Internships and Interviewing

These are my thoughts on Internships.

Everyone in the Junior Design Class needs to design and write a resume now.

Your resume is a reflection of yourself. It is usually the first thing a client looks at long before they see your work. Your resume is your BRAND, your identity. Design it as you would a product. You are the "product" looking for an internship or job. Be Smart about this. This resume and a clever cover letter arrive to the eyes of the person you seeking an internship (or job) long before you arrive. 

So be careful and read these suggestions I have come to embrace.

Learn to market yourself with some degree of sophistication.

TOP SEVEN RULES OF INTERVIEWING AND BEYOND:

1. Number one rule:

NO SPELLING ERRORS.

NONE. CHECK IT. CHECK IT AGAIN.

HAVE SOMEONE ELSE CHECK IT.

Check it again.

2. Second rule:

MAKE SURE THE RESUME IS A PDF so you can send it as an attachment easily.

This file should not be huge and take a minute to open up.

It's a resume not an animation. When your pdf resume opens up it should not, I repeat, should not open as sequential layers. It should be flat. One Page...not 2 pages. One Page.

3. Third Rule:

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR CORRECT INFORMATION ON YOUR RESUME.

The person you are sending it to just might want to call you right away. Put your phone number on it along with your email address and possibly even your address. Give them information they need to contact you if they want you for an internship. Use common sense about this and when they call you answer your phone.

SEND YOUR RESUME TO YOURSELF (email attachment)OR SOMEONE ELSE TO LOOK AT BEFORE YOU SEND IT TO THE PLACE YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR A JOB OR INTERNSHIP. Sometimes it might look just fine leaving your email account but it arrives in a whole new way at the other end.  The font might suddenly go awol and look totally screwed up. It happens. Test it out first.

GET YOUR ON-LINE PORTFOLIO DONE NOW (That means today) AND CONTINUALLY UPDATE IT.

ONLY PUT YOUR BEST WORK ON IT. EVERYTHING RIDES ON THIS FIRST IMPRESSION SO MAKE SURE YOU DO IT CORRECTLY OR YOU MAY NEVER MAKE IT TO THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. You are a designer. Think like one. Design like one. 

The Interview starts the minute you contact someone for an internship. Mind your manners.

4. Fourth Rule:

When you send off your resume and work to be considered for an internship check your emails with some consistency after that so you can respond when you get a reply.Remember you are applying for internships that are highly sought after so others are applying. Sometimes companies keep looking at applications until the right one comes along. Sometimes an internship is negotiated between Instructors and the Company. "Hey Stan,  We've really enjoyed the designers you sent to us in the past...do you have any more like that?  This is time to take note that your Instructors usually are contacted by the company for a recommendation. Make good with your professors. They are you first line of support.

5. Fifth Rule:

WHEN YOU GO FOR AN INTERVIEW, DO NOT, ABSOLUTELY NOT, EVER, NEVER BE LATE FOR THE APPOINTMENT. If you don't know where the whereabouts of the place for your interview, then do a "drive by" the day before and see how long it takes you to get there.

Figure out what you are going to wear, figure out what questions you want to ask during your interview. Remember YOU ARE INTERVIEWING THEM TOO. Ask good questions.

KNOW YOUR CLIENT. Go to their website and review their work and have something to say about what you saw. You can count on it that they will ask you why you want to intern with them. Be Specific.

6. Sixth Rule:

BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE INTERVIEW PROCESS IN PERSON, ask them when you can expect to hear back from them. Tell them you enjoyed the interview, show some energy and personality besides what is on your resume and in your portfolio. They are hiring YOU and YOUR WORK.

PERSONALITY COUNTS big time. Take one with you and show it off.

It is important to take it seriously, but have fun. It is so important to the process.

7. Seventh Rule:

IF YOU DON'T GET THE INTERNSHIP, MOVE ON AND TRY ANOTHER PLACE.

DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. YOU JUST MIGHT NOT THE RIGHT FIT FOR THE CLIENT and IT MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD FIT FOR YOU. It works both ways. It's a relationship.

Some internships I would marry and some I would divorce (or not even date.)

THAT'S A BLESSING REALLY. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.

Everything in it's own time.

Trust yourself. Listen to your intuition. Be confident in your talents.

Have fun with the interviewing process.