How to get a better (creative) job
Ever since the layoffs at Google and Facebook, I’ve noticed that amongst friends, industry peers and the wider LinkedIn community, everyone I know has been looking for a new role.
To make matters worse, there’s also a mood of negativity. After all, with all of these top-class performers on the market, how on earth will anyone else be able to compete? And when you do get that role, how do you know that you’re “safe” and won’t be soon laid off?
In my life, the few times I have been on the hunt for a new role, the mood has always been this way. “It’s impossible right now” , everyone says, “no one’s hiring” or the classic, “so many seniors are even applying for junior level roles and taking pay cuts.”
Despite the bad vibes, I believe that it is still possible to find a great opportunity. With a few tough-love truths, which I’ve used to drive results in my own life (during competitive times) I hope you can find that new opportunity too.
Some truths…
Your work needs to be better (even if it’s good): If you want to get different results when you’re looking for jobs, you need to show better work, and you need to show it in a better way. Even if your portfolio is already good, it needs to be better for you to get a better job. You need someone better than you to tell you what needs to be overhauled (whether it’s your craft skills or presentation skills). You can find these people through LinkedIn messaging, former colleagues more senior than you, ADP list etc.
You need higher-level projects: If you currently have a job, you need to get more senior-level projects so you can put them in your portfolio. When a new company interviews you, you need good stories to tell them. Even if you do not enjoy your current role now, you still need to show how you operate at a higher level in your role if you expect these new people to pay you more than your current salary and give you more authority.
You need to avoid recruiters: I am personally not a fan of recruiters (unless you are a contractor). Most of the time, they will bombard you with opportunities that are not relevant to your values or goals, pressure you to disclose your salary, and call you at all times of day (and on the weekend). This will burn you out completely, cause depression and anxiety, and make you feel like you need to rush into the wrong opportunity. They do not care about you, they care about making their cut. Avoid — period.
You need to network proactively: Instead of working with recruiters, I prefer to be intentional. I know the places I want to work, or could want to work, even if there is no posting there yet. I always make sure I have connections at these places. From doing this, I got my next job and previous three jobs.
You need to have a strategy: To network proactively you need to have a strategy. Sit down for an hour or two by yourself, and write down what you want in your new role. What sort of place do you want to work? WHY? Through doing this, you will be less likely to succumb to desperation.
You need boundaries: Lots of companies LOVE giving tasks that will take weeks in the interview process. A fictional task that takes a few hours is fine, a whiteboard challenge is fine, but anything else is free labour and exploitation. If you are doing tasks for numerous companies, you will be burned out and feel resentful — not great energies to bring to interviews. Know what you are comfortable doing so you don’t get mad.
You need to know what makes you you: LOADS of people are graduating with certifications in various design fields. Unfortunately, this does not guarantee you a job. The only thing that guarantees you a job is you being unique. Years of experience does not make you unique — reading, engaging with the world, exploring niche areas of your field, loving data etc. does.
You need to ignore the haters: Many people will tell you it’s ‘impossible’ to find an opportunity right now. Sure, it’s hard. However, it has always been hard. Also, complaining is not helpful. Surround yourself with people who encourage you and want to help you in a constructive way. Also, no job anywhere is ‘safe’ 100% of the time. This is an illusion.
And finally, you need to take a break: And don’t be hard on yourself!!! Sometimes companies cannot tell you the real reason you are turned away from an opportunity — so ‘take it with a grain of salt’ as they say. Also, AVOID the “apply for 20 jobs per day” advice that some bootcamps give. It is ridiculous, ineffective, and will burn you out.
This week…
I challenge you to take a break and reflect on the advice above. If anything resonates, try to action it and see if it changes your results in interviews. I’d love to hear from you — let’s continue the conversation on LinkedIn 👋.
