Slides available at: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

Career Workshop Graphic Design

Amy Wiggins & Natalie BasdenCareers & Employability Service

Agenda

• Introduction to the Careers and Employability Service

• What do graphic design graduates do and where can I look for jobs?

• What can I do to improve my chances of getting a job?

• CVs and covering letters

• Application forms

• Interview skills

What support can you get from the Careers and Employability Service?

• One-to-one guidance – medwaycareers@kent.ac.uk

• Drop-in service

• Workshops

• Vacancy database

• Online support

• Resources

What do University of Kent Graphic Design graduates do?

Graphic design careers

• Design Intern, Unicorn Press Ltd

• Assistant Graphic Designer, Lockton Companies

• Junior Graphic Designer, Debbie’s Villas

• UI/UX Designer, T + Biscuits

• Graphic Designer, Create Motion

• Graphic Designer, self-employed

• Graphic Designer, Giambrone Law

Other careers• Events Co-ordinator, Circa

Group

• PGCE (teaching qualification)

• Design and Marketing Officer, Hidden Park Golf Centre

• Creative Designer, Remedy Creative

• Digital Media Designer, K College

• Junior Graphic Designer, Ferrier Pearce

• Web Designer, DJM Music

• Web Designer, Saga Holidays

Nationally what do Graphic Design graduates do?

http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/assets/assets/documents/wdgd_arts_humanities_2014.pdf

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Self-employment

• 4.8% of first degree graduates from 2012/13 were self-employed compared to 15% of all employed people.

• Over a third of this 4.8% were art, design and media professionals.

(What do graduates do? (2014) Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) and the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS))

• Graphic design: ‘Self-employment and freelance work are common. Designers with several years' experience and professional contacts are most likely to freelance successfully.’ (Prospects website 2015)

• Find out more: http://www.kent.ac.uk/enterprise/practical-partnering/enterprise-hub/index.html Page 6

How can I research career options and search for jobs?

www.prospects.ac.uk

http://ccskills.org.uk/careers/advice

•Overview of the sector

•Job descriptions

•Salary and conditions

•Entry requirements

•Training and career development

•Employers and vacancy sources

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The competition is tough!

Example of an internship recruitment process for a global creative communications company:

•Create a Facebook page to make a person or thing famous – 250 out of 3000 applicants passed this stage

•Online quiz involving internet research

•To re-create a good advert and talk for 90 seconds on You Tube about a bad advert

•CV

•Skype interview

•Assessment centre – 12 of the original 3000 offered jobs

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What can I do to improve my chances of getting a job?

• Work hard on your course

• Gain skills through extra curricular activities

• Get work experience

• Network

• Research the industry you are interested in

• Practise CV/application form/interview skills

• Have a good personal brand and online presence

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What is personal branding?

“Personal branding is how we define ourselves in the work space while at the same time, incorporating the personal elements that make us who we are.”

Dawn Rasmussen from BrandYourself website, accessed April 2015.

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Photos

Don’t be THAT guy...

CVs - poll

On average how long does a recruiter spend looking at a CV?

a.0-30 seconds

b.30 seconds – 1 minute

c.1-2 minutes

Activity

• You will be given three CVs and you will have 20 seconds to look at each one and decide which one you would invite to an interview.

CV 1

End1234567891011121314151617181920

CV 2

End1234567891011121314151617181920

CV 3

End1234567891011121314151617181920

CVs 1, 2 & 3

Which one did you choose and why?

General CV tips

• Check spelling and grammar.

• Keep your CV to one or two sides of paper.

• Clear professional layout using bold and bullet points but in moderation.

• Formatting – make sure it’s consistent.

• Size 10-12 font (depending on font style).

• Clear font e.g. Arial, Calibri.

• Use short, concise sentences.

General CV tips - continued

• Reverse chronological order and include dates.

• Personal profile is optional – tailor to role, be specific and use unique selling points.

• Don’t just list duties – demonstrate your skills.

• Highlight specific outcomes/achievements/results.

• Ensure you include evidence for everything in the person specification.

How not to do it

• My hobbits include - instead of 'hobbies.'

• I have good writen skills.

• i am a prefectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.

• I hope to hear from you shorty.

• In my spare time I enjoy hiding my horse.

• Restaurant skills: Severing customers

• Full clean driving licence and I own a cat.

Where to find example CVs

• www.kent.ac.uk/ces

• www.prospects.ac.uk

• http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/files/pdf/How_to_Write_a_CV_leaflet2010.pdf

• http://www.seo-london.com/get-started/making-a-strong-application

• http://www.gradskent.com/graduates/application_advice/61/

Graphic design CVs – matching to the role

• It is not ‘one size fits all’, you need to tailor your CV to each position you apply for.

• Research the company. Do they have a mission statement or core values? What will they be looking for in you? Check the job description/person specification.

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Activity

• In pairs/threes look at the graphic design jobs and highlight the things you should provide evidence for on your CV.

• What evidence would you give to show you had that skill/attribute/experience?

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Creative CVs

Activity:

•Look at the graphic design creative CVs.

•In pairs/threes discuss what you like and don’t like about them.

•What are the pros and cons of doing a creative CV?

