Getting Hired as a Designer is Not Easy
Whether you are a graphic designer, web designer or print production artist, the market has become more saturated than ever and finding a job can be a real challenge.
Employers demand more than they ever have from designers, not only in talent and time, but in versatility as well. Due to their combination of creativity and tech savvy, many designers are expected to not only be proficient at their specialty, but often they are made to fill in the gaps wherever and whenever the employer wants.
This makes design a very stressful industry and job, and to honest it is often undervalued. However it is not impossible to get a job as a designer if you go into with your eyes open and disregard a certain level of romanticism.
Pay Close Attention to the Job Description
Before you ever get to the interview phase or apply for a job with an employer, it is important to really read the job description. This might sound obvious, but hear me out.
You probably should try writing down all the requirements listed in the job description on an individual sheet of paper and try to write a paragraph or two about how you meet that requirement. This will give you perspective as to whether you are truly a good fit for the job, and help prepare you to be answerable to this a job interview.
Do Your Research and Prepare
Another important step that many designers overlook is not doing enough research on the company. They show up with their portfolio and resume in hand, without having prepared themselves to present work that shows that they can produce the same work the company has to deliver on.
In truth you should consider the real possibility that you may have to customize your portfolio for each of your perspective employers, and create a few new pieces to cater to what their needs are. Your portfolio should have the type of work you expect to work on.
Specialist vs. Generalist in the Graphic Design Job Market
A specialist can still find an advantage in the large corporate structures. However, small to medium businesses tend to value a generalist more (do not mistake this for a Jack/Jill of all trades who is often the master of none).
For small to medium businesses, this is a matter of practicality because of the need to adapt and work with smaller teams and smaller budgets. Financially and from a productivity standpoint, the reality is that the majority of businesses can’t afford groups of specialist anymore. There often isn’t enough full-time work to justify their position. Within larger corporate structures, specialists are still highly valued, but earning those positions is difficult due to market saturation.
This is why many designers and even web developers, are finding themselves displaced or having difficulty acquiring a job, regardless of their level of experience. On the other hand, it is also why freelancing has grown in popularity both designers and companies.
Core things you need demonstrate to an employer:
- An understanding of what the company goals, culture and values are
- The ability to execute within the job role you are applying for
- A body of work that aligns with the companies goals and corporate culture
- Observation skills and the ability to ask intelligent questions
- Adaptability and experience with problem-solving
Expect to Answer These Questions in a Design Job Interview:
- What software are you proficient in (scale of 1 to 10)?
- What are your biggest weaknesses?
- Give me an example of a time when you failed.
- What drew you to our company and why did you decided you want to work here?
- Define your overall design style in as few words as possible.
- Do you used Mac or PC (be careful, study the employer!)
- Walk me through your design process.
- Are you experienced with HTML/CSS and Web Design?
- Write down your Facebook/LinkedIn/Twitter/Google+ Page (this is happening now).
- Can you work on-site/locally?
The Role of Social Media in Hiring in 2016
Many people are dismissive or naive regarding the role that social media plays in job hiring today. Yet there are countless headlines of employees specifically being fired for things they have said and done within their social media accounts, particularly Facebook.
In a world where Google is over a decade old, we have to understand that employers do use this is as a filtering mechanism whether they publicly admit it or not. If the information is public or accessible, you have to assume they will see it, and that it will impact their decision.
With this in mind you should have professional public-facing profiles that speak to your skills, experience, and interest. These profiles should avoid any topics that would not be appropriate to put in your resume or job application, or that are illegal for an employer to ask about directly, such as your relationship status or sexual orientation, religion or political views.
Instead use these profiles to identify yourself as a subject matter expert. It might also be helpful not to bad mouth any of your previous employers or colleagues in your public social media profiles.
Your Portfolio Matters, But So Does How You Present It
There are 3 P’s creative professionals need to focus on when it comes to getting hired:
- Portfolio: your body of work and ability to demonstrate your skills
- Personality: your ability to relate to people, have empathy and be approachable
- Presentation: they way you story tell, utilize props, and adapt all matter
Mastering the 3 P’s is essential. Quality work matters, but an employer or manager also wants to be comfortable in working with someone day to day. Personality and how you fit in the corporate culture is going to mean that someone who is 10% less talented, but is able to make a better connection with the interviewer might get the job.
Presentation and storytelling is also a critical component of success. There is a reason that designers, with less experience, or without a degree have been hired over designers with degrees from the most accredited schools. In some instances the deciding factor was the portfolio and body of work, however there are many instances where it came down to who was the better salesperson.
Design is about being able to communicate, and someone who can “sell themselves” is going to have a much easier time landing a job than someone “letting the work speak for itself.” Think about every time you’ve walked into a store, determined to buy one product, until a salesperson walks up to you and starts storytelling. This will give you perspective.
Final Thoughts: Employer Empathy
The last and most important piece of advice I can give you is to have employer empathy. Put yourself in the shoes of the employer and really think about how you can help them achieve their goals and what you would do or expect in their shoes.
They are about to invest a considerable amount of time and money in you and your career. That is something that can create anxiety. Try to position yourself to relieve anxiety and stress from a potential employer, and you will find yourself getting a call back for the position. You are supposed to be the solution to a problem, and that is what you have to sell them on.
This article was last modified on May 18, 2023
This article was first published on March 18, 2016
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