The Three Things You Need to Do in a Job Interview
When it comes to preparing graduates for the portfolio process, design schools are falling down on the job. I have seen hundreds of portfolios - most of them looking (and sounding) pretty much the same. Most people focus on the work - for obvious reasons - but your behavior during the interview is perhaps the best tool you have for making a great impression.
There are three things to focus on here:
1. Differentiating yourself from your peers and other applicants
2. Communicating your value to your potential employer
3. Exhibiting an inclination toward business savvy and client relations
Most design firms receive hundreds of portfolios a month. The best firms get even more. To avoid being clumped (and possibly overlooked) with similar applicants (with similar capabilities), think deeply about what it is that differentiates you as a designer - and as a person - from others in the portfolio pile. But standing out does not mean sending a portfolio that's molded into the shape of an origami swan, delivered by carrier pigeon, or conveniently stashed in a box of donuts. It means contextualizing your work as part of a larger process, and describing the process of your work in the form of a narrative.
More on these in a second, but first, you're not going to get into that interview unless you avoid these pitfalls:
There can be no typos in your cover letter or email correspondence; spell people's names correctly, and spell the company name correctly. Double-check these. And, of course, there can absolutely be no typos on your resume - this needs to be a flawless document. Your portfolio and your resume are literally the first impressions you present to a prospective employer, so read and reread for typos and errors, then have someone else read and reread for typos.
Also, you are applying for a job as a designer - an expert in imagery, form and aesthetics. Make certain that your portfolio is clean and legible. This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised what people walk in the door with.
Differentiation
As previously mentioned, standing out amidst other applicants means contextualizing your work as part of a larger process and describing the process of your work in the form of a narrative. Show sketches, visualizations, and idea boards, not just final product. Have a great layout. If you're a product designer, for example, and graphic layout isn't your forte, ask for help. Recruit a graphic designer friend to assist you, or check magazine layouts for ideas.
Communicate your value to the team
Highlighting your potential value to interviewers is crucial. Show that you would be an integral part of a team; that your capabilities and your personality would complement those of your potential teammates. Design firms consider personality as much as they evaluate core design skills, so show your passion for the position and your well-rounded qualities, both personal and professional. Make them see that you are someone they'd want to be around.
Demonstrate your client relationship skills and your business savvy
Make potential employers realize you are also someone clients would want to work with, and someone clients would want working for them. The standard rules of engagement apply: be articulate, be positive, and listen well. Be on time. (Do all of these in the interview, and your interviewer will infer that you can do them in a client situation.) Communicate your ability to serve a range of clients and audiences; being flexible and nimble is crucial in a consulting role.
Design is a highly creative act, but it is also a business. Conveying that you grasp the importance of design in relation to business is crucial. Think about how design propels a given business forward, and how it can be used to a company's best advantage. Research examples in the sphere in which your potential employer operates, and have them in your mental back pocket.
Overall, understand that your interview is about moving beyond what is in your portfolio; let interviewers know that your interest and expertise lie both in your work and your project stories, but also in your passion to help companies succeed through design.
So...
Think about the other dozens of smart, capable designers vying for your job, and hone in on the things that will make you stand out: a differentiation in both skills and character; evidence that your existence at the company would be an asset to colleagues and clients alike; a sensitivity to the nuances that make good client relations; and a firm grasp of the potential of design to move businesses to the next level.
Good luck!
Note: This article was originally written by Dan Buchner.