Now that my winter break is over, it is time to get back to
work. For my blogs last semester, I focused on general career tips and topics.
This semester, I wanted to have more of a focus on a specific job and since my
major is Visual Communication Design, or Graphic Design, I wanted to focus more
of this degree. I wanted to help myself as well as other people in my major who
is nervous to graduate.
How do you find your first job? How can you reduce the
stress associated with every part of finding the job? These are some typical
questions that arise in my mine. Luckily I have had a few internships, so I
understand how to do this to some extent, but I have never had to search for a
real job before. Below are some tips by providing an overview of the whole process.
Before you can begin.
Everyone needs to understand certain aspects of yourself and
the environment to be able to work to you full potential. Some of these are
1. Yourself: your motivations, strengths, and
weaknesses;
2. Your work: its nature, style, and variety; and
3. The job market: corporations, design offices,
and the wide variety of other businesses that employ graphic designers. Then
you can get ready to present yourself and your work in a portfolio.
Overall, make sure you do your research. Do it on yourself,
what you can provide, and if the market is good where you are willing to work.
Create a portfolio.
To create a portfolio, only select your best work! The work
you chose represents yourself. Since we are in school, everyone has projects
they loved and some that they hated. Do not put the bad ones in there if you do
not even like it. The people seeing your portfolio might think the same thing
and not hire you. It is also a great idea to take advantage of your school when
they are holding portfolio review sessions. Go to them! It can never hurt to
get fresh eyes on your work.
Resume.
Everyone looking for any job should have a resume, but
designers have more creative freedom than others. Now I am not saying to make
your resume look like a poster or a part of your work, that is horrible design.
You want to keep it simple, with a little something to reflect yourself. Do not
make it all graphical. No one can read the resume and employers will throw it
out because it has too much going on. Your portfolio is where you should display
designs, not your resume. Also, give the facts an employer wants to know and
needs to know. It is also another good idea to have a business card ready.
There you can show your design style.
In the interview.
The first interview is always the most stressful, so arrange
mock interviews with friends to get practice and feedback. Your friends can
help you prepare. At the real interview, try to relax and remember to breathe.
Once there, interview them as well! Find out if you would fit the company. Be
interested in what they are doing. Then tell them how you would benefit their
company and what you can do for them. Remember, you are the product. They need
you to work there. Not you to work for them. Show them you are the best for
them to get.
You got offered a job!
If you get offered the job, do not blurt out “yes”
right away. Take your time deciding if this is the job you really want. Do more
research on the company to make sure this is what you really want. Also see if
you can afford to live where the company is with what they are offering to pay
you. Overall, make sure everything can work for you.
Reference: http://justcreative.com/2007/12/30/how-to-get-your-first-job/
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