UX Designer CV Guide, with Tips and Example

Key Sections to Include in CV

Most CVs follow a similar structure and include the same essential sections. The goal with your CV for UX designer jobs is to show how you meet the job description by outlining your relevant achievements, qualities and skills. To achieve this, it’s usually best to use a traditional CV format that focuses on your work experience. If you’re less experienced, you might choose a different structure, such as a functional or creative CV format.

Take a look at the sections below to include in a typical UX designer CV:

Header

In your header, include your full name, your address or location and both your phone number and email address. UX designers tend to have a portfolio showcasing their work, so if you have one of these online, add a link here. You could also add your LinkedIn profile, as long as it’s up-to-date and supports your application. Avoid adding any personal demographic information or a photo. These can risk introducing unintended bias to the recruitment process.

CV objective or summary

In your CV objective, write two or three sentences to introduce yourself and explain your career ambitions. This section helps to grab the attention of employers, so make sure it’s succinct, clear and demonstrates why you’re suitable for the role. 

Here’s an example CV objective for UX designers, that you can use for inspiration:

An innovative UX designer with a creative, analytical mindset. Well versed in the principles of good design and experienced in creating useful and beautiful apps and websites that fulfil a social purpose. Seeking opportunities to join a team that pushes the limits of creativity and offers training and progression to more senior levels.

Work experience

This is the most important section of your CV, and the one where you can most clearly demonstrate your suitability for the role. List any relevant roles you’ve had, including your current role. Start with your current or most recent role, and work back from there. List your job title, the company name, its location and the dates you worked there.

For each entry, add some bullet points highlighting your responsibilities and achievements in the role. Consult the job description to understand the type of experience the hiring company is looking for, and make sure your CV reflects this. For UX designers, relevant experience might include creating initial drafts of website user features, creating user personas and user journeys, building website wireframes and consulting clients on their requirements. Provide examples of successful projects, so employers can see your work for themselves.

Take a look at this example work experience section:

UX Designer, Halfpipe Digital Ltd, Liverpool, October 2019 – present

• Designing web application features and products for household name clients in the news, media and arts sectors
• Developing user personas and journeys to help clients understand their audience and their needs
• Drafting creative design concepts to demonstrate useful, practical and aesthetically appealing websites
• Wireframing web application features and complete websites to showcase site structure
• Collaborating with designers and developers on successful projects including Instant Entertainment app (top 10 entertainment news app on the App Store)

Education

List your most recent or highest qualification, and anything relevant to the role of UX designer. Include the name and level of the award, the institution, its location and your dates of study. For UX designers, this might include a degree in computer science, digital design, graphic design or web design. You could include some brief bullet points explaining the subjects you studied, extracurricular activities and any recognition you received, such as awards. This is optional.

Below you can find an example entry for education on a UX designer CV:

BSc (Hons) Digital Design, Brunel University, London, September 2013 – July 2016

• Studies included a three-month work placement with a digital design studio, working on animation and digital rendering

Skills

In your skills section, list any skills you have that match the job description. Stick to relevant skills, and consider dividing your list into hard and soft skills. Hard skills are technical abilities specific to the role of UX designer, such as building wireframes and graphic design skills. Soft skills are transferable abilities that make you a strong employee, such as communication and multitasking.

Your skills section could look like this:

Hard skills:

• Graphic design
• Hand sketching
• Wireframing
• Developing user journeys

Soft skills:

• Multitasking
• Communication
• Working under pressure
• Analytical thinking

Optional sections

If you have space, you could include some optional sections at the end of your CV. These can be particularly useful if you lack relevant work experience, but have gained skills through other activities. Consider including any certifications or training, languages, hobbies and interests or volunteer work.

Tips for Writing the Role-Specific CV

Follow these key tips to create a CV for UX designer applications that makes an impression with recruiters and managers:

1. Use a reverse-chronological format: Using this format means listing your most recent achievements first, followed by each previous entry in reverse order. This places the greatest emphasis on your most recent work experience and education.
2. Tailor your CV: Consult the job description and make sure you refer to the required skills, duties and experience throughout your CV. This will help prove to hiring managers that you’re suitable for the job.
3. Quantify your achievements: Support your application by including evidence of your impact in previous roles. This could mean adding performance or customer satisfaction data, mentioning the value of contracts or highlighting positive feedback you’ve received.
4. Keep it concise: Limit your CV to a maximum of two sides of A4 in a clear, readable font (size 11 or 12). If you can get it down to one side of A4, this is even better.
5. Proofread your CV: Make sure your CV is free from spelling and grammar errors before sending it. This shows you’ve taken care in writing your document and indicates a certain level of professionalism.
6. Write a strong cover letter: Your cover letter is the perfect accompaniment to your CV. It gives you the chance to expand on your experience and skills in a persuasive and engaging manner. For help writing your UX designer cover letter, take a look at our UX designer cover letter example.
7. Use an appealing CV layout and design: The layout and design of your CV can help make it stand out from others and make it more appealing to read. Subtle use of colour, fonts, headings and columns can make a big difference. Jobseeker’s CV examples can give help to get you started on creating a beautiful CV or resume.

Key Takeaways for a Compelling UX Designer CV

The strongest UX design CVs will show the employer what you offer, rather than telling them. As such, include links to your portfolio and reference successful projects you’ve worked on, so hiring managers can see your work for themselves. Consult the job description and ensure your CV demonstrates how you fulfil the required skills and experience. Make your CV stand out from the crowd by using a clean, professional CV design. Jobseeker offers a wealth of CV templates and cover letter templates to help your application make an impression. Sign up today to start the simple process of creating a winning UX designer CV.