Looking for advice about finding work in London

[johnnyfox]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a graphic designer with one year's experience working for a whisky company in the north of Scotland.

I am looking to find a new position in or around London and would appreciate some advice as to how I should go about this.

As the only full time member of design/marketing staff, my current job title is Design Manager. However, I am unsure whether I should use this title in my CV - as it would seem to imply a greater level of experience than I have. When applying for jobs in London I tend to find that junior positions best match my skill profile - but would calling myself a Design Manager help or hinder my applications for these roles?

Also, I am unsure whether it's better to stay in my current job while applying to work in London, or to move down there, making myself close at hand for interview opportunities. Will an employer look more favourably upon someone who is working (albeit at the other end of the country) or someone who is local and available?

Finally, I would really like to have my CV and portfolio assessed by someone who specialises in creative industry employment. Can anyone recommend some good sources for this?

Any advice is greatly appreciated and thank-you very much in advance!

John

[bigdave]

Firstly hiya.

Right,.... Getting a Junior Designer role in London is going to be like trying to get bottle of vodka in Boston, Linconshire! Every grad in the south of England will be applying for these positions in London at the moment and to be honest a years experience in-house isn't going to stand you in any better stead than anyone else.

If you're sure now is the time to move jobs and have a go in the big smoke then look in places like Design Week or contact recruitment agents in London such as Orchard. Digital, Creative and Marketing Recruitment. Any recruitment agency will ask for your portfolio and CV when you submit an application but be warned the recruitment agents that specialise in the creative industry take no prisoners and will rip you to bits given half a chance!

[sthomas]

I moved to London in the search of a junior designer position when I first graduated so be prepared for something like this:

1. Realise how expensive it is to rent/eat/live in London
2. Apply for loads of jobs - don't get any interviews
3. Contact recruitment agencies - need a minimum of 5 years experience
4. Take a temporary, mind-numbing job to help pay the rent
5. Keep applying for jobs, but can't go for any interviews due to the job
6. Don't have the time to work on folio because the temp job is taking up all the time
7. Realise you might have been better off getting more experience before moving to London

[johnnyfox]

Hi Bigdave/sthomas,

Thanks a lot for your advice, particularly for the helpful links. I'm keen to have my CV looking its best so getting ripped apart wouldn't be such a bad thing at this stage - I'll just need to hope that my designer's thick skin is good enough!

I think I'll widen my search to include the home counties so i've got a bit more scope. That way i'll at least be closer London than I am at the moment.

I've gained a good amount of experience in some specific areas of design (branding, packaging) so i'm hoping I can focus on roles that require this knowledge.

Can you recommend how I should approach the job title issue? Whether I should play up or play down 'Design Manager' when applying for junior roles?

Thanks again,

John

[sthomas]

I wouldn't say that you were the Design Manager - just that you sole responsibility for the design output.

The title of Design Manager might work against you when employers realise how little design experience you actually have - just be honest in your CV otherwise it might come back to bite you.

[Dave L]

I moved to London in the search of a junior designer position when I first graduated so be prepared for something like this:

1. Realise how expensive it is to rent/eat/live in London
2. Apply for loads of jobs - don't get any interviews
3. Contact recruitment agencies - need a minimum of 5 years experience
4. Take a temporary, mind-numbing job to help pay the rent
5. Keep applying for jobs, but can't go for any interviews due to the job
6. Don't have the time to work on folio because the temp job is taking up all the time
7. Realise you might have been better off getting more experience before moving to London

Makes the whole enterprise sound like a fast track to getting spat out the bottom of the sex industry.

[sthomas]

:) Luckily I managed to land a design job just in time...

[bigdave]

:) Luckily I managed to land a design job just in time...

Just before the sex trade started to make things sting? ;)

[daytona]

I moved to London in the search of a junior designer position when I first graduated so be prepared for something like this:

1. Realise how expensive it is to rent/eat/live in London
2. Apply for loads of jobs - don't get any interviews
3. Contact recruitment agencies - need a minimum of 5 years experience
4. Take a temporary, mind-numbing job to help pay the rent
5. Keep applying for jobs, but can't go for any interviews due to the job
6. Don't have the time to work on folio because the temp job is taking up all the time
7. Realise you might have been better off getting more experience before moving to London

thanks for smashing my dreams....:icon_tongue_smilie:
Maybe i'll just do my degree in london then GTFO!

[sthomas]

Sorry for putting you off...