You're Hired!

Over the past three years since I've started my own design business I've had a lot of art students contact me asking for various forms of advice. I am happy to share with them and I hope it helps in their pursuit in this industry. A while back someone on the HOW Design Forum asked for insight in regards to an interview they were going to have the next day. This caused me to think back when I interviewed after art school seeing as everyone else in the forum was already giving good solid advice about what to do, I decided to share with this person some real-world examples of what not to do that I personally experienced while interviewing.

What not to do Number 1: If your sick re-schedule it. I didn't and during the interview I was sniffling and playing yo-yo with post nasal drip. Then at the end of the interview I sneezed put my hand up to cover my face and deposited about 12 fluid ounces of snot in my right hand. Immediately after doing that the art director finished looking at my book, smiled and extended his hand to shake mine while standing up. Remember, I now have a hand full of snot so what should I do? I can't tell him "Sorry but my hand is full of snot right now." So in those few moments panic started to set in and as I stood I let my right hand slide against the padded cushion of the chair wiping the snot off in one constant motion as I then raised my arm and shook his hand hoping I had wiped it clean. Needless to say I didn't get the job and someone using the chair later got a nice slimy surprise.

What not to do Number 2: Never mention other design work you didn't do that you've seen in public that you didn't like or thought was poorly executed. Murphy's law dictates that the art director interviewing you when you comment on fore mentioned work will be the one who did that work you didn't like and they won't appreciate your design opinions.

What not to do Number 3: Put your portfolio in a safe secure place the night before you goto an interview. This prevents any cats from pissing on it to mark their territory i.e. your portfolio case. And since they do it during the night the urine dries thus making you unaware of the problem until your in your really hot car half way to the interview location and something starts smelling really hinky.

What you might not want to do Number 4: When a company shows enough interest in hiring you that they have a two hour phone interview and then pay to fly you to meet with them for another interview onsite, it's a good idea to dress professionally and not wear a t-shirt, shorts and sandals to the interview. Then again I got the job with Upper Deck so maybe it's ok to do that? I still get ribbed for that to this day.