Caroline Macrae, Head of
Design at Dom and Geri gives her advice and guidance to those wanting to apply
for jobs within the creative industry.
Applying for the job
“It is important to be proactive,
plan ahead and have the right attitude and personality for the position. These
attributes have enabled me to get my work in front of the right people and got
me to where I am now.
If you see a particular company
that you want to work for, my tip would be to contact them - even if they don’t
have any jobs advertised. Make a call to show your interest and to find out the
right person to speak to.
I believe that a well written CV
is still the best way to communicate the value that an individual will bring to
the position advertised - but a concise online profile or portfolio can also be
a great way to show off your very best work.”
Networking Skills
“Due to the explosion of social
media and a tighter job market, people are definitely taking advantage of the
opportunity to network online, building relationships and then submitting CVs
once they have made a connection. I found that networking played a very
important role in my gaining a creative position - but it is important to not
restrict yourself to one mode of networking.
Look out for opportunities to
network in person, through acquaintances or at industry-related events. Before
going to such events find out who is attending and familiarise yourself with
the respective companies. Look at their online presence, their personality and
promotional materials in order to establish what they would be looking for in a
prospective employee, and then tailor your
What to avoid
“Try to avoid sending your CV by
email, as it can either be deleted or just put in the ‘to do’ file with the
many other hopefuls.
It is important to understand
that if your application is well-designed and appealing to look at, but has
grammar and spelling errors and lacks substance, you won’t receive an interview
invite.
Make sure that you read your
entire application out loud, ensuring that the words on the page showcase
concrete examples of your skills and past accomplishments.”
Tips
“When looking for
potential employees at Dom and Geri, we are amazed at the lengths people will
go to in order to secure a job with us. We have been sent a 3-D CV, a T-shirt
CV, and even an application on fabric - all of which we instantly were
impressed by. The main aim is to get
your potential employer to look at what you have created, and to want to meet
the person behind it all.
Employers look to see
what experience the applicant has had to determine whether they are suited to
the role. Volunteering for several organisations enabled me to add important
and relevant experience to my CV, gain practical knowledge, improve my creative
skills and increase my confidence through the feedback received. I found the
knowledge and experience gained was invaluable to me, opening doors I would
never have been able to open myself.
If you feel like you are struggling
to overcome obstacles, try to think even further outside the box. People in
this industry are rightfully known for their originality and creative problem-solving,
so why not make yourself stand out and become even more innovative?
It could open up a world of
opportunity. “
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