 'mobile game development'. The inclusion of professional experience in these areas helps the resume stand out in crowded applicant pools, highlighting the candidate's skills and accomplishments. Additionally, the structured format with clear sections like summary, work experience, education, and skills ensures that each part of the resume is easily scannable by both ATS software and human reviewers.
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How to Write This Resume
Expert guidelines and best practices for each section of your resume.
01
Contact
Contact
First Name Last Name City, State, Zip Code Phone Number | Email Address LinkedIn Profile URL | Portfolio URL (Optional)
General Guidelines
Your contact information is the first section recruiters see. Keep it concise and professional. Ensure your email address is appropriate (e.g., [email protected]). Include your LinkedIn profile for a comprehensive view of your professional journey. A portfolio or personal website is recommended for creative, technical, or design roles.
Avoid This
Do not include your full physical address (street number/name) for privacy reasons. Avoid including personal details like marital status, age, photo, or social security number unless specifically required in your country. Do NOT use unprofessional email addresses and do NOT include GitHub links for artists - instead use ArtStation, Behance, or portfolio sites.
Real Examples
See clear examples of how to format contact details effectively.
Don't
John Doe 1234 Random St, Apt 56 New York, NY 10001 [email protected] github.com/aliciacode Single, 28 years old
Do
Alicia Chen Los Angeles, CA (555) 123-4567 | [email protected] linkedin.com/in/aliciachen | artstation.com/aliciachen
Quick Tips
- Use a professional email address (firstname.lastname format)
- Ensure your voicemail is set up and professional
- Double-check your phone number and email for typos
- Make your LinkedIn URL custom (linkedin.com/in/yourname)
- Use ArtStation or Behance for artist/designer portfolios
02
Summary
Summary
Professional Title Result-oriented [Role Name] with [Number] years of experience in [Key Skills/Industries]. Proven track record of [Major Achievement]. Skilled in [Key Technologies/Skills]. Committed to delivering [Specific Value] for [Target Industry/Company type].
General Guidelines
A professional summary is your elevator pitch. It should be 3-5 sentences long, summarizing your experience, key skills, and major achievements. Tailor it to the job description by using relevant keywords. Focus on what makes you unique and the value you bring to potential employers.
Avoid This
Avoid generic objectives like 'Looking for a challenging role to grow my skills.' Recruiters want to know what value you bring to them, not what you want from them. Don't use first-person pronouns (I, me, my). Keep it concise and impactful.
Real Examples
Compare a weak objective with a strong professional summary.
Don't
Objective: I am a hard-working individual looking for an Entry Level Illustrator position where I can learn new things and advance my career.
Do
Entry Level Illustrator with 2+ years of experience in creating educational content focused on sustainability. Developed vector illustrations that enhanced user engagement by 30% in educational apps, reducing outsourcing costs by 20%. Skilled in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, committed to integrating sustainable design practices into digital media.
Quick Tips
- Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., 'Increased revenue by 20%')
- Keep it under 5 lines for readability
- Use strong action verbs to start sentences
- Tailor the summary to match the job description
03
Skills
Skills
Technical Skills - Languages: [List] - Frameworks: [List] - Tools: [List] Soft Skills - [Skill 1], [Skill 2], [Skill 3]
General Guidelines
Group your skills logically (e.g., Languages, Frameworks, Tools). Focus on hard skills relevant to the job. List skills in order of proficiency or relevance. Soft skills are better demonstrated through bullet points in your experience section rather than a bare list.
Avoid This
Do not list skills you are not comfortable using in an interview. Avoid using progress bars or percentages to rate your skills (e.g., "Java: 80%"). Do not include outdated technologies unless specifically required.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for skills
Don't
Photoshop: Intermediate, Illustrator: Beginner, Procreate: Advanced
Do
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate
Don't
Inability to communicate effectively with clients.
Do
Effective communication and collaboration skills
Quick Tips
- List technical tools such as software programs you are proficient in under the 'Technical Skills' section. Be specific about what each tool is used for, like Adobe Illustrator for vector graphics or Procreate for digital painting.
- Under soft skills, include traits that highlight your ability to work well with others and manage projects efficiently. For example, mention teamwork, project management, and time management.
- Avoid listing soft skills unless they are directly relevant to the job and can be backed up by examples from your experience. Let achievements in your experience section demonstrate these skills.
- Keep each skill listed succinctly without unnecessary adjectives or elaboration. Focus on clarity and relevance.
