Even with online platforms that are specifically designed to connect people in a professional capacity, such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc, old-school resumes and CVs have not lost their charm yet. They are still considered to be a potent and effective way to formally introduce oneself to a recruiting manager.
Art directors are at the top of the art and media departments in organizations and work closely with the creative department. The position is often mixed with the creative director which is different from it. A creative director works on the concept and nascent details of the project, whereas an art director produces work based on those details.
They oversee the materialization of projects from blueprints and rough ideas, from initiation to completion.
In this post, we will explore the role of an art director, how you can find the best resume-making company if you are eyeing an art director role, and how these companies add value to each component of the CV.
What Does An Art Director Do?
Art directors can have the most interesting and frustrating jobs in the world. In their typical role, they are assigned to lead a team of professionals to choose artistic elements and articulate the vision of the creative team.
In addition to this, art directors are also entrusted with creating a budget for their team along with a timeline for the completion of projects. On a day-to-day basis, they approve copy and critique work done by other artists and make sure that it is in line with the guidelines provided by the creatives.
Virtually, there is no limit to what art directors do to realize the vision. According to career experts, art directors dabble in different art forms and philosophies.
These professionals are wanted in a wide range of industries, from advertising to movie making to all the marketing and PR firms, and what comes in between them.
Choosing The Best Art Director Resume Writing Company
In light of the job responsibilities and requirements for an art director, candidates need to stand out from the crowd if they want to secure a shot at a lucrative career. Many professionals believe that creating a winning resume from scratch is not an uphill task, which could not be farther from the truth.
Writing a solid resume for a creative position like an art director requires specialized skills and expertise in both the concerned industry and that overall resume writing. So, instead of taking that project on your own, it is best to outsource.
Resume companies come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. Thanks to the internet, you can get the best ones from around the world in a couple of minutes.
Still, it calls for due diligence and background work before making things formal with a company.
In the section below, we have shared some attributes that you must find in your prospective company.
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Reputation
In the online world, business reputation is everything. This is evident from the fact that every company operating in the virtual space has some sort of customer support team as well as social media channels to help them spread the positive word about them.
So, while looking for the best resume writing companies for your art director resume, it is best to dig deeper than the top surface. Start with the online reviews and comments that they have garnered during their business life. Then, go to third-party review sites and determine what overall consensus people have about them.
In every aspect, make sure to have a critical eye and check things beyond the surface. If things come out positive, you can move forward with the peace of mind that the result will be great.
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Pricing
For many professionals looking for an art director resume, pricing can be the deal breaker. There is nothing definitive about pricing when it comes to services like resume writing.
First, the pricing should not be too high for a candidate. It should be appropriate to what the company brings to the table. Second, simply low pricing does not offer the best value. For instance, if a company offers competitive pricing against substandard services, this does not bode well for clients.
On the other hand, if the pricing is in line with the value of the finished product, that is a resume that can win interview calls, then it should not be a problem to pay a little more.
Pricing is a tough subject to master but the ideal is to strike the perfect balance between value and price.
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Value
The ideal for a resume writing service is to have a CV that can get interview calls and invitations from hiring managers. Before getting a custom resume, it is hard to gauge that value but there is a workaround.
Before placing your order, connect with the prospective resume writing company and ask for samples and references. This is where you can critique their work from all angles.
If they have provided satisfactory results to clients in the near past, you can imagine that they will rise to the challenge in your case.
Again, aim for the perfect balance between value and price and make sure they know what your expectations are.
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Expertise
All resume writing companies are not equal. For an art director resume, you need to get a company on board that can help you with securing an interview call. Many companies have resume writers who are experts in only a handful of industries. This could be a big question mark for you.
Art direction is a competitive industry with its virtues and focuses points. For the best results, it is advised that you check their expertise and acumen in your given field before placing the order.
You can connect with other art directors and get suggestions from them about which company will be better for the current market trends.
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Guarantees?
