{"id":8267,"date":"2020-08-17T15:01:15","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T19:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/?p=8267"},"modified":"2021-04-21T11:40:53","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T15:40:53","slug":"how-to-apply-for-a-creative-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/how-to-apply-for-a-creative-job\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Land a Creative Job, Based on Where You&#8217;re Looking"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<p>Damn, isn&#8217;t this is a hard time to apply for a creative job (or <em>any<\/em> job)?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I see it\u2014I\u2019m a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.anchoralpine.com\/\">design agency owner<\/a> inundated by job-seeking emails. But I\u2019ve been on the other side, too\u2014years ago, I graduated with a shiny new graphic design BFA right when the Dot-Com bubble burst and the economy tanked. It felt like the world was ending\u2014there were no jobs and I seemed destined to live in my parents\u2019 basement forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it worked out. Eventually, I landed a great in-house design job, and thankfully, for our whole family\u2019s sake, moved out of the house. So trust me, I know how to hire, but I also learned how to search during a similarly challenging time. Here is some of my best advice for getting all the way through the process, what to expect, and how to do it the most effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>How To Apply For A Job<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing to understand is that the application process will be slightly different depending on the type of company to which you\u2019re applying. In the creative space, there are three basic categories of hiring:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Startups and rapid growth companies<\/li><li>Corporations with HR Departments, including larger agencies and in-house jobs<\/li><li>Smaller agencies<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The hiring process for each group is a little different, and you\u2019ll need to tailor your approach based on the category a given company falls into.&nbsp;But no matter where you are applying, there are some general rules to follow:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Appy through the appropriate channels first<\/strong>. Hiring managers have little patience for those trying shortcuts, and people are generally more understanding if you follow the rules first, and resort to other tactics later.\u00a0<\/li><li><strong>Use LinkedIn to find people who work there, and reach out to them once you have applied<\/strong>\u2014even better if you know someone that can introduce you. Don\u2019t apologize for bothering them or contacting them on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/how-to-use-linkedin-creative\/\">LinkedIn<\/a>. Just get to the point. Be specific, be correct, be graceful, and be kind.<\/li><li><strong>Nail the details\u2014<em>all<\/em> the details.<\/strong> That includes things like the hiring manager\u2019s name and the company name. It\u2019s <em>shocking<\/em> how often this is botched. We immediately reject and often don\u2019t follow up when this happens. It shows a lack of care and it makes us wonder if you can do client work and get their details right. So I implore you\u2014think before you copy and paste!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3>How to Get Into a Startup\/Rapid Growth Company<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that startups generally need to fill positions, like, <em>yesterday<\/em>. You may meet with the CEO on your first interview, or you may meet with a totally random person, like the QA Lead. Startups are always short on time, and initiatives are constantly changing. They need people that can come in, be self directed, and alleviate the pressure of never having enough designers. The rush and chaos often comes through in the hiring process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always follow up when you apply to a startup\u2014there is a good chance someone missed your application or forgot to move you forward. Be persistent until you get a \u201cno\u201d or an interview.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>How to Get Into a Corporation with an HR Department<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The initial stages of hiring at a larger corporation is similar to a startup, in that someone with zero design skills may be your first hurdle. An HR representative is simply following the requirements that the design team leader has given them. But that\u2019s where the similarities end.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Corporations and HR departments often have structured, rigid hiring processes. The process may include a quota for how many applicants need to apply and how many people need to interview at each stage. These corporations may use Applicant Tracking Software\u2014it\u2019s used for keyword matching, so if your resume doesn\u2019t match the criteria, you will get a fast rejection. Sometimes it\u2019ll come before a person even sees your application.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have applied, be patient and remember to follow up. If you\u2019re an early applicant in the process, you have to wait until enough people have applied to open interviews. You may need to meet with several departments, coordinating dates and times for each. Stay in contact with the hiring manager, and follow up for updates and next steps as you wait.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>How to Get Into a Small Agency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use your heart and use your head. Do even deeper research than you would for a startup or a corporation. You are likely to get a <em>real person<\/em> who has <em>real hiring power <\/em>on that first email. Don\u2019t blow it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Send your portfolio, your resume, and a really, really good introduction email. Send something creative to their office, if you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A small agency can be your best bet for future employment or a referral if you aren\u2019t a good fit now. Agency applications are about you being your best creative self. If you are applying locally, you\u2019ll run in the same circles as these agencies for years to come. You don\u2019t want a careless first impression to stick throughout your career.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Interested in learning more about landing a job in the creative space? Sign up for the Ceros Inspire newsletter to receive upcoming stories in your inbox, like How to Organize Your Creative Job Search.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style='position: relative;width: auto;padding: 0 0 62.5%;height: 0;top: 0;left: 0;bottom: 0;right: 0;margin: 0;border: 0 none' id=\"experience-5ee1313c103da\" data-aspectRatio=\"1.6\"><iframe allowfullscreen src='\/\/view.ceros.com\/editorial-content\/landing-page-1-2-1-1-2-1-1' style='position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;bottom: 0;right: 0;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0 none;height: 1px;width: 1px;min-height: 100%;min-width: 100%' frameborder='0' class='ceros-experience' title='Inspire Curious Sign-up Embed' scrolling='no'><\/iframe><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/view.ceros.com\/scroll-proxy.min.js\" data-ceros-origin-domains=\"view.ceros.com\"><\/script>\n\n\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"myclass\">Whether you&#8217;re going for a job at a startup, large corporation, or creative agency, here&#8217;s what you can expect to encounter in the application process.<\/div>\n<p><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":8269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.3 - 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