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Creative CVs – pros and cons

Pros Cons

Can show off your creativity and personality

Higher risk – it could backfire and you would usually be providing a portfolio/online access to creative work anyway

Can demonstrate your technical skills

There are dangers of the formatting not translating

May make you memorable They may not be processed by computerised filter systems

There might be an increased chance of finding a good fit

Risk that the ‘packaging’ takes over and the content suffers

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Creative CVs - tips

• Who are you applying to? Research!

• Must be tailored to the job/ employer

• Give examples of work (links)

• Check that the employer is open to creative CVs and uses the software you provide it in.

• CV must be clear, easy to follow and to ‘digest’

• Make sure the content is sufficient

• Get feedback from lots of different people

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Creative CV examples

• http://mentalfloss.com/article/55829/11-creative-resumes-designed-stand-out

• http://careers.falmouth.ac.uk/sites/default/files/files/CreativeCVGuide(1).pdf

• http://www.shortlist.com/cool-stuff/design/30-most-inventive-resumes

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU91HIzC8_0

• Article on Instagram replacing CVs and portfolios in the creative industries : http://www.recruitmentgrapevine.com/article/2014-04-15-instagram-replacing-cvs-in-creative-industry

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Covering letters

• Never send a ‘naked’ CV!

• 1 side of A4 – similar to a UCAS personal statement.

• Introduction: who you are (e.g. final year Graphic Design student), why you are writing, where you found the vacancy (if advertised).

• Why job/why industry?

• Why that company in particular? Show you have taken time to do your research.

• Why you? Sell your skills, experience and competencies. Why are you suitable for the role?

• Conclusion: don’t forget, ‘Yours sincerely’ if you’ve used their name, ‘Yours faithfully’ for ‘Sir/Madam’.

For more on covering letters…

• http://www.prospects.ac.uk/covering_letters.htm

• http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/how-write-cover-letter

• http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/example-cover-letter

Application forms – general tips

• Tailor to the skills required for the role

• Show your research – be specific when you write answers on why you want the role/ why you want to work for the organisation

• Check spelling and grammar

• Beware of copy and paste!

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Application forms - competency questionsFor questions where you are asked to ‘explain a time when…’, it is useful to use the STAR approach:

•Situation – set the scene.

•Task - what needed to be done/achieved?

•Action - this should be the more detailed section of the answer. What action did YOU take?

•Result - this is the ‘proof’ that you succeeded. Try to give evidence such as statistics if possible. Or… ‘Response’ – what did you learn, what would you differently next time?

Activity

• Work in pairs.

• Read the examples on the hand-out where applicants have described solving a challenging task.

• Which is the strongest answer and why?

• How well have they followed the STAR approach?

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The good:Throughout my A Levels, I worked part-time with Flora Motley, initially as a sales assistant although after one year I was promoted to Weekend Accounts Manager. Within my extended duties, which also included bookkeeping and budget plans, one of my principal tasks was to increase the intake of Store Account Card customers, as Head Office was concerned that the branch was under-performing in this area. To tackle this assignment, I took the initiative to introduce new selling techniques and to increase staff awareness in relation to the account card and our customers' specific needs. This involved running fortnightly training sessions and monthly meetings to monitor our progress as a branch. I also developed an incentive scheme, which offered prizes or additional paid time off, to reward staff upon completion of continually increasing targets. As a result of this work, the branch's customer account card uptake rose by 45% over the year, and our store's nationwide ranking in this criteria escalated from 40th to 6th position. My efforts received commendation in the Flora Motley Monthly Newsletter.

(With acknowledgement and thanks to Unilever)

High performer

The problem

Identified a solution …

… and implemented it

A positive outcome

The bad…..The biggest challenge whilst carrying out the assignment was conducting a financial analysis on the company. I was assigned this task, as I had previous experience in this area as I have carried out two financial and accounting modules during my University degree. I conducted a full ratio analysis on the company, which included analysing Next's Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet. I presented the ratios and included details of the company's current financial position, along with an explanation of how the company could improve their position.

The Presentation involved presenting our group's report on Next Plc to the rest of the Marketing group. Our group conducted a Microsoft Powerpoint presentation, to ensure it was conducted in the most efficient and systematic way. Each member presented their individual section, the final section then included contributions by all group members. Our group had practised the presentation on numerous occasions prior to the final presentation, which ensured a smooth running. Each member of the Marketing class was given a feedback form to report their opinions of the presentation. Our group received all positive feedback and were all awarded a 2:1 for the presentation, this contributed towards the final outcome of or Marketing modules.(With acknowledgement and thanks to Unilever)

Apathy- did not put self forward for

task.

No ownership, leadership.

No individual

result.

Interviews

Prepare answers to obvious questions

• Competency questions – STAR approach

• Why are you applying to us?

• What makes you suitable for this role?

• What do you know about the company/industry?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• What do you do in your spare time?

• What is your greatest achievement?

Prepare questions to ask

Questions to ask:

•Tailored questions are by far the best!

•Prepare a few in advance, show your research

•Show your interest in that company/role/sector

Questions to avoid:

•Questions about salary (unless the employer initiates this conversation), time off or benefits

•Questions you could have easily found the answer to on Google

•Questions you prepared that have already been answered

Activity

• In pairs take it in turns to be interviewer and interviewee

• Ask the questions on the hand-out and give constructive feedback

Any questions?