At first, a job-hunt can seem kind of exciting. After all, it means new opportunities and a change in your life that will (hopefully) signify your growth as a designer. But that excitement quickly becomes overwhelming once you see all of your options for job searching sites and consider just how easy it is for anyone with an internet connection to apply to your dream job. Gone are the days when employers had a tiny stack of applicants who saw a position posting in the newspaper—in our digital age, job-hunting has completely transformed. If you’re looking for ways to shine in the eyes of an employer, here are three things you should be doing to stand out.
You already know it, but it’s worth the reminder: anyone who scans through your resume is going to Google you, guaranteed. At a time when Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were still gaining popularity, some folks didn’t really consider this until it was too late. Eventually people started to realize that, hey, maybe it’s not the best idea to post all those wild bachelorette party or keg stand pics on your social media. But besides making sure you don’t update with anything you wouldn’t want a potential employer or client to know about you, you can turn the tables and use digital elements to work in your favor.
“Today, in the digital era, you have the chance to be recognized on Instagram, Behance or The Dieline. You can become a self promoter by publishing and creating your own online presence through your media channels,” Tosh Hall, Global Executive Creative Director at Jones Knowles Ritchie, explained. And these opportunities to showcase your talents and connect on various platforms do matter to potential employers. “As an agency we are fairly modern in our recruitment methods,” he continued. “Just the other day our Director of Brand had an interview with someone that tweeted the company. Today you can use many different channels to reach out.”
Hall added, “Resumes aren’t relevant to me at all. I want to see work, motion or video content and expect to see a side of designers personalities.” So having an online portfolio allows those who are curious about your work to learn more about you and what you’ve done in the past. Consider including details on project pages that give them a better understanding of your process, the particular challenges you’ve faced with past assignments, and what solutions you can bring to the table. You can also rethink the traditional, boring resume and cover letter. A short video introduction, clickable links in your resume, or even a cover letter website—these can all help your application stand out.
