Do I have to include a cover letter with my graphic design resume?

Yes. You should always include a cover letter with your resume. This is the case for a job search in any industry. Your cover letter is a chance to provide additional information about your background and strengths and offers a great opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. The only exception is when a job posting specifically states that a cover letter is not to be sent.

Can I use resume templates to create my graphic designer resume?

Yes. You can use graphic design resume templates such as those offered via the ResumeNerd resume builder to create your resume. As a graphic design job requires design skills, however, it can be useful to alter these templates slightly to show your design skills in action while maintaining the proper formatting that a template provides.

What resume format should I use to apply for a graphic design job?

While graphic design is a creative industry, many large companies hiring graphic designers use an ATS to help filter job applications. This means that readability should still be your main concern. As such traditional resume formats remain the best option. For more information on resume formats, consider the ResumeNerd format guide.