Interviewing Tips for Designers

Finding a job is a full time endeavor. From the job boards to the friend-of-a-friend recommendations to recruiters, there’s a lot of research and a lot of sent resumes. Then, once you get a lead, your next big task is preparing for an interview and portfolio review. This freaks a lot of people out, but doesn't have to. With the right perspective and some inside information, you can replace jitters and stress with calm, collected confidence.

Set yourself apart.

This begins before your interview. Make sure your resume is tight and typo free. Also, know what is on your resume so you’re prepared to answer questions about specific projects or experiences. Think about a possible leave behind or at least a thumb drive with all your work so the interviewer can sell you around the company afterward. This will indicate the level of professionalism you strive for.

Do Your Research

Go to LinkedIn or Google and search the names of those that are interviewing you, the managing partners, creative directors and artists they have on staff. If it’s a big name company, they will have employees that are big names as well. Research any new account wins or news about the agency or design firm. You need to go into the interview like you care. There’s no better way to demonstrate this than looking into them as thoroughly as they surely looked into you.

Interviews are two-way conversations.

As a designer you want to know that you are in a place that will foster your creative skill. Just because you interview, doesn’t mean you need to take the job, if offered. Make sure it is a proper fit for you. The questions you ask can play a factor in how an interviewer perceives you. Are the questions smart? Do they show experience?  What you ask and how you ask is an indication of how well you’d represent the company in meetings, so they will pay attention to this.

Show Your Work in the Appropriate Medium.

No matter what type of designer you are, you have a medium you work with regularly. Show the work how you intended it. Websites should be shown on a computer not as a print out.


If you are applying for an interactive position you should be showing interactive work. However, for those of you with little to no experience in the field it is ok to show print. The most important thing is the story behind the work. What problem did you solve and how did you solve it? This is your chance to show that you can think through a problem. Talk about your processes, how you think, your challenges and finally, your solutions.

The Interview is a Presentation

That brings me to the next point. Your interview is an indication of your presentation skills. The way you present your own work will indicate how you will present their work. Don’t go in cold. Rehearse what you will say, but remain flexible and open to questions. You don’t have to stick to the script, but having one will ensure you don’t freeze when the interview starts. All of this could be the difference between an offer and a rejection. Remember, how you sell yourself will help sell your portfolio. Know your work, prepare your questions and presentation and you’ll walk with the confidence you need to look the part of the professional designer.

A Few Tips for the Post-Grad Designer

College graduation… tassel shifted, diploma in hand, confident & invincible. A typical new grad. And of course, we know everything…or at least I thought I did. After all, hadn’t we taken all the courses we needed to fulfill requirements and follow our passion in order to earn our degrees? But the fact is, it takes a lot more than classes to learn what we need to know.

My background had been primarily in print design. The transition between school and the real world of work was not easy. I felt lost and unsure of where to begin so I signed with a creative head hunters group. After a few temp placements in graphic design, I realized Web design seemed more intriguing than print. Another temp job or two and it wasn’t just web design but interactive design I was really yearning for.
My objective with Generation Interactive is to help new young professionals make the transition from school to work smoother. Hopefully this will also help those making the transition from print to interactive design. I will recap and discuss challenges I went through and how I’m learning to overcome them. I won’t be correct on everything; I am just offering my opinion. After all, I am still learning too. Hopefully this blog will give you a place to network and share your successes and failures. Remember, we learn the most from the latter…and from experience – whether our own or that of others.

A few tips:

1. “You don’t know everything” is just one of the many phrases I tell myself. This is the 1st thing to remember. Repeating those words in my head keeps me driven. It makes me want to learn. Designers in general can sometimes have egos; at some point we all do. It’s important to understand that there is way too much information out there for one person to know it all. When dealing with clients and co-workers, it is important to speak only to what you know. You don’t want to make an ass out of yourself or the company you represent.

2. “You are not the best”. It keeps me humble. As you will hear again and again in the workplace, everyone is replaceable… particularly true in this glutted job market. I use this to keep me motivated & from being complacent.

3. “Know thyself”. Know your strengths AND find your weaknesses. Be able to take criticism, constructive and otherwise. The important part of being in the real world is standing out from others. By understanding and accepting your weaknesses you can begin to fix them. This will make you a better designer and make you valuable to the company you work for.