ay@designlab.net
Alexander Younger is the
President and CEO of Design Lab a design firm located in Toronto Ontario.
Alexander founded Design Lab over 20 years ago. Running Design Lab always
brings new exciting challenges for Alexander. The first browser they worked
with was netscape .09.
Design Lab
is a green company. What does that mean you ask? Well the Design Lab offices
are powered by solar panels. If you visit Design Labs site you will notice a
small green design lab logo. Through this link you can learn all about Design
Lab’s green initiative.
Why are you here? (Why are the students going to Sheridan
College?)
1. It’s an excellent opportunity – use it (build and improve your portfolio)
2. Employers will look at what you did here – every project counts, especially if your portfolio is light.
3. Get to know your classmates – they are all going places and will make great contacts in the future.
1. It’s an excellent opportunity – use it (build and improve your portfolio)
2. Employers will look at what you did here – every project counts, especially if your portfolio is light.
3. Get to know your classmates – they are all going places and will make great contacts in the future.
Looking around the room there are
many talented people all working for the same goal. Though they maybe
competition for the same job at the end of the course they are also great
contacts for future opportunities. Throughout the course we will all design
portfolio pieces and every one counts.
Getting the job paradox.
A job is a 2 way street you have to impress them and they
have to impress you.
Do the research:
- Talk to your peers about agencies
- Go online and create a shortlist of places you want to work and write down why.
- Small agencies you get to be more diverse, larger agencies you only play a small part.
- Smaller agencies you will have to take a larger roll.
- Show interest and passion about there projects
- Talk to your peers about agencies
- Go online and create a shortlist of places you want to work and write down why.
- Small agencies you get to be more diverse, larger agencies you only play a small part.
- Smaller agencies you will have to take a larger roll.
- Show interest and passion about there projects
o Go
through the website look at case studies and read the information.
o Go
to the actual work and write down some thoughts (be detailed)
o Cover
every inch of the site. (cover every link just like the “green lab” at Design
Lab
Cover Letter
- Keep it short and sweet
- Give the reader a reason to like you (hint you know about there company so you throw them some ideas)
- Keep it short and sweet
- Give the reader a reason to like you (hint you know about there company so you throw them some ideas)
- Be
memorable, but in the right ways
- Send
something unique (not many people snail mail any more. A mailer might just be
the thing you need)
Write a good resume
- Keep
it short highlight good aspects
- Extra
knowledge out side of job description helps
- Be
ready to fill in the gaps or why you moved around so much.
- Don’t
over sell. (If you can’t do it don’t say you can. Don’t stretch the truth)
Prepare your portfolio
- Make
it nice.
- Showcase
your skills/experience
- Keep
it clean and professional – don’t get edgy or cool
- Small
bits about what you did on a project (point out the challenges and a little bit
of background. How did
you help the companies you were working for?)
you help the companies you were working for?)
- Create
as clean presentation. Good idea to use tech such as tablet for portfolio. (Use
a stand to present.)
Big Hints - FACEBOOK
(party pics may not be a bad thing but be careful of social media)
- Be
yourself
- LinkedIn
– have a strong page and keep it up to date
The job interview
- Not just a one shot deal (Starts with phone interview often)
- First interview will be around an hour long. (You may want to ask how long it will be before you get there.)
- Be around 10 minutes early. (Be prompt but not so early that they don’t know what to do with you.
- Culture is important (From the businesses point of view)
- Check your ego at the door
- Take it all in.
- Make positive comments and be truthful.
- Ask questions. Show interest. Be prepared with your questions. (Ask atleast 2 questions)
- If you don’t know ask or say you will research it.
- Don’t ask hours and benefits ask things like how can I grow and so on.
- Don’t move off the path of the question and use personal antic dotes. (Keep them short and to the point.
Explain how you handled the situation.)
- Ask about the environment, ask about the other people, find out how you can fit in.
- If answers are negative it may not be the place for you.
- Stay for the whole interview. (Leaving is disrespectful and you could be burning a lot of bridges the design
- Not just a one shot deal (Starts with phone interview often)
- First interview will be around an hour long. (You may want to ask how long it will be before you get there.)
- Be around 10 minutes early. (Be prompt but not so early that they don’t know what to do with you.
- Culture is important (From the businesses point of view)
- Check your ego at the door
- Take it all in.
- Make positive comments and be truthful.
- Ask questions. Show interest. Be prepared with your questions. (Ask atleast 2 questions)
- If you don’t know ask or say you will research it.
- Don’t ask hours and benefits ask things like how can I grow and so on.
- Don’t move off the path of the question and use personal antic dotes. (Keep them short and to the point.
Explain how you handled the situation.)
- Ask about the environment, ask about the other people, find out how you can fit in.
- If answers are negative it may not be the place for you.
- Stay for the whole interview. (Leaving is disrespectful and you could be burning a lot of bridges the design
community is
small and very close.)
- Once the interview is over and if you don’t think it’s a right fit but they select you be straight and tell them.
- Find out who will be in the interview and a little bit about them.
- Make sure your presentation works. (Good to have a hard copy for backup.)
- Meet the team if you can (feel free to ask a few questions.)
- Once the interview is over and if you don’t think it’s a right fit but they select you be straight and tell them.
- Find out who will be in the interview and a little bit about them.
- Make sure your presentation works. (Good to have a hard copy for backup.)
- Meet the team if you can (feel free to ask a few questions.)
How to look at an interview.
- Look like you are going to impress a client.
- Don’t chew gum, ware shades or put to much cologne on.
- Leave the funny shirts at home
- Look like you are going to impress a client.
- Don’t chew gum, ware shades or put to much cologne on.
- Leave the funny shirts at home
After the interview
- Write a thank you note. (Hand written/hardcopy is more personal and will standout)
- Write down any questions for your next interview.
- Keep on interviewing. (There are many opportunities out there and many great companies)
- Write a thank you note. (Hand written/hardcopy is more personal and will standout)
- Write down any questions for your next interview.
- Keep on interviewing. (There are many opportunities out there and many great companies)
Final notes
When looking for a job there are 5 important things to do.
1. Put together a great portfolio.
2. Have a great attitude.
3. Research the company and your interviewers.
4. Ask lots of questions.
5. Don’t settle. The right job is there you just have to work for it.
1. Put together a great portfolio.
2. Have a great attitude.
3. Research the company and your interviewers.
4. Ask lots of questions.
5. Don’t settle. The right job is there you just have to work for it.
A few Design Lab work samples
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