Get a design Job

Get a Job!

Getting a Design Job2008 Edition

By RitaSue Siegel, IDSA

The real issue is not talent as anindependent element, but talent inrelationship to will, desire and persistence.

—Milton Glaser

Getting a Design Job

2008

2 3

IDSA

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RitaSue Siegel Resources, an Aquent company

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

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5

Dierences: Now and Then....................................................6Dening Terms.......................................................................8

SELF EVALUATION

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20

Reality Testing.....................................................................21Designers’ Core Competencies...........................................22

ROLES

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35

Customer Experience..........................................................36Design and Innovation Strategy...........................................36Design Evangelism..............................................................36Design Management...........................................................37Design Operations...............................................................38Design Planning...................................................................38Design Research.................................................................39Experience Design...............................................................39Human Factors Engineering .................................................40 Interaction Design...............................................................41Project Management...........................................................41Sales/Business Development...............................................42User Experience.................................................................42User Interace Design..........................................................43

JOB HUNTING MODE

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44

Record Keeping ...................................................................44 Be Ready or Phone Calls....................................................45Calls rom Headhunters.......................................................46

RESUME

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48

First Impression...................................................................48Customize...........................................................................49Format .................................................................................50 Ethics..................................................................................55 You Can’t Hide....................................................................55

PORTFOLIO

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56

Customize...........................................................................58General vs. Industry-Specic Portolio ..................................59 Formats..............................................................................60Words and Type..................................................................62Content...............................................................................63Container .............................................................................65 Saety..................................................................................67Writing Samples..................................................................67Get Feedback......................................................................67FAQ’s ...................................................................................68

RESEARCH

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71

Industry Sectors..................................................................71Making a Target Company List............................................75 Trade Shows/Trade Magazines............................................75Business Press....................................................................76Prioritizing the List...............................................................77Making Contact...................................................................80Networking..........................................................................81Conerences.......................................................................82

THE INTERVIEW

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84

Types o Interviews..............................................................85No Meeting is “Just a Formality”..........................................86Preparation.........................................................................88 The Job Assist.....................................................................91 Take Charge.....................................................................108Interviewing with HR..........................................................110Interviewing with RitaSue Siegel Resources.......................112Serendipity.......................................................................115

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

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116

Salary Negotiation............................................................117Evaluating the Employer....................................................122Other Factors....................................................................123Evaluating an Oer...........................................................124

CONCLUSION

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125 ACkNOWLEDGEMENT

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127