I Love My Job…I Hate My Job…I Love My Job…

First off, your job and your life are separate entities. You can love your job and you can enjoy what you do and still be successful. You can even only mildly enjoy it, but if you take it seriously, you will be successful because you understand how important it is. That being said, what would you assess as your level of “love” for your current job?

Check out the infographic below. Maybe you aren’t as unhappy as you might think. And if you start applying yourself more at your work, you may start gaining more skills and experience, making you the perfectly skilled candidate for that new job you have been thinking of.

Of course, your level of “love” for your job might still be pretty tepid. If this is the case, contact us to get started with Creative Talent Management. Search our open positions and let us help you secure your next great position.

11 Things That Prove You Love Your Career [Infographic]

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9 Questions to Expect During Your Next Interview

handshake-job-interviewThe job search process can be very unfulfilling. Unless you score the position, it can seem like you are just going through the motions, day after day, with nothing to show for it. But each time you get the chance to interview, it raises the stakes. But getting an interview and acing the interview are two completely different scenarios. That is why you need to show up prepared.

Here are 9 questions you can expect to be asked during an interview as well as some tips for how to impress the hiring manager.

1) Tell me about your creative process.

Creative and design positions require unique perspectives. Hiring managers want to know what kind of designer you are, how you design, and where you get your inspiration. It is during this time that you can explain your design process and how long you spend on research, storyboarding, etc.

2) What do you do if you get in a creative rut?

Expect this question because it explains what happens if the creativity well runs dry? Do you give up and cave? Do you reassess the purpose of the design to see if you started at the wrong end? Maybe you change only certain aspects of it and rework just those. Your answer will also explain whether you can take feedback and how you work when you are in stressful environments.

3) In your previous design experience, what have been your roles?

With this question, you can explain your responsibilities, whether you just did the concluding phases, developed projects from scratch, or just strategized the end product? Have you worked face-to-face with clients, or just by yourself?

4) Practice situation.

The hiring manager might have you work through a practice situation to get an idea of how you approach a new idea. You should include how you might create your first draft. Then add in how you would go about targeting the right audience. Would you work with the client (and how)? How would feedback be received and how would you go about adjusting your design? You should be able to explain your process and why you would choose to do things this way.

5) Explain a time when your work was not well received by a client.

The hiring manager wants to know how you react to criticism. You need to be able to explain how you reacted. How did you go about finding what the client wanted to change? Answering this question will help illuminate your ability to address both design and results.

6) How do you stay organized?

Everyone organizes differently. One person’s chaos is another’s sense of order. Hiring managers might ask this question to gauge how you manage working on a variety of projects all at once. People on your team depend on you to finish your part of the project. So, you need to be able to share with others what they can expect during your design process.

7) How do you begin a project?

This question speaks to how you as a designer take what the client wants and bring it to life. Client work is all about results. You need to be able to explain or share the questions you ask clients in order to feel out exactly what the project entails.

8) Share a project you are really proud of.

This question will let you share what you consider to be your finest work. This is your chance to share your passions and the kind of design programs or styles you thrive on when using.

9) How do you work on a team?

Collaboration is a fact of life in a company. You don’t need to love everyone you work with, but you do need to be able to work with them and produce a successful product. This is a chance for you to explain how you work and share responsibilities with your team, bounce ideas back and forth, and take over when deadlines are near.

Connect with Us

Now that you have the ammo to ace those interview questions, contact us and check out our job openings. We will help you find the perfect fit and help you score that interview. Call us today at 800.338.4327 or email us at info@talmanagency.com.

The job search process can be very unfulfilling. Unless you score the position, it can seem like you are just going through the motions, day after day, with nothing to show for it. But each time you get the chance to interview, it raises the stakes. But getting an interview and acing the interview are two completely different scenarios. That is why you need to show up prepared.

Here are 9 questions you can expect to be asked during an interview as well as some tips for how to impress the hiring manager.

1) Tell me about your creative process.

Creative and design positions require unique perspectives. Hiring managers want to know what kind of designer you are, how you design, and where you get your inspiration. It is during this time that you can explain your design process and how long you spend on research, storyboarding, etc.

2) What do you do if you get in a creative rut?

