Learning how to interview is an important skill you should have no matter what profession you plan on entering. There are many reasons why you should arrange an interview. First, an interview is necessary to apply for a job. Interviewing is a perfect way to introduce you to a potential client or employer. Finally, even if you don t manage to get the job, an interview can be good place to receive feedback on your graphic design portfolio. Interviews require you to make a good first impression. Presenting yourself and your work with confidence leaves a lasting first impression. Here are some other tips to arrange and prepare for that big job interview.
1) How to arrange a job interview with a prospective employer
Let s say you have created a portfolio, written your resume, and are starting to arrange for job interviews. What is the best way to arrange for an interview? First, you should know that you should never show up for an interview without previous arrangements. Here are some ways you can set up an interview. First, you can set up an interview by a letter. A simple letter of interest can allow you to inquire about job opportunities with a design studio, ad agency, or company. This is a good way to gently introduce yourself to a prospective employer. You may want to submit a small sample of your work, but by all means, keep any unsolicited letters short. Make sure you enclose a clean copy of your resume as well. You can also arrange a job interview by phone. Calling does not allow you to cover as much as a letter. You should only call if you have introduced yourself to the firm or company.
2) How to prepare for the big interview.
You can prepare for a job interview in many ways. First, begin by doing your fair amount of research. You can research art directors who will be conducting the interview. You can also find out more about the firm. For instance, if a small ad agency is interviewing you, you can find out who the firm s major accounts are. You want to appear genuinely interested in the firm. If you are being interviewed for a job at a magazine, you will definitely want to check out recent issues. Look at the names of the people who are working at the magazine. These are usually listed at the very front of the magazine in the masthead. If you are being interviewed by a book publisher, make sure to visit a bookstore or go online to see which books the publishing firm has published. You want to appear interested and knowledgeable about the company.
3) What should you wear to your job interview?
The great thing about being a graphic designer is the casual dress code. You don t need to overdo it during the interview, although you should make an effort to look presentable. The general rule of thumb is that you should dress about as formally as you would for a position at a national bank. Your dress code should be neat and precise. If you are unsure, it is best to opt for a more conservative dress code.
4) What to do when meeting your interviewer.
For most jobs in graphic design, you have a good chance to meet with the art director. Art directors tend to be the ones who look at portfolios. As the interviewer looks through your portfolio, you should avoid the urge to apologize for certain pieces or over explain things. Let the portfolio speak for itself. Sometimes the art director will ask to keep your portfolio for a day. This is relatively standard, as many art directors simply don t have the time to look through all the art portfolios they get in one day of interviewing. If you have an online web portfolio, make sure the interviewer or art director knows how to find it online.
Author Resource:
Visit Brian Scott's website, http://www.FastCashDesign.com and learn about freelance graphic design and how to make money as a graphic designer.
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