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More Resume Examples
for Interior Design Jobs

How to Write an Interior Designer Resume

Your interior designer resume format is as important as how you write your resume. This sample resume demonstrates the best resume layout to follow: 1-inch margins, bullet points and clear resume headings for each of the following sections.

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  • Professional header and contact info

    • Include your name, contact information and a professional email address.
  • Compelling summary statement

    • A brief resume summary or objective highlighting two or three interior design-relevant skills, experience or accomplishments.
  • Highlight your skills

    • Create a dedicated section to showcase hard and soft skills specific to interior design work, like creativity, communication and problem-solving.
  • Emphasize your work history

    • List your work experience in reverse-chronological order. Include job titles, company names, dates of employment and key responsibilities and achievements for each role in a bullet list.
  • Supporting education section

    • Detail your educational background, mentioning any relevant degrees, diplomas or certifications obtained.
  • Additional sections

    • You can add resume sections for licenses, certifications, industry memberships or unions, awards, volunteer experience or spoken languages.

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How to Write an Interior Designer Resume Summary

The resume summary is a crucial section introducing your interior design skills, experiences and unique value. Writing an engaging and effective summary can significantly impact potential employers. Follow these guidelines to create an impactful interior designer resume summary:

Be concise and specific

Keep the summary brief, ideally two to three sentences, and focus on your most relevant and notable achievements as an interior designer.

Highlight your expertise

Emphasize your design specialties, such as residential or commercial projects, and mention any specific design styles in which you excel.

Showcase achievements

Include key accomplishments or successful projects demonstrating your creativity, problem-solving abilities, and positive impact on clients’ spaces.

Tailor to the job

Customize the summary for each application, aligning it with the potential employer’s specific requirements and design preferences.

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Good interior designer resume example

“Innovative and detail-oriented interior designer with a proven track record of transforming residential spaces into personalized havens that reflect clients’ unique styles and needs. Skilled in creating functional and visually appealing designs that exceed expectations. Proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp and Adobe Creative Suite.”

This interior designer resume summary effectively highlights the job seeker’s expertise in residential design and ability to create personalized client spaces. The use of specific software skills showcases their technical proficiency. The summary is concise yet informative, making it engaging for potential employers.

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Poor interior designer resume example

“Creative interior designer with experience in various design projects. Strong eye for design and detail. Proficient in design software.”

This interior designer resume summary is too generic and lacks specific details. It does not effectively showcase the job seeker’s strengths or highlight notable achievements. Using vague language weakens the impact, making it less compelling to potential employers.

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PRO TIP:

Try the resume objective if you’re a first-time job seeker, freelancer or career changer. This alternative introduction pitches your transferable skills and downplays your lack of directly-relevant experience.

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How to Add Your Interior Designer Work History

The work history section of your interior designer resume showcases your professional experiences, design projects and contributions to previous employers. It allows potential employers to understand your design expertise and the impact you’ve made in past roles. Follow these guidelines to create an impactful interior designer work history resume section:

Relevance is key

Focus on relevant interior design roles and experiences. Include job titles, the name of the design firm or company, location and dates of employment.

Project descriptions

Detail specific interior design projects you were involved in, specifying the type of project (residential, commercial, etc.), the scope of work and your role in the design process.

Highlight achievements

Emphasize notable achievements, such as completing projects on time and within budget, receiving recognition for outstanding designs or positive client feedback.

Showcase collaborative skills

Mention any teamwork or collaboration experiences with architects, contractors or clients to demonstrate your ability to work effectively on design projects.

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Good interior designer work history sample

BC Design Studio, Barberton, OH | January 2018 – Present

  • Led the design team for high-end residential projects, achieving 97% client satisfaction and multiple referrals.
  • Collaborated with architects and contractors to ensure seamless project execution and adherence to design specifications.
  • Successfully managed budgets of up to $500K, delivering projects on time and within allocated resources.
  • Received recognition for innovative design concepts, featured in Design Magazine’s “Top 10 Interior Designs of the Year.”

This work history showcases the job seeker’s leadership and collaboration skills in managing high-end residential projects. Specific achievements, such as high client satisfaction and industry recognition, demonstrate their design capabilities and positive project impact.

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Poor interior designer work history sample

BC Design Studio, Barberton, OH | 2015 – 2017

  • Worked on various interior design projects.
  • Assisted with space planning and material selection.

This job seeker’s work history needs more specific details and quantifiable achievements. The description should highlight the job seeker’s design responsibilities or project contributions. The lack of specificity weakens the impact, making it less compelling to potential employers.

