Creative portfolios, CVs and applications

A creative CV is designed to showcase your creative skills, and is often used to demonstrate skills for a role which includes elements of design, art, technology, animation, VX/FX or production.

For many creative careers, your CV is only one part of the application. Employers, commissioners, agents, production companies, studios, festivals, publishers and arts organisations may also ask to see examples of your work. This might include a portfolio, showreel, website, writing sample, pitch document, treatment, storyboard, social media campaign, design work, code repository, performance footage, or other evidence of your creative practice.

The key question is not simply “how creative should my CV be?” but “what evidence will help this employer understand what I can do?”

A creative application should be clear, tailored and easy to navigate. It should demonstrate your skills, judgement, ideas, process and potential, while still giving the reader the practical information they need.

Expand All

Start with the role

Before deciding what to send, look carefully at the role, organisation and application instructions.

Ask yourself:

  • What skills are they asking for?
  • What kind of work would I be doing in this role?
  • What evidence would help them trust that I can do it?
  • Are they asking for a CV, portfolio, showreel, written answers, examples of work, or a link to a website?
  • Are there technical requirements, such as file size, format, video length, image resolution or naming conventions?

A creative approach can work well when it supports the application. It is less effective when it makes key information harder to find.

For some roles, a well-structured traditional CV with links to relevant work will be stronger than a highly designed or unusual CV. This is especially true where employers use online application systems or applicant tracking software.

What you might be asked to provide

Different areas of the creative industries may ask for different application materials. These might include:

Application material

What it is useful for

Traditional CV

Useful for most roles. Shows your education, experience, skills, achievements and relevant activities clearly.

Creative or designed CV

May be useful for design-led roles where layout, visual identity or typographic judgement are part of the skillset.

Online portfolio

Useful for visual arts, design, fashion, architecture, photography, illustration, animation, games, UX, digital media and other portfolio-based roles.

PDF portfolio

Useful when an employer asks for a fixed selection of work or where you want to control the order, layout and presentation.

Showreel

Useful for film, television, animation, performance, editing, motion graphics, VFX, sound, music and production roles.

Website

Useful as a central place to bring together your CV, portfolio, showreel, biography, contact details and links.

Writing sample

Useful for journalism, publishing, copywriting, theatre, comedy, screenwriting, communications and editorial roles.

Pitch document, treatment or proposal

Useful for film, television, theatre, games, publishing, arts, media and creative development roles.

Storyboard or process document

Useful where employers want to see how you develop ideas, not only the finished outcome.

Social media or campaign examples

Useful for marketing, communications, PR, content, digital media and audience development roles.

Code repository, prototype or interactive demo

Useful for games, creative technology, digital design, web development, UX/UI and interactive media.

Speculative application

Useful in areas where opportunities are not always advertised, including production, media, theatre, publishing, museums, galleries, advertising and smaller creative organisations.

You do not need all of these. Choose the materials that fit the role and help you evidence your skills most effectively.

A creative CV uses design, layout, images, graphics or other creative elements to present your experience. It can be useful when the format itself demonstrates relevant skills, for example in graphic design, illustration, publishing, advertising, animation, games, UX/UI, digital content or visual communications.

However, a creative CV is not always the best option. A highly visual CV can make it harder for the reader to find key information. It may also cause problems with online recruitment systems.

A strong creative CV should still:

  • be easy to scan
  • include clear headings
  • show your most relevant experience near the top
  • use readable fonts and accessible contrast
  • work as a PDF
  • include links to your portfolio, website, LinkedIn, professional social media, showreel or other relevant work
  • be tailored to the role and organisation
  • prioritise evidence over decoration

The design should support your application, not distract from it.

A portfolio is a carefully selected collection of your work. It should show what you can do, how you think and how your creative practice is developing.

Your portfolio might be online, in PDF format, printed, or presented during an interview. Many students and graduates use a website or platform such as Behance, The Dots, Adobe Portfolio, Squarespace, Wix, Cargo, Vimeo, YouTube, GitHub or a personal website, depending on their area of work.

A strong portfolio usually includes:

  • your best and most relevant work
  • a clear structure
  • short descriptions for each project
  • your role and contribution, especially for group projects
  • evidence of process, where useful
  • work that is tailored to the role, client, organisation or opportunity
  • up-to-date contact details
  • links that work and are easy to access

Do not try to include everything you have ever made. A smaller number of strong, relevant pieces is usually more effective than a large portfolio with inconsistent work.

What to include in a portfolio

Depending on your creative area, you might include:

  • finished pieces
  • works in progress
  • sketches, drafts, experiments or prototypes
  • research and sources of inspiration
  • project briefs
  • client, competition, course or self-initiated work
  • photographs of physical work
  • stills from film, animation or performance
  • storyboards
  • scripts, treatments or pitch documents
  • campaign examples
  • social media content
  • design systems, branding or layouts
  • UX research, wireframes or user journeys
  • code, interactive demos or playable prototypes
  • press, reviews, exhibitions, awards or audience engagement, where relevant

For collaborative work, be clear about what you did. For example, explain whether you led the concept, wrote the copy, edited the footage, designed the visuals, managed the production, created the assets, performed, coded the prototype, or coordinated the campaign.

Showreels

A showreel is a short edited selection of moving image, performance, animation, sound, music, production or digital work. It should quickly show your strongest and most relevant material.

A good showreel should:

  • open strongly
  • be concise
  • show the type of work you want to do next
  • make your contribution clear
  • use good quality audio and visuals
  • include your name and contact details
  • include credits where needed
  • link to longer examples if appropriate

For film, television, animation, VFX, editing, performance, sound and music roles, check whether the employer has given a preferred length or format. If they have, follow it exactly.

Websites and online profiles

A website or online profile can be a useful way to bring your creative identity together in one place. It can include your portfolio, showreel, CV, biography, contact details, social media links, press, writing samples, project pages or downloadable documents.

At minimum, consider including:

  • a clear homepage
  • an about page or short biography
  • selected project pages
  • a CV or experience section
  • contact details
  • links to relevant professional platforms

Keep navigation simple. Employers should not have to work hard to understand who you are, what you do and how to contact you.

Check your links regularly. A broken portfolio link can undermine an otherwise strong application.

 

CareerConnect EVENTS
RELATED NEWS

Looking for more?

Check the CareerConnect platform for all our upcoming events and opportunities, book appointments, find jobs and internships, and more.

Login to CareerConnect

Recommended links

the oxford guide to careers 2026 preview

Connect with us