How to Be the Designer Every Agency Wants to Hire
While you may be new to design, your education and graduation are significant achievements that have equipped you for a fulfilling, engaging career path in a creative field. Now that you've completed your degree, how can you be the designer every agency wants to hire and land your dream job?
How to Get a Job as a Designer
There are many opportunities within the field of design which makes it possible to obtain a position at your favorite design agency. Here are six tips on how to secure a dream design job.
1. Build Out Your Portfolio
Creating a portfolio is a way to showcase your unique background and skillset to prospective employers. To assemble a comprehensive portfolio that demonstrates your design capabilities, include examples of self-initiated assignments, original ideas, passion projects, and any other work that you are proud of. With these selections, agencies should get a sense of what sets you apart, your attention to detail, and design values. To further enhance your portfolio, consider consulting with either a mentor or a reputable online community for advice. By consistently seeking ways of growing your wealth of experience, you will be able to build a portfolio that represents who you are and what you are capable of becoming.
2. Network With Industry Professionals
Every conversation and connection you make now will help set you up for success in the future. Cultivating connections—with fellow classmates, faculty and guest speakers, can be a source of industry insights and even career opportunities. Whether you attend networking events and meetups online or in person, getting involved within your design community can enrich not only your personal life but also your future career prospects.
3. Use a Portfolio Site
Your website is one of the first things hiring managers, recruiters, and team leaders look at when deciding whether or not to hire you. It sets you apart from other candidates and showcases your skills and unique design aesthetic. For these reasons, your portfolio site should be:
Updated regularly: It's best to highlight the most recent examples of your designs. Revisit and review your site often to ensure each component serves a purpose.
Simple and straightforward: A simple and easy-to-navigate site speaks to your confidence and ability to self-edit as a designer.
Clear and relevant: Define your abilities and provide relevant samples of your work so that it is easy for a hiring manager to know what you're looking for in a career.
4. Get Experience
Internships—whether paid or unpaid—are often the best way to secure a full-time position in a design agency. These opportunities demonstrate your commitment, design skills, and ability to take ownership of projects.
Starting with smaller or local agencies can develop your confidence—and your portfolio. Often, these internships offer the opportunity to experience multiple divisions and areas of design, offering a holistic picture of how an agency functions and where you best thrive.
5. Strengthen Your Interpersonal Skills
Admittedly, a successful agency designer needs more than talent and an aesthetically pleasing portfolio. Agencies look for the following interpersonal skills in potential candidates:
Excellent communication skills: As a designer, you will communicate with clients, managers and fellow project members. For this reason, it is important to showcase that you are an active listener and gracious team player. When receiving feedback, always take care to respect others' viewpoints, ask questions, and hone your ability to express your ideas with confidence.
Conflict resolution: Designers work with various stakeholders, and each has a different vision and feedback style. Conflict is inevitable, but navigating situations with an honest and open-minded approach will ensure conversations are productive and projects continue to move forward.
Time management: Most design jobs are deadline-driven and juggling many projects is expected. Being able to effectively manage time is imperative to you and your agency’s success.
Persistence: Revisions are part of the job. Persevering through numerous edits is an invaluable skill that shows patience and perseverance.
Working on your interpersonal skills will impress prospective employers and show that you are a well-rounded and capable candidate.
6. Prepare for Interviews
Preparation is a crucial step in being the designer every agency wants to hire. Preparing, researching, and rehearsing possible interview questions can help you make a memorable impression on the interviewers. Other tips to help prepare you for interviews include:
Ask questions: Interviewers often connect with candidates when the interviewees ask their own questions. Questions are an opportunity to show you researched the company and industry and are a creative problem solver.
Be specific: Use concrete examples when speaking about your design experience and challenges.
Stay open to feedback: Show that you are open and willing to accept any constructive feedback you receive during the process. Input is vital to your growth and success at any design agency.
Be proactive: Before the interview, have an agenda for what you want to communicate about who you are as a designer. You can offer the interviewer access to your whole portfolio, but it's also important to highlight specific work that would best suit the position.
Articulate your creative process: Be able to express how your design process works, why it works for you and how you deal with challenges.
Start Finding Your Dream Job in Design
By following these six steps, you can increase your chances of getting your dream design job. Graduate Product Design at SVA can empower you to develop your skills, broaden perspectives, and widen your networks along the way. Contact us today to learn more.