Interior Designer CV Guide

What to include in an Interior Designer CV

Knowing what to include in your CV and incorporating the correct information is crucial to success. One thing to remember is that it is an overview of your academic and professional history, where you provide details of your qualifications, skills and experiences relevant to the type of interior designer position you want. You should also include key elements that highlight your creative and technical skills.

A typical CV is divided into sections including contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, key skills, achievements and references. In each section, you should include the most relevant aspects of your professional journey in line with the interior designer job. Let us look at what you can add to each of these sections.

Contact information

At the very top of your CV should be your contact information, and it is essential to make this section visible and concise to allow potential employers to reach you easily. Here is what to include:

• Full name – your full name, as you want it to appear professionally.
• Location – add your location, such as your town, city and/or county (optional).
• Phone number – include a number where employers can reach you.
• Email address – use a professional email that reflects your name (avoid casual or unprofessional email addresses).
• LinkedIn or portfolio – provide links to your LinkedIn profile or personal website (optional).

There is some information you should omit from your CV for privacy and potential bias reasons, such as:

• Personal information, e.g. age, date of birth, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion and national insurance number.
• A photo, unless it is requested.
• Full home address.
• Personal social media account links if they are irrelevant.

Professional summary

Your professional summary (personal statement, executive summary, professional profile or career summary) typically goes below your contact information at the top of your CV. It is a brief, impactful statement highlighting your key qualifications, skills, experiences and career goals. It serves as an introduction to your CV, giving potential employers a quick snapshot of who you are and why you are a strong candidate for the role.

Ensuring your professional summary is well-crafted is vital, as it is usually one of the first things employers will read. If it is strong and relevant, potential employers may want to read more of your CV. Consider it an initial sales pitch where you sell yourself as the best fit for the interior designer position.

You should aim for your summary to be between 3-5 lines, highlighting your creative skills, relevant experience and ability to meet clients’ needs. Here are some examples of elements you may want to include:

• Professional title – start the sentence strong with an action verb and add your current or previous job title, such as “Experienced interior designer”.
• Relevant experience – mention the years you have worked in interior design or related roles.
• Design expertise – mention your specialisation, such as residential, commercial or sustainable interior design.
• Notable achievements – briefly showcase key accomplishments or impactful projects you have worked on.
• Key skills – emphasise your core competencies, such as space planning, colour theory or proficiency in design tools like AutoCAD or SketchUp.
• Client-centric approach – highlight your ability to understand and deliver on client needs while managing budgets and timelines.
• Career goals – tailor this to the job by showing your eagerness to contribute to the company.
• Passion – express your enthusiasm for your work or field to showcase your genuine interest and dedication.

Here is an example of how to put a professional summary together for an interior designer role:

“Certified interior designer with 8+ years of experience in residential and commercial projects. Skilled in space planning, project management and advanced design tools like AutoCAD. Passionate about creating functional and visually stunning spaces tailored to client needs. Proven ability to manage budgets and timelines effectively while exceeding expectations. Seeking to contribute creative expertise to a dynamic design firm”.

Education

The next section, following your professional summary, can be your education or work experience. You may want to add the former first if you have limited experience in interior design, i.e. you are early in your career or are applying for roles where specific qualifications are essential.

The education section of a CV is where you showcase your relevant academic background and qualifications, proving that you have the foundational knowledge and skills needed for the job. For an interior designer, it highlights your formal training, whether a degree in Interior Design, certifications in design software or relevant coursework in areas like architecture or sustainable design. Here are some pointers on what to include:

• Your highest qualification – start with any degrees you have, such as a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Interior Design, Architecture or a related field. For each qualification, include:
  • Degree type and subject, e.g. BA (Hons) in Interior Design.
  • Institution name and location.
  • Dates attended or completion date (month and year)
  • Degree classification (e.g. First Class Honours).
• Training and certifications – if you have completed additional courses or certifications, such as in design software (e.g. AutoCAD, SketchUp) or sustainable design, list them below your formal education.
• Coursework or projects – if you have recently graduated or have limited work experience, you can mention specific modules, projects or achievements relevant to interior design, like space planning or furniture design.

If you have higher qualifications in interior design, do not worry about including your lower qualifications, such as GCSEs and A levels. However, you can add them if the job posting mentions them or if you have limited higher education or professional experience. If you do add them, detail the subjects and grades.

A well-crafted education section can demonstrate your dedication to learning and professional growth – essential in competitive fields like interior design. Remember to tailor this section to the role and emphasise qualifications that align with the job description.

Work experience/employment history

In the work experience section, which you can add before or after your education, you provide specific details about your professional background. You can include jobs, internships, apprenticeships, and even volunteering if you have had limited experience in paid roles. Do not highlight gaps in employment, reasons for leaving previous jobs or any negative experiences.

When you effectively write this section, you will demonstrate to potential employers how you have applied your knowledge in real-world settings and give them a clear view of your practical skills and achievements. It is your opportunity to show them that you have the expertise to fulfil the requirements of the interior designer position.

