I have recently been getting rather a lot of emails from newly graduated design hopefuls. People looking to take their first tentative steps on the road of creative fulfillment. I remember what it was like trying to find my first job; it can be a little daunting. So I’d like to offer some advice, if I may?
Many of the job-seeking emails I receive make some basic mistakes. If you’re reading this as a job seeker, that is a good thing as you have the opportunity to stand out from the crowd. It’s just going to take a few minutes of planning, that’s all. I have prepared 7 simple tips to help you when contacting a prospective employer. Using these suggestions could seriously boost your chances of getting to interview, and reduce the risk of your email being deleted. Neat eh?
Tip 1: Find out the name of the person you are contacting.
If I get an email without my name at the top, I feel like it isn’t really to me. This means I don’t feel bad about not replying. If you can’t find a contact name on the company’s website, phone them. ‘Phone’ is a bonus feature that comes built in to most texting machines these days.
Tip 2: Send work examples.
Be careful here; it’s important not to clog up the inbox of your prospective employer with a 12mb PDF, but a couple of well chosen images can generate interest. You might also include a link to your website, incase the reader wants to see more. When you attach work examples, send a single file (PDF is best) and give it a name like ‘peteclark-work.pdf’. Avoid sending Word documents – this may sound like design snobbery, but Word is not the right tool to showcase your design skills. Nor is Publisher. Ever.
Tip 3: Spell check and READ your email before you send it.
I’m aware that many graphic designers aren’t too hot on spelling and grammar. But, and I cannot stress this enough, sending an email that is riddled with spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and bizarre changes in tense will make you look amateur. If you struggle in this area, get some help. At the very least, don’t make claims that could undermine you. I recently got an email from someone with a “Keen eye for detail” who managed to spell our company name wrong.
Tip 4: Don’t send an email at all.
People are going to think I’m nuts for suggesting this, but you could always post a letter. Yes, a paper letter! These days almost everything is emailed – however, important documents still tend to be sent through the post. A well typeset, letter and printed work examples (on good paper) will command a certain respect that an email never could. You know how many job seekers have posted me a letter? None. So anyone who did that would stand out.
Tip 5: State why you want the job.
If I’m going to give someone a job, they need to prove that they really want it. I want to hear from people who can’t go more than a couple of days without creating something. I would sooner hire someone who is “a little obsessed with typography” than someone who “really enjoyed being at uni”.
Tip 6: Explain why you are a good choice.
I care about your ideas, enthusiasm, desire to learn, commitment, ethics and software skills. In that order. Don’t list all the software you can use without saying why that matters. Graphic design is about ideas, not software skills. Imagine a doctor who is an expert with a stethoscope but has no interest in curing people. That doctor, would be a BAD doctor.
Tip 7: Put some effort in.
I once received the following email:
Hello
I wanted to ask if there is any Graphic Designer Vacancy Available?
Thank you
Ralph
I actually did reply to this one, because it made me laugh. I sent back the following:
Hi
No there isn’t I’m Afraid
Cheers
Pete
So there you have it, my top tips for getting noticed. Obviously this is really just a starting point, but these are things that you can start doing right now, without much effort. And remember: The best jobs go to the best people. So start doing everything you can to be one of the best people. I’d be interested to hear if anyone else has tips of their own to add to the ones above. Good luck!
Pete Clark
Director of CCT Creative
pete@cctcreative.co.uk