UX designers are the architects of the software world. You decide how modern apps and programs look and function. Yes, it’s your mission to ensure that a product is user-friendly before it hits the market. That’s a lot of weight to carry on your shoulders. However, armed with a diverse skill set and the right experience, you can get the job done.
So, how do you showcase your talents in a well-written UX designer resume? Here at Resume.io, we have everything you need to land your next gig including resume examples for 350+ professionals and writing guides. In the following guide, we will be covering:
- What a UX designer does
- How to write a UX designer resume (with expert tips)
- The right layout for your professional application
- Design tricks you can use to catch a hiring manager’s attention
What does a UX designer do?
UX stands for “user experience,” and that’s exactly what you will be responsible for creating. UX designers work with app or software developers to map out a user’s journey. The aim of the game is to make the product as accessible and easy-to-use as possible.
When you do your job well, using the software or app will be intuitive. That means that the user won’t have to play a guessing game to figure out how it works. The “exit” button will be right where they expect — so will the “enter” and “back” buttons. What’s more, they will instantly understand how to navigate the program and where to find what they need.
How much does a UX designer make?
Before you start applying for roles, you need to know how much you can expect to take home. The average base salary for a UX designer is $76,255, according to Payscale.
Keep in mind that how much you make will depend on the company. If you decide to get in on the ground floor of a startup, for example, your salary may be lower than average. However, there may be other perks available to you, such as shares in the business.
To be an excellent UX designer, you need to be one step ahead of the user. What are they thinking? What are they looking for? What information do they need to get started? If you can get into their mindset and understand their needs, you should be a real winner.
How to write a UX designer resume
There’s power in choosing a predictable layout. In the realm of UX, it eliminates any nasty surprises for the user. When creating your resume, apply the same logic. Recruiters are used to seeing a uniform structure that delivers the information that they need succinctly. Don’t stray from that. Instead, make sure your CV contains the following core elements:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
Once you are ready to start working on each of these resume sections, make sure you do some much-needed research. The world of software design is vast and no two companies are the same. Take the time to research the business and align your UX resume with its values, vision, and long-term mission. You can start out with a quick Google search. However, you may also want to delve into any articles about the company or other media.
Whether writing is your strong suit or otherwise, be mindful of the tone that you use here. Your UX designer resume should be professional and dynamic. That may mean sliding in a handful of powerful action verbs to add a dash of excitement to the document. Ensure that you consider how you can grab the reader’s attention and keep it for a few minutes.
Equally, you need to avoid using too much industry-specific jargon. The first person to read your resume might not be au fait with technical phrases. For example, the HR person may filter the incoming applications. The last thing you want is to fall at the first hurdle by alienating them with the words you choose. Simplifying your language will get you far.
Optimize your resume!
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) rank resumes based on how well they fit the job specification. You might already be familiar with this type of software — many modern businesses use it to find the top applicants. Before you submit your resume, optimize it.
Refer back to the original job posting and highlight any keywords or phrases that stick out to you. They may be industry-specific or vital criteria. By weaving these into the content of your resume, you increase your chances of it being read by a human being.
Choosing the best resume format for a UX designer
Most job seekers use the reverse chronological approach when formatting their resume. The structure sits your most recent accolades at the top of each section and works back in time as you move down. This is the layout that many recruiters will expect to see. If you have a strong work and education history, adopting this approach makes a lot of sense.
However, should you be new to the field or a recent career hopper, there is another option. Since the field of UX design is heavily based on a person’s skills and knowledge, the functional resume format might work for you. This structure puts your skills at the center of your application while putting less emphasis on your career and qualifications. Should you be unsure about where to get started, take a look at our comprehensive formatting guide.
Need some more inspiration? If you want to know how to lay out your UX designer resume like a pro, take a look at our similar resume samples. Take a look at our graphic designer resume example, instructional designer resume sample, programmer resume sample, software developer resume sample, and software engineer resume example.
You should decide which approach is right for your application before you start creating your resume. The method will guide all elements of your document. To give you an idea of how a stellar UX designer application looks, take a peek at our resume example below:
Resume header
Before you dive into the main part of your resume, you need to add a header. This tends to be located at the top of your document and may be the first thing that the reader sees. It includes your name and contact details, i.e. your email address and phone number.
If your resume takes the recruiter’s breath away, you need to make sure they can get in touch. Don’t try to do anything fancy with this section. Simply make sure it’s easy to read.
