Job Hunting for Artists - Artist Resource

Job-hunting Advice
for Designers, Artists, Illustrators

Digital Design and Multimedia
The EDD defines Desktop Publishing, Prepress, Graphic Design, Web Design, Animation and Computer-aided Illustration as Multimedia jobs. (I generally prefer the term 'Digital Design' ).
Digital design / Multimedia has been around for a number of years, but it is only within the past few years that it has been recognized as a rapidly emerging new industry. This emerging industry is creating many new career and job opportunities for people with knowledge and skills in these areas.
An important and interesting difference between careers in multimedia and many other career areas is the large proportion of freelance workers in the industry. Many people with careers in multimedia are not steadily employed by a single company or employer, but rather move from project to project working on a contractual basis. Each new project may bring together a different collaboration of professionals into what might be considered a "virtual company" with a life limited to the duration of the project. These professionals create a virtual workforce who are often paid by the hour and expect their current employment to terminate with the end of the project. Therefore, these freelance workers must have a number of entrepreneurial skills in addition to their technical skills. They must also be able to work effectively as a member of a team whose membership changes with each project.
Another difference between careers in multimedia and many other careers is the extent to which those wanting to enter this field gain initial experience through interning or volunteering. It is quite common for someone with basic computer or graphic skills to locate a company doing the type of work in which he or she is interested and approach the company directly with the offer to work without pay in exchange for on-the-job training. After a period of six months to one year the company may offer a paid position to incumbents who shows promise.
There are many career opportunities for creative and talented people in the multimedia industry. The industry is currently at a point in its evolution where entry and advancement are not tied as closely to academic achievement or credentials as to the quality of a person's contribution to the project. Enthusiasm combined with experience and talent often generate employment offers.

For ALL DIGITAL DESIGN JOBS

Job Skills Needed:

-- Ability to work as a member of a team.
-- Ability to clearly communicate ideas.
-- Ability to quickly and accurately understand the goals and objectives of the project.
-- Ability to be organized.
-- Ability to use the computer tools required to complete the project.

Other Helpful Skills or Characteristics:

-- Willingness and ability to frequently seek employment on new projects.
-- Willingness and ability to join projects without much advanced notice.
-- Willingness and ability to continually update skills by learning new tools and techniques. -- Passion for the work.
-- A good sense of humor.
-- Patience.
-- Be an expert in one or a few areas, but have a general understanding of as many areas as possible.

How to Find a Job:

-- Create a portfolio of your work that demonstrates your versatility, creativity and technical abilities as well as your capacity to work within time and budget constraints.
-- Customize your portfolio to highlight work you have done that is similar to that of the new project.
-- Become an active member of professional organizations in order to keep current and to make contacts that may lead to employment opportunities.
-- Attend multimedia and professional conferences and meetings to generate job leads and to acquire current information about trends, tools and techniques.
-- Update and acquire new skills through enrollment in continuing education classes and through reading magazines in the field. Network with other students and faculty.
-- Those without experience or training should consider interning or volunteering on a project to gain experience and build marketable skills.
-- Those with experience and/or training can use contacts from previous projects or professional organizations.

Compensation:
Many multimedia specialists do not work as salaried employees for a single company over a long period of time. It is more typical to work freelance as an independent contractor, moving from one project to the next, and being paid hourly, daily, or per project.

ANIMATORS

What They Do:
Animators create two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images that show characters or objects in motion or illustrate a process. These images convey or enhance the project's message. Originally animators created images using paper and pen. These images were then arranged to give the illusion of movement and depth. Today, two dimensional (2D) animators can still create images in the traditional way, but the images are then scanned into a computer, edited, and color, texture, or motion are added. There are also computer based 2D animation software packages to assist with the initial creation of the images. Three dimensional (3D) images are created using computer animation or modeling programs and produce much more realistic and complex images. The hardware and software needed to create 3D animation is still very expensive and requires a high level of skill. Therefore, this type of work tends to be done by large production companies. It is also more difficult and expensive to obtain training and experience in 3D animation, but compensation can be twice that of 2D animators.

Job Skills Needed:

-- Understanding of both traditional and newer methods of animation.
-- Ability to draw, including understanding of color theory, life drawing and composition.
-- Ability to use 2-D and 3-D computer animation tools.
-- Ability to acquire and edit digital images.
-- Ability to create original digital images
-- Understanding of sketch ideas and storyboards.

Other Helpful Skills or Characteristics:
-- Willingness and ability to work continuously for long periods of time.
-- Willingness and ability to work effectively alone or without much supervision or collaboration.
-- Ability and patience for very detailed work.
-- A real love for the work.

Conceptual Skills

Story Development and Communication
Character Development
Color Theory (Perception and effect)
Project Management

Creative Skills

Storyboarding
Drawing, Composition
Use of Color to Communicate
Symbolism and Use of Icons
Perspective
Character Creation
Anatomy and Movement
Texture Mapping
Music, Voice, Audio

Technical Skills

Scanning
Photoshop
Illustrator
Form-Z
Electic Image
3-D Studio Max
Quicktime

Portfolio
Should include samples of work on a CD-ROM, video tape, or interactive format (self extracting!)
Samples should demonstrate the above skills and include examples of:
(hard-copy)

storyboards,
character studies -- motion, anatomy, expression,
full-color frames;
Preliminary sketches can be included if followed by the finished character or frame

(digital)

characters in motion
character expressions
voice/music/audio
complete environments, including lighting, perspective, atmosphere, texture mapping.

Compensation:
A formal salary survey is not available; however references to annual salaries range from $25,000 for beginners to $75,000 for those with experience. Hourly wages range from $25/hr to $75/hr for 2D animators. Experienced 3D animators using high-end hardware and software can earn from $100/hr to $200/hr. All salaries depend on the nature of the project and the skill of the specialists.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Print Design (DesktopPublishing)

What They Do:
Graphic Designers are responsible for creating original art work with a visual style, design and layout that is appropriate to the project's concept and goals. They may create screen layouts, menus, icons and symbols, logos, charts and diagrams. The visual design must be consistent with and support the overall goal of the project and be visually interesting to the product's users. It helps create the "mood" of the product and therefore the experience that the user has while using the product. Good Graphic Designers are first and foremost talented artists who are also technically competent using a variety of electronic tools and techniques.