04
Experience
Experience
Job Title | Company Name | Location Month Year – Month Year - Action Verb + Context + Result (Quantified) - Led [Project] resulting in [Outcome]... - Collaborated with [Team] to implement [Feature]...
General Guidelines
This is the core of your resume. Use reverse-chronological order (most recent first). Start each bullet with a strong action verb. Focus on achievements and impact, not just duties. Use numbers to quantify your impact (dollars, percentages, time saved, users affected). Show progression and increasing responsibility.
Avoid This
Avoid passive language like 'Responsible for...' or 'Tasked with...'. Don't list every single daily task; focus on significant contributions and measurable outcomes. Avoid jargon that recruiters outside your field won't understand.
Real Examples
Don't
Illustrated characters for children's books without any quantified impact
Do
Created 30+ detailed characters for a series of educational storybooks, boosting user engagement by 25% and securing an additional year-long contract
Quick Tips
- Use action verbs like 'created', 'developed', or 'designed' to start each bullet point.
- Quantify your achievements whenever possible with numbers or percentages.
- Focus on the impact of your work rather than just describing tasks.
- Highlight projects where you demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills.
05
Education
Education
Degree Name | University Name | Location Month Year – Month Year - Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2] - Honors/Awards: [Award Name] - GPA: X.X (if above 3.5)
General Guidelines
List your highest degree first. If you have significant work experience, keep the education section brief. Include your GPA only if it is above 3.5 or if you are a recent graduate. Highlight relevant coursework, academic projects, honors, or leadership roles.
Avoid This
Do not include high school details if you have a college degree. Avoid listing every single course you took; select only the most relevant ones. Don't include graduation dates from decades ago if age discrimination is a concern in your field.
Real Examples
Don't
Bachelor of Arts | University of California, San Francisco | San Francisco, CA January 2019 – December 2023 - Relevant Coursework: Art History I, Art History II, Drawing I, Drawing II, Color Theory
Do
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration | California College of the Arts | San Francisco, CA September 2013 – May 2017 - Relevant Coursework: Digital Illustration Techniques, Sustainable Design Practices, Interactive Media for Education
Quick Tips
- List your education starting with your highest degree first.
- Include relevant coursework and honors that showcase your skills and achievements in the field of illustration.
- Only mention your GPA if it is above 3.5 or if you are a recent graduate to emphasize your academic achievement.
- Avoid including high school information unless it's directly related to your current career path.
06
Projects
Projects
Project Name | Tools/Software Used - Briefly describe what you created and its purpose - Highlight creative challenges you solved - Link to portfolio (ArtStation, Behance, Vimeo, YouTube) if available
General Guidelines
Projects are excellent for demonstrating practical skills, especially if you lack work experience or are changing careers. Include a link to your portfolio (ArtStation, Behance, Vimeo, or YouTube) if possible. Focus on projects that show your creative abilities and relevant tools for the target role.
Avoid This
Don't include trivial tutorials unless you significantly expanded on them. Avoid projects that are outdated, incomplete, or irrelevant to the role you're applying for. Don't just list tools—explain what you created and why it matters. Do NOT mention GitHub links for creative roles - use portfolio platforms instead.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for projects
Don't
Created a basic tutorial on using Adobe Illustrator to draw a simple character, following an online guide. No significant improvements made or unique elements added.
Do
Designed an interactive educational app character set focused on sustainability education, incorporating user feedback and iterative design cycles in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Quick Tips
- Select projects that showcase your ability to solve specific creative challenges relevant to the job you're applying for. For example, focus on creating illustrations that enhance learning outcomes.
- Ensure each project has a clear purpose and demonstrates how your skills address real-world problems or needs in the field of educational sustainability.
- Use tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, or Sketch not just as names but to explain how you used them creatively. For instance, describe how you utilized advanced features of these tools to create intricate details or achieve unique effects.
- Include a link to your online portfolio where hiring managers can see more detailed descriptions and visual examples of your work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this role and how to best present it on your resume.
Include a focused summary, relevant tools, portfolio link, education or training, and projects that show finished illustrations, client feedback, and production-ready files.
Use school, freelance, internship, and portfolio work. Start each bullet with the asset you created, the tool or process you used, and the result for the client, team, or viewer.
Yes. A portfolio link is essential for illustration roles because hiring teams need to see style range, technical skill, and finished work alongside the resume.
List tools you can confidently use in a work setting, such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, Figma, Sketch, or animation handoff tools relevant to the role.
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