Job Hunt Advice
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- philkiel
Anyone got any useful advice on getting a job/placement?
Struggling to get a response from even the worst design studios,
I think I've got a pretty decent portfolio for a graduate and I am very eager to work.
- brandelec0
can we see it?
- ceiling_cat0
The market is bad now so it's tough, especially if you don't have experience. Might as well shoot for a internship to beef up your portfolio with more websites. Also beef up your skills. Also, eat more beef.
- beef is that important?!philkiel
- it's good for the arteriesceiling_cat
- i might agree with the internship --- im starting to consider themmegE
- MrDinky0
The work is good. As the cat said, bad timing. I would take this opportunity to start your own work.
- d_rek0
What is your process for soliciting these studios? Phonecalls, emails, random office visits, leavebehinds, etc?
From experience I think the best thing you can do is to just show them you're interested. Always make sure you followup with a phone call - and at the very least an email (although I think tangible proof of existence like hearing someones voice, or finding a leavebehind always makes a much bigger impact than an email).
And if they don't return your calls the first time well, persistence is ever a virtue. Just because they didn't call you back right away doesn't mean they're not interested either - sometimes they just get too busy (not really an excuse or the most professional thing to do but it happens.)
Just keep at them. Someone will bite.
Your work is solid I should think you would be valuable to someone somewhere.- Persistence is key; email is shit... be physical... call at the very least... walk in and say hi...ideaist
- I peak in through the ceiling. Sometimes I watch people masterbate.ceiling_cat
- FYI took me about 5 months to land a decent gig after graduating.d_rek
- Thanks that makes me feel better, I set my alarm for 5 months time.
philkiel - graduated in May of 2008 - right before the 'economic crisis' hitd_rek
- philkiel0
I've been both emailing and mailing my work to places, I've had less than 5 responses.
Do designers actually mind graduates phoning them up? Don't they have work to do is that just a big miss-conception?
- they DO have work to do; but they will never be upset to speak to a young eager mind...ideaist
- Designers don't usually mind recents grads calling them. "I'd love to chat but can't right now, can you call XXX or can I call you later?" only takes a few seconds to say.thinblkglasses
- peddy28isgreat0
Are you stateside or europe? If you're stateside and are up for moving. I'd try Minneapolis. Tons of type studios and design/advertising here in general.
- UK, and im in the north of england, so many more job adverts for London too. Not willing to move down there thoughphilkiel
- doctor0
It may be a good idea to make a follow up phone call, after 3-4 days.
- neue75_bold0
1. “Hello. I was wondering who I should speak with regarding a folio presentation?”
Before we start on the whole email thing, I would strongly recommend that you call ahead first. It may seem considerably more scary than the safety of an impersonal email, but a phone call will get you the contact details of the relevant person. I am amazed how many people are too lazy to do this as it also gets you an opportunity to be remembered, or maybe even to speak with your potential interviewer (any folio show is really an interview).2. “Paul Rand suggested you may be interested in my work.”
As long as you are being honest, drop names. If a respected colleague recommends you, it will bump you up the list considerably.3. “I am a passionate and enthusiastic young designer.”
No kidding. You need to find some point of difference from all the other passionate and enthusiastic young designers, and that means finding a different way to say the obvious, or perhaps not saying it at all.4. “You guys are ace!”
Don’t gush (and don’t use exclamation marks!) If you are writing to an established designer with any sort of rep, they already know they are good. Kissing anybody’s arse is a dangerous undertaking but, if you are going to do it, at least have a point. For example, instead of “I really admire your work,” say “I am looking for an environment where I can hone my typographic skills.”5. “Blah, blah, blah.”
Be concise. Odds are the people you are approaching have very little down-time, and your first contact should be succinct, crafted and attention-grabbing. You will have plenty of time to share your enthralling life story in person (I should be so lucky).6. “Oops, I forgot to attach my resume...”
Oops, I forgot to care.7. “Attached is my 50MB powerpoint digital portfolio.”
See 6.8. “My folio contains extensive advertising experience.”
