RE: Are you Good Enough?

(Just realized that this was sitting in my drafts this whole time)

I think social media plays a large role in the hiring process and even throughout employment in any modern company. Because of the common usage of social media for everyone, it becomes an extension of you that is constantly judged. It demonstrates how you portray yourself as an individual; granted it should be used to determine your professional future, but social media and the internet are platforms where overlap can do more harm than good if you're not careful.

For example, I just recently found a Tumblr account that located social media accounts that posted racist, sexist or any type of discriminating remarks and reported them to the user's employers, resulting in the individual being fired and the company issuing a public apology. Social media can be a positive experienced if it's controlled and monitored frequently, but the crossover between personal and professional can be dangerous if you don't know where the line is.

If you can "conquer" social media, it can be an effective tool for networking and connecting with other business professionals. In a professional sense, I think LinkedIn is going to be the front runner for career networking because the environment creates a strict line between personal and being personable -- helping users to create professional relationships.

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Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?
How do you feel about the points the author is making in this section of his post?
What sites do you focus on for social media and networking?
Do you see all social media as an avenue for a networking possibility/career opportunity?
How important do you think it is to have a social media presence?
What are your thoughts on the article.... do you feel it is accurate?

RE: When a client has bad taste

How do you feel about these different takes? 
It was interesting to see the different ways designers handle a sticky situation such as bad taste. There were some tactics that I really enjoyed, such as "we...try to shift the focus and the conversation away from personal taste and subjective preferences ("I like circles; I hate blue") and toward more strategic considerations: Does the design work?" and "I would simply try to give them my best recommendation, based on explicit connections to the content of a project," while others ("...pretend that I am a lawyer and you asked me to do something patently illegal that would cause my disbarment and professional shame forever. That is what you are asking me to do.") were a bit abrasive(?) and I felt that the client would not react positively. I don't know, that's just my two cents - we'll see how it works in the real world.

What do you think you can take from these designers? 
As stated above, there were a number of suggestions that I enjoyed and plan to use if I am ever in that situation. Communication is key, therefore making sure that your client understands that you are not only listening, but also internalizing their ideas helps to ease the situation in the event that you must tell them that the direction they choose to go may not be in their best interest.

Do you think that these apply differently during different phases of your career?
I definitely feel that these apply differently based on the phase of your career. As a beginner, you will want to approach the situation differently than you would as a seasoned vet, as the client may try to use your experience against you when they feel they aren't "getting their way." Once again, it's all about communication and exactly how you do so.

When a client has bad taste

Have you ever had to tell a client that they have terrible taste? Here's a really interesting article featuring advice from a few big name designers:

How Top Designers Tell Clients That Their Taste Sucks

How do you feel about these different takes? What do you think you can take from these designers? Do you think that these apply differently during different phases of your career?

Re: Are you good enough?

Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?
I think it plays a huge part in the hiring process because today many employers will simply research to find information on potential employees. A social media present could make or break you depending on the type of content you have on your page.                            

What sites do you focus on for social media and networking? 
I am very active on Facebook and Instagram. I've gained a lot of clients from Facebook and Instagram by simply word of mouth and uploading a few designs on my pages. I also follow many designers, artist and photographers on Instagram where I look for events to attend. I do have a LinkedIn account but I've been inactive for a few months now. 

Do you see all social media as an avenue for a networking possibility/ career opportunity?
Yes! Today everyone is using some sort of social media presents. I typically see Instagram and Facebook as the biggest opporuntitesfor great networking and possible career opportunities.You are able to communicate with a large audience of all types of people who might be in need of your services. I also 

How important do you think it is to have a social media presence? 
I think it is very important if you would like to meet and interact with people in your field. Especially if they are not local. There are some very interesting people out here and I've met quite a few of them on Instagram. 

What are your thoughts on the article.... do you feel it is accurate? 
The article was definitely a great read! He made some pretty accurate points. The figures he stated on the amount of applicants were pretty scary and has me wondering how I need to improve my job approach. 

re: Resume vs Portfolio

This is a tough decisions, because it is a little like show and tell. A resume tells about your experience, skills, etc and a portfolio shows them. First and foremost though, you need to get called for the interview and some companies see hundreds of resumes at a time, so have a well-crafted resume is most certainly important.
    What is it that is going to make you stand out from the rest? Our goal is to impress the hiring managers and HR personnel. Their goal is to weed out candidates as fast as possible. Using buzzwords without keyword stuffing is one way to catch the readers attention. An Art Director I knew said that he would ask for specific things in the cover letter or not to have a cover letter and apparently people don't follow directions very well. But if they don't specially say that they don't want a cover letter then write one. That is besides the point though.
    The second resume you had posted is fun and cool and it makes sense if you are applying for a design position. Jen brought up a good point about resumes being filtered through a computer and I honestly never thought of that. Its okay to have two different resumes tailored to suit whichever job you are applying for. Its important to include skills and experience specific to the job you are applying for.
    I have been trying to put together a portfolio for almost 9 years and still keep scrapping it and starting over. As I have developed my style has changed a bit and some pieces don't belong there. I don't want the person looking at my portfolio thinking I am all over the place. I want them to have a sense of who I am, what I am capable of and more importantly, what I can do for their company.

Re: Are you good enough?

Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?