Job Skills Needed:
-- Understanding of the fundamentals of visual communication and design, including color theory, composition and iconography (the use of symbols).
-- Knowledge of image acquisition and processing tools, including those used for image scanning and manipulation.
-- Knowledge of computer painting and drawing tools.
-- Understanding of storyboarding techniques.
-- Knowledge of typography, designing with type and managing fonts
-- Understanding of information design, including text formatting, styles, information hierarchy and navigation.
-- Understanding of the limitations and capabilities of digital media.
--Understanding traditional and digital printing processes, including digital output
-- Ability to create artwork that conforms to the style and content specifications provided by the project's art director or producer.

Other Helpful Skills or Characteristics:

-- Willingness to stay closely tuned to trends in the design field by reading a variety of design magazines (such as Communications Arts, How, and I.D.).
-- Ability to create various styles of visual images.
-- Ability to meet short deadlines.
-- Ability to understand various audiences and select the design style most appropriate for that audience.

Conceptual Skills

Story Development and Communication
Project Management
Information Design
Digital Imaging and Resolution
Color Theory (Perception and effect)
Printing Processes
Digital Color Management (Palettes, Modes, etc.)
Reflective Color (Inks)

Creative Skills

Project layout and design on paper
Typography, Designing with Type
Composition, Use of Positive and Negative Space
Use of Color to Communicate
Symbolism/ Use of Icons
Image Editing and Compositing

Technical Skills

Scanning
Photoshop
Illustrator (or Freehand)
QuarkXPress (or InDesign by end of 2000)
Image, text and document formats and conversion
Font Management (Suitcase or ATM Deluxe)

Portfolio

Portfolio should demonstrate the above skills and include some samples of the following:

catalog, magazine or book layout and design;
logo development and design;
creative use of images and photographs;
creative use of color;
advertising;
packaging (ie CD-Rom cover or point of purchase display);
collateral material;
posters and other publicity.

Finished, professional examples of layout and design can be printed to high quality, full-color (CMYK) digital output devices, but some projects must be actually printed in black and white, spot color, and CMYK.

Preliminary sketches can be included if followed by the finished design

‘Before-and-Afters’ can be included on facing pages, to demonstrate problem-solving skills

Alternate proposals can be included-- i.e. more than one version of a logo -- to demonstrate creative versatility

How to Find a Job:
Use contacts from previous projects or professional organizations to get an interview with the project's art director or producer since they are the ones most likely to make the hiring decision.
Compensation:
A formal salary survey is not available; however references to annual salaries range from $25,000 for beginners to $75,000 for those with experience. All salaries depend on the nature of the project and the skill of the specialists.

WEB DESIGNERS

Job Skills Needed:
-- Understanding of the fundamentals of visual communication and design, including color theory, composition and iconography (the use of symbols).
-- Knowledge of image acquisition and processing tools, including those used for image scanning and manipulation.
-- Knowledge of computer painting and drawing tools
-- Knowledge of typography, designing with type and managing fonts
-- Understanding of information design, including text formatting, styles, information hierarchy and navigation.
-- Understanding of the limitations and capabilities of digital media.
--Understanding of the limitations and capabilities of Internet communication (data transfer, download speeds, and file compression)
-- Familiarity with limitations and capabilities of current available browsers / interface.
-- Knowledge of web-based digital animation tools.
-- Understanding of storyboarding or flow-chart techniques.
Understanding of limitations and handling of web-based color
-- Ability to create artwork that conforms to the style and content specifications provided by the project's art director or producer.

Conceptual Skills

Story Development and Communication
Project Management
Information Design
Color Theory (Perception and effect)
Image Resolution and Conversion issues

Creative Skills

Project layout and design on paper
Typography, Designing with Type
Composition, Use of Positive and Negative Space
Use of Color to Communicate
Symbolism/ Use of Icons
Image Editing and Compositing
Layout and Design with Tables, Frames, Images

Technical Skills

Scanning and Image Acquisition
Photoshop
Illustrator
Image formats
HTML and other programming languages (Java)
Digital Color Management (Hexadecimal and Index Palettes, Modes, etc.)
Image Conversion software (Debabelizer, Fireworks)
WYSIWYG Web editor (DreamWeaver, GoLive)
Web Animation Software (Flash, gif animation)
File Compression
File/data transmission software (FTP, etc.)
Server Software / Languages (Unix etc)
Forms and Scripts (CGI, etc)
Audio (Shockwave)

Portfolio

Samples should demonstrate the above skills
Portfolio must include at least two complete, live different Web sites, with the following:

(digital, online)

Splash page (professional, fast-loading, no errors)
Navigation -- icons, buttons, etc. (consistent!)
Rollovers
Text (including styles, color, formats)
Use of background images, color or patterns
Image maps
Site map
Animation (objects, text, banners, etc)
Easy-to-follow site structure and hierarchy of sub-pages (no broken links!)

(hard copy)

Finished, professional examples of site layout and design can also be printed to high quality, full-color (CMYK) digital output devices, for inclusion with a CD-Rom or resume.
A flow-chart or hierarchy tree can be included
A CD-ROM of sample website/s can be included

ART DIRECTORS
What They Do:
Art Directors must be both competent designers and managers. They are responsible for all the art content of the project including animation, graphics, video and sound. "All artwork in a project must be of consistent quality and appear to have a cohesive relationship with every other part. This can only be accomplished if an art director reviews the creation of artwork at every step and helps guide the media professionals on the project to adhere to certain design standards" (Read Vivid Studios. Careers in Multimedia. Emeryville, CA: Ziff-Davis Press, 1995, p. 164.) In addition to overseeing the day to day production of artwork created by others, Art Directors themselves often produce artwork for the project. The Art Director is also responsible for meeting budget and schedule deadlines.

