2Some great pointers I noted coming out of a Youngblood’s Careers Night a few months ago. Enjoy!
Warren Brown, Creative Founder, BMF
Excuses for shutting down good work:
- “It’s not what the client is expecting”
- “Don’t waste your time, the client doesn’t have a decent budget”
- “The client isn’t ready for this sort of stuff, maybe in a few years time”
- “We don’t do that sort of work here, maybe another agency would”
Don’t question your own judgement. Don’t go soft if you really genuinely feel it in your heart. It’s easy to have a great idea but it’s really hard to get it made. A good tip to sell it in: “What you said made me have the idea.” Get people to believe they had more to do with it than you did.
Jo from iKnoWho (recruitment agency)
Know your strengths, find what makes you unique and what makes you stand out and work from that.
What core things you have worked on? What do others value in you? Do you have a USP (unique selling point)? Think about your skills ‘pie’. Know your level.
Do a sense check. Can I do it? Make sure you know you can.
CV tips
Use the “so what” theory - think about your CV from the reader’s perspective - So what if You came first in your graduating sports team? How does that benefit your employer?
Think of it like a shop window. Think of it as exactly the same - Make them want to get to know you.
Short and sweet. No cover page. Keep it focused. Your first page of your CV should say everything about you.
Absolutely NO TYPOS. 1-2 pages max. No fluff.
Great CV is: clean design, shouts the name, summary of employment, use of logos, position, dates, responsibilities, achievements, key campaigns. Capture attention straight away.
Traps to avoid: clutter and trying to stand out.
The cover letter is dead. Be personal, write the name. Be specific to the role/company. State your intention/why you’re applying. Include a referral, get someone to pass your resume on. Highlight relevant skills.
Your personal brand
- Google your name - what does it say about you
- Sensor check your profile online
- Blogs
- Twitter (professional platform)
- Linked in (professional platform)
- Potential employers want to know who you know
How to shine in the interview
Preparation is key. Research the shit out of them! The agency, the people, clients and work, competitors, latest news. Information and familiarity is key. Be current. Understand what’s going on in the industry.
Be ready with opinions and be ready to back them up. Your opinions are valued, that’s why your in the industry. Have a list of questions.
Have examples ready of how you meet the brief, how you are exactly what they are looking for.
In the first ten minutes of an interview - they decide whether or not they want to hire you. They spend the rest of the interview justifying their decision. Interviewers use ‘I like them because they are like me’ approach. The more the interviewer asks, the more favorably the candidates are evaluated. Candidates with portfolios on laptops/iPads really stand out.
Key takeouts:
- Know yourself. Skills and USPs
- Be tight with application and your personal brand, online brand
- Prepare and research for your interview.
M. x
