{Help} YOUR PATH TO FINDING WORK {Tips}

@GCarlD

@GCarlD

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone,

I'm new here and I was wondering if there is anyone who has been unemployed that now has work on (freelance) or a new job?

If you can share your stories in this thread, on how you found work/employment, and give any help or advice I (and i'm sure many others) would really appreciate it.

My current situation:

Ever since graduating many years ago, I haven't been able to find full time employment and so I turned my focus more towards freelancing with very little success.

Feel free to read my short intro here: http://www.graphicdesignforums.co.u...one-any-help-would-appreciated.html#post46019

As I said in there, I am struggling to find work and like many I am in desperate need of it. I have been trying so hard and I sometimes feel like I'm running out of gas so to speak and just don't know what to do from here. I thought this would be a good place to come for help and tips to finding work. I am even going to be bold enough and ask that if there is anyone out there who can send some work my way or offer me a job, please get in contact with me, I'd be more than happy to show you my CV, portfolio etc.

Thank you.
 
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Hi There,

The first thing you need to do is to be totally honest with yourself. Ask yourself the question, why have I been unable to gain employment after graduating “many years ago”? By answering this question it may help with some future direction and focus. What area, style, and discipline of design do you want to do?
It’s very competitive at the moment within the current climate of jobs and one position is seeing hundreds of applications. You need to get some experience if you don’t already, and this should be paid, unpaid or apprentice, otherwise you are going to stagnate and lack drive and current skills.

A few useful links to check out jobs are the following –


www.thisiscentralstation.com
www.creativetimes.co.uk
www.creativeboom.co.uk
www.artsjobs.org.uk
www.creativeopportunities.arts.ac.uk
www.designjobsboard.com
www.gumtree.com
www.jobs.designweek.co.uk
www.thedrum.com/jobs

Obviously there are many more places to look and find jobs, and the above is just an example, but you need to think creatively, just as you would on a project. Design studios often place their jobs on their own blog or news section of their websites. They know they get a lot of traffic and you need to keep a constant eye open, positions go fast!

A few tips would be –

Only send out speculative CV’s to design businesses that you really would like to work for. If you do get an interview, afterwards, follow it up with a polite email saying thank you. Do your research on who you want to work for, even speak to a few of their clients to get more of an overview. Attend the local creative networking events, forums, seminars and activities; it’s a great way to meet potential new employers.

I got my first junior designer job by baking a cake for the studio. I put the studios logo on top of the cake and traveled 150 plus miles to see them and have a chat about what they do and look at their portfolio. A few weeks later they offered me a position. This example is only a small gesture, but it helps to stand out amongst the crowd.

Send me a link to your portfolio and CV and I’ll see if I can help.

All the best, Mark
 
Hello DesignTutor,

Thank you for your post, it's nice to get a response. Very useful ineed. I'll try and answer your questions the best I can.

It's not that I haven't had work since graduating, that would not be true. I have had some experience. What would be the case is that I have not had full time employment since graduating. This maybe partly due to the fact that I decided to go freelance after being unsuccessful gaining full time work.

As for "What area, style, and discipline of design do you want to do?" I think I pretty much cover most (not all) areas of design, expect for the web. I do not want to limit myself and only choose certain types of graphic design jobs. Not only do I think that would be unwise for me but it would also limit my options for work. Thank you for those links, I am already registered to a couple of them but there are a couple there that will definitely be of help to me.

Now although I was concentrating on freelancing, as that is where I have had a bit of success, I would be happy to be employed. I am trying to give myself as many options as possible, so if I get work through employment or freelance I will be happy.

I'd be happy to send you my CV & portfolio but could you tell me a bit about yourself? What do you do? What's your position in the 'World of Design?'

Thank you again for your help.
 
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Hi CLHB,

I've worked in design since 1993, worked as a designer for 18 years, 9 years as a graphic design lecturer and now focusing on creative business and new business development. I've worked with the Arts Council, Design Council and many blue chip companies. By all means, send a link to your portfolio or cv if you wish.
All the best, mark
 
Hi there, I have struggled like you A LOT! I wont go into now as its boring but... you should first off... post your portfolio and cv on here for a crit and listen to people and also get in touch with a local design agency, not for work but to say can 'I come in and get some advice'. Then do any work you can get through friends etc to build up your portfolio. and keep in contact with said design agency or anyone you meet along the way and email them linkedin FB etc etc and say hey heres some new work.... finally... really and truly understand recruitment agencies are bloody annoying! You have to bug them ALL THE TIME! its no use saying yeh well they don't understand... because they don't care! find some good ones bug them. Say when can I meet you go through my portfolio/cv/ whatever? if a recruitment firm isn't willing to meet with you they are wasting your time :) Then bug them some more. I really have struggled but now I freelance all over the place and I'm so busy I'm turning work down! so don't worry it will happen BUT only if you make it. Also I don't know where your based but google creative meet ups in your area they're always good, I had a chat with the art director from Sony music and the product developer from Last FM a few months back, to name drop a few. Hope that helps and if i you want to know more about me just look at past posts.. this site has really helped me and I owe the guys here a lot :)
 
Moominbaby said:
Hi there, I have struggled like you A LOT! I wont go into now as its boring but... you should first off... post your portfolio and cv on here for a crit and listen to people and also get in touch with a local design agency, not for work but to say can 'I come in and get some advice'. Then do any work you can get through friends etc to build up your portfolio. and keep in contact with said design agency or anyone you meet along the way and email them linkedin FB etc etc and say hey heres some new work.... finally... really and truly understand recruitment agencies are bloody annoying! You have to bug them ALL THE TIME! its no use saying yeh well they don't understand... because they don't care! find some good ones bug them. Say when can I meet you go through my portfolio/cv/ whatever? if a recruitment firm isn't willing to meet with you they are wasting your time :) Then bug them some more. I really have struggled but now I freelance all over the place and I'm so busy I'm turning work down! so don't worry it will happen BUT only if you make it. Also I don't know where your based but google creative meet ups in your area they're always good, I had a chat with the art director from Sony music and the product developer from Last FM a few months back, to name drop a few. Hope that helps and if i you want to know more about me just look at past posts.. this site has really helped me and I owe the guys here a lot :)
Click to expand...

Sound advice, thank you. Yes I can see this site being a lifesaver for me, it is fantastic, wish I found this place years ago. I live very close to Kingston. It's nice to meet someone on here who lives in my local(ish) area. Are you also a designer or an illustrator? As for you turning down work, there's no need to do that. Just send them my way! :icon_smile:
 
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