As everyone said, it depends. I think for big companies it can be a way to search for candidates (linkedin) and rule out others (facebook, twitter, Instagram). This is a shame because I think it defeats another useful purpose for social media – to socialize and express opinions. It seems you have to hold back a lot because of how you could be judged by an employer.

How do you feel about the points the author is making in this section of his post?

I’m not surprised, really. It makes sense for companies to use technology like this. In a way, it does level the playing field. Everyone has a chance if they take the time to tailor their resume.

What sites do you focus on for social media and networking?

Personally, I use Facebook. I know people have their reasons for hating it, but it is still my favorite. I don’t know why! I use Twitter a lot for work. On the University of Maryland campus it is the BEST way to know what is going on, and a great way network on behalf of your program/college/school. 

Do you see all social media as an avenue for a networking possibility/ career opportunity?

Right now, no. I work for the University system, and social media is not the place to find a job, from what I’ve observed. But, in the future if I decide to try to get into the private sector, I’ll be ratcheting up that LinkedIn profile.

Re: Are you good enough?

Here's what I'll say:

In regards to the article, I agree with Kim: perhaps big corporations pay a certain kind of attention to your social media presence (measuring engagement, growth, likes, etc.), but those places aren't ultimately where I'm trying to work.

I'm not really interested in working in place that views me as a number.

Sidenote: I'd highly recommend The Circle by Dave Eggers. It's about a twenty-something girl who goes to work for an internet titan (Google-esque and Facebooky). She's intensely evaluated on her social web presence, among other things. It's a good read.

I do think social media can be really useful for networking. Here are my social media opinions:

Facebook: Dead to me, useless, disavowed, equal to Satan.

Twitter:  While it can become somewhat of a "moral mob" during intense current events (like right now), I think Twitter is really great for engaging in meaningful conversations, both about your work and about other interests you have. That's something I feel comfortable being evaluated on by a potential employer, because it's not just about the numbers: it's about the content, too, and relating to others.

Also, with the 140-character limitation, there is an art involved. It's easy to tell who has mastered it.

I've been working really hard to network in Baltimore via Twitter and I feel like I'm privy to the goings-on, in and out of the design world, much more with it than without.

LinkedIn: I use this mostly as an online resume. I do think the endorsements are a nice feature, but it's been hard for me to figure out how to ask for them. Feels awkward.

Instagram: I'd like to use this more professionally. I have an account but it's been inactive for a few months. 

To be honest, though, I have a love-hate relationship with social media of any kind, and I often go on long breaks from all social media sites because it becomes too overwhelming to me. 

Sometimes, I think I'd like to get rid of them forever; it's like we're all talking about and taking pictures of living rather than actually doing it. Seems kind of pointless.

But, ultimately, I think having a web presence can be really beneficial to be a part of relevant and important conversations.



 

Re: Resume vs Portfolio

Resume vs Portfolio: Which is more important?

Well, I'd say that they're actually both very important.

I've yet to find a design-intensive job that hasn't requested both a resume AND a portfolio.

A resume is just such a basic thing and, let's face it: most employers - no matter what the job is - want to know your work history, even if it's a very surface-level knowledge.

As far as your portfolio is concerned, I was doing some research and came the realization that a work portfolio isn't limited to the graphic design profession (duh). Seriously, though, even jobs that aren't in the arts recommend putting together a work portfolio.

The purpose of the portfolio, then, is this: to tell a story; to tell YOUR story.

So, it's not really like putting random pieces in a binder that you think look good. They should tell a story about who you are as a designer: how you've grown, what your goals are, etc.

I've put together a portfolio for my poetry before, and, of course, that's exactly how I approached it. Even if the poems weren't related in subject matter, per se, the way I arranged them throughout the piece was very intentional, in order to communicate a specific message to my audience.

Apparently, though, I hadn't thought of it this way in regards to my design until just now.

Hopefully, this helps!

Re: Are You Good Enough?

Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?
While I feel that social media does play a part in the hiring process, how large of a part I am not sure of. That said, all of my social media pages are private for the simple fact that I do not want to be judged by the things that I chose to share on a social level.


How do you feel about the points the author is making in this section of his post?
I really enjoyed the article! It was cool to get an inside look at what it takes to get ahead in this world professionally. Many times people aren't sure of the proper ways to go about things, therefore it was also refreshing to see him say "It’s flattering to be contacted, but why wait for an opportunity? Go get it!"

What sites do you focus on for social media and networking?
I focus on Instagram and FB when it comes to seeing what others are up to and Twitter if I want to engage in conversations regarding my favorite TV shows (those show hastags are awesome). When it comes to networking, Oprefer LinkedIn, though I find that it is not what I thought it would be - it's starting to seem like a place to post your resume, not connect with others. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, who knows.

Do you see all social media as an avenue for a networking possibility/ career opportunity?
Depending on how it's used, yes, I feel that social media can be used for networking/career opportunities.
 
How important do you think it is to have a social media presence?
I think it is very important to have a social media presence. Social media is on the come-up, therefore putting yourself out there to a certain degree is good for becoming known.
 
What are your thoughts on the article.... do you feel it is accurate?
I loved the article! As far as accuracy, it made me wonder if it was the same way across the employment board or if this was only applicable in certain instances. Either way, it was a good read.

