I’ve had about five applications through the door, not to mention the emailed applications. Applications for jobs sometimes (sorry I don’t have a job for you!) but also applications for work experience placement from students. Those coming though the post are mainly for work placement.

Now work experience placement I’m actually interested in and I’ve twice now had students in. It could be useful for me to have some fresh eyes in the office looking at projects this summer, but when I’m getting several offers I want to pick the person with the best attitude and if I’m shooting from the hip with total honesty, I also want to pick the best designer.

I don’t think I’m alone in this mentality, I should imagine all the firms (yes, I know I’m not ‘special’) you sent CV’s to also want the best designer.

Now students who are sending out applications, ask yourself this … if you are all sending me a few limp sheets of A4 paper with written information on only, how am I supposed to decide between you? Because you are all doing this.

I can’t is the answer, I really can’t. You’re making it impossible for me In addition, you aren’t making me feel excited about you coming into the office when I open the envelope and look at your written CV.

Make Your CV/Application Stand Out
1. You are applying for a graphic design placement. In particular those who are interested in coming into my office are keen on more creative types of design such as illustration. So why are you sending your applications minus anything visual AT ALL? I would have thought that someone so interested in visuals would make some effort to make their application stand out visually

2. At the very very minimum attach a portfolio to your paper or emailed request for work placement. I want to see what you’ve been doing so far at college/university. Even if you are at school, surely if you are interested in working in design you must have SOME sort of visual work you can show? If it’s all paper based, get a decent digital camera, take photos and send me closeup photos of your etchings/work if you have to, obviously you don’t want to send the original.

3. Put some personality into it, the last thing I want is to be stuck in the close quarters of my office for two weeks or worse with some total bore, or even worse ‘weirdo’.

There you go, straight from the hip. Now make some effort with your applications if you want a work placement somewhere decent