Graphic Designer resume keywords
Most graphic designer applications are screened by software before a person reads them: the ATS ranks resumes by how many of the posting's words they contain. The lists below are the terms that show up most in graphic designer job ads. Use the ones that are true for you, with the same spelling the ad uses.
Hard skills and ATS keywords
- Adobe Illustrator
- Photoshop
- InDesign
- Figma
- Brand identity
- Typography
- Motion basics
- Print production
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- InDesign
- Figma
- Typography
- Brand identity
- Layout design
- Print production
- Motion graphics
- UI design
Soft skills recruiters look for
- Creativity
- Attention to detail
- Taking feedback
- Time management
- Collaboration
Soft skills only count when a bullet proves them. "Team player" is ignored; "Led the rebrand of a 40-store retail chain: logo, signage, packaging and a 60-page brand book." shows it.
Action verbs to start your bullets
- Designed
- Created
- Rebranded
- Produced
- Illustrated
- Delivered
- Increased
- Developed
How to use these keywords
- Mirror the job ad: if it says "Adobe Photoshop", do not write a synonym.
- Put the top 6–8 in a skills section and repeat the key ones inside experience bullets with a number.
- Never list a skill you cannot talk about in an interview.
- Keep the file text-based (no skills inside images or tables), or the ATS cannot read it.
Which ones is your resume missing?
Every posting is different. Paste your resume and the job ad — free ATS Match Score Score your resume free (0-100)
No signup. It lists the keywords from the ad that your resume does not contain.
Need the resume itself? See the graphic designer resume example and generate one free from rough notes.