Re: Resume vs Portfolio

Resumes show your professionalism while portfolios show your talent. I did make a resume when I first started this program with plans to update it throughout each semester. I'm now opening it for the first time since March of 2013 and, yeah, it needs a lot of work

Because I had little to no experience I focused attention on my education first followed by experience. I tried make it "designy" (new word) but felt like I was adding it with no real purpose. First someone mentioned that the infographics are a bit dated so that has to go. Even when they were on trend, I thought as I designed this resume, how would it benefit me to let them know that I have one bullet worth of experience in a particular category as opposed to four bullets. I felt like I was giving too much information that would eliminate me too soon. I guess we have to approach the resume the same way we design. Ask yourself:

• Is the information I've included necessary for this particular job?
• Are they a company that would be impressed with a unique design resume, or would they throw it away just for have all the extra fluff?
• Are they established vs startup?

… and so on, and so on.

Your resume will show if you plan to come to the interview in a business suit or jeans. So keep it simple and clean. Show where you've worked and what skills make you an asset. Avoid job descriptions and show how you added your skills to the business. At the very least, show that you understand simple elements like hierarchy and typography.

As designers we have to consider so much more than the resume. I'm thinking that keeping your resume on the more conservative side will allow you to use your skills more wisely. Would you rather quickly add in new achievements or do a completely new design because your once cool infograhic now looks super cheesy. Thanks for reminding me that I need to work on my resume :)

Re: Resume Versus Portfolio: What's more important?

What did you include in your design resume?

I have yet to enter into the world of design professionally, therefore I do not have a design resume. My resume currently focuses on the editorial work that I have done over the years, as it pertains to writing, though I hope to include design elements(?) in the future (at the conclusion of this program).

 

What did you exclude?

When the times comes, I plan to exclude those things not related to design/focus less on the writing aspect of my work.

 

Did you take a traditional route or a more creative one?I plan to take a more creative route when it comes to my design resume, as I tend to lean more towards that type as it pertains to design.


How do you decide what should go into your portfolio and what shouldn’t?


I do not have a portfolio at this time (see the reason above), therefore I am hoping that by taking the Portfolio course next semester I will have worked with individuals that will help me decide which of the pieces that I've created are best for professional presentation.
 
Have you started working on your portfolio?

I plan to Spring 2015.

How long is your portfolio? (I’ve read that it should be between 8 to 12 pieces)
It will depend on which pieces are successful enough to be included.

Re: Are You Good Enough?

Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?

I agree with everyone else. I think it depends on the company. Some companies do an in-depth social media background check and others may just google you. Employers look for more than just job experience. They want to see how you will fit in the culture that has been established. It doesn’t seem fair to be judged professionally according to your personal life. But thats just one of the prices we have to pay for being “connected.”

What sites do you focus on for social media and networking? 

I deleted all my social media accounts December of last year. I just signed up for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter again. I told myself I was doing it for my freelance design––to get my name out there. I have a personal and business page on FB. I rarely use twitter anymore but I do follow a lot of design professionals. Instagram is a combination of my personal and professional life. I know I should probably separate the two. I also use linkedin for networking purposes.  

Do you see all social media as an avenue for a networking possibility/ career opportunity?

I do. Social media has a lot of disadvantages in my opinion but I’ve also had a lot opportunities because of the networks I belong to. In undergrad, I did a research paper and poster about Luba Lukova (crazy amazing illustrator). I posted it to my FB page and tagged her to it. She not only commented on my but she sent me a friend request and we’ve been friends ever since. I probably would’ve never had that opportunity before. 

How important do you think it is to have a social media presence? 

I think it depends on what field you are working in. It can be important and beneficial to those of us that are in the design community. Showing your work or reading a blog post can set you apart from your peers. 

Re: Are you good enough?

Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?

This is going to sound familiar: I think it depends on the company. A tech company like Google or one of the social media companies will probably want you to have a significant presence and probably also a large platform. Other companies who are hiring people specifically for social media will probably want that, too. I know of a couple people who found certain niches, focusing their social media accounts on specific things, where that has gotten them jobs in that industry.

I think for creatives (this includes designers and writers), you almost have to have something. It doesn't necessarily have to be unified social media accounts--maybe just a portfolio-type website--but it does help to be able to have a place people can go if they see your work published. A lot of writers will put their sites or their twitter/blog names in their bios so people who like a poem or story printed in one magazine can find out where else to look for them. There are plenty of creative who've had a one-topic Tumblr that's gained a following and then they've gotten a book out of it. Whether that attracts any recruiters...

I think Kim's probably right when it comes to most employers, especially smaller places. I imagine they check social media accounts to determine if there's someone on their short list who won't represent them as they'd prefer. Having been a public school teacher and university lecturer, I try to keep my social media somewhat tame and/or friends-only if it's personal (I have a special privacy setting for former students for facebook, for example). While I'm not so much a fan of employers telling their employees how to behave online, I understand where it comes from--remember when we talked about all employees being brand ambassadors? But I guess I look at that this way: if a company or its hiring manager has a problem with something that I say online (and like I said, I tend to be pretty aware of what I'm saying and how visible it is), I probably don't want to work for that company anyway.

What sites do you focus on for social media and networking?

I'm on LinkedIn for networking at this point--it's somewhat outdated, though, like my resume. I post to Twitter, but it overwhelms me, so my feed is probably mostly Instagram because they're linked. Twitter just seems like listening to every television channel at once to me, so it kind of makes me crazy. I like the idea of it, but I can only spend a few minutes looking at it before I have to do something else. My facebook is set to be pretty private, like I said, so it's more for friends and not for networking. I have a Tumblr, too, but haven't been on it in a looooooong time. It wasn't specific, which I think is kind of a problem--Tumblrs tend to work best when you have a single focus, and I don't think I'm clever enough to come up with something new (this is kind of my problem with blogging, in general--I don't want to be just another wordpress blog...). Related: I started a blog a couple of times, but probably only posted twice.

