Test for Production Job
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- kota
So, I'm going in for a production test for a job at a branding agency in a couple days. It's my first try at a strictly production position, so I'm not sure exactly what to expect on this. Aside from boning up on PS/ID CS5 functionality, anyone have any suggestions to help me prepare?
Thanks dongs!
- duhsign0
have large breasts, wear a short skirt, bat your eyes at the dudes in charge, act stupid around the chicks in charge.
hehe, jk. Remember parts of the test will be to see how you react in a situation so keep your cool and don't just blurt out answers. Think, speak clearly and correctly, be honest, definitely have some good energy, positive and ready to work but not hypr and crazy: )
- kota0
Thanks! Although: I think it's an applied test, as in the Prod. Mgr. will give me files and a task and see how I work on them. But yeah, keeping my cool will be key, either way.
- Remixt0
As one who hires for these kind of positions, PLENTY...
1. Know your shortcuts. Be prepared to use 'em.
2. Know your paragraph styles, character styles, object styles, etc. Be prepared to use em.
3. Know your layers & master pages. Be prepared to what? Use em.
4. When you are done w/ the file, strip it of any unused styles, swatches, etc, before saving.
These are things I look for in a final file from a test... Did the artist have a process, a methodology, & did he/she make the best use of all the awesome tools that CS5 makes available to us? Because production is about time & multi-tasking, not just following directions & copy-catting a template, I'm always impressed by these particular skill-sets, when they are utilized.
That's it, for starters. Good luck!
- Remixt0
1 more thing...some companies will have spyware, to watch you as you work. So I'm also impressed when somebody doesn't know how to do something & they immedietely google it, find an answer, & implement it. Shows initiative, to me. But that's just me. Depending on the amount of time you have, might not be the best idea, just do it how you know how to do it. My 2 cents.
Good luck & let us know how it goes....
- kota0
Damn, that's perfect, thanks Remixt!
- Remixt0
All good. Let us know how it goes, ya hear?
- kota0
Will do! With your pointers, should be fine. It's a junior position, so really shouldn't be too tough.
- bulletfactory0
<lol cat>
QBN actually came through without being totally derailed!!!
</lol cat>- No spaces in tag names.
You're fired.
Next.ItalianStallion - i am well-awarebulletfactory
- No spaces in tag names.
- kota0
inorite
- Remixt0
Wait for it...
- fadein110
Don't bone up in the interview
- kota0
Oof. Did not go great. Turned out to be just "Here's a list of instructions, make these edits to an .ai file and then the .psd linked in it." Which was super easy, but the following of the instructions bogged me down since they were written weird.
Also, god damn do I hate working on other people's files.
- omg0
Choo choooo!
- Remixt0
Hm, sorry to hear that. If it's any consolation, my first time applying for a similar position went horribly. Just couldn't get all the shit they wanted done w/in the hour. And they were watching, so when the lady came up at the end, she had this wince on her face, & said, "I'm so sorry." LOL! Sucked.
If you're ever looking for work in San Diego, let me know.
- i_monk0
Other people's files are the worst. Especially if the other people are art directors.
- kota0
Ha, yeah Remixt that's pretty much exactly how mine went. It was super easy work, just making edits to some production artwork in Illustrator, but the other component was following her instructions, some of which were pretty wonky and slowed me down a lot.
- kota0
Haha, I got a call back! Going in to meet the CD and ACD next week. Word.