Career Workshop
Graphic Design
Slides available at:
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
Amy Wiggins & Natalie Basden
Careers & Employability Service
Agenda
• Introduction to the Careers and Employability
Service
• What do graphic design graduates do and where
can I look for jobs?
• What can I do to improve my chances of getting a
job?
• CVs and covering letters
• Application forms
• Interview skills
What support can you get from the
Careers and Employability Service?
• One-to-one guidance – medwaycareers@kent.ac.uk
• Drop-in service
• Workshops
• Vacancy database
• Online support
• Resources
What do University of Kent Graphic Design graduates
do?
Graphic design careers
• Design Intern, Unicorn
Press Ltd
• Assistant Graphic Designer,
Lockton Companies
• Junior Graphic Designer,
Debbie’s Villas
• UI/UX Designer, T +
Biscuits
• Graphic Designer, Create
Motion
• Design and Marketing Officer,
Hidden Park Golf Centre
• Creative Designer, Remedy
Creative
• Digital Media Designer, K
College
• Junior Graphic Designer,
Ferrier Pearce
• Web Designer, DJM Music
• Web Designer, Saga Holidays
Other careers
• Graphic Designer, selfemployed
• Events Co-ordinator, Circa
Group
• Graphic Designer,
Giambrone Law
• PGCE (teaching qualification)
Nationally what do Graphic Design graduates
do?
http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/assets/assets/documents/
wdgd_arts_humanities_2014.pdf
Page 5
Self-employment
• 4.8% of first degree graduates from 2012/13 were selfemployed compared to 15% of all employed people.
• Over a third of this 4.8% were art, design and media
professionals.
(What do graduates do? (2014) Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) and
the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS))
• Graphic design: ‘Self-employment and freelance work
are common. Designers with several years' experience
and professional contacts are most likely to freelance
successfully.’ (Prospects website 2015)
• Find out more: http://www.kent.ac.uk/enterprise/practicalpartnering/enterprise-hub/index.html
Page 6
How can I research career options and search
for jobs?
www.prospects.ac.uk
http://ccskills.org.uk/careers/advice
• Overview of the sector
• Job descriptions
• Salary and conditions
• Entry requirements
• Training and career development
• Employers and vacancy sources
Page 7
The competition is tough!
Example of an internship recruitment process for a global
creative communications company:
• Create a Facebook page to make a person or thing
famous – 250 out of 3000 applicants passed this stage
• Online quiz involving internet research
• To re-create a good advert and talk for 90 seconds on You
Tube about a bad advert
• CV
• Skype interview
• Assessment centre – 12 of the original 3000 offered jobs
Page 8
What can I do to improve my chances of getting
a job?
• Work hard on your course
• Gain skills through extra curricular activities
• Get work experience
• Network
• Research the industry you are interested in
• Practise CV/application form/interview skills
• Have a good personal brand and online
presence
Page 9
What is personal branding?
“Personal branding is how we define ourselves
in the work space while at the same time,
incorporating the personal elements that make
us who we are.”
Dawn Rasmussen from BrandYourself website,
accessed April 2015.
Page 10
Photos
Don’t be THAT guy...
CVs - poll
On average how long does a
recruiter spend looking at a CV?
a. 0-30 seconds
b. 30 seconds – 1 minute
c. 1-2 minutes
Activity
• You will be given three CVs and you will have 20
seconds to look at each one and decide which one you
would invite to an interview.
CV 1
End
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
CV 2
End
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
CV 3
End
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
CVs 1, 2 & 3
Which one did you choose
and why?
General CV tips
• Check spelling and grammar.
• Keep your CV to one or two sides of paper.
• Clear professional layout using bold and bullet points but in
moderation.
• Formatting – make sure it’s consistent.
• Size 10-12 font (depending on font style).
• Clear font e.g. Arial, Calibri.
• Use short, concise sentences.
General CV tips - continued
• Reverse chronological order and include dates.
• Personal profile is optional – tailor to role, be specific and
use unique selling points.
• Don’t just list duties – demonstrate your skills.
• Highlight specific outcomes/achievements/results.
• Ensure you include evidence for everything in the person
specification.
How not to do it
• My hobbits include - instead of 'hobbies.'
• I have good writen skills.
• i am a prefectionist and rarely if if ever forget
details.
• I hope to hear from you shorty.
• In my spare time I enjoy hiding my horse.
• Restaurant skills: Severing customers
• Full clean driving licence and I own a cat.
Where to find example CVs
• www.kent.ac.uk/ces
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/files/pdf/How_to_
Write_a_CV_leaflet2010.pdf
• http://www.seo-london.com/get-started/makinga-strong-application
• http://www.gradskent.com/graduates/applicatio
n_advice/61/
Graphic design CVs – matching to the role
• It is not ‘one size fits all’, you need to tailor your CV to
each position you apply for.
• Research the company. Do they have a mission
statement or core values? What will they be looking
for in you? Check the job description/person
specification.
Page 23
Activity
• In pairs/threes look at the graphic design jobs
and highlight the things you should provide
evidence for on your CV.
• What evidence would you give to show you had
that skill/attribute/experience?
Page 24
Creative CVs
Activity:
• Look at the graphic design creative CVs.
• In pairs/threes discuss what you like and don’t like
about them.
• What are the pros and cons of doing a creative CV?