You should add your work experience in reverse chronological order (the most recent role first) and include the jobs that align most with the position you are applying for. Here are some examples of what you can include:

• Job title – clearly state your previous roles, e.g. “Interior Designer”.
• Employer name – mention the company name and location or the clients you have worked with.
• Dates of employment – include start and end dates (month/year) for each position.
• Key responsibilities – add three to five bullet points outlining your duties relevant to the role, and start each sentence with a strong action verb. Try not to list responsibilities – include your achievements, impact and skills to make this section more compelling.

Here is an example of how you can write the work experience section:

Work experience

Interior Designer. Creative Spaces Ltd, London. June 2021 – Present.

• Designed and executed interior layouts for residential and commercial projects, ensuring alignment with client briefs and budgets.
• Utilised AutoCAD and SketchUp to create detailed floor plans and 3D visualisations.
• Collaborated with contractors and suppliers to source sustainable materials and bespoke furnishings.
• Successfully completed a high-profile office redesign project, increasing employee satisfaction by 25%.
• Contributed to a team project that won the 2020 UK Interior Design Award for Best Small Space Design.

Key skills and achievements

Key skills refer to the abilities, expertise and qualities you possess that make you suitable for a particular role or task. Achievements are specific accomplishments, contributions and results that showcase the impact of your skills in action. Together, they are powerful elements of your CV because they show what you are capable of and how you have applied those capabilities to create measurable success.

You can add your key skills and achievements to various CV sections. You can weave them into your work experience, combine them under one heading – “Key skills and Achievements”, or have standalone sections. The latter may be better if you have many stand-out examples. We will look at how you can focus on achievements later.

Let us start with what to include for your key skills. Regardless of which section you add them to, include hard and soft skills.

• Hard skills – are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge that are usually quantifiable and often learned through training or experience. Some examples of hard skills for an interior designer include material knowledge, colour theory, space planning, project management, building codes and regulations and CAD software proficiency:
• Soft skills – relate to personality traits and how you interact with others and handle tasks. They are trickier to measure but equally vital and can also be transferable. Some examples of soft skills for an interior designer include communication, creativity, problem-solving, attention to detail, collaboration, teamwork and adaptability.

Here are a couple of examples:

• “Led a team to deliver a high-profile interior design project, showcasing exceptional leadership and project management skills”.
• “Improved customer satisfaction scores by 20% through excellent client communication”.

Remember to review the job posting, highlight skills the employer is looking for and include those that match their needs in your CV.

Other information

We have looked at some of the main sections of most CVs. As you write yours, you may find that some of your information does not fit in these sections or you want certain aspects of your background to stand out to potential employers. If this is the case, you can add additional sections and content, and here are some examples:

• Certifications and training – you may want to keep your education section for formal qualifications, such as degrees, and have a separate one for industry-specific courses or additional design training.
• Portfolio link or projects – you could have a dedicated section highlighting key projects, styles and designs you have worked on, including any partnerships or work with architects, decorators, or brands. Where relevant, include a link to your portfolio so employers can gauge your suitability for their interior designer position. You could also include if you have displayed your work at any events, galleries or showcases, as it can also be an impressive addition.
• Software proficiency – you may want to have a stand-out section listing programs like AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Photoshop or 3D rendering tools in which you are skilled.
• Client testimonials – where applicable, you could include brief positive feedback from previous clients.
• Publications and media features – if your work has been featured in magazines, blogs, or design platforms, mention it.
• Languages – having an additional section for languages can be particularly helpful if you work internationally or with a diverse clientele.
• Professional memberships – you could have a section detailing whether you are part of relevant organisations, such as the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) and the Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID). It can show credibility and a desire to develop professionally.
• Hobbies and interests – if you have ones relevant to interior design, such as a passion for architecture, art or travel, it can be useful to include them.

When you add other sections to your CV, ensure they add value. Avoid adding too many, as it can result in information getting lost and making the document more cluttered. You want it easy for potential employers to read and focus on the specific interior designer role you are applying for.

References

In the last section, references, you provide contact details of 2-3 individuals (referees) who can vouch for your skills, experience, work ethic and character. They are typically former employers, managers, colleagues, professors, tutors or mentors, but never family members or friends.

The reference section is crucial as it adds authenticity to your application by externally validating your claims. It provides employers with deeper insights into your work ethic, abilities and personality from someone who has worked closely with you. Overall, having strong references can boost an employer’s confidence in your candidacy, especially if they are undecided.

When writing the reference section, check the job posting to see if they ask for specific contact information at this stage. If not, you can simply state – “References available upon request” under the section header, which can leave space for other content. If you are required to provide referee’s details, include the following information:

• Full name – ensure you spell it correctly.
• Job title – their current title or the title they held while working with you.
• Company name – the organisation they work or worked for.
• Email address – a professional email is preferred.
• Phone number – include their work or mobile number (ensure it is up to date).
• Relationship – clarify how you know this person (e.g. “Former Manager” or “University Lecturer”).

Always ensure you ask for the referee’s permission before adding them to your CV and provide information about the job you are applying for so they can tailor their reference.