A great interior designer CV can open doors – literally. Whether you’re working in private clients’ homes, commercial properties or any other type of interior space, you’ll need to communicate your personal style, knowledge of design principles and commitment to seeing the project through from start to finish. Your interior designer CV is the place to convey all your skills and more.
Luckily, you’re not alone in this adventure. Resume.io is here to help with dozens of jobs-specific CV examples and writing guides, backed up by our powerful CV builder tool. Here’s what we’ll cover in this interior designer CV example and writing guide:
- What does an interior designer do?
- How to write an interior designer CV (tips and tricks)
- The best format for an interior designer CV
- Advice on each section of your CV (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional CV layout and design hints.
If you’re just starting out in the field, competition for interior designer positions can be tough, but networking via professional organisations is a great way to get your foot in the door. Consider the British Institute for Interior Design, for example.
What does an interior designer do?
Interior designers are responsible for the planning and implementation of interior spaces such as homes and offices. While architects focus on the structural components of a project, interior designers are concerned with more of the aesthetic elements including colour scheme, choice of materials, lighting fixtures and layout of furniture and appliances.
While the work of interior designers overlaps with interior decorators in that both professionals are designing the feel of a space, interior designers often take renovations one step further by making significant changes to the layout of a room.
How to write an interior designer CV
An interior designer CV should contain many of the standard sections needed for a complete CV. Here is the structure to follow:
- The CV header
- The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The CV skills section
- The education section
Choosing the best CV format for an interior designer
Since interior designers need to prove their skills and expertise through previous positions, the reverse chronological format is the best choice for these professionals. This format centres on the employment history section where you’ll be able to list your previous positions and your duties in each. This format is preferred by both hiring managers and the automated CV scanners built into most online application portals.
If you’re just starting in the field, you may want to consider the hybrid CV format. This format will likely begin with your education, followed by your skills. You can list internship positions in a shorter employment history section further down.
CV summary example
The summary of your CV is like the foyer of your CV – this is the place to give a sample of what you have to offer. Include your education, top skills, achievements and any noteworthy projects here. If you are licensed, don’t forget to mention it. The summary should encourage the hiring manager to keep reading to find out more about you. Check out the summary from our adaptable CV sample below to see how this is done.
Certified interior designer with a creative eye and sustainability expertise. Experienced in designing residential and retail spaces. Passionate about enhancing the lives of clients through innovative design solutions.
For more ideas on writing this central CV section, check out the summaries from our graphic designer CV sample and project manager CV example.
Employment history sample
The employment history section is likely to draw the hiring manager’s attention first. Therefore it’s important that this section contains strong organisation. List your job title, employer name, dates worked and location in a clean subheading, starting with your most recent (or current) position.
Underneath, create 4-5 bullet points that describe your duties and skills. Don’t forget to quantify your impact by adding numbers and statistics that show how you worked efficiently to meet deadlines or came in under budget. See the employment history CV sample below for more insight.
Principle Interior Designer at Carol Simon Designs, York
June 2020 - Present
- Designing and managing luxury residential and commercial projects throughout North America and Europe.
- Successfully completing 148 design projects with high satisfaction ratings from clients.
- Applying extensive sources and resource knowledge to access the highest quality materials.
- Utilising a strong knowledge of sustainable fabric, furniture, and lighting solutions.
- Improving client onboarding to more effectively understand their design goals leading to improved client satisfaction and faster project turnarounds.
- Project managing multiple concurrent projects.
- Partnering with architects and other design professionals to ensure design intentions are achieved.
Associate Interior Designer at London Works, London
July 2011 — February 2020
- Contributed to the success of a busy London design firm as an interior designer, handling a high volume of projects and delivering exceptional design solutions to clients.
- Determined design objectives for individual spaces based on the architecture, the environment, and the client’s lifestyle.
- Used floor plans, sketches and visual presentations to illustrate how our visions could best serve the personal spaces of clients.
- Led multiple design projects of various sizes, totalling over 120 finished projects by 2020.
- Carefully selected design components to create unique and purposeful spaces.
CV skills example
The skills section of your CV might seem pretty straightforward, but this can actually be one of the most difficult sections to master. Make sure to double check the job listing and add key qualities the hiring manager is looking for here. This is the place to reiterate your areas of expertise, add your most important technical abilities and sprinkle in a few personal qualities as well. Our CV sample below can get you started.
- Chartered Society of Designers Accredited
- Sustainable Design Methods and Sourcing of Sustainable Materials
- Building Codes and Regulations
- AutoCAD
- Sketchup Pro
Interior designer CV education example
The education section of your interior designer CV is one of the most critical sections not to be overlooked. As you likely have a degree in this field or a related one, it’s acceptable to leave off your secondary education if you wish. You can also include a degree in progress if you have yet to finish studying.
The education section is also the place to add any certifications, courses or memberships that may be of interest to the employer. Awards can be placed here as well. See our interior designer CV education sample below.
Master of Arts in Interior Design at Royal College of Art, London
September 2009 - May 2011
BA (Hons) Architecture at Manchester School of Architecture
September 2005 - May 2009
CV layout and design
As an interior designer, you certainly know the importance of visual appeal – it’s your entire industry! The same is true for your CV. The layout and design will instantly communicate your personal brand and the type of work you do to the employer so make sure to put some thought into your look.
It’s a smart idea to choose different looks for different openings. A professionally-designed CV template can make this much quicker and easier to accomplish.
Key takeaways for a interior designer CV
- A great interior designer CV is the first step towards a new position in your field.
- Make sure to offer a short introduction to yourself and your experience in the summary.
- Add all relevant education and certifications to prove you are qualified for the role.
- Our adaptable interior designer CV sample can help you create a great layout.
