Back to The Future (In a Good Way)

I have recently noticed a huge trend in retro design (okay maybe not THAT recently) and may I say that I am super excited about it. I love retro designs. I like the mixing of type, the color palettes, the ribbons and brackets. Usually my personal design aesthetic is pretty simple but I love to throw some retro design elements in now and again.

Is retro here to stay? Hard to tell since digital design trends shift so rapidly but I do now that right now, retro is taking over design in a big way. As great as the Retro fad is, however, there is a way for it to go horribly wrong. When do you stop throwing ribbons at a site? (Probably  right before the point you start throwing them instead of placing them with design purpose) When do you know when you’ve gone too far with typefaces? (Probably when you’ve reach 10 different fonts on a single page and it’s beginning to resemble a crazy sweater) Is there a difference between Retro and Vintage? (Yes! Well…a little. Maybe. I don’t know. We’ll find out?)

Never fear my readers! We will navigate the wild world of Retro together in this blog post and come out the other side more educated designers (Maybe).

Let’s begin with definitions:

retro, adj. : relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned

vintage, adj.
1 c : of old, recognized, and enduring interest, importance, or quality : CLASSIC, VENERABLE
2 a : marked by an advanced age : dating from the past

Putting that into plain english, Retro refers to a design aestheic which is imitating a past style. Vintage refers to something that is actually from that past time period. Bought some awesome chairs influenced by the the charming Mom ‘n Pop diners of the past but was mass produced in China? Retro. Acquired a chair that actually was FROM the Mom ‘n Pop diner? Vintage.

Clear on that? Alright, moving on.

Now obviously the internet wasn’t around back in the day of the Grease soundtrack and poodle skirts so how can Vintage websites exist? Now, I’m throwing my personal opinion into this a little but I think the style difference has a lot to do with the typefaces. Design elements such as the floral edges and borders and fancy ribbons tend to show up in both design styles (if we can even separate the two).

Mm, quite.

Usually though, I think the design style encompassing both Retro and Vintage is referred to as Retro since you’re still imitating a style either way. Searching for “Vintage Website Design” doesn’t bring up NEARLY as many search results as “Retro Website Design”. This blog post gives a list of sites using “Vintage” typography however I feel that overall the design of the sites are much more Retro.

Now that we’re past the mumbo jumbo and technical terms, let’s dive into some tasty design.

1. Form Follows Function
The golden rule of design. Just because you can design something as Retro doesn’t mean you should. First and foremost, you should be giving the client what they want. This is probably the most important lesson I’ve learnt over the past couple of months. You’re not designing for yourself. You’re designing for a client and an audience. They have the money, they get what they want. It doesn’t matter if you feel like it isn’t your strongest work. If you’re pleasing the client and fulfilling the design brief, the rest will follow.

http://www.stallanddean.com/

Ahhhh, I really like this design. It uses the Retro design aesthetic very well and the design overall is very balanced. I’ve noticed that it’s very easy to go overboard on Retro design “bits” but this website does a great job. I also think this website follows the rule “FFF”. Overall, the website gives the feel of the vintage clothing advertisements from back in the day with the classic type and grainy textures.

http://www.theworldwelivein.co.uk/

I’m a sucker for white space and simplicity and this site is no exception. Usually I’m nervous about using giant introductory paragraphs in portfolios but this one actually works really well. The sentence is short, sweet and explains what the site is. Upon scrolling down you can see some samples of the designers work. Everything is easy to navigate and find. The designer did a really great job of bringing in some small retro design elements like the texture in the background and the custom logo badge. So simple, so functional.

http://www.threepennyeditor.com/

I HAD to include this website. The concept is so simple but the overall effect is quite lovely. The website works for the company. I understand what they do and important information is given to me right away. The navigation is easy to get to, it’s not cluttered. Everything is laid out neatly and I can’t stop scrolling up and down the page (so clever). I love when a website comes together like this so effectively. The design flows together seamlessly and the resulting design is effortless. I’m not totally sold on the side scrolling animation under the tagline, but I can live with it because of how good the rest of the site is.

