There are several ways in which a designer can use self-promotion to obtain a job. This could either be by using the traditional methods or by using all the facilities available to designers these days.
I would have to say the most traditional way of self-promotion would have to be a portfolio of work. This method is still used now more than some, for example when applying into a university to study an art based subject you are required to attend an interview and must bring along with you a portfolio of work. Even though you can bring your work in different type of media the main way is still hard copies of work. Such as drawings, experimentation of ideas and final design. Your portfolio is built up of your best work and must be a wide selection to show off you versatility. As well as the basic portfolio, in these days new student bring along with them digital copies of their portfolio and work. Especially for students applying for courses such as film, games design, graphic design and illustration. All of these courses require digital portfolios along with the standard ones because they like to see what potential you have.
When applying for work there are many ways you can use self-promotion. Websites, blogs and animations of your work all help with job applications. If you are applying for a job and have to send a digital copy of your CV a lot of designers include a link that can be easily accessed to your website/blog. As well as links to your own blogs/websites many people include a link to sites such as YouTube or Flickr as these are ways to self promote yourself easily (mainly for animations/videos and images). All creative job sectors can use YouTube or Flickr to promote their work, such as aspiring musicians use YouTube to get followers and hopefully get recognized by a record company.
As well as sites such as YouTube and Flickr, social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are good ways to promote your self to get jobs. Many local or national businesses are creating adverts on Facebook to obtain new clients.
Another way a traditional method has been updated especially for visual jobs is a creative CV. The creative CV is designed in your own style to advertise what skills you can bring. Compared to the typical CV, the employers will either like it or hate the idea. This is why it is important to know what type of company you are applying for. Lets take the BBC for instance… if you send them a creative CV or anything apart from a traditional CV in a specific layout they wouldn’t even bother reading your name. It would go straight into the shredder.
As well as creative CVs many designers have also applied their CV in different ways. Such as T-Shirts, billboards and even Pizza boxes.
As well as creative CVs many designers have also applied their CV in different ways. Such as T-Shirts, billboards and even Pizza boxes.
As you can see there are many ways you can self-promote yourself and your skills to obtain a job. The best thing to do would be to find what works for each company out there.