Job Skills Needed:

-- Understanding of visual, sound and video design.
-- Understanding of the tools and techniques used to create and manipulate the various types of artwork used in the project.
-- Knowledge of typography, graphic design, color theory and information design.
-- Knowledge of computer hardware and other electronic equipment that will be used for development and delivery of the product, including their strengths and weaknesses.
-- Ability to work with and understand the problems, needs and concerns of a variety of media specialists and assure that their design issues are resolved.
-- Ability to work effectively with a variety of people including clients, artists, technicians and executives.
-- The ability to motivate creative people to adhere to the standards established for the project while still encouraging their creative freedom.
-- Ability to accomplish tasks within scheduled deadlines and budgets.

Other Helpful Skills or Characteristics:

-- Traditional design training.
-- Ability to educate others about design issues.

How to Find a Job:
Use contacts from previous projects or professional organizations to get an interview with the project's creative director or producers since they are the ones most likely to make the hiring decision.
Register with professional design organizations and media-specific placement agencies.

Compensation:
A formal salary survey is not available; however we have references to annual salaries range from $35,000 for beginners to $100,000 for those with experience. All salaries depend on the nature of the project and the skill of the specialists.

WRITERS
What They Do:
Writers create or structure the project's concept into a detailed description of what happens on the screen. Writers describe what the user will see and hear while using the product. Since multimedia projects use video and still images, sound, movement and written or spoken words to convey meaning, the writer must make all of these components work together. The writer may be a copywriter who writes the text that appears on the screen or a scriptwriter who creates the dialog to be spoken by actors, animated characters, or voice-overs. The writer may create original work for the project. The writer may also take existing work and modify it for use in a multimedia project.

Job Skills Needed:

-- Ability to write clearly so that other members of the project team understand what kind of art, sound, animation, etc. is required at each point in the project and so that the product's users understand how the product works
-- Thorough knowledge of the project's subject matter.
-- Ability to pay close attention to details.
-- Ability to write clearly for a variety of readers.
-- Ability to use word-processing software.
-- Understanding of "high concept" or premises (a brief and easily understood description of the project's concept or premise), treatments (descriptions of the project's concept or goal), flow charts or game maps (descriptions of the action or how the user can move around in the project), outlines and scripts.

Other Helpful Skills or Characteristics:

-- Enjoy doing detailed work.: -- Ability to work alone much of the time.
-- Ability to be flexible and adjust to changes in project scheduling.

How to Find a Job:
New writers may be hired to write for a project and receive very little pay for their work, but building a list of credits can lead to job offers and higher pay on future projects.

Compensation:
A formal salary survey is not available; however we have references to annual salaries range from $35,000 for beginners to $75,000 for those with experience. Hourly wages range from $50/hr to $100/hr. All salaries depend on the nature of the project and the skill of the specialists.

Fine Art Jobs

The best art jobs I've ever had are teaching and illustrating, both of which take different approaches and different skills. What skills do you have?

Do you want to work for a gallery or art organization? Jobs that are specifically art-related might require a knowledge of art history, art restoration, or exhibit design. But most jobs in the art world (aside from actually selling your art work) use skills you've gained in other jobs - writing, selling, scheduling, working with people, managing people, managing a database, etc. That is also true of the graphic arts and publishing worlds, where your artistic eye for color and composition can be a great asset in combination with other, more industry-oriented skills. Do you know any software? What about imaging software? Do you have graphic arts experience? Do you know how to get something printed? Do you have any language skills, or marketing experience? Think about it.

It can be very worthwhile to volunteer at an art organization. Sometimes these positions include training in art-related work, like selling, hanging, curating, restoring, and administrative skills. And volunteer experience will be an important addition to your resume.

You might try to get into a work/study program in one of the art schools or art departments around town. . . Of course there are the Art Institute, California College of Arts and Crafts and Academy of Art College, but there others that might welcome help. . . like the San Francisco State art department, or City College. In addition to its main campus, City College runs the Fort Mason Art Campus . . An educational internship should include free classes or a substantial discount. See the Volunteer and Intern Listings.

Employment Status

Full-time:
If you can find full-time work that you like to do, you are blessed. The advantage of full-time employment is greater job security and health and retirement benefits. But note that often a graphic arts career as a full-time employee involves a lot of ‘sideways’ moves, rather than ‘upward’ moves, because you will often find better work (or wages) in a similar position in another company. Room for advancement is sometimes limited in a graphic design company or department because the design groups tend to be small, with only one or two levels of management.

Part-time:
Often part-time work is a good way to acquire different kinds of experience in related fields. And you will have the time to continue taking classes, or do an internship in your ‘dream’ company. But you may not be eligible for benefits, and there is little opportunity for advancement.

Free-lance / Consulting / Contract Work:
If you want to work entirely as a consultant or free-lance graphic designer, you need to do more than just start handing out your business cards. You must start your own business.
It’s not that complicated. First, you choose a business name, also known as ‘doing business as,’ or a ‘fictitious business name,’ Then you must search the records at City Hall to make sure that nobody else is using that name. (There is a small fee.) Then you must publish the fact that you have started a business, which means you take out a little classified ad in one of the legal newspapers. (Another small fee.) You must get a resale certificate (or ‘seller’s permit’) from the State Board of Equalization. Now you are officially permitted (required) to collect sales tax for the state of California. The State Board of Equalization will help you out with all of the above procedures.
One advantage of working as a freelancer is that every expense towards your business becomes tax-deductible, from transportation to postage to supplies to computers. You can charge what the market will bear, and usually that’s triple or quadruple what you’d make as a payroll employee, partly because you have a higher overhead. Graphic designers’ rates usually range from $35 - $100 dollars per hour, and may go much higher, depending on expertise and reputation. The disadvantages are that you don’t have any job security, your income fluctuates wildly, your paperwork increases, you pay more social security, and you pay for your own benefits.

Resources

Recruiting Online:
You can find many agencies online, under Employment, Temporary, Headhunters and Recruiting, as well as Job Listings with specific types of opportunities, like Art Jobs, Tech Jobs, Web Jobs, etc. A large list of job sites based in Northern California can be found on our Job Links page.

