Pick a clean, professional template that highlights creative leadership and results. Use a reverse-chronological layout so hiring managers see your latest director-level impact first.
Keep length to one page if you have under 10 years in leadership. Use two pages only when you have long, relevant leadership records and major creative achievements.
Choose readable, ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt so sections stand out.
Keep margins generous and spacing consistent. Use white space to separate sections and to make key achievements easy to scan.
Use standard headings: Contact, Summary, Experience, Selected Work, Skills, Education. Name your portfolio link clearly so recruiters can click it.
Avoid overused creative flourishes that break parsing. Complex columns, text boxes, and large images often confuse ATS and slow reviewers.
Don’t use many colors or non-standard fonts. Stick to one accent color and clear typography.
Common mistakes include cluttered layouts, tiny margins, vague job descriptions, and too many logos. Focus each bullet on outcome, not just duties.
Lead with measurable results. Show budgets, team sizes, campaign lifts, and awards where possible. Keep sentences short and action-focused.