Web Design Forums

transparent_opacity · 04-08-2005, 15:01

I've had a year's experience working in Graphic Design since leaving uni now, which came to an end early June, and after a short period of seeing some of the world I've got to start job hunting!

For me this is a bit of a daunting task as luckily (or maybe unluckily) I have never had to hunt for a job in the past - I've worked part & full time since I was a kid and they have all been personal recommendations - and I have never had the experience of a 'proper' interview!

These next few weeks are going to be a steep learning curve for me, but with regards to a CV & covering letter in the design industry - How is best to present them? Something smart, and relitively plain looking (like I'm applying for an accountant's job, boring, but well laid out all the same) or is this my first chance to show off (a little) creativity?

Anyone got theirs online I can nosey at?
The CV's that came in for my spot at my old job just looked like Word templates!

Second point is, once I have my CV, what's the best thing to do with it! I have no experience with recruitment agencies - are these my best approach for work as a Junior/Mid? Or am I best approaching companies directly in hope of finding a vacancy?

Very little seems to be advertised - am I just looking in the wrong places?

oli · 04-08-2005, 15:13

Where are you based ?
In manchester and london at the moment there's millions of design jobs.

If you're sending your cv to an agency, do it in word format - If applying to a company directly, snazz it up a bit and supply in pdf format.

transparent_opacity · 04-08-2005, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by oli

Where are you based ?
In manchester and london at the moment there's millions of design jobs.

I'm Preston - so Manchester's good. I guess I'm looking in the wrong place or not properly then... where are you finding these millions?

Thanks

oli · 04-08-2005, 15:37

Try the job sites, manchester evening news , aquent.com, orchard.co.uk

weldo · 04-08-2005, 19:29

I've always thought that just a well written, well presented word doc is the safest way to go....

at the end of the day it's more about the content and your experience than having it looking snazzy - and often the people who are interviewing aren't in the least bit creative anyway (even when they think they are)

Alexanda · 05-08-2005, 04:16

Apply to the studio you want to work at first, as far as a CV is concerened I reckon you keep it simple but make it typographically perfect, try to keep it at one page cos nobody gives a flying fuck about your hobbies and interests and follow it with a call to arrange for somebody to look at your stuff. If they aint a job at the agency you applied for, ask if they know of anyone else who is looking and chase them up.
Hope that helps

emil · 05-08-2005, 04:30

Slightly off-topic here, but as some of you might remember I am looking to find a job outside Romania. I've been looking on some websites and seen that a middleweight designer's would pay some 25,000 pounds. Do you think that'd be enough to support me and my missus for a while, should we decide to move?

Alexanda · 05-08-2005, 04:33

depands where you move to middlesbrough yes, london no.

emil · 05-08-2005, 04:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantona

depands where you move to middlesbrough yes, london no.

I see. Thanks. I haven't applied yet anywhere, so I just considered the lowest figure.
How much would you consider to be enough for a decent life?

Alexanda · 05-08-2005, 04:40

all depends on what you consider to be a decent life

emil · 05-08-2005, 04:43

Paying the bills, going out sometimes, maybe saving enough to go on a trip in vacation. This kind of stuff. Nothing excessive...

Alexanda · 05-08-2005, 04:51

you'll be fine just dont live in london though

emil · 05-08-2005, 04:52

okey, thanks for the advice

Time to start applying, then

dan · 05-08-2005, 07:18

For CV's like Oli and Cantona said keep it simple but typographically sound. If there is an advertised job going the guys looking through the CV's will likely have a large mound of them and very little time. They need to know what you do and that you can communicate well.

A funky Idea may be good but think very long and hard about it before you put it into action. No matter how funky, the guy reading it has to be able to know what he's looking at pretty much imediately. So many CV's I saw at my last job failed on this point. Also if you're gonna make some kind of weird spiral bound folded book thingy, spend the time and the money making it properly. A scrappy piece of folded bog roll really doesn't cut it.

So to some up. Keep it simple unless you know what you're doing is truely excellent. It's cheeper that way too

As for where to find jobs, send CV's, knock on doors, check all the trade mags and try the recruitment sites http://www.mad.co.uk has all the ads from creative review, design week etc on it in one place, cheeper than buying them all.

d*d · 05-08-2005, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by weldo

I've always thought that just a well written, well presented word doc is the safest way to go....

I agree, also do not try to do quirky CV's they don't work. A well laid out pdf or word doc with some url's or work samples (these will sell your design skills)

transparent_opacity · 05-08-2005, 07:31

Thanks guys - the help is appreciated

Longe · 07-08-2005, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by oli

Where are you based ?
In manchester and london at the moment there's millions of design jobs.

Probably, but things seem not so easy from my experience. It is about 5 months that I started my search for a design role in London, I've contacted around 70 design agencies, tens of recruitment agencies, and have done more then 50 application forms, and not a single job! I have 8 years experience for clients including Nike, Inter F.C., Sony, Arnoldo Mondadori Publishing, Energie, Miss Sixty, producing from brand identities to book covers, from typefaces to websites, from digital installations to paintings, and not a single job offer in 5 months, even replying for Junior designer positions! ...any idea?

Alexanda · 08-08-2005, 07:06

Start up yourself, thats what I did and its well more fun than working for anybody else.

Transmogrify · 08-08-2005, 07:32

I'm planning on doing that. I've absolutely had enough of working for incompetant bastards, sitting at the same desk day in day out, so bollocks.. I'm going to do my own thing. How have you (or anyone freelancing) gone about it? How do you get new work basically? Just cold calling? Or have you already got contacts? Any suggestions would be ace.

transparent_opacity · 08-08-2005, 07:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantona

Start up yourself, thats what I did and its well more fun than working for anybody else.

