These are just some notes of some of the things that Tom Evans said during a talk he did with us about a week ago. A lot of it is very interesting and I added some of my own thoughts into the mix with these notes just to expand on some points.
No experience is bad experience.
Specialise. Easy to sell yourself if you can summaries your skills in a sentence.
More time to dedicate to your practice.
Diversity. Don't specialise TOO much. Other skills are still valuable and makes you more flexible in terms of jobs. Re-target your portfolio for different companies.
Don't expect to get a job instantly. Work experience and voluntary work is really important to help get your foot in the door. Making new contacts along the way is also important in order to get good references or possible be offered rare opportunities and work. Work experience also aids you in finding what kind of job suits you. Try a variety of different positions and companies.
Make an effort. You only get out what you put in. It's important to make a good impression, as your chances of a job offer is more likely.
Don't expect your first job to be glamourous. Everyone has to start somewhere and everything is learning curve. Take the first job as a test and show everyone what you can do. Remembering names of staff and taking on extra responsibilities gives off a good impression to the company.
Practice being fast. You need to be autonomous and be able to hold your own. Deadlines are extremely important to keep up with as well as the people you're working with. The more you push yourself the more you learn.
Keep learning. Just because you've got there doesn't mean you should stop learning. Be a sponge and learn from those around you by simply conversing and taking an interest in what others do. The better you know your field of work and the industry the more valuable you are as an asset to the company/team.
Think about what you want. Discover new roles and do research into what's available. Don't be afraid to take a step back and or try different things.
There are more roles than you know. Think about your strengths and weaknesses and this will help narrow down different job titles. Look into "user experience".
Learn to talk. You need to be able to communicate your ideas and share work with others.
Learn to write and know your audience. Before contacting an agency, research into that company and tailor your portfolio/showreel and email to that company. Talk about how you would be a great asset for the company.
Recruitment agencies. They can be effective but it's also difficult to know what they're saying on your behalf.
Be proactive. Do things in your own spare time because anything you do off your own back looks good in a portfolio.
Meet interesting people. The majority of job offers come from the people you've met through your travels.
Enjoy yourself and what you do. Find something you love and go for it. Anything is possible and the sky is the limit.
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