Taking time to research potential employers makes your job search more effective and helps prepare you for the interview. Research Guide
- Know what the company does.
- Know what types of art and design positions are available.
- Find out what the company expects of potential employees (skills, education, previous experience and technical knowledge).
- Find out what training programs are available for new employees.
- Know the organizational structure.
- Explore opportunities for career advancement.
- Know the financial state (expanding or downsizing).
- Ask about health benefits.
Potential Employer Resources
- Employer Web sites
- Company literature, including mission statement and annual reports
- Professional associations
- SCAD faculty, alumni and career services staff
- Conferences and tradeshows
- Employer directories in the Career Resource Library
- Company advertising
- Current periodicals and trade journals in art and design
- Newspapers
- Computer databases
- Chambers of Commerce
- Cold calls to potential employers
- Personal contacts — friends and family
What Employers Look for in Applicants
Appearance: A fresh, clean appearance and appropriate dress are a must. Minimal jewelry is advised.
Personality, style: Be courteous; act professionally with an appropriate mix of self-confidence and respect. Do not act too personal or informal.
Polished communication skills: Be articulate. Express yourself in grammatically correct language, use appropriate professional terminology, and avoid slang and profanity. Be concise and specific. Do not ramble.
Energy, drive, ambition: Project a tone of physical and emotional health through energetic posture and movements. Convey positive drive and ambition through focused conversation.
Positive attitude: Express prudent optimism, a hopeful, confident view, without overdoing it. Do not complain about past employers, your college or university, or other experiences. Do not whine or criticize.
Bright, well-informed: Show spontaneous, natural interaction with a bit of humor. Be relaxed, but have a sharp attitude marking you as someone intelligent, lively and interesting. Let your natural personal uniqueness show.
Breadth of interest: Demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about your chosen field. Being able to converse about a variety of topics shows that you are a mature, educated, interesting person.
Composure: Nail-biting, hair-twisting, foot-tapping, chain-smoking and other habits should be left at home. Maintain eye contact, relax and BREATHE.
Thoughtful: Weigh questions a second or two before responding. Do not be superficial or insincere. Some questions really are difficult, and you will not always know the answer immediately. Being thoughtful is not the same as being uncertain and insecure.