Expect this question because it explains what happens if the creativity well runs dry? Do you give up and cave? Do you reassess the purpose of the design to see if you started at the wrong end? Maybe you change only certain aspects of it and rework just those. Your answer will also explain whether you can take feedback and how you work when you are in stressful environments.

3) In your previous design experience, what have been your roles?

With this question, you can explain your responsibilities, whether you just did the concluding phases, developed projects from scratch, or just strategized the end product? Have you worked face-to-face with clients, or just by yourself?

4) Practice situation.

The hiring manager might have you work through a practice situation to get an idea of how you approach a new idea. You should include how you might create your first draft. Then add in how you would go about targeting the right audience. Would you work with the client (and how)? How would feedback be received and how would you go about adjusting your design? You should be able to explain your process and why you would choose to do things this way.

5) Explain a time when your work was not well received by a client.

The hiring manager wants to know how you react to criticism. You need to be able to explain how you reacted. How did you go about finding what the client wanted to change? Answering this question will help illuminate your ability to address both design and results.

6) How do you stay organized?

Everyone organizes differently. One person’s chaos is another’s sense of order. Hiring managers might ask this question to gauge how you manage working on a variety of projects all at once. People on your team depend on you to finish your part of the project. So, you need to be able to share with others what they can expect during your design process.

7) How do you begin a project?

This question speaks to how you as a designer take what the client wants and bring it to life. Client work is all about results. You need to be able to explain or share the questions you ask clients in order to feel out exactly what the project entails.

8) Share a project you are really proud of.

This question will let you share what you consider to be your finest work. This is your chance to share your passions and the kind of design programs or styles you thrive on when using.

9) How do you work on a team?

Collaboration is a fact of life in a company. You don’t need to love everyone you work with, but you do need to be able to work with them and produce a successful product. This is a chance for you to explain how you work and share responsibilities with your team, bounce ideas back and forth, and take over when deadlines are near.

Connect with Us

Now that you have the ammo to ace those interview questions, contact us and check out our job openings. We will help you find the perfect fit and help you score that interview. Call us today at 800.338.4327 or email us at info@talmanagency.com.

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Make Your Portfolio Stand Out from the Crowd

interview with design portfolioThe design industry is ever growing. But with this growth comes competition from other creatives who want the jobs just as much as you do. How can you make your experience and creativity stand out in the crowd of portfolios? Consider these tips to help snag that job before someone else does.

1. Choose Wisely
You may have a lot of great work in your portfolio, but sharing too much of it will only be like white noise. Additionally, throwing everything all together won’t be selective or personalized enough to the jobs you are applying for. Generally, you want to choose pieces of work that are an expression of your best self, your best talent, and clearly illustrate your level of experience.

Variety is the spice of life. You also want to offer prospective companies examples of a range of your talent—what you have worked on, software, and creative desires. Try to include projects that not only illustrate the kind of skills you possess, but also your experience and your growth potential.

Always customize your portfolio. Depending on the type of position you are applying for, the work you include in your portfolio should reflect as closely as you can, the work you would be doing in the desired job.

2. Improve Your Surroundings
Portfolios need not always be official work you were paid for. Use your design skills on an existing small brand and see where it takes you. Without client constraints, you might be amazed as to the creativity that can flourish. Undertaking your own branding and marketing project for your portfolio shows to a prospective company your ability to address more than just the visual aspects of design.

3. Follow Your Passion
When you are applying for a creative position, you obviously want to show that you are adaptable and can work in a variety of mediums. But following this method too closely might result in you being hired to do creative work that just doesn’t excite you. So, in your portfolio, include projects illustrating the kind of work you feel more passionate about or in the direction you wish to move in your field. It is a fine line to walk on, showing potential employers that you can adapt but also showing them where your best skills lie.

4. Tell a Story with Your Portfolio
The end result is not the only important aspect of design. Include your design process with your projects. This tells the employer how you approach the creative process and your thought strategies. Employers want to know how your workflow will blend with the current creative strategy employed within the company.

You could also even include references from clients concerning various projects you have done. This illustrates your ability to communicate with clients and to blend their visions with your own.