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How to Write an Interior Designer Education Section

The education section of your interior designer resume is vital in showcasing your academic qualifications and specialized training that contribute to your design expertise. Potential employers want to see your educational background and any certifications that validate your skills. Follow these guidelines to create an impactful interior designer education resume section:

1Start with your highest degree

Begin with your highest level of interior design education obtained. Include the degree earned, the name of the educational institution, location and graduation year.

Education formatting example:

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design Tulane University
New Orleans, LA Graduated: May 2020

2Include relevant coursework

Mention any specialized coursework in interior design that you completed during your education, such as space planning, materials and finishes or CAD drafting.

Coursework formatting example:

  • Interior Design Studio: Residential Spaces
  • Furniture Design and Selection
  • Environmental Psychology in Design

3Add certifications or specialized training

If you have obtained any certifications or completed specialized training programs related to interior design, include them to demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning.

Certifications formatting example:

  • Certified Interior Designer (CID) – National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ)
  • AutoCAD for Interior Designers – Online Course, 2021
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PRO TIP:

Tailor your education section with relevant education and training that directly align with the skills and requirements of the interior designer position you are applying for.

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15 Skills for Your Interior Designer Resume

The skills section of your interior designer resume is a vital aspect that showcases your diverse skill set and competencies in the field. This section allows potential employers to understand the soft, hard and technical skills you bring as an interior designer. Follow these guidelines to create an impactful interior designer skills resume section:

soft skills

Soft skills

  • Creativity
  • Communication
  • Problem-Solving
  • Attention to Detail
  • Time Management
hard skills

Hard skills

  • Space Planning
  • Material Selection
  • Furniture Design
  • Lighting Design
  • Color Theory
technical-skills

Technical skills

  • AutoCAD
  • SketchUp
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Revit
  • Hand Rendering
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PRO TIP:

Remember to tailor your skills section to include the most relevant and desirable abilities for the specific interior design position you are applying for.

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20 Interior Designer Action Verbs

As an interior designer, your resume must convey your creative prowess and ability to transform spaces. Here are 20 resume action verbs tailored explicitly for interior designers. These power words will infuse your resume with energy, showcasing your active contributions and design expertise.

  • Advise
  • Collaborate
  • Conceptualize
  • Create
  • Design
  • Develop
  • Execute
  • Implement
  • Innovate
  • Integrate
  • Manage
  • Present
  • Prioritize
  • Recommend
  • Research
  • Revise
  • Solve
  • Supervise
  • Transform
  • Visualize

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Additional Resume Sections

Consider adding the following sections to your interior designer resume based on your specific circumstances and to enhance your qualifications:

  • Certifications: Include a separate section to showcase relevant credentials, such as Certified Interior Designer (CID) or AutoCAD for Interior Designers certification.
  • Professional Development: Use a professional development section featuring workshops, seminars or interior design programs to replace or supplement your education section.
  • Awards and Achievements: If you have received recognition or awards for your performance, productivity, or safety record, include a section to showcase these accomplishments.
  • Volunteer Experience: Replace your work history section with a volunteer section if you have less than three years of experience. Use this space to demonstrate relevant skills or attributes, such as space planning, material selection and furniture design.
  • Language Proficiency: Since interior design work can include a diverse range of employees, advertise your fluency in other languages as a workplace boon!
  • Memberships: Let hiring managers know about your membership to industry-specific organizations or unions.

Use a Cover Letter to Express Yourself

A resume is a concise overview of your skills and experience — a cover letter expands on this foundation. Add a cover letter to share one or two examples of how you excelled in similar roles or how your skills match a company’s needs. Use this sample as a guide or visit our helpful resources to boost your application.

Interior Designer Resume FAQ

How can I make my interior designer resume stand out to potential employers?

To stand out to potential employers, tailor your resume to showcase your unique design style and experiences. Include a strong portfolio, highlight relevant projects, and use eye-catching visuals to showcase your creativity. Use action verbs to describe your design contributions, and ensure your resume is well-organized and easy to read.

Should I include my entire portfolio in my interior designer resume?

Rather than including your entire portfolio in your resume, you should summarize your best projects and skills. Include a link to your online portfolio or attach a selection of your best work that aligns with the job requirements.

Is it necessary to include references on my interior designer resume?

Generally, it's not recommended to include references directly on your resume. Instead, create a separate reference page with names, titles, contact information, and a brief description of your relationship with each reference. Provide this page when requested during the interview process.

How can I showcase my software skills on my interior designer resume?

Showcase software skills relevant to interior design, such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite and Revit. If you have certifications or completed specialized courses, include them in the skills section to highlight your technical expertise.

Can I include unrelated work experience on my interior designer resume?

Include unrelated work experience on your interior designer resume only if it demonstrates transferable skills, such as project management or customer service. However, prioritize relevant interior design experiences and skills that align with the job you're applying for to make your resume more focused and impactful.