What do companies look for when hiring a designer?

Wouldn't it be great to know what companies look for when you go to an interview? Here are some typical factors employers look at when interviewing graphic designers whether you've got less than a year of experience or you're a veteran. -kelada

[chapter 1] WHAT'S INSIDE THE PORTFOLIO

First thing an employer will most likely do is ask you how long you've been doing design, and where you've gotten your experience. When they open your book (portfolio) the interviewer will do one of two things: 1) go through your portfolio without saying anything or 2) they'll ask tons of questions.

Most likely if you're at a design or ad agency, you'll get tons of questions. Here's what they will ask in most cases:

THE DESIGNER'S ROLE
They will want to know how much you participated in creating a piece. Did you just design the piece or did you actually concept it? Were you alone or did you work in a team of other creative vendors (writers, photographers, etc.) ? Did you have an art director?

If they ask you what you role was, be prepared to answer all these questions ON YOUR OWN, without them probing you. Just because designers communicate visually, doesn't mean they have to be impaired verbally.

PROJECT GOAL
If you don't know the project goal as a designer, whether you were the art director or just the intern, you're screwed my friend. You might as well just thank them for their time and get out!

Remember, your role as a graphic designer is to be a visual problem solver. Tell them what the objective was in creating a piece, and why this execution is appropriate for this purpose and target audience. Let them know how well received this piece was when it entered the target's hands.

DEADLINES
They will want to know how long it took to complete the project. More importantly, they're going to want to know how much support you got from the client. Did you have to research everything on your own? Your employer will want to know how proactive you are to meeting deadlines, no matter what it takes. They want to know you'll go the extra mile.

BUDGET
As a designer, it's easy to get so creative, but sometimes those creative ideas can be very expensive to produce. An employer will want to know how far you can take your creative ideas without going over budget. If you've ever worked in a situation where you've had to work within a budget, let them know. This shows you can handle money and make smart choices.

[chapter 2] PROOF

I interviewed a man for a graphic design teaching job once. He was in his mid 40s with a daughter in college. He showed me a really nice portfolio with some brand name collateral and a variety of pieces. I was convinced he would be great. Unfortunately, the hiring manager (not me) didn't follow up on his references. As a result, he was hired, and completely failed within the first 2 days. He was a fish out of water flopping around for help. What an embarrassment!

Serious companies will want to know you're legit. You can bet your ears, a design or ad agency will call ALL your references. Be honest about your qualifications.




Here are some questions an employer will ask your references:

1. What was your relationship with [applicant name]? Was he/she an employee or a contractor?
2. What was your experience working with him/her? How would you describe [applicant name] personality and work ethic?
   
3. What type of work did they do for you? Were you pleased?
   
4. How involved was [applicant name] in working with group projects? Did they go beyond their required duty?
   
5. Did [applicant name] give the projects enough time and attention? Did they meet deadlines?

Best of luck on your interviews. If you have any questions or advice for other people, please don't hesitate to leave your comment below. -kelada