Page 25
Creative CVs – pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Can show off your creativity
and personality
Higher risk – it could backfire and
you would usually be providing a
portfolio/online access to creative
work anyway
Can demonstrate your
technical skills
There are dangers of the
formatting not translating
May make you memorable
They may not be processed by
computerised filter systems
There might be an increased
chance of finding a good fit
Risk that the ‘packaging’ takes
over and the content suffers
Page 26
Creative CVs - tips
• Who are you applying to? Research!
• Must be tailored to the job/ employer
• Give examples of work (links)
• Check that the employer is open to creative CVs and
uses the software you provide it in.
• CV must be clear, easy to follow and to ‘digest’
• Make sure the content is sufficient
• Get feedback from lots of different people
Page 27
Creative CV examples
•
http://mentalfloss.com/article/55829/11-creative-resumes-designedstand-out
•
http://careers.falmouth.ac.uk/sites/default/files/files/CreativeCVGuide(1).
pdf
•
http://www.shortlist.com/cool-stuff/design/30-most-inventive-resumes
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU91HIzC8_0
•
Article on Instagram replacing CVs and portfolios in the creative
industries : http://www.recruitmentgrapevine.com/article/2014-04-15instagram-replacing-cvs-in-creative-industry
Page 28
Covering letters
• Never send a ‘naked’ CV!
• 1 side of A4 – similar to a UCAS personal statement.
• Introduction: who you are (e.g. final year Graphic Design
student), why you are writing, where you found the
vacancy (if advertised).
• Why job/why industry?
• Why that company in particular? Show you have taken
time to do your research.
• Why you? Sell your skills, experience and competencies.
Why are you suitable for the role?
• Conclusion: don’t forget, ‘Yours sincerely’ if you’ve used
their name, ‘Yours faithfully’ for ‘Sir/Madam’.
For more on covering letters…
• http://www.prospects.ac.uk/covering_lett
ers.htm
• http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/how-writecover-letter
• http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/examplecover-letter
Application forms – general tips
• Tailor to the skills required for the role
• Show your research – be specific when you write
answers on why you want the role/ why you want to
work for the organisation
• Check spelling and grammar
• Beware of copy and paste!
Page 31
Application forms - competency questions
For questions where you are asked to ‘explain a time when…’, it is
useful to use the STAR approach:
• Situation – set the scene.
• Task - what needed to be done/achieved?
• Action - this should be the more detailed section of the answer.
What action did YOU take?
• Result - this is the ‘proof’ that you succeeded. Try to give evidence
such as statistics if possible. Or… ‘Response’ – what did you learn,
what would you differently next time?
Activity
• Work in pairs.
• Read the examples on the hand-out where
applicants have described solving a challenging
task.
• Which is the strongest answer and why?
• How well have they followed the STAR
approach?
Page 33
The good:
Throughout my A Levels, I worked part-time with Flora Motley, initially as a
sales assistant although after one year I was promoted to Weekend Accounts
Manager.
Within my extended duties, which also included bookkeeping and budget
plans, one of my principal tasks was to increase the intake of Store Account
Card customers, as Head Office was concerned that the branch was underperforming in this area.
To tackle this assignment, I took the initiative to introduce new selling
techniques and to increase staff awareness in relation to the account card
and our customers' specific needs.
This involved running fortnightly training sessions and monthly meetings to
monitor our progress as a branch. I also developed an incentive scheme,
which offered prizes or additional paid time off, to reward staff upon
completion of continually increasing targets. As a result of this work, the
branch's customer account card uptake rose by 45% over the year, and our
store's nationwide ranking in this criteria escalated from 40th to 6th position.
My efforts received commendation in the Flora Motley Monthly Newsletter.
(With acknowledgement and thanks to Unilever)
High performer
The problem
Identified a
solution …
… and
implemented it
A positive
outcome
The bad…..

The biggest challenge whilst carrying out the assignment was conducting
a financial analysis on the company. I was assigned this task, as I had
previous experience in this area as I have carried out two financial and
accounting modules during my University degree. I conducted a full ratio
analysis on the company, which included analysing Next's Profit and Loss
Account and Balance Sheet. I presented the ratios and included details of
the company's current financial position, along with an explanation of
how the company could improve their position.
The Presentation involved presenting our group's report on Next Plc to
the rest of the Marketing group. Our group conducted a Microsoft
Powerpoint presentation, to ensure it was conducted in the most efficient
and systematic way. Each member presented their individual section, the
final section then included contributions by all group members. Our group
had practised the presentation on numerous occasions prior to the final
presentation, which ensured a smooth running. Each member of the
Marketing class was given a feedback form to report their opinions of the
presentation. Our group received all positive feedback and were all
awarded a 2:1 for the presentation, this contributed towards the final
outcome of or Marketing modules.

(With acknowledgement and thanks to Unilever)
Apathy- did
not put self
forward for
task.
No
ownership,
leadership.
No
individual
result.
Interviews
Prepare answers to obvious questions
• Competency questions – STAR approach
• Why are you applying to us?
• What makes you suitable for this role?
• What do you know about the company/industry?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• What is your greatest achievement?
Prepare questions to ask
Questions to ask:
• Tailored questions are by far the best!
• Prepare a few in advance, show your
research
• Show your interest in that
company/role/sector
Questions to avoid:
• Questions about salary (unless the
employer initiates this conversation),
time off or benefits
• Questions you could have easily found
the answer to on Google
• Questions you prepared that have
already been answered
Activity
• In pairs take it in turns to be interviewer and
interviewee
• Ask the questions on the hand-out and give
constructive feedback
Any questions?