I know that I should be using sites for networking, and I should be writing blog posts and trying to pick up a following--name recognition can help with writing and with freelance design even if it doesn't get you noticed by some big company's recruiting system. I just ultimately come back to the same problem--what do I have to say that's so different from all the other voices out there? And I have very little desire to let myself get into navel-gazing. It's a pitfall for writers.

Thoughts on the article

I looked at the writer's site: michaelpeggs.com. What I take from his article, and what I take from his site, is that you kind of have to do what makes the most sense for you and for where you want to be and the job that you want. I used to watch What Not to Wear all. the. time., and the thing that made that show cool is that Stacy and Clinton used to make people really think about who they are, what they do, how they present themselves to the world, and how to make that presentation match them as a person. I think that's good advice here--set up your brand to match the person you are, the job you want, and the way you want your audience to see you. (It's no different than any design project, really--what message are you sending to your audience?) If you're into social media, go all out. If your job needs social media, go all out. If you're just not that into social media, and you're not that interested in working for Google, and you'd rather start up a business with your friend who IS good at social media, then no worries.

Re: Are you good enough?

Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?
From what I've seen on both sides of process, most organizations use social media as a screening tool, not to figure out who you do want to work for you, but who you don't. At least in my case, I have weeded through resumes to find ones that seem to fit well, then I search social media sites as a sort of mini background check.

From the other side, I try to keep my social media clean, but it is still far from professional. I do not post my design work on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter because of the privacy policies.

So overall, I think that for most organizations social media plays a minimal roll in the hiring process, but it is definitely still something that you need to think about.


How do you feel about the points the author is making in this section of his post? What are your thoughts on the article.... do you feel it is accurate?
I suppose this article is accurate for corporate titans like Google and Facebook, but I personally find it hard to relate to for the job I currently have. I am interested in working in an institutional setting, so it would be interesting to see how heavily they rely on social media and ATS.


What sites do you focus on for social media and networking?
As I said, I do not post professionally on social media, but I do have a LinkedIn profile that I believe is somewhat helpful with networking.

I am certainly far from being an expert on this one. It is really hard for me to get into social media, even posting to friends (except for Pinterest - I can't seem to get away from Pinterest).

Off Topic: New Resource for Free Photographs

Hi, all.

I, of course, forgot we had to post Thanksgiving week. That will be coming shortly, as will this week's post.

I didn't want to delay with this new resource, though, as I think it could be helpful as we work on Project 3.

Open Culture: The best free cultural & educational media on the web

And, specifically, a new article on Open Culture, which links to a new Flickr archive that boasts over 2.5 million photos from published books, magazines, and newspapers published in a 500 year period. The collection is apparently intended to grow to over 14 million images.

I became wise to this via Twitter and I've found some really helpful resources (including a photo of a Harry Houdini lego man…yes, I know it's awesome).

Maybe this will be of use to you, if not for this project, for projects to come.

Cheers!

P.S. If someone has already linked to this in a past blog post or mentioned it in class this semester, I offer my sincere apologies.

Re: Are You Good Enough?

Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?

Yes. Sometimes I think it's unfair but it's naive to think its not a vital part of the process. Even when I hire part time help in the evening at my job, I always check to see their presence on social media. Mostly to make sure they are not a total degenerate, which is different than the purpose in the article, i.e. companies like Google. But either way, social media is the best way to get a quick snap shot of someones life.

What sites do you focus on for social media and networking? 

I focus on Facebook, Pinterest and Linked In. I feel like I should be more involved in Twitter, but I just can't get into it. 

Do you see all social media as an avenue for a networking possibility/ career opportunity?

Clearly they have entire social media outlets dedicated to just networking/career opportunities. Linked In more generally and things like Bechance for us designers out there. 

How important do you think it is to have a social media presence? 

Depending on what kind of job you are going for it can be helpful or harmful. If looking for someone who is going to digital marketing, advertising and even design I would expect to see some sort of social media presence. In my opinion, the lack of a social media presence essentially says that you are not up to date with todays technology. 

What are your thoughts on the article.... do you feel it is accurate? 

I actually found the article very interesting, however it was pretty negative. I know the goal was to be as realistic as possible but everyone dreams of working at Google, I mean they even made a whole movie about it. It was kind of depressing thinking it was so unobtainable. But its okay, Ill get over it. ;) Other than that, the information given about applying and finding jobs was super helpful and accurate!

Re: Resume Versus Portfolio: What's more important?

What did you include in your design resume?
I have worked in the IT field for over 15 years and my IT work is the only thing on my current resume. I do not have a design resume but do need to create one. I believe it should include software programs used for designing, education and design work experiences. Maybe a link to an online portfolio.

What did you exclude?
I would probably exclude work experience irrelevant to design.

Did you take a traditional route or a more creative one?
I will aim for a more creative one when I do design one.

How do you decide what should go into your portfolio and what shouldn’t?
I do not have a portfolio yet either but I think it should include a variety of pieces to show your spectrum of skills.

Have you started working on your portfolio?
No.