Network:
Ask your friends, your teachers, your co-workers, and go to meetings of organizations in your field. Eventually you will hear of opportunities. The trick is to tell everyone you know what you’re looking for, while keeping your ears open for other opportunities.

Join Organizations:

In San Francisco, you can take courses, get advice and read job listings at Media Alliance, Graphic Artists Guild, and Artists in Print. These organizations require that you become a member, and offer seminars, workshops and networking events. There are also advertising clubs, typography clubs, and graphic design clubs with local chapters, like AIGA, GraphxGrrls, IICS, etc. Seek them out.

Job Hunting Advice and Advisors:

About Work
A career counseling center (part of a much larger network: i Village.com: The Women's Network). Designed for women, but 96 percent of all career advice is gender-independent. Click on "Career" on the home page for Tools, Features, and Resources. Free membership.

American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)
For the graphic arts professional in design, illustration and photography. The oldest and most important organization in the field. Professional workshops, publications, and contacts/networking.

Art Advice
Contemporary Artists' Services
2022B Broadway Santa Monica, CA90404
560 Broadway New York,NY 10012,
Our website is designed to teach visual artists' the skills they need to manage their own careers. Information, advice and marketing tips updated monthly.

Artists in Print Bay Area

ArtNetwork California
Aassists artists to market and sell their artwork, connecting them to artworld professionals. Newsletter: ArtSource Quarterly. Books available, including: Encyclopedia of Living Artists. PO Box 1360, Nevada City, CA 95959.
(530) 470-0862 E-mail: info@artmarketing.com

The Career Action Center Bay Area
Job-hunting tips for members. Some career counseling articles for non-members.
10420 Bubb Road , Cupertino, CA

CareerMosaic Campus Directory national, international
Comprehensive list of American University and college career centers on the Web, links to Canadian centers, Worldwide centers – plus, other lists of resources.

Graphic Artists Guild
Membership organization/union. Privides pricing information and contracts. Career advice. Sponsors artist-rights legislation and monitors economic concerns of artists.

Graphic Design Career Chat

JobSmart California
Developed by job expert Mary Ellen Mort, a great career counseling site. Focus on California, many articles that apply to all job hunters: links to online career guides, section on resumes, descriptions of the hidden job market, Q&A.

Media Alliance Bay Area
814 Mission Street, Suite 205, San Francisco, 94103
(415) 546-6491 (415) 546-6334

RPI Career Resource national
This site, maintained by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has a good list of career counseling sites.

What Color Is Your Parachute/Job Hunting Online

Business

Independent Contractors (Nolo Press)
Resources designed to help answer the legal questions of people who work as independent contractors and those who hire them.

Small Business Information (from Netscape)

Working Today
Membership-based advocacy organization for members of the new independent workforce offers health insurance, legal assistance and other discounts.

Books and Publications

Publications:
The San Francisco Public Library’s business department has a vast selection of resources, including business directories like the Advertising Red Book, which lists the art directors and department heads of all the advertising agencies in town. You could purchase The Artist and Graphic Designer’s Market, at Stacey’s Books or Doubleday, for a national listing of companies that hire graphic designers, illustrators, etc. Read the industry magazines like Publish!, or Micropublishing News, Wired, Digital Artist, or Imaging, etc., to gather the names and locations of companies you might like to work for. These publications often list jobs in the back pages.

The Classifieds: :
The Chronicle-Examiner, Bay Guardian, San Jose Mercury News, East Bay Express, etc. The job you want may be listed under a few different headings: Administrative Assistant, Artist, Computer Artist, Computer Graphics, Desktop Publishing, Docent, Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Museum, Prepress, Printing, Production Assistant, Restoration, Sales, etc. Read the classifieds carefully, and respond immediately. Don’t wait - by the time they hit the street, hundreds of people have already seen them. You should have a resume and cover letter ready to go before you even look at the classifieds. Some companies specifically ask you not to call. If you disregard their request, you will not make friends.

Books:

The Artists Survival Manual, Toby Klayman, Scribner

The Business of Illustration, Steven Heller & Teresa Fernandes, Watson-Guptill

The Designer’s Common Sense Business Book, Barbara Ganim, North Light Books

Making a Living in the Fine Arts, Curtis W. Casewit, Macmillan

Business & Legal Forms for Graphic Designers, Tad Crawford & Eva Doman Bruck, Allworth Press

How to Make Your Design Business Profitable, Joyce M Stewart, Artist Market Business Series, North Light Books

The Artists’ and Graphic Designers’ Market, Writers’ Digest Books

Printing Estimating, Philip K. Ruggles, Delman

The Graphic Artist’s Guild Handbook - Pricing and Ethical Guidelines, dist. by North Light Books

Selling Your Graphic Design & Illustration, Tad Crawford and Arie Kopelman, St. Martin's Press

Art Now Gallery Guide: Art Now Inc. 97 Gray Rock Rd. Box 5541 Clifton, NJ 08809 The International Edition ($35) has listings for all regions of the United States and all of the world. Regional guides are available for: East Coast, Southern, Midwestern, and West Coast.

Yellow Pages:
Use the Yellow Pages. Read the display ads carefully. Call them up (this is called cold-calling). If you are polite and brief, you can get a lot of information about a company. The best thing to do is research the company at the library first (see above), then call the company and ask the receptionist for the name of the person in charge of hiring, in the department you’d like to work in. Do not ask to speak to them. They will usually be annoyed that you are using up their time for your job search. Instead, write a letter, mentioning a little bit about your interest in the company, and why you’d like to work for them. Include your resume, and samples if available.

Informational Interviews

If you are interested in a particular company or a particular industry, you should do some research at a personal level. One of the best sources for gathering information about what's happening in an occupation or an industry is to talk to people working in the field.
This kind of interview is not about getting a job. Use this low-stress forum to ask frank questions about the industry, the kind of skills required, the companies that are growing, etc. The person you are interviewing is doing you a favor, so treat them with respect. Come prepared with questions, listen to their advice, and don’t argue. As a bonus, this person may be able to guide you to a company looking for your skills, or recommend you to someone else on the basis of your informational interview. Don't ask them for a job. Remember, your main goal is greater knowledge about the path ahead of you.

