Mistake #1: Embedding a PDF with all information in the email

Such a document is hard to navigate, and the information in each PDF is presented differently. Designers often forget to check links, which frequently end up non-clickable or even just images. As a result, HR spends a lot of time searching. Eventually, this becomes frustrating, and you stop opening files. No one wants to spend half a day deciphering your resume. Please respect the recruiter’s time.

Mistake #2: No portfolio

It’s impossible to respond positively to even the most inspiring email from a designer who is willing to do anything but cannot provide a single piece of work. Offers to complete a test assignment usually don’t work either. First, test assignments should be paid. Everything else is free nonsense. I don’t believe in it.

Mistake #3: Portfolio on an inconvenient platform

Again, think about the person on the other side of the city who is looking at your portfolio for the first time. You send a link to Google Drive with a million folders. How much time, on average, do you think it takes to evaluate your resume and portfolio? Follow the principle of “less is more”: prioritize and organize. Don’t try to impress an employer with quantity.

Mistake #4: Links in the body of the email

We often receive long, unstructured emails — like free-form essays of “I can do this… And here I did that” — with lots of links scattered throughout. This creates the impression of a chaotic mind and makes the recruiter’s job harder. The ideal solution: compile a small Figma presentation with good navigation tools and embed all your links there.

Mistake #5: Unidentifiable authorship

When designers send us portfolios on Behance, I quietly rejoice. It shows professional level and respect for the potential employer. But then I see that the projects are shared by a group of ten people. It’s impossible to identify the applicant’s exact contribution.

Mistake #6: Starting with demands

This applies not only to designers but to any candidate. Emails that start with the applicant’s demands or conditions are very off-putting: “In the office, you must provide me with this laptop model, ensure coffee and cookies, be lenient with my tardiness, because I am a Creator…” Few people read these emails to the end. Don’t try to inflate your value this way.

What I See as the Perfect Resume

1. Always indicate your city right away. Some vacancies are location-specific, some are not. This saves the recruiter time.

2. Present your portfolio in Figma or on Behance (see previous points). If you host it on your website, navigation and curation must be flawless.

3. Provide a link to your resume (concise and clear).

4. Toward the end, you can describe your “wish list” and salary expectations.

5. List your professional preferences, mention what projects you enjoy working on, and share your vision for professional development.