Years of experience
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- gabadilla0
I'd be up front and simply say:
5 years experience at XYZ agency as an intern and then briefly describe your tasks/accomplishments- yep, pretty much, "I did XYZ on this project, My position title doesn't even matter. Just that this is what I did."threadpost
- weldedturkey0
If they're good, employers will know how much experience you have regardless of anything you do or say. Just be honest and don't talk over your head.
- uberdesigner0
cocoono is trolling
- robotron3k0
lie all you can.
- NotByHand0
I've hired many people over the years, and these are the main two things that really rubs me wrong (even though you'll see it frequently with people right out of school):
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* The 'Jack of all trades' approach. Saying you can do pretty much 'everything'. As a rule of thumb, that means you can do nothing.
* Trying to make it sound like you've done more and bigger things you actually have. This thing can only really go one of two ways: either it becomes clear that you actually didn't have those experiences or that big of a part in them, in which case it's painfully clear that you were trying to 'embellish' your resume. Or you have to go all out, and completely fabricate things and be dishonest about it. Which usually doesn't work out favorably in the long run either.
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- coco_ono0
I'm considering not counting the two years that I worked at the newspaper advertising department.
- ;)coco_ono
- Why would you do that? Why wouldn't you want to list all the professional experience you've held?threadpost
- I'm kidding, mostly. Those were two invaluable years of quick and dirty work.coco_ono
- cannonball0
it depends if they are asking for experience, or professional experience. regarding my post above, you had at least 10 secs of pro experience. round that up to a year on your resume.
- threadpost0
Be honest and clear, it doesn't matter what your title was so much as what you did. If your title was intern, but you were doing the job of designer (or whatever the role), then the experience is yours.
Each project in your portfolio is different, just be clear about what your role was. Dig?
So to me, it sounds like you've had 5 years experience (in your brief description of what you did), and I suggest saying so. The title doesn't matter as much as the role you held.
If you were designing for 2 years and working in a coffee shop the other 3 years, then you have 2 years experience. Your experience is the amount of time you've spent as a designer, not the time you spent in a particular title.
- cannonball0
I hereby create a company called "HELLOexperience Design Studio".
You are hired.
I hereby award you with a reccomendation: "Coco_ono was attentive and inquisitive. He was always looking for ways to squeeze in a few hours here and there. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for an entry-level designer."
Jeez, Coco, I wish we could keep you on , but you know, this economy... *mumble* Well you have a good recommendation at least.
Oh no! We lost all our clients. Sorry guys, HELLOexperience is closing it's doors (stay tuned for invites for our pingpong party).
- except I think coco_ono may be female. 80% sure.threadpost
- I'm 80% sure too.coco_ono
- well then we agree on 80%. Just going from ur profile photo.threadpost
- which if you based ur opinion of me based on my profile photo, well then...threadpost
- Shit, I wrote your recommendation for a guy. Youll have to cut your hair.cannonball
- cannonball0
that's pushing it. you want to look humble, and eager for work. I'd say negative 2 years
- coco_ono0
0 years it is.
- That's not a bad thing though.
Trust me, any place can tell when people are trying to 'fake' experience anyway.NotByHand - You're fresh out of school, have great stuff, and is ready to blow some people's minds. It's all good :)NotByHand
- I don't see any problem with saying 1 or 2 years. Shows initiative. If they ask you can explain.ukit
- Let's hope it all pans out.coco_ono
- That's not a bad thing though.
- cannonball0
that way, when you've had 8 years of internships, you can say you interned for 4 years, and they'll be like "shit we'd be stupid not to hire this guy... hes cut his teeth on so many internships hes got dentures now"
- would you hire someone who's been an intern for 8 years? =)zarkonite
- maybe for the production studiocannonball
- NotByHand0
In traditional 'experience'-terms, your internships during the five years of your education aren't really pertinent. The term references actual professional experience - meaning, having been in an applicable professional situation as an actual 'worker', with all the expectations and responsibilities that comes with that.
That's not say, that your internships and other things you may have done aren't important to mention - of course they are.
But as far as 'experience', it doesn't apply... otherwise, you could reference the time when you were 2 years old and was 'creative' with a Crayon as 'the beginning of your experience', which means you would have many years of 'experience' then...
- coco_ono0
what makes you say that, cannon?
- cannonball0
give it 3 more years. the economy will be back and running, and you can bag a jr. position at ballsy startup.
- cannonball0
you are not ready for a job. I can tell.