Why conduct informational inteviews?

Explore careers and clarify your career goal
Discover employment opportunities that are not advertised
Expand your professional network
Build confidence for your job interviews
Access the most up-to-date career information
Identify your professional strengths and weaknesses

Who do you contact?

You can contact a relative, a friend of a friend, someone whose reputation you respect, the head of a department in your field, or someone working in the position you’d like to work in. If you don't know anybody, write a letter requesting an informational interview with the head of a department you’d like to work in, or with someone working in a similar position to one you’d like. Include your resume.
People are usually receptive. Many want to help new recruits, and they get great ego gratification.
Though the purpose may be different, follow the same advice as for job interviews. Dress appropriately, find out as much as you can about the company or individual, know what you're going to ask, be open to questions, and send a thank-you letter.

Your Goals
There are six main goals of informational interviews:

1.Establish rapport with the interviewers. Get to know them.
2.Let them know who you are. Be genuine and interested.
3.Get advice on your job-search, particularly on improving both your approach and your presentation.
4.Find out about your job market. Ask about latest developments, publications to read, or professional groups you should investigate.
5.Get referrals. If you haven't received names by an interview's end, it's appropriate to ask for other people with whom you might talk.
6.Be remembered favorably. Before leaving, tell an interviewer that you would appreciate being kept in mind in case s/he hears of anything

Steps To Follow

1.Identify the occupation or industry you wish to learn about
Assess your own interests, abilities, values, and skills, and evaluate labor conditions and trends to identify the best fields to research.
2.Prepare for the Interview
Read all you can about the field prior to the interview. Decide what information you would like to obtain about the occupation/industry. Prepare a list of questions that you would like to have answered.
3. Identify People to Interview
Start with lists of people you already know - friends, relatives, fellow students, present or former co-workers, supervisors, neighbors, etc... Professional organizations, the yellow pages, organizational directories, and public speakers are also good resources. You may also call an organization and ask for the name of the person by job title.
4. Arrange the Interview
Contact the person to set up an interview: by telephone, by a letter followed by a telephone call, or by having someone who knows the person make the appointment for you.
5.Conduct the Interview
Dress appropriately, arrive on time, be polite and professional. Refer to your list of prepared questions; stay on track, but allow for spontaneous discussion. Before leaving, ask your contact to suggest names of others who might be helpful to you and ask permission to use your contact's name when contacting these new contacts.
6. Follow Up
Immediately following the interview, record the information gathered. Be sure to send a thank-you note to your contact within one week of the interview.
NOTE: Always analyze the information you've gathered. Adjust your job search, resume, and career objective if necessary.

20 QUESTIONS!
Prepare a list of your own questions for your informational interview. Following are some sample questions:

On a typical day in this position, what do you do?
What training or education is required for this type of work?
What personal qualities or abilities are important to being successful in this job?
What part of this job do you find most satisfying? most challenging?
How did you get your job?
What opportunities for advancement are there in this field?
What entry level jobs are best for learning as much as possible?
What are the salary ranges for various levels in this field?
How do you see jobs in this field changing in the future?
Is there a demand for people in this occupation?
What special advice would you give a person entering this field?
What types of training do companies offer persons entering this field?
Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more about this field?
From your perspective, what are the problems you see working in this field?
If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why? What would you change?
What do you think of my training and experience in terms of entering this field?
With the information you have about my education, skills, and experience, what other fields or jobs would you suggest I research further before I make a final decision?
What do you think of my resume? Do you see any problem areas? How would you suggest I change it?
Who do you know that I should talk to next? When I call him/her, may I use your name?

Resumes

Traditional:
A resume should include your name, address, phone number, email address (if you have one), and all your previous experience that is relevant to the current job hunt. Your experience should be broken down into the following parts:
(1) work history: including employer, period of employment, job performed, additional duties and special accomplishments or awards in that job;
(2) other skills: including knowledge of software or special equipment, languages, or other special knowledge that might help make you look more attractive to prospective employers;
(3) other experience, including special projects, free-lance work, volunteer positions or internships; and
(4) education, including number of years, college attended, degrees, continuing or vocational education. To round out a picture of your personality, you can also include
(5) Awards and Achievements
(6) (only if it helps your image) hobbies or personal interests such as mountain climbing, fine art, travel, etc., but consider first whether any of these may come under the heading of special skills or experience.

Email
An email resume must be easy to read. You should use all the basic punctuation tools, including caps, underlines, asterisks and extra spaces, to make your information appear organized. An email resume, in particular, must also list 'key words.' These are words that can be searched for in a database. The reason many companies ask for an email resume is so they can enter it in a database easily. Then they will search the database for whatever skill they need at the moment, like 'Production,' or 'Illustrator.' (I think this is part of a rather de-humanizing trend in which we all will become replacable parts that do a certain job.)

Samples:
When sending a resume in the hope of getting an interview, it is often a good idea to send non-returnable samples of your work. This will give an even clearer idea of your skill level, and make your resume stand out from the crowd. But don’t send medium-grade samples or discards. Send only something that looks really good. If you want the samples returned to you, you must enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Don’t expect the recipient to put out the time or money to return your samples.

Brochure:
One way to ensure that your samples and your resume both look really good, is to combine them in your own promotional piece. You can create a brochure for yourself that will act as a resume while also showing your skills. This way you can include illustration, small photos of completed projects and demonstrate your graphic design skills. If you do this, put your heart into it. Treat yourself as well as you would any other client. The effort will make an obvious difference in quality.

The Professional Portfolio

Your portfolio is the best representation of what you as a designer, illustrator or fine artist are capable of doing. It is your essential tool of communication with clients, prospective employers, galleries or graduate schools and needs to be in a finished state by the time you graduate. The following outline details portfolio needs and the similarities and differences for different types of artists.
The portfolio contains only the best, professionally displayed examples of your work as an artist, assembled into a hand-carried or mailable form.

PRESENTATION

Exterior:
Depending on your personality, skills, and employment goal, your portfolio can vary widely, from a sleek black, professional zippered binder, to a hand-made book bound in aluminum. You can use a box, instead of a portfolio, to hold a couple of binders or loose samples. The case should be, not too large, easy to carry, durable, able to protect work well from: travel, bumps and weather. It MUST be easy to open and operate.