2. Form…Doesn’t Follow Function?

You know I have to include some not so good ones in here. The sites that I have listed aren’t TERRIBLE but I feel that they could have been improved in some ways.

http://www.targetscope.com/

First of all, automatic audio. That’s a huge no-no. Many viewers are already listening to their own tunes when browsing, therefore they don’t need your unnecessary music assaulting their ears. It’s annoying and it slows down load speeds of the web page. I also have a huge gripe with flash websites. I feel that it’s very difficult to make a good flash website and even if the design is great, flash is something that’s disappearing fast. In this site specifically, if you hover near the navigation, a scope or magnifying glass of some sort drops down. I don’t know what this is for. What purpose does it serve? It drops down over the links on the navigation but for no reason. If you think people need help reading the page titles then maybe you should, you know, make them legible.

My biggest problem with this website is that I don’t understand what it’s about. I see the descriptive words on the right side of the page but I actually have to go read a few pages to understand what exactly this company offers me.

http://singularityconcepts.com/

I don’t hate this site as much as the previous one but I do find it a bit overwhelming. It’s not bad, but there are so many things happening that I’m not sure what I should be looking at. The navigation is especially distracting, the different colors and different styles (why does one button completely change?) is way too confusing for the average viewer. Then two of the headings say the same thing (with one being cut off) even though the sections are about different topics. Like I said, it’s not a bad design but I think some things could have been dialed back and some things could have been cleaned up a little.

All in all, I love the retro design boom. When used correctly, retro design can be a very effective way to grab your target audience’s attention. Don’t get carried away by the ribbons and birds, always keep the audience in mind and aim to design something that’s pleasing to the eye rather than overwhelming.

Questions? Comments? Something to add about the retro fad? Let me know.

 

Being a Good Employee

Recently, I’ve started taking on more responsibility at work. At the end of last year, I was offered the chance to take part in a last minute consult session with a client. This opportunity came at 4:45 on a friday afternoon without warning. I was taken off-guard and completely out of my comfort zone. Despite my trepidation and sudden lack of faith in myself and my skills, I went along with it. I’m so glad I did because volunteering for that consult session has opened many other doors for me. 

I have been given the chance to work on another consult site as well as working on site mockups and more high profile accounts. It’s almost unbelievable how quickly this chance came along for me but there have been several things I’ve been doing at work to show that I’m willing to take on more responsibility and advance myself within the company.

Volunteering for Extra Activities
I have joined both the New Hire Ambassadors program and the Employee Engagement Committee at work. Now, joining work groups may not be everyone’s things but there’s always chances to do something a little but extra at work. This may be something like organizing a potluck or holiday party. Showing that you’re interested in the company culture and willing to engage with your coworkers will show your managers that you’re invested in your job. 

Socializing with Coworkers
I’m not saying you should devote your work day to hanging out with your friends and not getting work done but interacting with those around you is always a good idea. Not only are you making professional connections but you’re also connecting with people who can give you design critique, offer up advice and help with any issues you may run into. Taking a break now and again throughout the day helps rest your brain for a bit and taking a quick walk with coworkers can help break out of the monotony that sometimes happens. Again, this shows your managers that you’re not only there to do your job but that you want to be involved in the culture.

Not Whining
This may seem like an obvious statement but, don’t whine about your job. Whining gets you nowhere and accomplishes nothing. There are a few people who sit around me who have a very negative attitude towards the work they are doing and the people they interact with. Of course there are going to be frustrating clients and projects you’re going to work. However, complaining about your predicament instead of simply solving your own issues is not going to look good and won’t be favorable in the eyes of those around you.

These are only three simple things but they can help you achieve a lot. Part of being a good employee is going far and beyond your basic employee duties and striving to be the best you can be.

