Instructional Designer Resume Examples & Format
An instructional designer builds training that changes what people can do: analyzing who needs to learn what, writing learning objectives, storyboarding modules with subject matter experts, building eLearning in Articulate Storyline, Rise or Adobe Captivate, adding practice and assessments, publishing to a learning management system (LMS) in SCORM or xAPI, and measuring the results. An instructional designer resume should prove skills such as ADDIE and SAM, needs analysis and action mapping, and learning objectives and assessment design with numbers from your own work. Below are three samples, entry-level to senior, with summaries, bullets and skills.
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Instructional Designer resume examples by experience level
All three samples are illustrative: the people, employers and every figure are made up.
Entry-level sample
Allison Forsberg
Instructional Designer · former 6th-grade teacher · 3 portfolio courses in Storyline and Rise · ADDIE
Raleigh, NC · (919) 555-0145 · allison.forsberg@example.com · portfolio: allisonforsberg.example.com
Summary
- Former middle school teacher with five years of lesson design and a certificate in instructional design, with three eLearning courses in my portfolio. Looking for a first instructional designer role in corporate or healthcare learning.
Experience
- Instructional Design Volunteer, a regional food bank, Raleigh, NC · Jan – Jun 2026 · Built a 20-minute Rise course for 300 new volunteers on food safety and sorting; quiz pass rate 94% on first attempt; cut in-person orientation from 2 hours to 45 minutes.
- 6th Grade Teacher, a public middle school, Raleigh, NC · 2021 – 2026 · Designed units for 120 students a year; led my team's move to Google Classroom and trained 8 colleagues.
Education
- Certificate in Instructional Design, a university continuing-education program · 2026
- BA in Elementary Education, a university in North Carolina · 2021
Skills
- ADDIE, Bloom's taxonomy, learning objectives, storyboarding, Articulate Storyline and Rise, Canva, Google Classroom, quiz and rubric design
Mid-level sample
Desmond Achebe-Lowry
Instructional Designer · 5 years · corporate L&D · 40+ eLearning modules · sales and compliance training
Austin, TX · (512) 555-0172 · desmond.achebelowry@example.com · portfolio: desmondlearns.example.com
Summary
- Instructional designer with five years in corporate learning, building more than 40 eLearning modules and 6 blended programs for sales and compliance. Cut new-hire sales ramp time from 90 to 65 days with a scenario-based onboarding path.
Experience
- Instructional Designer, a B2B software company, Austin, TX · 2023 – present · Built a 6-week sales onboarding path (12 modules, 3 live labs) for 200 hires a year; ramp to first deal down from 90 to 65 days; course rating 4.6 of 5.
- eLearning Developer, a learning agency, Austin, TX · 2021 – 2023 · Built 28 compliance modules in Storyline for 9 clients; published SCORM to 5 different LMSs.
Education
- MEd in Learning Design and Technology, a university in Texas · 2021
Skills
- Needs analysis, action mapping, Storyline, Rise, Camtasia, Vyond, SCORM and xAPI, Workday Learning and Cornerstone LMS, Kirkpatrick evaluation
Senior sample
Miriam Castellano
Senior Instructional Designer / Learning Experience Lead · 11 years · healthcare · team of 5 · 18,000 learners
Cleveland, OH · (216) 555-0153 · miriam.castellano@example.com
Summary
- Senior instructional designer with 11 years in healthcare education, leading a team of 5 that serves 18,000 clinical and support staff. Redesigned annual compliance training to cut seat time by 40% while raising audit pass rates.
Experience
- Senior Instructional Designer, a hospital system, Cleveland, OH · 2020 – present · Lead 5 designers; 18,000 learners; compliance seat time down 40% with role-based paths; audit pass rate 88% to 96%; launched microlearning for nurses on new EHR workflows.
- Instructional Designer, a university medical school, Cleveland, OH · 2015 – 2020 · Built simulation cases and online modules for 3 courses; worked with 25 faculty.
Education
- MS in Instructional Design and Technology, a university in Ohio · 2015
- BA in Psychology · 2013
Skills
- Learning strategy, team leadership, stakeholder management, accessibility (WCAG), xAPI and learning analytics, vendor management, Storyline, Captivate
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What does an instructional designer do?