Dimensions:
Your portfolio should be easy to handle. Sometimes you will be asked to leave it for a day or two for review. You want the prospective client or employer to feel comfortable when handling and opening the portfolio, turning the pages, or removing samples. If it is awkward to handle, they may not look at your portfolio.

Inside:
Inside, the case should be: simple, easy to see, easy to rearrange and durable. Use high-quality pages and page protectors. Will you need to change work in the page protectors or can you laminate work? Acetate scratches easily, vinyl or mylar is more durable. Decide on ring binder (3 or more) or loose pages that fit into a tight case.

Number of pages:
Use only as many pages as necessary to show your best work. The worst mistake is to leave empty pages in the back. Quality is much more important than quantity. A ring binder or portfolio that contains removable pages is much more flexible that one with fixed plastic sleeves. That way you will only have to include as many pages as you need to show your best work..

Layout of pages & backgrounds:
Don’t use distracting colors or patterns behind your portfolio pieces. Many portfolios come supplied with black or grey inserts. You can usuallychange these, or slip other paper into the sleeve, but don’t draw attention away from your work.

Contents:

· The graphic design portfolio contains printed work.

· Illustrators will need printed and or original work and slide set(s).

· The media designer's portfolio may simply be some combination of video tape, CDROM or floppy discs. Find a professional case that carries these materials well. Many designers and illustrators will find themselves taking advantage of these types of presentation media as well. A color laptop computer makes an excellent display device. Be sure it has a CDROM and high graphics performance.

· A fine artist's portfolio will contain original work if two dimensional and not too large (prepared consistently). 35mm slides sets are a must for all types of work. 35mm slides, display transparencies or color prints will be needed for large or three dimensional work. 35mm slides should be in pages. You should bring a viewer or projector (in which case you would already have your slides in a tray as well as a slide page). Color prints or display transparencies are placed in vinyl or mylar pages and prepared consistently. Include significant articles or reviews, in protective pages, at the end of the portfolio.

NOTE: Take EVERY opportunity to examine the portfolios of working artists.

Work included:

· Show what you can do better than anyone else at your level. (Design, Illustration).
· Show your originality. Don't present yourself as being in the style of someone else.
· Technical competency. Do not include work compromised in anyway for any reason!
· Be able to talk confidently about your work. Be ready to explain why you chose to do everything you did.
· Remember that this work is the past. You will be hired for the future (design, illustration). Be confident, professional, at ease. Sell what you can do.
· For the fine artist the portfolio will probably represent a recently completed body of work intended for exhibition. Be confident, organized, verbal, know your field-now and historically. Present yourself well (don't be phony).
· Make sure your presentation of the work isn't so interesting or "busy" that it preempts the work itself. The idea is to complement your work...show it off to its best advantage.

Tailoring the Portfolio & Market Positioning

· RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!

· What companies are you best qualified to go to? What will these people need to see? Don't bring a portfolio of bunnies to a place that needs views of engine parts or futuristic game characters.

· Check the client lists of agencies.

· Fine artists must know the galleries! Read Art Now Gallery Guide, ArtWeek, local newspapers and gallery association brochures. Read art publications regularly. Visit the galleries, see who they represent, see what shows they have had and talk to other artists. Don't show up with art-brut sculpture at a printmaking gallery. Find out about the method of portfolio review. Many galleries reserve a particular day and time for this; for example: the first Saturday of the month from 2 to 3 PM. Can you get a reference from someone you know who knows someone at the gallery? Find out about all the types of gallery spaces available: public, private, commercial, cooperative. Don't underplay or overplay your hand.

· The client or gallery directors don't owe you anything (except courtesy).

PORTFOLIO ORGANIZATION

By chronology:
If you lay out your portfolio pieces according to chronology, it is probably a good idea to put the most recent work first, since it is probably more skilled, and will create a good first impression. Unless all your work is of one type, however, it will probably make more sense to organize by category.

By category:
you can divide your portfolio into sections that show (1) different techniques or media, i.e. photo-montage (Photoshop), vector drawings (Illustrator), special-effects type design; OR (2) different types of work, i.e. illustration, graphic design, web page design, printing projects; OR (3) type of piece created, i.e. brochures, logos, point-of -purchase displays, CD and tape covers.

By complexity:
You could group together all the four-color work, spot-color work, black and white, and package design.

Loose samples, pockets:
If you intend to include loose samples, choose a portfolio with pockets, or build them into your portfolio.

Business cards and non-returnable samples or info:
Another good use for pockets and plastic sleeves is to hold loose samples and business cards. You want the person reviewing the portfolio to be able to keep something as a reminder of who you are.

Order and Presentation of Work

Use the same size pages and same weight and color of background.
Make the presentation clean and simple. Use a neutral background.
Place your "best" work first and last.
Group work according to subject and content.
Place targeted work first, "famous" work second if present. For illustrators: fine arts work only with careful consideration and client research.
Show a maximum of 10 to 15 pieces of work in design or illustration-only your best! If your best is only 2 or 3 pieces, that's it!

Illustrators:

focus on a style or media (if you're everywhere you're nowhere).

Fine artists:

the most recently completed body of work that shows a mature, conceptual investigation. The work must be: one media, one style; powerful, committed, personal, and conceptually consistent. The number of pieces included will, of course, vary, but the one slide page limit guide line (20 pieces) may be useful in many cases
If a client or gallery director wants to see more or other work, you may have with you or near by additional examples. Do not, however, show second rate or filler work-ever! All work shown must be first quality.
Edit your work ruthlessly.

Graphic Designers:
Research interviews to see what will be appropriate to put in the portfolio. Some prospective clients or employers will be impressed with the full strength of your background. For example, photography or illustration is usually a major addition to your potential value as an employee. Interviews for a specialized client may be best targeted to just the type of work the client needs.

