Source: aigaraleighed.wordpress.com
The job market can be a scary place. Though a good education will help maximize your potential and make you an attractive commodity – and boy, are commodities attractive - it’s hard to prepare yourself the real world job hunt (but keep on the lookout for my upcoming manual, Baby’s First Job Hunt). And while starting small to get your figurative (or literal) foot-in-the-door is a great way to start your career, even low-level jobs are getting more and more competitive.
So what’s a new grad to do? Besides console your doorless foot with some Calvin and Hobbes?
The foot-in-the-door technique in action. (Source: umn.edu)
Laura Snoad over at Digital Arts Online spoke with some industry professionals, and has a boatload of advice for young professionals searching for their first design job.
For freelancers and in-agency designers alike, getting your portfolio in front of the right people is the first big task. A self-promotional mailer, with your personal stamp, contact details and a good helping of thought is the recommended route as, for those wanting to get a full-time role, the aim is to open up a dialogue that will lead to a face-to-face meeting.
“It’s not about doing something elaborate or expensive, it’s about being memorable,” says GBH creative director Mark Bonner. “It’s the things that I’ve thought are just so charming I couldn’t possibly throw them away that end up keeping my attention.”
Putting your work out there is surprisingly difficult. There’s a mental hurdle you have to overcome: you might get rejected. It’s true. But this is what you’ve been studying to do, what you’ve dreamed of. Young designers often lack confidence in their work, since they haven’t had enough experience to validate their skills (or enough experience to not care too much about what others think). An important part of getting your first design job is having the strength to withstand rejection.
Source: theofficeprogessional.com
Another huge part of nailing down that first position is the interview process.
It’s not always chat about your design work that’ll get you noticed. Charlie Mawer, executive creative director at Red Bee advises you to talk about your passions, or the area of your life that is most interesting – even if it isn’t directly related to the job.
“Remember that the people doing the recruiting are probably slightly bored having seen a bunch of people, so if you can capture their imagination, it will stand you in much greater stead. My first job at the BBC owed as much to my time teaching Romeo and Juliet to township kids in South Africa, as it did to my three years in advertising.”
Once you get an interview, try to take a long view; the interview is about much more than your portfolio. Lorne Michaels, the god of SNL , is famous for saying he won’t ever hire anyone he doesn’t want to see in a hallway at 3 AM. While your prospective job isn’t likely to require the same gnarly hours as the comedians in studio 8H, go into every interview thinking about your fit in the company’s culture, and what you can offer them beyond your designs.
If you’re committed to putting your work out in the world and are able to present yourself as a well-rounded employee, that first job will come soon enough.
Right at this very second, hundreds or possibly even thousands of artists across the world are practicing their artistic skills. Don’t get left in the dust! At the Gnomon School, you’ll learn invaluable techniques that can help you take your art skills to the next level. Discover new and exciting sources of inspiration! Learn art techniques from veterans of the industry! Learn how to create a niche for yourself in this ever-growing market! Are you ready to become a better artist? Get started today!