Resume summary example
Let’s say you had 10 seconds to tell a recruiter why they should hire you. What would you say? Capture that thought. Stick it in your resume summary. This is a freeform part of your UX designer resume and it’s where you get to showcase what it is that makes you unique.
You have between two and three lines to make yourself stand out from the crowd. That’s not a whole load of space. Omit any needless words, such as “I am,” “I have,” or “I will”. You need to get straight to the point. So, instead of saying “I am excellent at partnering with product teams,” go with “Excel at partnering with product teams”.
Excel at partnering with product teams to design and develop user-friendly products. Talent for bridging the gap between users, development team, and key business stakeholders. Strong capacity for maintaining a focus on the end-user in all aspects of product design.
Employment history sample
Your employment section lets the employer know where you’ve worked. Whether you have an internship under your belt or spent years at Google, you need to be clear about your experience. Include your role, the name of the company, and when you were employed.
Want to add more details? Below each of those headers, you can slide in a handful of bullet points describing your key achievements or duties. Be selective about what you share and always consider what each point tells a hiring manager about you.
Junior UX Designer at Punchcut, San Francisco, CA
June 2016 - Present
- Research and analyze user requirements for development of next-generation product lines.
- Interface daily with product development team, acting as a customer advocate to maintain focus on the end-user in all aspects of product design.
- Integral in redesigning core components of multiple product lines.
- Continually conduct market research to remain abreast of industry changes and customer behavior.
UX Design Intern at FlexTouch, San Francisco, CA
February 2016 - April 2016
- Leveraged education in UX design to secure experience in a real-world work environment.
- Built upon expertise in various tools, methodologies and processes for contributing to full product development cycle.
- Worked closely with team members on a daily basis and contributed to innovations in product design.
- Recognized by management for ability to instill a fresh outlook in streamlining product designs.
How much work experience do you need?
According to a survey by UX Tools, the highest number of employed UX designers had between three and five years of experience.
However, everyone has to start somewhere. No matter how long you have been studying or working in this industry, there are plenty of opportunities out there.
UX designer resume education example
There are many routes to becoming a UX designer. Whether you studied a course online, went to college, or trained with a company, show off this information in your education section. Include the name of the college or training institute, the date, and the name of the certificate. Most of the time, you won’t need to go into any more detail than that.
Bachelor of Science in User Experience at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
September 2011 - May 2015
CV skills example
An impressive skill set is the foundation of your CV. As a UX designer, you will need a mixture of both hard and soft CV skills. Hard skills are technical and may include “wireframe creation,” “Adobe InDesign,” and “product life cycle”. On the other hand, soft skills help you work with those around you and may include “time management”. When picking which to include, you can always refer back to the original job advertisement.
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Illustrator
- User Research
- Prototyping
- Usability Testing
- Product Life Cycle
- UI/UX Wireframe Creation
- Requirements Gathering
- Process Redesign
Resume layout and design
As a pro UX designer, you will know a thing or two about keeping the reader’s attention. Whether you’re designing apps or software, it’s your job to deliver the content in the most engaging and easy-to-follow layout. You should approach the design of your resume in the same way. To help you make it 100% user-friendly, follow these simple tips:
- Make use of the available white space. You need to ensure that your resume is easy to read.
- Create uniform margins throughout. As a rule, your margins should all be around the one-inch mark.
- Stick to two font types at the most. Your resume should have a clear style that doesn’t change.
- Over-design your resume. While the look is important, you want the content to take center stage here.
- Include too much information. Your UX designer resume should be no longer than one page, if possible.
- Include too much color. Yes, you can make the resume look creative but avoid it looking too chaotic.
Want to take all of the hassle out of designing your next application? Use our field-tested resume templates and create an eye-catching document in a matter of minutes. That frees up your time to focus on what matters the most — landing your next dream job.
Key takeaways for a UX designer resume
- UX designers are in high demand and make a hefty paycheck. If you want to get a piece of the action, creating an engaging and enticing resume is the answer.
- Don’t bamboozle the reader with jargon or hard-to-understand language. For the best results, keep the terminology simple. Write in plain English, wherever possible.
- Ensure that the design of your resume is logical. Take a look at our full resume sample if you’re confused about how to get this right.
- Use our online resume maker to take all of the hassle out of this application task!
