Finding that Art Career.
For those who are new to the job market or seasoned and ready for a change that’s long overdue – now is the time to polish that resume. It is getting increasingly harder to find that perfect opportunity, but there are ways to stand out. We highlight the 5 most important moves you need to make in order to gain that next opportunity!
Do your Homework 📓
If you’re fresh out of school or seasoned and looking for something better, doing your research before making the leap is the most important thing you can do for yourself. Knowing what kind of job role you desire, salary, benefits, and criteria set you up for success. The job market changes frequently, so it is wise to get as much information about the position you’re seeking. For example, salary is probably one of many priorities, but some companies like to take advantage of inexperienced candidates. If you did your homework properly, for instance, a graphic design salary on Glassdoor, lists the total pay, base pay, and additional pay. This, of course, will differ from state to state or country. But beware, companies will offer you based on your experience, so if you’re a junior to the job market, do not buckle under pressure. When it comes to negotiating salary, knowing the market salary will better position you.
Building that Resume 🛠
It typically takes 3-6 months to land a job these days, so use your time wisely. If you are pressed for time, then it’s imperative you stay on top of this, your resume needs to be ready to go at any given moment. For those who have flexibility in the job search, perfecting your resume will aid in landing the next career opportunity. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
Keep it short. Recruiters/Companies do not have time to read resumes that are more than 2 pages. One-page resumes are highly favorable, so if your resume is long, cut some things out.
Only list 3 establishments you previously worked at under past experience. Anything more than that loses the recruiter’s interest. If you have a gap in between jobs – do not panic, not all recruiters/companies will ask. More importantly, make sure work descriptions are short and concise written in the third person.
Keep your information up to date and correct. Having a misspelled email address or the wrong phone number will cost you that opportunity. Always double-check the spelling of social handles, email addresses, and phone numbers.
Add your skillsets. Make sure there is room for your skillsets. Usually, this is nestled underneath contact information or toward the bottom. Remember, everything you’ve spent time on perfecting counts, so don’t sell yourself short!
Highlight awards/major projects. If you’ve received any recognition at work or on a project, be sure to add it! If you are short on space, add this within the description of past experience.
Be creative! Since we are all artists, designing your resume is the first opportunity to show off your skills. This doesn’t mean to go crazy with colors or crowding the resume with quirky additives. Design your resume in a way where it’s still readable and easy on the eyes.
Create a Digital Portfolio 💾
Today, companies will ask for a digital portfolio. Digital portfolios are an online collection of work that represents your abilities and skills as a professional in your particular field. They are typically made up of your best work over a period of time and are roughly about 10-15 pages long. You can easily make this yourself from scratch or using a template. Visit our Library, and enter our Marketing tab, here you will find several online platforms to create your next digital portfolio.
Practice Interviewing Questions ⁉️
We all have nerves when we get that “call” from the recruiter or company. If you have an interview coming up, it is best to research some common interviewing questions and practice them with a family member or with a friend. The more comfortable you are with answering them, the calmer your nerves will be going into the interviewing process.
Maximizing Your Job Hunt 👩🏻💻
Looking on job platforms can be overwhelming, however, there are better ways to maximize your job search. Recruiting platforms are vital and there are many on the market, but choosing the right one can be tricky. This requires a bit of research as well, however – we have done that part of the work for you. We have combed through the top recruiting platforms for creatives, but you will have to choose which one is best for you, but keep in mind you will have to create an account and profile. If you use both, the recruiting platforms and manual job search, then you double your chances of getting noticed.
We hope this blog has helped you. Best of luck to all in your searches, but if you get stuck, always pay a visit to our Library 📚