Most work in corporate learning and development teams, eLearning agencies, universities, healthcare systems and software companies. O*NET lists Instructional Designer as a sample title under Instructional Coordinators. A resume should link to a portfolio and name the courses built, tools, design models and the completion, score or performance results.
Instructional Designer duties to put on a resume
- Analyze training needs with managers and subject matter experts.
- Write learning objectives and design course structure and assessments.
- Storyboard and build eLearning, video and instructor-led materials.
- Publish courses to the LMS in SCORM or xAPI and test them.
- Evaluate results through completion, assessment scores, surveys and job performance.
- Revise courses based on feedback and data.
Best resume format for an instructional designer
- Put your portfolio link in the header next to your email.
- Name courses built, audience size and one result for each role.
- List authoring tools and the LMSs you have published to.
The section order and what goes in each are on the how to write a resume guide; the resume format guide covers every format by type and country.
Summary examples by level
- Entry-level: Former teacher turned instructional designer with three portfolio courses in Storyline and Rise, including a volunteer course with a 94% first-attempt pass rate.
- Mid-level: Instructional designer with five years in corporate L&D and 40+ eLearning modules, who cut new-hire sales ramp from 90 to 65 days.
- Senior: Senior instructional designer leading 5 designers for 18,000 healthcare learners, who cut compliance seat time by 40% and raised audit pass rates to 96%.
Work experience bullet points
- Built a 12-module sales onboarding path that cut ramp to first deal from 90 to 65 days for 200 hires a year.
- Cut annual compliance seat time by 40% with role-based paths while raising audit pass rates from 88% to 96%.
- Developed 28 compliance modules in Articulate Storyline for 9 clients and published them in SCORM to 5 LMSs.
- Replaced a 2-hour orientation with a 20-minute Rise course; 94% of 300 volunteers passed the quiz first time.
- Ran needs-analysis interviews with 25 subject matter experts and turned them into measurable learning objectives.
- Raised average course ratings from 3.9 to 4.6 of 5 by adding scenarios and cutting text-heavy slides.
- Set up xAPI tracking that linked course completion to on-the-job error rates for 3 programs.
Key skills to list
Hard skills: ADDIE and SAM, Needs analysis and action mapping, Learning objectives and assessment design, Storyboarding and scriptwriting, Articulate Storyline and Rise, Adobe Captivate and Camtasia, SCORM and xAPI, LMS administration, Kirkpatrick evaluation, Accessibility (WCAG).
Soft skills: Working with subject matter experts, Clear writing, Project management, Empathy for learners, Taking feedback.
Education and certifications
- Many instructional designers hold a bachelor's or master's degree in instructional design, educational technology, education or a related field. O*NET's surveyed instructional coordinators, the group that includes the title, mostly report a master's degree (60%) or bachelor's degree (25%) as required.
- Teaching experience is a common route in; BLS says instructional coordinators in schools typically need several years as a teacher.
- No license is needed in corporate roles; a portfolio of real courses matters more than a certificate.
Sources
Checked on 5 October 2026.
FAQ
Instructional Designer resume questions, answered.
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Which instructional design resume keywords matter?
Use the words the job posting uses, and only those you can back up: ADDIE or SAM, needs analysis, learning objectives, storyboarding, Articulate Storyline and Rise, Captivate, SCORM, xAPI, LMS names, Kirkpatrick evaluation and accessibility. Place each inside a bullet that shows the work.
How do teachers write a resume for instructional designer jobs?
Translate classroom work into design terms: units become courses, students become learners, test data becomes evaluation. Build two or three portfolio pieces in Storyline or Rise, ideally for a real organization, and lead with them. Keep teaching to two or three lines that show design and training of colleagues.
Do instructional designers need a master's degree?
Not always. Many corporate roles accept a bachelor's degree with a strong portfolio. Universities and senior roles more often ask for a master's in instructional design or educational technology, and O*NET's survey for the wider group shows most respondents with a master's requirement.