That’s a pity. We don’t do advertising here. In the google age, there is simply no excuse for a lack of research, and each letter should be tailored to suit the addressee. Talking in an informed way highlights your dedication and resolve.9. “I HAve aN EYE 4 deTail.”
If you don’t know already, email programs are incredibly restrictive in the ways that they display messages (fonts, colours, images etc). The odds are that your beautifully formatted html email will look completely different on another computer, and it is worth sending a couple of test emails to mates first as a precaution. Plain text is worth exploring as an alternative. Though even more constrained than html, what you see is what you get and it provides an opportunity to showcase a designer’s ability to make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.10. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
If I was still a young and naïve design graduate I too would be sufficiently optimistic to write this. The reality is that you probably won’t hear back, particularly not at the first attempt. From experience the reasons for this may include:
A/ Your email was lost amongst the multitude of spam we receive at 3 second intervals.
B/ All of our computers were stolen (this actually happened).
C/ See points 3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9 above.
Or perhaps, I am just too arrogant, grumpy or time-poor (my new favourite corporate-speak word for the week) to get back to you.Of course, if your work is outstanding (or actually not so good), all of the above will probably not really matter.
- neue75_bold0
Do represent no longer help out recent graduates?
- Stugoo0
Dude you should consider hitting London despite what you said above.
if not try the other 'big' cities. of the UK
- megE0
phil - i have 4-5 years experience and am getting no bites as well, most firms ask you not to call or email to follow up because they're getting SO MANY responses.
the best thing I've done is set up profiles on all the job boards that send me daily updates of jobs that match my search options. this is saving me a ton of time. more time i can spend on writing cover letters, freelance projects and customizing resumes for each job
i have an expansive list of job boards, if you're interested email me
good luck!
- ideaist0
Separate yourself from the herd... Insist upon yourself and be original...
- chossy0
Buy the best gun you can afford, make sure you integrate yourself with it's natural environment, then when the opportunity arrives shoot the job in it's fucking face.
- ukit0
No one really offered any critique of your portfolio but I think it may be part of the problem. A lot of things you are trying to do in terms of creating fonts, creating your own foundry etc. are ambitious for a recent graduate but the lack of experience shows.
So what I see in your folio are some student-level attempts at type and identity work, but if you are an art director working at a commercial studio in the middle of a recession, why would you take a chance on a guy who's never had a job before when that's all he's demonstrated?
Creating your own fonts is great but it's a skill that takes years to master, longer than you probably have to find a job. I'd recommend taking on less difficult material (i.e., more basic print and/ or web design) and just trying to make it as stunning as possible. Since its all self-initiated, target your work to the kind of studio you want to get a job at. It would also be nice to see an actual freelance piece or two in there, and hey, you've got some free time, right?;) Good luck.
- thinblkglasses0
Learn a bit of web, learn a bit of animation, learn a bit of motion, learn a bit of programming. Incorporate this into your design, and you'll become much more employable :)
- philkiel0
Thanks for the feedback ukit.
Im the 1st to say that I am not a serious type designer, but alot of designers include things they are interested in or 'play' i.e photography, animation, video games, writing, journalism.
Im not asking for a job being a type designer, but it shows something Im passionate about.
As for taking on more basic print design, these are exactly the sort of freelance jobs Im looking for.
- im not sure if it applies to Europe, but "indeed.com" is a great job-searcher...identity
- ukit0
Right, but when you put that as the first thing in your portfolio it has an effect on how an employer views you is all I'm saying. I've got all kinds of things I work on in my own time too but I only ever show potential employers stuff I am 100% confident in. If you are serious about landing a job, I would focus your folio more.
Oh yeah, one more thing - the drop shadows - lose them;)
- clearThoughts0
Your portfolio looks really good for somebody that is looking for an internship.
You must be doing something wrong with the way you approach people. Or maybe not being persistent enough.
Or maybe a lot of your work is copied from somebody else and you are not being able to "explain" it to the people that are interviewing you???
Not suggesting it is. But that happens a lot.
People not being confident about their own work on job interviews.