How long is your portfolio?
It will depend on how many strong pieces I am comfortable with adding to the portfolio. I don't think it should be overwhelming but I do think there should be enough pieces to highlight your talent and skills.

What’s more important you’re resume or your portfolio?
I believe they carry equal weight. The resume speaks to who you are and what you can do and the portfolio shows what you can do.

Re: Are You Good Enough?

Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?
I think this varies from company to company. There's enough horror stories of idiots losing their jobs/potential jobs because of some ill-timed social media posts that I'm wary of writing about work on any of my profiles. I've heard, though, that some companies will demand your Facebook login credentials so they can check it out--I don't know if this is true, though.

What sites do you focus on for social media and networking?
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and the list goes on...

Do you see all social media as an avenue for a networking possibility/career opportunity?
Sort of--there are so many people on all avenues of social media that standing out is almost impossible. I think it can enhance your chances (assuming a potential contact/employer is impressed by what you post), but I wouldn't go by social media alone.

How important do you think it is to have a social media presence?
Very. You want people to get to know your brand, and they can't really do that if they don't have a way to keep track of you and your work. For instance: I recently discovered an excellent food blog, which features an email subscription option and Twitter and Instagram accounts, through which I can get up-to-the-minute blog updates. The blog also has its own Pinterest, on which it pins both its own recipes and others' recipes. It's maintaining its brand while also building a web of resources to benefit both itself and its readers. The best thing is that the blog is run by a family, and they're always very friendly and quick to respond to reader comments, which means I feel comfortable asking for tips--which means that I'll keep coming back to them.

What are your thoughts on the article? Do you feel it is accurate?
It sure would explain a lot.

Re: Resume vs. Portfolio

Resumes and portfolio are equally important in my eyes, but depending on the job you are going for one may be more important than the other. You'll obviously want to have the strongest and most diverse portfolio you can possible have but the resume can be a little trickier.

I essentially have my resume set up exactly like a 'normal' resume but with a section for design experience. I've never gone out for a completely 'designer' job so it has to still include everything a non designer would include. Sometimes I wish I could take the more creative route with my resume, and I may do that one day depending on the type of job I would be looking for, but right now it makes sense to keep more traditional. 

As someone who looks at resumes quite a bit, I'd say to not over look the summary or objective. There is sometime to be said about someone who can tailor their resume as well as have a good understanding of the position. I remember when I was first looking for jobs and would kind of half ass my summary, as soon as I started catering it towards the position my call backs got more frequent. And when doing interviews, I find that the more a person can actually summarize their resume the better educated they are and better they interview. Also: KEEP IT TO ONE PAGE. Design centered or not, nothing is more annoying then getting resume that is 2, 3, 4 pages long. Get what you need to convey done on one page! 

I thought this list was helpful for key words to use. Now this is probably more for resume writing if your looking for a job that is not just design, but either way its good to know what people who are not design mindful are looking for.

 

Are You Good Enough?

Happy Holiday Weekend! Between work the last three days and being glued to my bed when I'm home, this is the first opportunity I have had to post! I hope it has been an awesome holiday for everyone.
Okay now, moving on...

After our conversation in class leading us to Google, I happened to come across an article on LinkedIn called "Are you Good Enough for Google." I found this article interesting and wanted to share and use it for my blog post. If you have the time, I invite you to read it, as I did find it intriguing and thought "hey what would my classmates think about this article?" I thought it had a lot of interesting points. The main section that stood out to me is subtitled "Big Data," where he addresses bots scanning our resumes for information and the probability of getting hired by Google. He then discusses ways that we can beat the odds - essentially I don't think he is speaking just of Google, but I imagine any big name company that we may want to work at. Here is what he had to say about the use of social media:

You’ve probably heard of web analytics, but what about people analytics? Today, human capital is measured by resume robots and social media scores. This is not to say we’ve taken the ‘human’ out of human resources, but the nature of recruitment has changed.

Everything is tracked, including social media activity and the degree to which you’re already ‘connected’ to the company. Did you respond to an email? Were you late for an interview? Algorithms already predict World Series championships (Go Giants!) and fluctuations in the stock market. Why not forecast the success of one candidate over another?

Success is relative so it can be measured by almost anything, including:

• Internet Presence - Articles, blogs and social media mentions, particularly on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+
• Past Performance - Employment background, work history, native talent and earned credentials from the applications and resumes you submit
• Personality Tests - Skill sets and behaviors can be modeled from your answers to scenario based surveys and tests

Once the data is collected, ATS goes to work. Like Google’s super secret search algorithm, no one knows how data sets are organized and analyzed, but you can bet it differs by employer and role.

My first big girl job actually came from LinkedIn, and I also received recruitment emails from companies such as Victoria Secrets, Aeropostale, and DSW, just to name a few. However, I do want my career to go into a different direction (away from retail). To read through the rest of the article it is here.

Here are my questions for you:
Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?
How do you feel about the points the author is making in this section of his post?
What sites do you focus on for social media and networking?
Do you see all social media as an avenue for a networking possibility/ career opportunity?
How important do you think it is to have a social media presence?
What are your thoughts on the article.... do you feel it is accurate? 

Re: Resume vs. Portfolio

Happy Thanksgiving!

What did you include in your design resume?

I include the basics: contact info, job experience, skills, education, etc. Like Kim, I only include about three jobs. Sometimes I exchange a few depending on the job I’m applying for. 

What did you exclude?