 

Return of the Prodigal Blogger

I admit, I have fallen completely off the wagon in terms of keeping up with blogging every week. A thousand blog ideas run through my head everyday while I’m at work and then as soon as I get home, I instantly lose inspiration. This has been a recurring problem throughout my design career. I had the problem in college, I have the problem now but I am determined to not let it overcome me. It’s no surprise that today’s blog is about inspiration. I know I’ve talked about this a few times before but I feel this is a problem area for me and I’m sure other people have the same issue.

I’ve searched for some articles on the subject of losing inspiration but didn’t really find that much discussion about it. I feel that a lot of articles and blogs tend to focus on looking towards goals and pushing forward and whatnot but forget that sometimes we lose steam and need help getting back on track. Sure, there are lots of resources for finding your inspiration in the middle of a project, but what if we lose our inspiration to do anything altogether? I have a few things that I think could be helpful, at least for me.

1. Your Environment Predetermines Your Mood.
This explains quite a bit about why I feel inspiration at work but not at home. My cube at work is filled with silly things and I am in my own space with no distractions. At home, not so much. My desk is in the living room/next to my boyfriend’s computer so there’s a lot of distraction there. Also, there’s a cat. Everyone knows getting work done with a cat around is impossible. The environment of inspiration differs from person to person. Some people find inspiration at 3 in the morning sitting on the futon drinking tea. Others may find their inspiration on a 6 AM run. Every person needs to find their space and discover what inspires them. A space without distractions is ideal but introducing things like artwork or plants into the area could also help.

2. Watch TED videos
Usually TED videos are around 10 minutes and there’s a huge variety of topics covered. if you feel yourself without inspiration, watch one of these videos. This is a great place to learn about other people’s inspiration, their ideas and how they’re planning on executing them. Even if it’s something about how scarily smart crows are. If you say you’re too busy to watch just one video, you are a liar. 

3. Relax
Inspiration will not come if you’re stressing about it. In fact, stressing about it is probably the worst way to go about it. Stressing is actually really bad for your body (and your mind) and the ideas will definitely not come if you’re tensed up. You don’t have to search through thousands of inspiration quotes or even read this blog. You know what you should do? Take a nap. Naps do wonders for inspiration. Searching desperately for inspiration can never lead to good ideas.

4. Read good books
Specifically I’m referring to books related to whatever you’re seeking inspiration for. Graphic design? There are a ton of great resource books to get the creative juices flowing. My favorite book for inspiration is The End of Print by David Carson. This man is my favorite graphic designer and amazes me with his experimental style of design. Look for some books by notable designers and take inspiration from their work. Here is an excellent place to get started. Looking at other graphic designer’s work is a great place for inspiration but sometimes it can be a pitfall as well. Staring at all of that fantastic design can either bring you to new heights in design or make you feel completely useless as a designer. Comparing yourself to the top designers in the world? Not a good idea ever.

Looking back at this list I’ve written, it seems like the tiniest, least helpful list of all time. However, I believe these things are good starting points in getting myself back on track for blogging as well as designing in my free time.

 

Got some tips from here:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-to-feel-inspired-when-youve-lost-motivation.html

And also here:
http://tinybuddha.com/blog/50-ways-to-find-inspiration-create-explore-expand/

The Life of an Adult (or someone pretending to be)

First of all, I apologize for my lack of blogging over the last month or so.

Moving to a new city and starting a new job all at once has been a little overwhelming so I’ve been focusing on keeping it together and looking poised and professional. Since my job consists of me sitting in front of a computer 8-10 hours a day leaves me with no will or desire to come home and sit in front of a computer and blog. I will be trying to write my blogs a little more frequently though as my job has been teaching me a lot about having a real-life design job.

I’ve been very lucky to land a fantastic job as a Website Designer. This is a great opportunity for a first job and will definitely help me land great positions when I eventually decide to move on in the future. My coworkers and various supervisors have been very welcoming and helpful and the fact that three of my classmates were hired around the same time as me has provided a nifty support group. Starting a new job is always nerve wracking but the experience has been less terrifying simply because of how great the people are.

