So, you applied for a
design job, they are interested and want you to go in for an interview. For
some, this can be met with mixed feelings of excitement, extreme pressure and
worry. The design interview will possibly be the biggest challenge you will
ever face as a graphic designer. It's the one time where you are judged on the
things you say and how you present yourself. How you perform in the interview
will determine if you get the job or not. Now, I often get asked the question,
"What things can I
do to best prepare for a design interview?" So, in this I'm going to
attempt to answer this question and share some of my experiences, and offer
some tips you can do to help prepare for a graphic design interview. Now you
can never be too prepared for a design interview. You never know what an interviewer
is going to ask you. In my experience I find the better prepared you feel, the
more confident and relaxed you will be. And there are lots of things you can do
for this. So, my first tip would be preparing your presentation. Now, unlike
most job interviews where you might have to sit opposite an interviewer and
answer questions, the design interview is more like a presentation. For a
graphic design interview, you should be ready to present your work and
yourself. So, these are some tips to prepare for your presentation. First tip,
practice your portfolio presentation. Now some people are gifted and can talk about
their work very well on the spot. For others this can be very hard. If you're
like me, and struggle to talk about your work on the spot, I would recommend before
the interview, decide what you're going to say about your work and in what
order, and try and memorize it. Now you may be presenting with a print portfolio
or you may be presenting on a laptop or tablet. Be sure to practice your
delivery. This may include parts of your portfolio you may want to zoom into on
the screen. Pages you want to pause on, links you want to showcase, or print
examples you want to pull out. Be sure to practice your presentation a few
times either to yourself or to a friend. If you can get someone to present to,
get them to ask you lots of difficult questions. Get comfortable presenting in
front of people and being challenged about your work. Get used to thinking fast
and delivering answers to questions. By doing this you will be more confident. You
will have a good idea what you're going to say and you will be better prepared to
deliver a smooth presentation and answer questions.
Next tip. Be prepared to
only talk about three of your projects. Now this could catch you off guard. Sometimes
the interviewer will ask you to only talk about three of your projects. Now
this could be for a number of reasons. It could be down to time constraints for
the interview, or a test to see how prepared you are. So be prepared to talk
about three of your projects. Now don't pick your favorite projects. Make sure
to pick the projects that best demonstrate your skills and experience.
Next tip. Tailor your portfolio.
So, before the interview, keep in mind what the design job is requiring. One of
the smartest things you can do to prepare for an interview is tailor your
portfolio to the role you're going for. In some cases, if you have too much
variety in your portfolio it may confuse a potential client or employer Tailoring
your portfolio could be a key factor. This can make you seem more suitable and
specialized for the job. So, if the role is for a brand designer include your
best branding examples. If the role is for a motion graphics designer include
your best motion graphics examples. If the role is for a web designer include
your best web design examples. Try and edit anything out that you feel is not
relevant. However, having said that, if the role is looking for an all-rounder,
you may want to show a variety of work. So, remember, tailor your portfolio to
your potential employer.
Next tip. Have the
portfolio ready on device. If you're planning to showcase your portfolio on a
laptop or tablet, make sure your devices are fully charged and the portfolio is
preloaded on your computer or tablet.
Be ready to pull out
your laptop or tablet and present your work in seconds. If you have accessories
for your devices to present on a TV screen, take them with you. You may find
yourself in a room with a TV screen. Take advantage, and present your work on
the big screen.
Next tip, have examples
at the ready. So, as you go through your portfolio and talk about your
projects, be ready to show any examples that will go with it. If you plan on
talking about your print project, be sure to have examples ready to pull out
and show. If you have digital work like websites, videos, or apps, be ready to
have them open and ready to show on your devices.
So, the last tip here is
have something to leave behind after the interview. Be sure to have something
prepared to give them before you leave. Now this could be a simple as a
business card or something a little more creative. Be sure it is well thought
out, memorable, and unique. Perhaps it incorporates your personal brand. Think
tactile, think surprise, think alternative. People love surprise and wrapping, and
being presented with something hands-on. By leaving something behind you will
stand out and show you are willing to go the extra mile. If its good quality,
chances are the person receiving it will not want to throw it away and you will
remain in their presence, to be seen again later. So, by being creative and
making something a little more unique you can make a lasting impression. So
that's few things you can do to help you prepare for your presentation.
Now one of the other
important things I recommend you do is prepare for questions. Now for me, this
is the most dreaded part of an interview. You can be well-prepared with your presentation
but you never know what to expect when it comes to questions. You never know
what you're going to get asked. In my experience it helps to do as much as you
can to prepare for questions. So, if you are challenged on the spot, you have a
good answer. In my experience, it helps to do as much as you can to prepare for
questions, so if you are challenged on the spot, you have a good answer. This
will enable you to make a good impression, show you have done your research, and
have a genuine interest in the agency, which will help you get the job. So,
these are some things you can do to help prepare you for questions.
So, my first tip is,
clue up on the company beforehand. Before an interview be sure to read up on
the company you are applying for. Take some time to research them on the
Internet. Read the history on their website. See who is working for them. Find
out who their clients are. These may be discussion points during the interview,
or they may ask you a question to test your knowledge of the agency. If you can
mention a few names or reference some of the points you have read this will
show you are proactive, have taken time to research, and have interest in the
agency.
Next tip. Have a few of
their projects in mind to talk about. Be prepared to talk about their work. Research
the work they have done and have at least three projects to talk about. Be able
to talk about why you like the work, how you think it was successful, and why
it inspired you to apply to work for them. This will show you have a genuine
interest and a passion to work for that agency.
Next tip. Know what your
ideal project would be. I get asked this a lot in interviews. This is where an
interviewer will want to know a little bit more about you, your passions and
ambitions. Be prepared to talk about your ideal project. What would the
creative work be? What would you want to produce? Who would it be for and why?
Next tip, know what you
want to achieve at the company. At an interview you may be asked, "What
would you like to achieve at our agency?" This is where an interviewer
will be looking to see what your intentions are, and how ambitious you are. Be
ready to talk about what you want to achieve at the company. This could be what
you want to learn, responsibilities you want to have, experience you want to
get, type of work you want to produce, and possibilities of promotion.
So, my last tip is have
at least six questions for them. Now, I recommend six because some may get
answered during the course of the interview. At the end of the interview you
will always be asked if you have any questions for them. So, this is another
opportunity for you to demonstrate you are proactive and have a genuine
interest in their agency.
So, aim to have at least
six good questions to ask them. This could involve questions about the agency, the
role you are applying for, and questions about opportunities within the agency.
Try and ask positive and well-thought-out questions. This will count for a lot
in your interview and help you get the job. Now if you're wondering what kind
of questions will be good,
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon