4 ms·

Who to Hire

7 points by karjaluoto 17y ago

nzmsv 17y ago
So, first he says he only hires people whose work is practical: "Designers aren't artists". Then goes on to say designers must explore. So how exactly do you show in a resume/portfolio that you are a practical person who likes exploring? :) It looks like everyone has a favorite set of characteristics they hire based on. So the only way to really appeal to an employer is to know what they'll like. No wonder stats say most jobs are filled through personal networking and not job ads.
- karjaluoto 17y ago
  Exploration and being practical aren’t mutually exclusive. A good designer concentrates on facilitating a solution. Doing so often requires digging, snooping, and looking around. At the end, though, the resulting solution has to work. You ask how to show in a resume/portfolio that you like exploring. That’s easy—it’s in the evidence. A portfolio that highlights diverse approaches instead of derivative ones is a clear indicator. I receive oodles of portfolios from folks who parrot a style repeatedly. That’s not design, that’s plain mimicry. Frankly, I’m most “wowed” by those who can take an uninteresting seeming client/project, and craft an effective solution to the challenge at hand. Part of this can be evidenced in how they talk about the approach they took, and how they came to it. A smart applicant might even choose to provide this rationale in their portfolio. (Given that most studios do the same, this shouldn’t be a big leap.) You note that, “everyone has a favorite set of characteristics they hire based on” and you’re right. Where your argument falls apart is in the implied notion that one should just try to show an employer what you think they want to see. I’d ask you to consider it more like dating. You’re trying to find a good fit—not trick someone into liking you. Be clear about who you are, present yourself well, and then try to find someone to work with who needs those skills.
  - nzmsv 17y ago
    Thanks for the reply. You are right, of course. My last sentence came out sounding downright stupid :) Tricking someone might work temporarily, but not in the long term. I meant something more along the lines of how difficult it is to present one's work in the best light. For example, one employer might see a diverse set of past projects as creative, while another would think the applicant doesn't focus enough on one specific area.

7 points by karjaluoto 17y ago

nzmsv 17y ago

So, first he says he only hires people whose work is practical: "Designers aren't artists". Then goes on to say designers must explore. So how exactly do you show in a resume/portfolio that you are a practical person who likes exploring? :) It looks like everyone has a favorite set of characteristics they hire based on. So the only way to really appeal to an employer is to know what they'll like. No wonder stats say most jobs are filled through personal networking and not job ads.

karjaluoto 17y ago
Exploration and being practical aren’t mutually exclusive. A good designer concentrates on facilitating a solution. Doing so often requires digging, snooping, and looking around. At the end, though, the resulting solution has to work. You ask how to show in a resume/portfolio that you like exploring. That’s easy—it’s in the evidence. A portfolio that highlights diverse approaches instead of derivative ones is a clear indicator. I receive oodles of portfolios from folks who parrot a style repeatedly. That’s not design, that’s plain mimicry. Frankly, I’m most “wowed” by those who can take an uninteresting seeming client/project, and craft an effective solution to the challenge at hand. Part of this can be evidenced in how they talk about the approach they took, and how they came to it. A smart applicant might even choose to provide this rationale in their portfolio. (Given that most studios do the same, this shouldn’t be a big leap.) You note that, “everyone has a favorite set of characteristics they hire based on” and you’re right. Where your argument falls apart is in the implied notion that one should just try to show an employer what you think they want to see. I’d ask you to consider it more like dating. You’re trying to find a good fit—not trick someone into liking you. Be clear about who you are, present yourself well, and then try to find someone to work with who needs those skills.
- nzmsv 17y ago
  Thanks for the reply. You are right, of course. My last sentence came out sounding downright stupid :) Tricking someone might work temporarily, but not in the long term. I meant something more along the lines of how difficult it is to present one's work in the best light. For example, one employer might see a diverse set of past projects as creative, while another would think the applicant doesn't focus enough on one specific area.