ORGANIZE YOUR PORTFOLIO TOWARD YOUR GOAL

If your short-term goal is just getting a job now, to make money while you learn other skills, then organize your portfolio to show your current strengths and concentrate on getting work where you can use those strengths. If you eventually want to do animation work, but your current experience is in publication production or design, then show the best samples of publications you’ve worked on and seek that kind of work for now, while you study animation. You can try to choose a company that produces publications but also has an animation department, and during the hiring process you could let them know that you have some skills in animation, and want to increase your experience.

However, if you have the training or experience, and want to switch careers or branch out, then don’t show work you don’t want to do. Don’t show ad design work if you want to illustrate. Don’t show photography if you want to do web design. You can add samples of other work you do in the back of your portfolio, in a separate section, or in a separate portfolio, clearly labeled ‘Illustration’ or ‘Graphic Design,’ etc, just to show how well-rounded you are. Those skills may also be useful, but are not your primary goal. If you let people know you're a great proofreader, but really want to do graphic design, they just might offer you proofreading. Then where will you be?

The Importance of Your Portfolio

For designers and illustrators
in an interview the portfolio counts about 40% the person about 60%. But, you must have a great portfolio no matter what.

For the Fine Artist
If your portfolio is weak in any way so are your chances. Your opportunities to show or sell work will be based directly on the quality of your portfolio. Invest the money it takes to put together a professional portfolio. After several years and tens of thousands of dollars spent on school this will be a relatively minor expense. Create your portfolio while still in school. Save up, look for a grant, consider a loan.

Building Your Portfolio

Getting real-world projects:
You could ask a friend, your current employer, or your favorite non-profit organization if they have a real project you could work on. You can offer to do it for free, which will guarantee some interest, with the condition that you get to keep some samples for your portfolio. This way you’ll get an actual, printed piece.

Creating practice projects:
You could make up some projects by creating ads for imaginary products. Those things that cross your mind late at night, when you’re inventing a better mouse-trap, could become the seeds for an advertising campaign. You could do make-overs of existing ads for your portfolio, and if they’re good enough, show them to the company in question. Maybe they’ll be interested in your work! Take any student projects or homework you’ve done here at CEA or elsewhere and finish and polish them the way you would for a real client.

Output:
Any of the projects you create can be output to a high-resolution color laser printer. Take your document, along with any fonts and imported images, to a service bureau for color output. If you’ve created something by hand, get good-quality color photos or color copies for your portfolio. You should trim them down or mat them with paper -- never show edges that are discolored or uneven.

Printing:
Graphic deigners and anyone who is expected to have prepress experience must show printed work in their portfolio. Try getting real world projects (see above), or create your own. You can get 500 postcards printed for about $100. You can split a 4-color print job with friends or fellow students -- design and print your brochures or samples on one large sheet and have them cut down after printing.

The Job Interview

You’ve been asked to come in for an interview, with your portfolio. To get to this point, you have probably made all the right moves:

Examined your likes and dislikes in previous work and learning situations - what kind of projects have inspired you?
You’ve determined your careers goals -- what jobs, in what industries, do you want to do?
You’ve made an exhaustive list of your strengths, abilities and past experience that support those career goals
Defined your preferred employment status - full-time, part-time, contract.
Researched the companies you’d like to work for
Written a thorough, readable resume which clearly defines your abilities and experience.
Written a brief, sincere, informative cover letter that explains why you want to work for this particular company, and how you will benefit them.
Sent your resume, letter and samples (if available) to your target companies

Now your materials have intrigued or impressed the Art Director or department head who is most closely involved in the hiring process. He or she has called you in the hope that you will be the person they’re looking for. Interviewing many candidates is a long and tiring process. The interviewer is motivated to find someone quickly. You will have thirty minutes to an hour to make a convincing impression. They will have an immediate response to you, based on how you present yourself, even before they see your work, so folow the guidelines below regarding appearance and communication. But your portfolio will be your main selling point. You don’t want to disappoint them.

Phone Calls

When on the phone with a prospective employer, let the other person do most of the talking. A phone interview should establish your communication skills, not be an opportunity to tell the interviewer your entire career history.
When taking a call from a prospective company or a recruiter, while at work, do so when you are ready and comfortable. If a call comes at a bad time, say so and reschedule.

Be prepared, but be yourself

The employment interview is one of the most important events in a person's experience, because the thirty minutes to one hour spent with the interviewer may determine the entire future course of one's life.
Interviewers are continually amazed at the number of candidates who come to job interviews without any apparent preparation and only the vaguest idea of what they are going to say. Other candidates create an impression of indifference by acting too casual. At the other extreme, a few candidates work themselves into such a state of mind that they seem to be in the last stages of nervous fright.
These marks of inexperience can be avoided by knowing what is expected of you and by making a few simple preparations before the interview.

Preparing For The Interview

Preparation is the first step for a successful interview. Thus, it is important to:

Know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer's full name and correct pronunciation, and the interviewer's title.
Do some research on the company interviewing you. It is helpful to know the age of the company, what products or services they supply, where there plants, offices or stores are located, what there growth has been, and what there future growth potential is. There are a number of publications that provide information about prospective employers. Most of them can be found in any college or public library. A brokerage office or your bank may also be able to supply you with pertinent information.
Prepare the questions you will ask during the interview. Remember that an interview is a "two-way street." The employer will try to determine through questioning if you have the qualifications necessary to do the job. You must determine through questioning whether the company will give you the opportunity for the growth and development you seek.

Some probing questions you might ask. . . .

(a) A detailed description of the position?

(b) Reason the position is available?

(d) Advanced training programs available for those who demonstrate outstanding ability?

(e) Earnings of successful people in their third to fifth year?

(f) Company growth plans?

(g) The next step in the hiring process?

Things To Do And Not To Do

You are being interviewed because the employer wants to hire people ... not because he wants to trip you up or embarrass you. Through the interaction which will take place during the interview the employer will be searching out your strong and weak points, evaluating you on your qualifications, skills and intellectual qualities, and will probably probe to determine your greatest value.
Creative people can enjoy a more diverse dress style than some other professions. However, be sure to research the interview on this point. If everyone else wears suits, you can expect they will look for the same in prospective employees. Nowadays though, creative agencies tend away from formal dress. In any event it is usually better to overdress a bit than to be underdressed.
A tip: drive by if you have not met people at the job site or seen the operation. See how people going in and out of the building dress and what the atmosphere is like. Visiting the site will also ensure that you know how to get there.