Even though the writing is subjective and resumes can never ensure jobs to the letter, the best resume writing companies offer guarantees and assurances. Following are some of the guarantees that come with packages:
- Free reviews and revisions
- Interview call guarantee or assurance up to a certain point
- Quick turnaround time and results
Companies with these guarantees and assurances have specialized writers with years of experience and expertise to ensure positive results for clients. So, look for these signs before signing a contract with a company.
Components Of A Winning Art Director Resume
If you are up for the challenge of composing your art director resume on your own, or want to know what the whole process of researching and writing a resume is all about, this section is dedicated to that process.
So, let’s get to it without any further delay.
Best Formatting
Formatting is the key because it is the most prominent and pronounced aspect of an art director’s resume. Before a hiring manager could scan through the experience or professional summary section, he will notice the consistency and professionalism behind formatting or the lack of it.
If it is up to the standards of the industry and position, the odds of getting noticed by the hiring manager for an interview call get a quick bump.
- The header comes before the body with all relevant contact information
- Divide and conquer sections of your resume
- Choose a good, eye-catching resume format and stick to it
- Pick a standard and appealing font size and style
- Margins should not be too wider or too narrower
- Send out a PDF resume unless instructed otherwise
Solid Resume Summary/ Objectives
Also called resume profile, this comes just under the header. Mostly it is a short paragraph that shows the history and aspirations of an art director what he has done and learned in the past and what he hoped to achieve.
There is a little catch. If a professional has over five years of experience, then a resume summary is more apt. Art director is not a starting position but if a person does not have prior experience, then resume objectives or summary objectives are the best option.
Catchy Job Description
As mentioned in the previous sections, the art director role is more about leading and managing diverse teams than doing the heavy lifting on your own. So, the job description section can be the best place to showcase your leadership and management skills.
- Commence with the current or most recent post
- For each experience point or position, provide the job title or designation, company name, timeline, and multiple bullets about the responsibilities and duties
- It is best to stick with only the most relevant ones
- Rely more on the action and affirmative words and phrases instead of dull objective words
- Highlight your skills and appropriate candidacy by showing quantifiable results
- Target the job description in the advertisement and work around it
Academic Qualifications
Although it may look straightforward, academic qualifications can make the necessary difference in your resume when showcased properly.
- If you have more than five years of industry experience, it is best to stick with the school and program name and the year of completion
- If you do not have extensive experience, it is best to make your academic qualifications shine by highlighting achievements, projects, and workshops that you might have attended
Showcasing Art Direction Skills
Art direction requires a healthy combo of both core and soft skills.
Let’s start with the core ones:
- Adobe Suite
- HTML
- UX Design
- Print Design
- Typography
- Photography & Branding
Now, the soft or intangible skills that help professionals steer through competitive environments:
- Creative Thinking & Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking & Leadership
- Team Player
- Tolerance for Positive Criticism
- Ownership of Tasks
- Time Management & Multitasking
But merely mentioning the skills will not cut it. You need to show the skills in action and the value they brought to the clients and the employers. This will have a more lasting effect on the recruiters.
Augmenting A Resume With A Cover Letter
This could seem off-topic for many but a cover letter can be a much-needed boost to your resume. A cover letter is a document that often accompanies resumes and has the advantage of description to throw further light on the things that can only be mentioned in a resume.
Writing a cover letter is much easier than a resume because you would never have to cram that much information into a little space. It has three distinct sections.
- The opening paragraph shows why a candidate is interested in the position
- What and where the candidate has learned the craft from
- What value will he add if he is to be selected for the position
If strictly advised not to do it, adding a cover letter along with your resume can make a great case for you.
Conclusion
Art direction is a lucrative position. It takes professionals years to accumulate a such level of creative and managerial prowess to be eligible for these positions. If you think you are eligible for one, it is best to start working on your resume. You can do it either on your own if you have solid research and writing chops. Otherwise, you can outsource the task to professionals for sure results.
In this post, we have shed ample light on the variables that professionals can face throughout the process. So, we advise you to go through it before planning your next job switch or applying for a new role.