One of my weaknesses in the past (which has been big regret of mine) is the fact that I have a hard time talking to new people. I’m socially awkward and I always feel strange talking to people I don’t know. This is something I’ve been working on for the past year simply because of how important it is to make new connections and to go out and meet people. However, meeting people is a little easier in college than it is in a brand new city. I’ve made some friends in the office and I hope to keep expanding these friendships.

Another huge problem I’ve had is finding things to DO. I know you’re thinking, “But you’re in the city. There’s so much to do, so many activities!” Well that may be true but how do I find out about these activities? I’ve been keeping an eye out for some design conferences coming up but other than that I haven’t really had the chance to explore the city too  much. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to do so in the next couple of weeks.

So that’s a quick summary of how things are going for me so far. I haven’t decided what I want to blog about now but I will probably be reviewing some articles and maybe highlighting some design freebies (who doesn’t love free things?). If there’s something you want me to blog about then leave a comment/tweet/email me and I’ll see what I can do.

As I said, I will be blogging more frequently in the future and eventually hashing out some kind of schedule. I appreciate all my lovely followers listening to my nonsense design ramblings. :]

Week Ten: Newly Graduated, Newly Employed

Yes, I have very exciting news. I got a job! 

I got an actual design job, at a legitimate company and I could not be more excited. The job offer was very unexpected and came a few days after receiving a rejection email from the same company. This offer also came after I had already made the decision to move to Indy without a job or any other prospects. Sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith. 

So what have we learned? Sometimes, you can do everything right but still be rejected. Sometimes there’s someone better, more qualified, or more experienced. Sometimes things are out of your control but the thing you can control is your presence, your attitude and how much you push yourself to get to that place you want to be. We’re all going to go through rejection and failure in our personal and professional lives. The important thing is how we use that opportunity to learn from our mistakes and move forward. 

• Make use of the wonderful wide world of the internet and do your research before going into an interview. Know the company and know what their mission is. Know why you want to work for them and be prepared to answer tough questions.
• Keep an updated resume and if you haven’t already, get business cards.
• If you’re a designer, keep your online portfolio updated with relevant design work and don’t be afraid to remove work if it doesn’t match the quality of the rest of the portfolio.
• Write either a handwritten note or an email after your interview to thank the interviewer for your time. 
• Dress professionally for an interview (ALWAYS!).
• Keep your dress neat and clean even if the dress code in your office is casual
• Try to keep a positive attitude even if things aren’t looking too bright. No one ever got anywhere with moping.
• Take risks. Try new things and new places. If you have the funds and connections, make that move to a new city. If you’re unhappy with your current situation or job, make a change. 

Always keep pushing and moving forward. Keep on reaching for your dreams and improving yourself and your skills.

I won’t be continuing this series of ‘Newly Graduated’ blogs anymore, but I will keep blogging. Mostly about my inspirations and other professional tips. I hope everyone has enjoyed my turmoil and struggles over the past two months!

Week Nine: Newly Graduated, Depending on Those Around Me

I have made a mostly well thought out plan to move to Indianapolis in the next two weeks. To others it may seem rash and last minute, a plan of desperation if you will. I am moving to a new city with no prospects and no job (not even a temporary one) but one thing I do have is a fantastic support system in the form of my friends and family. This ‘career’ support system has been in place since the first day I started college as a wide-eyed freshman. My slightly over-bearing but well-meaning parents were my first supporters, my biggest fans. They were there to encourage me no matter how rough things got and tried to offer advice in times of need. I can honestly say I would be lost without them. When I first started college, I tried to be independent and act like I didn’t need them but quickly realized this was not the way to go. Family is a fantastic resource to have. You always have somewhere to stay, somewhere to do laundry for free and people who will love you and help you to the best of their ability. Not everyone may have such a great family and I realize I have been very fortunate.