I try to exclude jobs that don’t directly relate to the job I’m interested in.

Did you take a traditional route or a more creative one?

After sitting down with a couple of hiring managers, I learned that content is more important than form in this case. Of course, you should use design elements that shows your personality as a designer, but that shouldn’t interfere with the message. Busy complicated designs can effect readability. I think your resume should highlight what your experiences. So my design is in between traditional and creative. 

How do you decide what should go into your portfolio and what shouldn’t?

I do the same thing for my portfolio as I do my resume, I edit it for the job I’m applying for. I have a strong background in publications design. When I’m applying to a job at a newspaper I make sure to include advertising design, layout design, and printed pieces. I won’t include as many illustrations because although they might be interested in those, thats not what they are hiring for. I consider the order as well. I spread out my strongest pieces. 

Have you started working on your portfolio?

Yes, I have a portfolio that I send out with resumes and I have an online resume. I don’t update the online version as much as I would like though. 

How long is your portfolio? (I’ve read that it should be between 8 to 12 pieces)

I try to give a sample of my work with my resume. That’s a pdf with about 6 or 7 pieces. I wasn’t a fan of sending out my work to strangers. I thought there was no opportunity to explain my process. But then I used that to my advantage. I would send work that made them want to meet so I could explain.

I used to carry a print portfolio with about 10 pieces but now I present a pdf on my iPad. I think its important to choose your strongest work to keep it short and simple. You don’t want to bore or overwhelm the employer.

What’s more important you’re resume or your portfolio?

They are equally important. Your resume will get you the interview but the portfolio can seal the deal!

Re: Resume vs. Portfolio

I am finding myself at a disadvantage since I haven't created a portfolio yet and I have a resume that isn't fit for my field...

I think both the resume and the portfolio should work together to demonstrate who you are as a designer, including your style and your process. I've looked at some of the links that were posted throughout the blog posts and I see a lot of jaw-dropping portfolios and unique resumes.

As I'm researching tips to create an award-winning resume, I wonder if there is a difference between the content that should be provided based on the career that you're looking for. Is there something that you should specifically include in your resume for a graphic design position as opposed to any other position? Or is it just the design that needs to change?

I won't be taking portfolio until Spring 2016, but I don't want to wait until then to get started on my portfolio. Anyone have any tips for someone starting out or guidelines to building a successful portfolio?



----------
What did you include in your design resume? What did you exclude?Did you take a traditional route or a more creative one?
How do you decide what should go into your portfolio and what shouldn’t?

Have you started working on your portfolio?
How long is your portfolio? (I’ve read that it should be between 8 to 12 pieces)

What’s more important: your resume or your portfolio?

Re: Resume v. Portfolio

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! 

I actually worked with a member from Aquent who helped me revamp my portfolio website and resume. This helped me out a lot, she taught me to put my personality into them both. Hence why my resume is now pink (my favorite color) :P 

I think going to 

Off Topic: Gifts from Designers

Hey everyone,

I am looking for gifts to give people for the holidays, and I was curious if you guys knew of any sites or companies that specialize in well-designed (relatively inexpensive) products. I love giving really unique gifts that are carefully crafted.

Particularly, I am thinking about getting books or educational toys for my 6 month old nephew. I have been caught up in looking at great book design and illustration, especially for children's books, but what I have found is still too advanced for him.

Here are two great handmade books - Gobble You Up! and I Saw a Peacock with a Fiery Tail - from Tara Books. I love the style of them and I still might get them, but I wanted to find some other things for his age.

So, anyone have some suggestions for nicely designed/illustrated stuff for babies? Also, any suggestions for other ages? I plan on hunting for things on Etsy and looking at Pinterest for some ideas too.

Re: Resume v. Portfolio

Happy Thanksgiving!

First of all, it definitely shouldn't be "Resume versus Portfolio" - they each help one another and cater to specific audiences. I think it is important to have decent versions of each.

Monique, I think your new resume design looks great and it matches well with your portfolio work on Behance. Employers can see that you are creative, and that your work is clean and fits with the client's identity.

In the past two years, I redesigned my resume and my website to reflect how I've grown as a designer. I started out in undergrad with a travel website geared towards photography and writing, but then I settled down at a corporate position and neglected to travel, write or take photographs.

My resume was bland and text heavy, and my "portfolio" site was a mess of different pieces that were more personal than professional. So I had to think of a way for them to meet in the middle. I came up with my own graphic identity that reflected my work in a corporate setting, while still hinting at those personal details.

I am hesitant to share either of them (which I think is a separate conversation about all of us learning to embrace our work and gaining the confidence to show it), but they are meant to be shared, so I'll just have to get over it. Maybe some of you can give me a few suggestions.

I would say my resume is fairly conservative in terms of design resumes, but that also makes it more versatile for other jobs in communications and marketing. I created a template that I can edit for each new position. Take Jen's advice and make sure to tailor yourself to fit the job.

My resume has the standard personal information (name, phone, email, website), relevant work experience (I list three positions and I change the details depending on what type of position I am applying to), education, skills, and awards and publications. For work experience, I have learned that it is important not only to list what you do, but also the benefits of what you do. For instance, I manage an ecommerce site and handle all of the product photography for my current workplace, which is something that I would include on my resume. But really, the important thing is that since I joined the team, online sales have increased by over 80%. Those are the details that make you more desirable to potential employers!