More Do's and Don'ts

DO plan to arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable.
If the employer presents you with an application to complete, DO fill it out neatly and completely. DON'T relax and rely on your application or resume to do your selling for you. Most employers will want you to speak for yourself.
DO greet the employer by his surname if you are sure of the pronunciation. If you are not, ask him to repeat his name. Give the appearance of energy as you walk. Smile! Shake his hand firmly. Be genuinely glad to meet the employer and the prospects are excellent you'll find him an interesting person.
DO wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright in your chair. Look alert and interested at all times. Be a good listener as well as a good talker. Smile.
DON'T smoke even if the employer smokes and offers you a cigarette. DON'T chew gum.
DO look a prospective employer in the eye while you talk to him.
DO follow the employer's leads, but try to get the employer to describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview so that you can relate your background, skills and accomplishments to the position.
DON'T interrupt or finish questions for the interviewer.
DON'T answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no". Explain briefly but in complete sentences. Tell those things about yourself which relate to the situation.
DO make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer in a factual, logical, sincere manner. Stress achievements. For example: projects completed, processes developed, savings achieved, systems installed, etc.
DON'T lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as "to the point" as possible.
DON'T ever make derogatory remarks about your present or former employers or companies.
DON'T "over answer" questions. The interviewer may steer the conversation into politics or economics. Since this is a ticklish situation it is best to answer these questions honestly but briefly. DON’T be defensive, or say any more than is necessary.
DON'T inquire about SALARY, VACATIONS, BONUSES, RETIREMENT, etc. on the initial interview UNLESS you are positive the employer is interested in hiring you. If the interviewer asks what salary you want, indicate what you've earned but that you're more interested in opportunity than in a specific salary amount at the present.
DO always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing, even if you have reservations. Seem interested. Never close the door on an opportunity. It is better to be in a position where you can choose from a number of positions--rather than only one.

Be Prepared To Answer Questions Like . . .

Why did you choose this particular vocation?
Why did you think you might like to work for our company?
What do you know about our company?
What qualifications do you have that make you feel that you will be successful in your field?
What do you think determines a person's progress in a good company?
Can you get recommendations from previous employers?
Can you take instructions without feeling upset?
What is your major weakness?
What have you done which shows initiative and willingness to work?
Are you willing to relocate?
How do you spend your spare time? What are your hobbies?
What type of books do you read? How many books per year?
Have you saved any money?
Do you have any debts?
What job in our company do you want to work toward?
What jobs have you enjoyed the most? The least? Why?
What are your own special abilities?
What types of people seem to rub you the wrong way?
Define cooperation.
Do you like regular hours?
What contributions to profits have you made in your present or former position to justify your salary level there?

Negative Factors Evaluated By An Employer

During the course of the interview, the employer will be evaluating your negative factors as well as your positive factors. Listed below are negative factors frequently evaluated during the course of the interview and those which most often lead to the rejection of the candidate

Poor personal appearance.
Overbearing, overaggressive, conceited, "know-it -all".
Inability to express thoughts clearly: poor poise, diction, or grammar.
Lack of planning for career: no purpose or goals.
Lack of interest and enthusiasm: passive and indifferent.
Lack of confidence and poise: nervousness.
Overemphasis on money: interested only in the best dollar offer.
Evasive--makes excuses for unfavorable factors in record.
Lack of tack, maturity, courtesy.
Condemnation of past employers.
Failure to look employer in the eye.
Limp, reluctant handshake.
Lack of appreciation of the value of experience.
Failure to ask questions about the job.
Persistent attitude of "What can you do for me?"
Lack of preparation for the interview--failure to get information about the company resulting in inability to ask intelligent questions.

What to say and not to say

There are many fatal mistakes that a candidate can make during an interview. Many HR Managers, Department Managers, Vice Presidents and Presidents have talked about to the pit-falls of candidates that look good on paper, but in person they lack the skills needed to secure a job opportunity. Here are just a few tips on interviewing that may help you.

Arrogance and righteousness and the inability to listen will certainly eliminate your chances of receiving an offer.
Be concise in your conversation and in answering questions. Many candidates talk themselves out of a job by talking too long and get into trouble by being contradicting. Limit each response to 60 seconds or less.
Others are rejected in the interview because they lack enthusiasm and energy. DO NOT put your listener to sleep!
Show interest, but DO NOT oversell yourself. If you oversell yourself it may come back at you on the job.
Your job is not only to sell yourself to the interviewer but also to find out if the job is a good fit for you. You do not want to accept something that is going to be counterproductive or not good for your career.
Prepare for the interview. Be well groomed and neat. But most important know something about the company, its culture and its competitors. Ask about the needs of the company.
Have good questions about the job . Ask about the future of the company. Ask the interviewer what kind of person that they are looking for. Then be quiet and LISTEN!
DO a self-assessment. Be prepared. Be positive and do not put down your previous or present employer.
Be aware of the interest level of the interviewer and be sure to ask for their card.
Be on time, do not smoke, drink, or chew gum. Thank the interviewer for their time. Close by asking what will be the next step.
A follow-up call to your recruiter and a thank you letter to the interviewer is a must.

Temp agencies:

Usually temp agencies want experienced people, and they will test you to make sure you know as much as you say you do. They don’t always pay that well, but it’s a great way to get experience and meet people in your field. MacTemps, Manpower, MacPeople, Strategic Staffing, Smith Hampton & Devlin, all claim to place desktop publishers and graphic designers, along with word processors.

Internships

Most internships offer experience and some training in exchange for work. A few will also offer a small hourly wage. An internship can last from one to six months. You must make sure that you will be trained in exchange for your labor. Try to get some specifics in writing before you start your internship, particularly about hours, length of internship, and skills in which you will be trained. Sometimes interns are taken advantage of, and end up being glorified gofers, but a good internship can lead to great connections and jobs.