SPP3! Jobs Final Four: Pros & Cons

Job 1: Web Designer for Limesharp (Creativepool)

Pros:

-Desired location
-Young company so being a graduate will fit in well
-Know how to connect with clients and small team means I will have to deal with clients
-They like starbucks!
-Front end skills – wireframes and designs which I have lots of experience in
-CSS/HTML skills required which I pocess
-Mention needing attention to detail – a quality I am regulary moaned at for having to an extreme!

Cons:

-Competitive location
-No linux server background
-Basic illustrator knowledge
-Comericial experience is prefferable and coming from graduation I lack this.

Job 2: Digital All-Rounder for Focus Integrated (Creativepool)

Pros:

-Ideal location from hometown easily commutable
-Large company for internal progression
-Multiple services meaning lots of skills can be developed
-Marketing and creative broadening skill set
-Separate web company = dedicated team
-Largest outside of UK city means strong commericial awareness
-Design experience required – can be proven through freelance/uni projects
-Front end skills required – my strengths!

Cons:

-Salary dependent on experience so could be low!
-No experience with HTML email design
-Being digital marketing may want further knoweledge within this area

Job 3: Web Designer (Guru Jobs)

Pros:

-I pocess all the skills required – HTML, CSS, Flash and Photoshop
-Wants potential which I can offer being a fresh grauate aware of current trends
-Agency has ambition which I can most definarelt bring!
-Location is good for staying here and comuting
-No mention of comericial experience being needed

Cons:

-Flash skills indicated to be quite high but mine are only medium skilled
-No mention of who the company is so hard to reserch around
-Specifically being web design not much scope for new skills to be developed

Job 4: Digital Designer/Web Designer (Monster Jobs)

Pros:

-Large client base means I can gain essential contacts!
-Need to be designer with little development knowledge or vice versa which I am with limited PHP skills
-Front end skills required are my strengths
-I have a knowledge of WSC standards required
-I have design experience which is mentioned and good as its design over commerical!
-I pocess some of the additional skills listed
-From final year of university I am compitent at multi deadlines!

Cons:

-No definate location could be one of three only one is really close to either nottingham or my hometown
-Assisting designs may mean limited design input
-Basic illustrator knowledge

SPP3! Monster Jobs

SPP3! Useful link from shaun :)

Thanks to an email sent round from interactive media I checked out the link it suggested and im glad i did! Here it is again for all of you to check out incase you didnt:


http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/17/group-interview-advice-for-students-and-new-designers/


It offered advice from REAL professionals as to what to do during and after studying at university to make yourself more desirible to future employees.



The most helpful sections in the interview for where i am right now in terms of promoting myself successfully to potential employers was:




What job search advice do you have for recent graduates?

• Networking - not so much you look desperate!
• Portfolio work - quality as well as quantity!!!!
• Job boards/sites/sending out CVs
• Forming relationships
• Get Tweeting

What should new designers consider when deciding between working for an agency and freelancing?


(most useful for me was the acency pros and cons so thats all im putting here!)


Agency pros:

• Working for an agency after your studies can be great for gaining experience in how the industry
• works and how projects are managed from start to finish.
• At an agency, you work with like-minded colleagues, who you can learn from and develop with.
• Large agencies often attract big corporations and established brands.
• A full-time job guarantees you a monthly wage and set working hours.

Agency cons:

• You might get stuck working on projects that you don’t find interesting or might have to work on something you don’t agree with.
• Agencies sometimes have strict policies, rules and guidelines. For instance, browsing the Web, checking Facebook or tweeting might get you a slap on the wrist.
• Agencies work during the usual 9:00 to 5:00 business hours, so you will have to as well.

Key aspects of angency work are, LEARNING, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE.

How can students and young designers make themselves more valuable to potential employers?

• Portfolio
• Be concise!
• Dont exagerate!
• Interdisciplinary - highlight multiple disiplines
• Social skills - being an easy person to get on with and a team player
• Asking questions - if your interested in the company they will be more interested in you!

What are some of the best ways for new designers to find clients?

• Portfolios on galleries/sites = jobs = referals!
• Blogging
• Networking & Twitter
• Promote your self in a multi-faceted way
• Friends & Family

What networking tips do you have for young designers?

• Get into the design community
• Start networking now!
• Contact professionals and ask advice
• Business cards
• Quality of contacts not number!

Ok well Im happy to know I am infact already doing alot of these so hopefully I am on my way to employment!

SPP3! TotalJobs Jobs

SPP3! Creative Pool Jobs

This job is good as it is a web design job in essex, meaning its an easy commute from home!

SPP3! Guru Jobs Cont.

Location: London

Key Skills

-Dreamweaver
-Flash
-Photoshop










Location: Home Counties

Key Skills

-CSS
-Flash
-HTML










Location: South East

Key Skills

-Actionship

-Flash

-HTML

SPP3! Guru Jobs

Location: South East

Key Skills

-CSS
-Flash
-HTML
-JavaScript
-Photoshop









Location: South East


Key Skills

-CSS
-Flash
-HTML
-JavaScript
-Photoschop






Location: Midlands


Key Skills

-CSS
-Flash
-HTML
-Photoshop









Location: South East

Key Skills

-Adwords
-Google
-PPC
-SEO

Location: Home Counties

Key Skills

-Adobe CS

-CSS

-Flash

-HTML

-Usability

SPP3! Job sites x100!

I have been looking through job sites suggested by Shaun and Linda and there seems to be tons of interesting jobs avaiable out there but now its just a case of narrowing them down! So let the selection begin!