When striking out on our own as young professionals, we may feel the need to distance ourselves slightly from our families. This may come from the sense that we’re finding ourselves and becoming real adults. We don’t need parents. Parents are for children. We are our own people!

This couldn’t be more wrong. Parents (and the rest of the family members) can be valuable connections not only personally but professionally. I’m not saying you should hit up your parents for jobs, but ask them if they can keep an eye and ear out for anything that may come along.

The next best support system is of course friends. Friends are on of the best networking tools to have. Friends like introducing you to their other friends (hopefully). Friends like going out and doing friend things. Friends try to help you out if you need it. The nice thing about college is that it will show you who you can actually rely on. The problem is that a lot of people don’t like to depend on other people. It’s that sense of being independent that I brought up before. Being dependent on someone is thought to show weakness, however you’re never going to get anywhere in life without depending on someone. Eventually you will have to depend on your team, your coworkers or your boss. Depending on someone does not make you weak, it actually makes you stronger. It gives you something to lean on, some time to take a breath and gather yourself again. You can’t do it all by yourself so if you haven’t learned to depend, now is the time.

The reason I’m blogging about my support system is because I will be relying on them a lot in the next couple of months. I’m moving to a city where I already have friends and my parents are about an hour’s drive if an emergency should arise. I will be living with one of my friends until I can find something more permanent. This friend actually offered to let me stay with him because he could see I was reaching that level of desperation. I was trying the tough man act where I would rely on nobody but myself. You can see how that turned out. So for the next couple of months I will be depending. I will be pushing and searching for jobs of course but I will also be depending.

Week Eight: Newly Graduated, Still Waiting

Most of the time during a job search is spent on waiting. Specifically, waiting on that phone call asking you to come in for an interview, asking you follow-up questions on your resume or the best scenario, offering you a job. I find it hard to be patient during this waiting game. I check my phone too frequently, I refresh my email one thousand times a day, I fidget, I daydream. I imagine all the wonderful things that will happen when I get that job offer phone call and then I crash back down to reality. This truly is the worst part of the job search. I try to take my mind off the waiting by applying to more jobs, however most of the postings I’ve already looked at or applied to so that usually ends in more disappointment. 

So I force myself to stay busy and keep my head in the game. I watch tutorials, sketch in illustrator, update my portfolio, read design articles and work on internship projects. I try to inspire myself on a daily basis to keep on going and stop wasting time. I do a craft, I try a new recipe or go to the library. I try to keep my mind alert and avoid procrastination and laziness (not always effective). Where am I going with this you ask? Well, I thought I would share some of the websites I use to inspire me. This ranges on a daily basis as I noted above, so I’ll share some design related sites. 

Smashing Magazine – If you’re a web designer, or aspiring to be, this is a great website. A lot of the articles offer helpful tips and tricks for coding and web design. Looking for mobile and responsive design? Smashing has that too. It’s a great way to keep your web design skills sharp and keep on top of any new technology coming out. They also frequently have freebies like wallpapers, icons, templates and wordpress themes. Who doesn’t love free design goodies? It’s smashing!

AIGA – This site has a bunch of things rolled into one. Hopefully if you’re involved in design, you’ve heard of AIGA. If you haven’t, I feel bad for you son. AIGA’s website is a great resource for any designer whether you’re a professional or a student. They offer design inspiration as well as job postings from around the country. If you visit the Tools & Resources tab, there is a list of, well, tools and resources to get you started. Also members get exclusive benefits like their awesome Design Salary Survey, member portfolios and discounts on events and competitions.

Designspiration – Exactly what it sounds like. Inspirational design. Design to inspire the designer in you, etc. etc. It’s basically a never ending scrolling page full of images to peak your interest. You can choose specific tags like Typography or Packaging on the left sidebar. Also, they recently added a job posting section, which is always a good thing. 

