Are you prepared for your next job interview? Here are some questions to be ready for.
You have your diploma in hand and a killer book to show. Here are few questions you may be asked in that all-important interview for the creative job you’re dreaming about.
Recent grads had a dozen interviews each in a single day at Miami Ad School’s Portfolio Review in New York City.
Many things go into landing your creative dream job. You need a stunning portfolio that highlights your unique talents and sensibilities, and a cultivated network of industry contacts that can point the way to available job opportunities.
Miami Ad School does some of that for you with the quarterly Portfolio Reviews. Just this past week in New York City, 80 companies came to interview 32 graduates. Each graduate had a dozen interviews in that one day. And, with Job Leads for Life, Miami Ad School supports its graduates with new opportunities throughout their careers.
“Every job I’ve gotten has been a result of a connection from Miami Ad School.”
—Tara Lawall • Creative Director @ Droga5
Sadly, when it comes to the actual interview—probably the most important single step to landing any position—people are more prone to “wing it” than anything else. That’s not the approach to take when you come face-to-face with a creative recruiter, headhunter or a creative director. It’s too important to leave everything to chance and your “legendary” charm and likability.
Starting Salaries Are Going Up For Miami Ad School Grads
We spoke to creative recruiters at Miami Ad School’s 2017 Winter Portfolio Review and asked them “What’s your favorite question to ask at portfolio review?”
Here are a few of the most-asked questions:
- What kind of work would you like to do?
- What’s your plan after graduation?
- What’s your dream job?
- What kind of work do you want to be doing?
- What else do you do creatively besides advertising?
- If you could pick any brand, product or experience you could work on in the next three years, what would it be?
- What are you passionate about both in and outside of advertising?
- What’s your favorite piece in your portfolio and why?
- What is it that you want from a career in advertising?
- Where else would you take this project? How would you extend it further?
- How did you come up with the idea behind this project?
- Is there a project in your portfolio that best represents the kind of work you want to be doing?
- Tell me about you. (When you hear this question, it often means that they like your work and now the interviewer wants to know if they’ll like you. They want to get a sense of who you are, what drives you, what your life is like, your personality, et cetera. It’s time to get comfortable with talking about yourself.)
This is what it’s like all day long when 80 companies come see your book at the Miami Ad School Portfolio Review.
No matter how much you prepare for any interview, there will always be the odd question that will catch you off-guard. That’s okay; it’s a conversation, not a standardized test. The thing to keep in mind is that the person across the table wants to get to know you—the creative behind the work they’re admiring. The tried-and-true advice of “be yourself” goes a long way here. It’s also a good idea to have a few questions of your own too.
“Be prepared” is always good advice, and not just for Boy Scouts.