5. Mediums and Platforms
Make sure that your creative designs get properly presented in their original platform or medium. This means that phone app designs should be presented as an image on an actual phone. Digital designs could be shown via a quick video. If you utilized brochures, make sure that the final product is presented in this way. Showing a variety of platforms shows ability to learn and ability to adapt.

6. Sell Yourself
No one is going to sell “you,” but YOU. You must use your portfolio to tell your story. Explain your projects in a clear and concise manner, including professional background information as well as your experience. Explain your creative and technical skills and how you acquired these. Your potential employer wants to learn about you and the passion you can bring to various projects. Create that perfect portfolio today and let your creativity and design shine through.

Let Your Portfolio Be the One
Now that you know the secret to making your portfolio stand out, create it today as you apply for one of our many talent offerings available through Creative Talent Management. Your next opportunity is closer than you think. We are your source for expert talent managers. Get started today by calling one of our experienced recruiters at 800.338.4327.

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There’s No Free Lunch…But that’s a Good Thing

office company perksWhat exactly makes for an inspiring company to work for? Sleeping cubicles? Arcade games, a few parties during the year? These are all no doubt awesome perks to have at a company; but these are not sustainable. And they don’t really encourage devotion on the part of employees. So, what does actually make a great company to work for?

Principle
Companies have to demonstrate that they stand for something—and this must be present at various levels of the company. Does your company get gold stars for the following traits? Read on and compare. If you think that you might be more productive in a different work environment than the one you’re in, maybe it’s time to change things up!

Ideas are Desired
Let’s face it. It feels good when people actually listen to you, and when your ideas are considered as viable options. Successful companies, both in operations and in the eyes of the employees, recognize their employees. By doing so, employees remain more engaged in their position and are more likely to consider the work they are doing important—because they feel valued. Basically, if your company cannot be bothered to provide some acknowledgment of your contributions, consider seeking out a position that won’t sap your energy and turn you into an automaton.

Beggars Can be Choosers
Equal opportunity discussions aside, employees want and need dependable people around them. and if your company fills its positions with warm bodies, your job will soon encompass someone else’s, but without monetary compensation.

Companies need to know who is working there. Getting to know employees before hire and during employment, gives them the sense of belonging. And current employees get a sense that they now have support, and not more work to undertake and cover. Co-workers may not always be your best friend; but nails-on-a -chalkboard situation don’t help anyone either. Each new individual who joins a company should be properly vetted, for the benefit of all.

Reason for Being
This might sound awfully dramatic, but companies need a purpose and they need to know it. Employees then need to be aware of their daily goals in the office and their own purpose within the company—a sort of parts-to-whole assessment of their job. Unsure if your company really has this? Ask yourself these questions: What does my company offer society? What is are target audience? What is the impact of our solutions? Consistent and precise answers to these questions will ensure that your company is pretty solid, and that you understand your role within the broader picture.

You might be saying that, sure, the company mission is seen every day, on a shiny sign as you enter the building. Heck, our business cards remind us and society all the time. But, in order to be successful, companies have to live their mission statement and strategically plan for it on a regular basis.

1st Step: Admit there is a Problem
Closing one’s eyes and ears is always a convenient method to “un-see” the problems that surround us. But if your company is more aware of potential issues that are bubbling over, for example, much quicker action can take place. Additionally, change comes faster when critical employees are included in the decision-making process. Of course, too many cooks in the kitchen can have the opposite effect.

Do as I Do, not as I Say
You know the best and easiest way to get people around you to do what you want? First, do it yourself! Your company should have leaders within it that value integrity. Employees want to know those around and above them are most concerned with being efficient, productive, and fostering a positive working environment.

Pool tables, coffee bars, and more are fun to have at work. But are those gadgets really keeping you there? And if they really are the only reason you keep coming, it is time to sit down (in one of the comfy bean bag chairs) and figure out where you want your career to go next.

Still Looking for that Inspiring Company to Work For?
Your next opportunity is closer than you think. Tap into the right network to connect with the key decision makers in the hiring process. Need help looking for a company that values you and your contribution?

Creative Talent Management is your source for expert talent managers. With firsthand knowledge of the fashion, beauty and advertising industries, CTM can precisely match you to a position AND to a company. Get started today by calling one of our experienced recruiters at 800.338.4327.

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