Behance – A great place if you need a quick online portfolio. Even better if you just want to browse. This is one of the top places to see other designer’s work (and ooh and aah over it). There are some really talented designers that showcase their work here and I love seeing the variety and creativity of the individual designers. You can browse using several different tags  or filters or just use the recommended Search & Explore and Creatives To Follow links. Also, job board. 

BOOOOOOOM! – Another image inspiration site, although I recently discovered this one. This is a bit more general and expands past simply design to photography, music and art. There are several pieces that have caught my attention already and cause moments of pause and reflection. If you’re looking for something weird, strange and beautiful, this is the place. There are also several links to interviews and information about the blog posters if you wish to see that. 

The Dieline – This is a packaging design showcase website. It features some of the best, brightest and greatest packaging designs from students, professionals, freelancers, everyone and everybody. There is never a time where I don’t see a design that completely blows me away both in creativity and execution. Obviously you can browse my specific tags such materials used in the packaging or which industry the packaging was designed for. You can also browse competitions and spotlights that the Dieline has organized and even enter your packaging design to be showcased. 

Typography Daily – As the name would suggest, this website is devoted mainly to typography. A lot of the images show type being used in new and interesting ways in furniture as well as in typography posters, print layouts, etc. One of the best sites to get those creative juices flowing and open your mind to the creative possibilities that typography offers. 

Outside – No, this is not a website. This the world around you. Sometimes it’s best to step away from whatever project you’re working on and take a moment. Really open your eyes to the environment around you and the interaction between you and nature. I promise this isn’t some hippie rant, this is just encouragement to seek inspiration wherever you feel comfortable. Maybe it’s digging into a good book, maybe it’s painting or gardening. Looking at pretty pictures on the internet is great but sometimes the real world is better.

Week 7: Newly Graduated, Rejected Again

Rejection is apparently becoming a staple in my life. I got rejected from a really terrific job. This was a job position that I was really excited about (and turned down another offer for). The responsibilities I would have taken on were exactly what I’ve been doing for the past couple of years and it was one of the few job postings I had found that had really excited me. However, they hired someone with more experience (every time). The person who interviewed me said the interview went really well and he enjoyed talking with me, but that they had decided to go with someone who had a little more experience in the field. Yes I did send a thank you note and I prepared really well for that interview, but sometimes things don’t work out. Maybe that wasn’t the job for me or maybe I have to grow a little bit more professionally. I know that I did the best I could and gave it my all. I am proud of being chosen out of 200 applicants to come in for an interview so it’s not all bad. I just have to keep pushing myself and keep applying to more jobs. The fun never stops.

I don’t really have a lesson for this week. I would talk about rejection again (since I just experienced that for the second time) but I have already discussed that in length in one of my previous posts. On the up side, I did have another interview today so that’s something I’m pretty excited about. Fingers crossed, I hear something back next week.

As always, keep applying and keep your chins up! Being positive will get you much further than being negative.

Week Six: Newly Graduated, Preparing for Interviews

So I had two interviews last week as I talked about a little bit in my last blog post. One of the jobs was not really what I was looking for long-term wise so I had to turn it down. Of course you may be wondering, “WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT. YOU’RE UNEMPLOYED”. That is true, however just because I don’t currently have a job does not mean I will be settling into a job that I know will not be a good fit for me. I was not comfortable with the company culture and despite the fact I enjoyed the interview, I knew that accepting that position would make me unhappy down the road.

Now on to the theme of this week’s post: preparing for interviews. Now you may think you have this all down pat, but there is always room for improvement. Take every opportunity to learn from your mistakes so that you can perform better in future interviews. Even if you’re in an interview for a job you don’t plan on taking, it’s good to practice your interview skills.

