Job Interview

Interview Preparation is Everything

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6 hours

Class:

1

Introduction

Overview

You have been invited to a job interview! Congrats! Now let's not mess it up and get you prepared so the recruiters will pick YOU and hand you a contract over. ✨ But let's not jump too far ahead and start from the beginning: Keep in mind, that creative job interviews can vary significantly from other industries.

You might encounter different types of interviews, such as behavioral interviews (which we will cover in another lesson), portfolio reviews, and even practical tasks on site. 💪 But if you do your homework you'll master it all:

Lesson 01

Preparation: Researching Company Culture & Values

Preparation will make all the difference! Meticulous preparation is your strength! A lot of Designers do a sloppy job and don't care prepare well enough…

❶ Truly Research the company: 🔍Take the time to truly dive into the company's world: explore their website, examine their work and products, read through the About page, connect on Linkedin, and follow them on social media. Understand their journey, mission, and vision. ✏️ Grab a pen and document notes, thoughts, and ideas - anything that might prove valuable in your interview. Job descriptions, often overlooked, can be a goldmine. Unpack them, understand their needs, spot responsibilities, memorize keywords for the interview. 🤝 This level of preparation can significantly boost your chances.

Questions & Perspective Shift: 👀 Try to think from the perspective how you can help the company in the best possible way and  put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager. Prepare for expected questions and think of how you can make the biggest impact. Anticipate and mitigate potential surprises by being well-prepared. (We'll dive deeper into this later)

❸ And don't forget about Compensation:
💰 Do your homework and research competitive salaries so you can set anchors during the call, knowing your range and negotiate.

Lesson 02

Presenation: Presenting your work

Your presentation starts well in advance in the Preparation phase. Pre-select projects you believe are most relevant and prepare your pitch:

👉 Storytelling: 🗯️ Your portfolio isn't just a showcase; it should be a collection of compelling narratives. 👀 Categorize your case studies into different buckets, showcasing different aspects of your expertise. For example you have one project you are proud of because of the creative approach, another one for the results it drove. Transform your projects into engaging stories that capture the interviewer's attention.

👉 Details matter: When presenting your work, clearly define your role in each project. Highlight results, the project complexity and key achievements incl. metrics(numbers). 👁️ Very importantly— be prepared to talk about details, showcasing work in progress or early concepts. Your approach, your thinking can make the difference. Don't be afraid to discuss what went well, what didn't, and showcase your ability to analyze, optimize and learn from experiences.✨

Lesson 03

Become a Master through practice

You need to practice, practice and practice. It's a muscle. Treat it like a skill that needs honing.

Self Presentation: Craft a brief yet impactful self-presentation that highlights your strengths and sets a positive tone.

Questions: 🗯️ Test yourself. Think of questions related to you projects and develop concise, compelling answers tailored to the job / company you apply for. Be prepared for possible surprises. ✨ We'll cover a list of most common questions in another episode.

Storytelling: Hone your project storytelling skills to narrate your design journey effectively. Tailor these narratives to showcase how your experiences align with the job you're pursuing.

Mock Interviews: 🗯️ Engage in mock interviews in front of a mirror, with peers or mentors. 📣 Seek feedback and refine your responses. This preparation not only boosts your confidence but also ensures you're ready to articulate your design process, achievements, and problem-solving skills effectively during the real interview.

Negotiation Skills: 💪 Additionally, don't overlook practicing negotiation skills. Embrace the idea of selling your potential, emphasizing your eagerness to learn, grow, and contribute energetically to the company. Be prepared to discuss your value, potential contributions, and desired compensation. You need to be ready to set anchors during the call, knowing your range and negotiate. ✨

Your Deepdive:

Your Homework:

Homework

The 5P's of Job interviews

We call it the 5 P's. You have read about 3 of them in our lesson (Preparation, Presentation, Practice) - let's find out about the remaining two in our 5P's guide - a concise summary and foundation of what you need to pay attention to if you want to land your next job. 👁️

Start homework
Homework

5 common interview mistakes

Study our compilation of 5 common interview mistakes and how to avoid them. ⚡️

Start homework
Homework

Mock Interview

Organize a mock interview with a friend or mentor where you practice answering common creative industry interview questions. 🗯️ Use feedback from this session to improve your answers and boost your confidence.

Start homework

Discuss:

Discussion

Mock Interview

Organize a mock interview with a friend or mentor where you practice answering common creative industry interview questions. 🗯️ Use feedback from this session to improve your answers and boost your confidence.

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