This article on the 7 Secrets of a Successful Marketing Resume (they're not secrets, and they are definitely not limited to just marketing), was helpful for me. Some takeaways: You are the product that you are selling, know your unique value, and don't try to say too much.


I include the link to my website on the resume and in my email/cover letter, even for non-design positions.

I definitely feel like my website can use some work, but I have learned over the years that having something is better than having nothing. In the past few months I have been trying to post more often with projects and ideas from classes. Since we are doing all the work, we might as well take the time to show it off! I do limit my portfolio to pieces that I am proud of and that I feel convey my unique style.

That being said, my online portfolio is a lot more extensive than the suggested 8 to 12 pieces. I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but it probably ends up being both. On one hand, you can customize your resume based on the job, but you can't really do that with your electronic portfolio, so it seems better to include more. On the other hand, employers don't want to spend a lot of time sifting through content that is not relevant to the position. To combat that, my portfolio is divided into groupings, such as Print, Web, Identity, and Photography.

I am curious, however, if designers often include pdf samples of their work in addition to their resume. In applying for a few graphic designer positions at UB, Stevenson, and UMCP, I feel like I have been at a disadvantage because my resume itself doesn't show of much of my design abilities, and the folks reading the resumes are definitely not going to click through to every website. Has anyone run into this before? Is there a good way to work around it?

Also, does anyone use business cards? Do you consider those a part of your resume/portfolio/freelancing?

Re: Resume vs. Portfolio...

I have to agree with Carolyn, I have found both resume and portfolio equally important. I did a bit of research around this time last year about "jazzing up" my resume. I wasn't successful in making it as awesome, as some that I have seen, but I was able to make it better (I thought) than before. However, it was recently that I have heard from others what Jen pointed out which is the resume needs to be easy to scan (which would be a nice entry into my blog post for next week.. but still not sure if I'm going to do it).

How do you decide what should go into your portfolio and what shouldn't?
Well, there are some pieces that I have kept in there since my undergrad. Honestly, my portfolio probably needs a major overall. I also wasn't aware there was the 8-12 pieces rule, but I have also switched to sending a weblink instead of anything via email.

Have you started working on your portfolio?
Yes, I have. There is a lot to be done though for the newer pieces I want to add in.

How long is your portfolio?
Much longer than the 8-12 pieces, but I have gotten down quite a bit from what it used to be.

Sorry this is short.. I'm currently rocking a nasty head cold.

Re: Resume v. Portfolio

My resume is completely out of date, and I haven't even worked on one that's specific to design positions, so take this with that grain of salt. I think both the resume and the portfolio are important for different reasons, and depending on what kind of position you're applying for (watch out, as this will become a theme, I believe).

If the position is a permanent position within a company, design or otherwise, the resume might be more important than if the position is freelance. Granted, this is entirely anecdotal on my part, but I get the impression that online portfolios and word-of-mouth/networking can drive more contacts for freelance work. With a permanent position in an organization or company, the resume seems more important since that (and don't forget cover letters/emails!) will be the first impression you make with the hiring manager. So, my post is pretty much entirely about resumes.

Ultimately, though, for me, what's included in a resume (and cover letter) and how it looks DEPENDS. It depends on the position. It depends on the company you're applying to. It depends on you doing your research about them. It depends on your being able to show them that you can give them what they want, or what they need, and that you can do that efficiently. You can't just have one resume that you send for all design jobs. Every time I've applied for positions, I've edited my resume and my cover letter for each position with each organization/company/school. I'll have a default for each type of position, saved as something like "JenniferTaylor_Resume_Communications" and "JenniferTaylor_Resume_Teaching," but then I tweak that template for each job, paying close attention to the language in each different opening's description.

As cool as the resume designs that you linked to look, Monique, I'd be wary of going too far into that "ultra-designed" look for a resume. If you want your portfolio and business cards/identity to be super cool, that's fine, but with resumes, I'd err on the side of being a bit more straightforward, and here's why: there's not always a person deciding which resumes will earn a call/interview. Sometimes it's a computer program scanning for key words; that's probably not an issue for smaller design or creative groups, but the larger the employer, the more likely the system is automated in some way. Even if it's a person deciding, though, there's the statistic that employers look at your resume for about seven seconds before they decide whether to throw it away or not; no matter the job, the resume needs to be easy to scan. I'm not sure all of those 50 qualify as easy to scan.

Also, I'm curious when this [the hongkiat list] was posted (I can't find a date for it, which is problematic with something online for me) because it seems like the infographic-style resume hit a peak about two years or so ago and has lost some of its appeal. How does a hiring manager know what it means that Zhi Liang has 5 pencils worth of skill at InDesign? The ones on here that I find useful are those that seem more personalized, that show something of the designer's aesthetic and/or personality, but for all of them, I'm curious--these are linked to behance sites, so did any of these get the designer a job/position/contract? Read: I'm skeptical. Here's a post from Forbes.com in which three hiring managers and heads in advertising, branding and design talk about whether creative resumes get people jobs/interviews at their firms; this is from 2012 so maybe it's outdated, but I think most of it still applies. So whether a creative resume is working DEPENDS. Again, ultimately, I think your resume should be what works for you and for the company you're aiming for:

I'm also skeptical because as tastes have changed, so have templates. This company will sell you a slick designy resume template as a .psd or an InDesign file. Do you want to see the "41 Best Resume Templates Ever"? Well, The Muse has them for you. Presumably, hiring managers have the same Google that I do, so they can see these, as well. Again, ultimately, the resume is about content more than design; of course it's an opportunity to show what you can do, but I think it's more important to show that you're aware that they're looking at hundreds of these so you want their experience to be quick and easy through clean, organized, well-thought-out, typographically sound design.

