You know you’re meant to be a creative professional and that you can do much to improve any company’s marketing image. However, before being selected for your ideal job, you must first sell your abilities to potential employers. The following are five things you should always bring to interviews if you want to land your dream job.
An Organized Portfolio
As a creative professional, your portfolio will typically be the main selling factor in job interviews. A portfolio should be well-rounded and should display the best projects you’ve completed for previous employers. By assembling an organized and top-notch portfolio, you’ll grab the interviewer’s attention from the interview’s start.
Don’t have any previous work to fill a portfolio? If you’re interviewing for an entry level job directly out of college, employers will understand that your portfolio may be a little slim. However, school projects and even work you created for fun can show your abilities and will be more beneficial rather than bringing nothing to the interview.
Knowledge of the Company’s Image
Do your research before every job interview. As a creative professional, you should have a firm idea of the company’s marketing image before entering the job interview. You can insert this knowledge at various points while answering interview questions, which will show your interest in being selected for the job.
The best ways to learn the company’s current image include browsing their website, gathering marketing materials such as brochures and by reviewing the company’s history. This advance research will then help to boost your image as the ideal job candidate during the interview process.
Suggestions for Improvements
Making suggestions for the changes you would bring to the company’s marketing image is important but it can also be a delicate topic to address. Assess the potential employer’s desire and need for change and revamp your suggestions for image improvements based on that level of desired change. This will help to avoid offending the interviewer by making drastic image improvement suggestions while also ensuring you display the value you could bring to the company.
Quality References
If an employer is considering you as a future employee, you can be sure your references will be contacted. Don’t include friends on your reference list and only include previous employers on the list who you know will be honest and firm in their reviews of your abilities. While you can strongly sell your case for employment in an interview, your references will often seal the deal.
Questions
Always bring questions to job interviews. From asking about the company’s benefits to inquiring about the workplace culture, the questions you ask will show your interest in the job. Employers often end their interviews by giving you the floor to ask questions. However, don’t be afraid to raise questions throughout the interview to keep the conversation flowing.
Expecting to be hired based on your job application alone isn’t realistic. Rather, expect to go through at least two interviews before being hired for the creative job you desire. By bringing the right items and questions to every job interview, you will more effectively sell interviewers on your abilities and value.
Leave a Reply