Appropriate Dress: This should be common sense. It doesn’t matter if you’re interviewing for a prestigious position at a private marketing firm or a mall job, clean yourself up! You can never be too overdressed for an interview. It shows that you care about the interview and you took the time to prepare beforehand. I have been in a group interview before where a lady was wearing sweatpants. SWEATPANTS. The horror. If you’re unsure about what to wear, you can either call or email the person who contacted you about the interview and ask. Completely clueless about professional dress? I’ve got you covered. You can either browse Pinterest for some outfit inspiration or go to this handy dandy link:

What to Wear to an Interview

Ask Questions: I think this is the portion of the interview that largely goes unused during an interview. I like to ask questions during the interview as well as afterwards. Follow up the interviewer’s questions with questions of your own. Try to find out as much as you can about the position (usually they’ll tell you all about it though), the company culture and what the company is trying to achieve. Ask about their marketing plans, who their target audience is, what their future goals are and what they’re looking for in an employee (if they didn’t mention it already). If you’re interested in the position, show them. Asking questions is a great way to have a conversation with the interviewer instead of just sitting there answering questions. Be prepared to answer those questions, but try to engage the interviewer past that point. There are a few questions that are similar from interview to interview however prepare yourself beforehand for some off-the-wall questions.

The Ten Most Common Interview Questions

The Follow Up: Many people leave the interview thinking that they’re done. They just have to sit back and wait for ‘The Call’. FALSE. Follow up with your interviewer after the interview. Send either an email or card thanking the interviewer for his/her time and talk about some points you touched on during the interview. Mention that you really appreciate the opportunity and re-iterate some of your skills you can bring to the company. Always, always get in contact after an interview (within 24 hours), no exceptions. Even if you don’t want the position or you think you didn’t get the job, always follow up.

How to Write the Perfect Thank-You Note After the Interview

Be Honest: There’s no point in lying in an interview, it won’t get you anywhere. You’ll eventually be found out and it’ll blow up in your face. Be truthful about how you got to where you are today. Talk about what you’ve overcome to get to this point. Don’t oversell your skills if you don’t feel comfortable doing a particular task. Rather say, “I don’t have much experience but it’s something that I want to learn”. That shows the employer that you are willing to put forth the effort and continue growing as a person. Being honest in an interview ensures that you’re a good match for the company. The company doesn’t want to be stuck with someone who isn’t a good fit and vice versa.

Obviously there are a ton more interview tips but I wanted to touch on some of the top ones (Go here to read some more). Being prepared for an interview shows that you’re interested and willing to put forth effort. Employers want to hire someone who is eager to learn and grow within the company. They want to see that you will strive to do your best and be a good employee.

As for next week’s post, hopefully I’ll be employed by then.

Week Five: Newly Graduated, I Will Take All the Jobs Please

This past week has been quite the muddle. I’ve been a little bit busy running around with projects, going to my little brother’s graduation and going to interviews.

It figures that as soon as I find a good temporary position for summer (not design related), I get two callbacks for interviews in Indy. Now it’s awkward because if I get hired to one of those positions, I’ll probably have been working a total of two or three weeks and then have to quit. Does that mean I shouldn’t have gotten the summer job? Absolutely not. This is just a prime example of how plans usually don’t work out how we anticipated. I’m very grateful for that summer job as being unemployed is never a wonderful situation to be in and I’m very excited that I got two interviews. I shows that being persistent and never stopping the job search is the best route to take.

As the hot days of summer mosey along, it’s easy to simply stop looking as hard or to procrastinate on job searching. Even though job postings may be scarce, it’s important to persist and keep at it. Broaden your job parameters to include job positions that you could work at that may be related to what you want to do but not exactly what you were searching for before. For example, a lot of Marketing positions are perfect for recent Graphic Design grads as they use those skills and creative talent that you’ve gained and require you to work outside of your box a little bit. Marketing jobs can also eventually lead to full time Design positions further down the road. Remember to always keep an open mind when considering where you want to work.

Many people don’t end up with their dream job right away, but if you’re willing to work hard for it and be persistent, you can get to that perfect place for you.