Here are some resume-related links that I find helpful:
AIGA: Ten Common Mistakes in Resumes and Cover Letters
An Editor's Guide to Perfecting your Resume
And the previously-mentioned Forbes post, Will a Graphic Resume Get You the Job? The Experts Respond

Another thing to consider: a friend of mine who has a job and wasn't actively looking for one (though this is in a different field than communications/design) was recently recruited into a search for a position through LinkedIn. While I think LinkedIn is generally a good site to be on professionally, there are also other sites like Behance, dribbble, Coroflot, and Talent Zoo that cater to communications- or design-related fields. I'm always curious how effective those might be for connecting people who are hiring to people with the skills they need.

Off topic - An interesting article on how to charge for design work

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3038902/the-case-against-paying-designers-by-the-hour

Re: Resume Versus Portfolio

It's funny that you bring up resumes--I'm actually in the process of redesigning mine for an internship application (and just in general), so links to creative resumes are definitely appreciated! Pinterest has some good ones too.

I wouldn't prioritize resume over portfolio, or vice versa; I think both are equally important in a job application (people do want to see where you've been, after all). On the one hand a resume acts as a quick summary of what you've been up to in the professional world, but on the other hand a portfolio will tell someone more about your work than a resume will. Main message: don't neglect either. Treat both as equally important. In general I would assume that some people will prefer to look at a resume and others a portfolio, and they should all be accommodated in either case.

What did you include in your design resume?
Name, contact information, education, and anything even vaguely industry-related (e.g., I am including a non-design internship that required me to work with a CMS because I have had exactly one design-related job). I'm also toying with the idea of including a picture, which I've seen on others' design resumes--may or may not go through with it. Tbh I'm kind of stuck. Another thought I had was to draw my picture (in place of using a photo), which will demonstrate illustration and Photoshop skills.

What did you exclude?
Physical address. My current design includes a physical address, but I read that including an address might cause you to be eliminated from some jobs based on how far away you are, and whether you might need more time/money to relocate.

Did you take a traditional route or a more creative one?
Initially a more traditional one (I was applying mostly to secretary jobs and such), but I'm taking a more creative route atm.

How do you decide what should go into your portfolio and what shouldn’t?
Uhh. It's pretty bloody arbitrary, actually. "Do I like this? Yes, I do," or "No, I don't." That's pretty much my selection process.

Have you started working on your portfolio?
Not unless you count Behance, which I don't.

How long is your portfolio? (I’ve read that it should be between 8 to 12 pieces)
It's out of date so I don't know how large the final one would be, but I haven't heard about any size constraints, so I didn't realize that 8-12 was an ideal number. It makes sense to limit yourself if you're emailing the portfolio as a pdf or whatever, but on the other hand if the portfolio is web-based I would prefer to have all my work up there for people to browse.

How did you orient your design work?
I'm not sure what you mean by "orient," but the pieces I would choose for my portfolio would be mostly the quirkier ones (people might as well know what they're getting) and a few of the serious ones for the more humorless employers out there (and also to demonstrate that I know how to design within specific branding guidelines).

Resume Versus Portfolio: What's more important?

Hey guys, 

I don’t know about everyone else but I’m coming to the end of my time here at UB and I’ve been thinking about what’s more important to my success after graduation, my resume or my portfolio.

Resume

Now I understand that a good portfolio is what will set you apart from other designers, but what’s a good portfolio if your resume never gets you in the door to show it. A little while after I started this program I designed a secondary resume for the creative work that I’ve done which is completely different from my actually work experience and I’m not sure if its relevant to add those experiences or not because they don’t really have anything to do with design work and I’ve been going back and forth trying to decide should you separate work experience that has nothing to do with design or incorporate them both.

In doing some research about what I should be doing to beef up my resume and portfolio. I’ve found myself reading lots of articles about the subject and in one of the articles I read. The Creative director said that new designers have a tendency to over design their resume because they want to grab the attention of the decision maker instead of showcasing their achievements, capabilities and work history.

Things I got from articles I’ve read:

  Focus on Clarity

 Explore Different Formats

 Utilize social media

So the question is.

What did you include in your design resume?

What did you exclude?

Did you take a traditional route or a more creative one?

Here are some awesome resume designs: Resume Designs

Before and After My Resume.

       

Portfolio

On the other hand my portfolio. I have been piecing together my portfolio for the entire time that I have been here and it seems like any time I feel like I’m getting it together. I have to rip it apart. I feel like my portfolio is supposed to be this amazing amalgamation of design work.  That only the strongest, perfect, meaningful designs should be incorporated (basically kill your darlings).  But then I look at other peoples design portfolios and boy do they get you depressed.

So my questions are…

How do you decide what should go into your portfolio and what shouldn’t?

Have you started working on your portfolio?

How long is your portfolio? (I’ve read that it should be between 8 to 12 pieces)

Here are some awesome portfolio designs:

http://ryanscherf.net

http://www.imtawn.com

http://www.stevenbonner.com/work/

http://www.andypatrickdesign.com/#!prettyPhoto

Final Question:

What’s more important you’re resume or your portfolio?