How do you create a vehicle to get that first creative job?
As a recent college graduate I am currently looking for a job in the creative side of advertising. I have 1 year of advertising experience, won Best Portfolio from my graduating class, and have Hispanic industry experience.
If you where like me and still looking for a job, what techniques would you use to create a vehicle that would get you that first advertising job?
What barriers would you expect? What are advertisers really looking for from fresh grads? Do most advertisers choose experienced candidates over entry–level candidates for entry-level positions?
Thanks!
Monica:)
If you where like me and still looking for a job, what techniques would you use to create a vehicle that would get you that first advertising job?
What barriers would you expect? What are advertisers really looking for from fresh grads? Do most advertisers choose experienced candidates over entry–level candidates for entry-level positions?
Thanks!
Monica:)
Tags: advertising, entry-level, hispanic, jobs
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dave Bricker on -
I'm a University Design teacher and part of my job is to prep students for life in "the profession." Here are a few tips.
1. Excellent work is done for excellent clients. Don't do "bread and butter" jobs that you won't ever show anyone. The best projects come from referrals and every second you spend working on crappy projects for crappy clients will not take you closer to a quality referral stream. They also won't get you any closer to a chance to. . .
2. Work for an excellent employer. When you're fresh out of school, you're hoping to score that first gig and it's always exciting - at least at first. But there are firms with high standards and there are other firms that crank out crap built with slave labor. Take a look at a prospective employer's portfolio while they look at yours. Let them know you're looking for a creative position and while you're happy to work hard, your long-term goal is not to be a production monkey.
Coming back around to referrals, if your employer does uninpired work, they'll be getting plenty of referrals from uninspired clients so they can have you create more uninspired work. Whether you work for yourself or for an employer, your upward path remains with excellent work for excellent clients.
3. If you can, talk to some of the employees of the firm you're interviewing at. I have a friend who has an agency with staff who have been on board for decades. He has a low turnaround that's almost unheard of in the industry. I know of another firm that hires students, works them hard and then lets them go on day 89 of their 90-day job probation to make room for another batch of hopeful young artists. If the people in the trenches feel abused, they'll happily tell you. Catch them in the parking lot after work. It's worth the extar effort.
4. Be an individual, not a phony corporation. When my friend with the ad agency hires people, he tosses a lot of resumes in the trash. Among the ones that get dumped are resumes from "XYZ Studios" or "ABC Graphics."" He assumes that people presenting themselves as a studio are really looking for temporary work while they build their own practices. He's more interested in the individual "John Smith, Graphic Designer" types who are looking to become employed for the long term.
5. Be yourself. By all means, be professional but don't pretend to be stiff, stuffy or dry if you're really edgy, outward and splashy. You'll spend more time at work than you'll spend at home with your family. Find a work environment where you fit in and don't have to pretend to be someone you're not. That's no fun and you'll inevitably fail at it. Ultimately, you are the ideal promotional vehicle for the right job.
6. Get your work online. Put up a website with a gallery of your best work. Keep it simple and use as little text as needed. Employers don't care about your shoe size, blood type or what hospital you were born in. Art Schools put a lot of emphasis on portfolio books but agencies would much rather call you after they've seen your work online. Also, it's easier for you not to have to dress up and drive all over town showing your book when employers can simply look you up online. While you're at it, bag the hotmail email address and use one at your own domain name.
7. Leverage your interests I have a niche working with guitar-makers. I play guitar and studied music as an undergrad. Guitar-makers know that I understand wood, construction techniques and the business of high-end, hand-built guitars so they call me to create their sites. If you have hobbies, life-experiences or special interests, see if there are clients who need you or agencies who serve that market. You mention the hispanic market. We have a number of hispanic agencies here in Miami who understand that sombreros are not relevant to marketing in Colombia. Be sure to be forward about what your expertise is with Hispanic marketing or anything else that is unique to you.
8. Make your portfolio look good. I'm not big on portfolio books, but I review a lot of them. They're usually overpriced and most have highly reflective or slightly foggy plastic sleeves that cover your work. If you are going to show a book, don't take the easy way out by buying something ugly from the local art store. Better to visit your local hardware or lumber store (or the local dump) and find a unique way to build a board box that stands out. Make a cool box and then paint it or cover it with vintage ads or stamps. Employers see a dozen boring portfolios in a dozen ugly books every day. Why not give them a cover they can judge the rest of your work by?
9. Be accurate and correct. If you can't spell things correctly on your own resume, employers will never trust you with their clients. Have everything proofread by someone good.
10. Don't undervalue your design education. You're not starting out entirely green. Just look at the kerning in local signage and you'll see how ignorant most creative professionals really are. If you know what constructivism is or who Paul Renner was (and can apply that knowledge to your creative work), you're way out front. You'll keep growing and learning throughout your career but don't let people treat you as if you're starting on square one and as if they're doing you a favor by hiring you. Be humble but let them know confidentally that you can do the job.
Latly. I wouldn't generalize too much about what advertisers look for. Some look for talent and others look for skills. Some have a very specific need to fill for a specific client. Some want experience and others want inexperienced people who they can train to do it "their way." You'll find a whole spectrum out there from creative geniuses to talentless scumbags. Trust your instincts and hold out for a good opportunity. You hear all the time about how tough our profession is but there's plenty of work for really excellent people. Don't compromise on that and the rest will come to you.
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Permalink Reply by soundwave on -
What about creatives 3-4 years in trying to get a job somewhere else.
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Permalink Reply by Buddy 'Friendly' Wachenheimer on
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Monica, check out these two main links (PLUS all the sub links that are posted there) they will provide additional insights into the questions you have:
COMMON JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, by Michael Iva
http://adholes.com/postings/d2d66d27f4e95147cfb3297cfe77e96d
Vocation HITCH-HIKING™. . .or taking whatever job that happens to come your way...by Michael Iva
http://adholes.com/postings/4d6019a8b88428bae361355a33f7b2c6
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Permalink Reply by Diana Oyaga on -
omg this helps me so much too, I'm kind of in the same stage. thanx monica and the rest who helped!!
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Permalink Reply by Peter Syravong on -
Hey Monica!
I would obviously have a killer portfolio. And since you are a recent college graduate, there is a way to approach this. When I first started, I did not have much to show, so I decided to take this route:
As a new graduate, it would be a good idea to not only show your pieces but illustrate your concepts and how you got there. The process itself is sometimes more creative and interesting than the end product. Employers would like to see that new grads are moderately equipped (basic to intermediate training in applications for graphics). And anyone can be trained on that, that is expected. But creativity and how you harness your ideas from both sides of the spectrum - conception to execution - now that is golden. Show them why and how you came to be in some projects.
In addition to that, another way is to literally brand yourself. Build yourself business cards, thank you cards with your own packaging to give after an interview. It really shows that much more effort. In advertising, the brand message and style speaks for itself, and in its own approach. Make your brand project your personality, and approach it well.
And what is really hot right now and you are on a budget and timeline, you can use MOO cards via Flickr. Check it out.
Good luck! And shoot me a message if you need more help.
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