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Landing design job interviews can be an exhilarating yet challenging journey, especially for entry-level designers. No need to worry, though; we’ve got you covered! In this guide, we’ll delve into several tips and tricks to help you ace your next job interview.
Practising your answers might be tricky since you’ll never be 100% sure what type of questions you’ll receive in your interview. However, you won’t make a mistake if you prepare before your interview and try to answer some common questions that you’d expect to receive. This will boost your confidence and make you feel much more relaxed in front of the hiring committee.
Although every job position is unique and hiring managers tend to ask specific questions connected to it, there are always several frequently asked questions in interviews for jobs in the design industry. You can consider preparing answers for the following questions:
Although many hiring committees may show interest in many projects you’ve overtaken in the past, some might focus on specific tasks and projects similar to those required for the job position they offer.
To make sure you’re ready to answer all kinds of questions in detail, go over your design portfolio and review the projects that the hiring committee would seem interested in. Make sure to take notes and draft several answers beforehand.
Consider the reasons behind your specific design decisions and how you navigated challenges during the creation process. Being reflective about these aspects ensures you're ready to answer any questions the interviewer might have regarding your projects and unique work approach.
Before the interview, take the time to do some research and delve into the company's background. Read about its past projects, overall mission and client range. Gaining knowledge on these matters can help you you highlight relevant skills and qualifications and lets the hiring manager know how well you align with their requirements.
By doing some background research, you’ll also get to come up with thoughtful questions about the company and the role you can pose during the interview. Plus, It's an opportunity to show that you're not just technically skilled but also genuinely interested in contributing to the company's vision.
Always make sure you come prepared for your interview. The easiest way to do so is by learning more about their previous and current projects, design style, and overall vision.
You can also register on their website or mobile app to learn more about them and their UX/UI design style. Don’t forget to check out their LinkedIn page to browse through their latest social media updates and keep up with their latest updates.
Also, asking insightful questions during a product design interview can show your honest enthusiasm about the job and strategic thinking. Here are several questions you might consider:
Could you point out one of your latest projects and the specific challenges your design team faced?
How often does the design team collaborate with other departments?
What design tools and software are most commonly used here, and can team members contribute to the choice of tools?
What opportunities are there for professional development and growth in your company?
Welcoming feedback with an open mindset is essential for the growth and refinement of your design. Embracing different viewpoints will help you learn how to adapt and broaden your creative scope.
When you receive feedback, it's beneficial to:
Be open to any type of comments: Be ready for any kind of feedback, and make sure you show genuine willingness to consider and reflect on the comments. Focus on constructiveness: Seek out the beneficial comments within the feedback. Harness these insights to improve your design work. Aim for actionability: Convert the feedback into a structured action plan. Make sure you identify several clear, specific steps to improve your design based on the input you've received.
Testing out the STAR (situation, task, action, result) technique can greatly enhance the quality of your responses, especially when discussing your graphic design experiences. This strategy is excellent for providing well-structured answers that highlight your problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills. This method can showcase your approach to tackling real-world design challenges and help you prep before your next big interview.
When asked about past projects or challenges in graphic design, consider organising your answer according to the following:
Sometimes we tend to forget to listen during job interviews because of stress and anxiety. However, active and careful listening is a must if you want to understand the exact requirements of the job position and answer to all questions by the hiring committee carefully.
You can also take notes if that might help you focus more on what the interviewers are saying. Make sure you’re showing interest and try to respond to their questions as thorough as possible.
In an interview for a product design, graphic design, or similar creative role, it's quite common to be asked about your salary expectations. If you want to give a confident response, it’s essential to have a well-researched answer ready. The best way to do so is by doing a little background research on the typical compensation for designers in your targeted role. Tools like LinkedIn, Indeed, CarreerBuilder or Glassdoor are invaluable for gaining insights into industry-standard salaries.
For those who are just about to enter the design field, gauge the pay scales of others in similar positions and weigh them against your own experience. Regardless of your level of expertise, make sure you’re prepared to justify the salary you're seeking from hiring managers.
For example, you can discuss your prior professional training and projects you've worked on during the interview. By speaking up for your past work experiences, you’ll have a chance to prove why you're a deserving candidate for the salary you're asking for.
Writing a brief ‘thank you’ email after the interview might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s undoubtedly a great way to show interest in the position. By sending an email to the interviewers, you’ll let them know that you are outgoing and you value communication.
Also, don’t forget to add your mobile number in the email so that in case the interviewers want to get in touch with you, they will immediately find your contact information.