It had crossed my mind - but I'm a junior, 1yrs experience - is it realistic?

I mean, I am in the perfect position ATM - after going travelling I gave up the house I was renting and am currently living in my mother's (empty) house right now on my own, rent free until I am employed (how lucky)

I think I'd prefer the security of a full time posistion if I had the option though, at least until I'd settled student debts etc.

04-08-2005, 15:01	#1 (permalink)
transparent_opacity funkin idiot Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Preston Posts: 238	CV's (& where to send them!) I've had a year's experience working in Graphic Design since leaving uni now, which came to an end early June, and after a short period of seeing some of the world I've got to start job hunting! For me this is a bit of a daunting task as luckily (or maybe unluckily) I have never had to hunt for a job in the past - I've worked part & full time since I was a kid and they have all been personal recommendations - and I have never had the experience of a 'proper' interview! These next few weeks are going to be a steep learning curve for me, but with regards to a CV & covering letter in the design industry - How is best to present them? Something smart, and relitively plain looking (like I'm applying for an accountant's job, boring, but well laid out all the same) or is this my first chance to show off (a little) creativity? Anyone got theirs online I can nosey at? The CV's that came in for my spot at my old job just looked like Word templates! Second point is, once I have my CV, what's the best thing to do with it! I have no experience with recruitment agencies - are these my best approach for work as a Junior/Mid? Or am I best approaching companies directly in hope of finding a vacancy? Very little seems to be advertised - am I just looking in the wrong places? Last edited by transparent_opacity : 19-01-2007 at 13:56.

04-08-2005, 19:29	#5 (permalink)
weldo now with added beard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liverpool Posts: 5,772	I've always thought that just a well written, well presented word doc is the safest way to go.... at the end of the day it's more about the content and your experience than having it looking snazzy - and often the people who are interviewing aren't in the least bit creative anyway (even when they think they are) __________________ fuck signatures

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04-08-2005, 15:13	#2 (permalink)
oli Shenanigans™ Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester, England.™ Posts: 10,096	Where are you based ? In manchester and london at the moment there's millions of design jobs. If you're sending your cv to an agency, do it in word format - If applying to a company directly, snazz it up a bit and supply in pdf format.

04-08-2005, 15:37	#4 (permalink)
oli Shenanigans™ Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester, England.™ Posts: 10,096	Try the job sites, manchester evening news , aquent.com, orchard.co.uk

05-08-2005, 04:16	#6 (permalink)
Alexanda European Champions 2008 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,620	Apply to the studio you want to work at first, as far as a CV is concerened I reckon you keep it simple but make it typographically perfect, try to keep it at one page cos nobody gives a flying fuck about your hobbies and interests and follow it with a call to arrange for somebody to look at your stuff. If they aint a job at the agency you applied for, ask if they know of anyone else who is looking and chase them up. Hope that helps

05-08-2005, 04:30	#7 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 7,727	Slightly off-topic here, but as some of you might remember I am looking to find a job outside Romania. I've been looking on some websites and seen that a middleweight designer's would pay some 25,000 pounds. Do you think that'd be enough to support me and my missus for a while, should we decide to move?

05-08-2005, 04:33	#8 (permalink)
Alexanda European Champions 2008 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,620	depands where you move to middlesbrough yes, london no.

05-08-2005, 04:40	#10 (permalink)
Alexanda European Champions 2008 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,620	all depends on what you consider to be a decent life

05-08-2005, 04:43	#11 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 7,727	Paying the bills, going out sometimes, maybe saving enough to go on a trip in vacation. This kind of stuff. Nothing excessive...

05-08-2005, 04:51	#12 (permalink)
Alexanda European Champions 2008 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,620	you'll be fine just dont live in london though

05-08-2005, 04:52	#13 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 7,727	okey, thanks for the advice Time to start applying, then

05-08-2005, 07:18	#14 (permalink)
dan Iris Folder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: smokey Posts: 2,665	For CV's like Oli and Cantona said keep it simple but typographically sound. If there is an advertised job going the guys looking through the CV's will likely have a large mound of them and very little time. They need to know what you do and that you can communicate well. A funky Idea may be good but think very long and hard about it before you put it into action. No matter how funky, the guy reading it has to be able to know what he's looking at pretty much imediately. So many CV's I saw at my last job failed on this point. Also if you're gonna make some kind of weird spiral bound folded book thingy, spend the time and the money making it properly. A scrappy piece of folded bog roll really doesn't cut it. So to some up. Keep it simple unless you know what you're doing is truely excellent. It's cheeper that way too As for where to find jobs, send CV's, knock on doors, check all the trade mags and try the recruitment sites http://www.mad.co.uk has all the ads from creative review, design week etc on it in one place, cheeper than buying them all.

05-08-2005, 07:31	#16 (permalink)
transparent_opacity funkin idiot Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Preston Posts: 238	Thanks guys - the help is appreciated

08-08-2005, 07:06	#18 (permalink)
Alexanda European Champions 2008 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,620	Start up yourself, thats what I did and its well more fun than working for anybody else.

08-08-2005, 07:32	#19 (permalink)
Transmogrify Rough Creep Arse™ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,888	I'm planning on doing that. I've absolutely had enough of working for incompetant bastards, sitting at the same desk day in day out, so bollocks.. I'm going to do my own thing. How have you (or anyone freelancing) gone about it? How do you get new work basically? Just cold calling? Or have you already got contacts? Any suggestions would be ace.

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