Prepping for your next Interview

Friday, January 13th, 2023|

Interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience! Preparation helps calm those nerves. In order to help you through your next interview, we’ve compiled a list of things to consider to get that job offer.

  1. Do Research
    Being prepared for an interview is a given, but how well do you really know the position and the company? It’s useful to make notes and bullet point any relevant information before your interview. Do your research and check out Linkedin, reviews and social media posts to learn a few facts about the company.   This shows your interest in the product offerings and culture of the company
  2. Watch your Body Language
    We can’t stress how important body language is. If you don’t believe us, watch this TED Talk  by Amy Cuddy (it has over 22 M views!!)  We are not saying you should walk or Zoom into an interview with attitude, but what we are saying is that subtle language such as posture and hand movements can make all the difference between appearing shy or confident. Sit up straight, make eye contact and use open hand gestures. Check out our Zoom interview best practices blog too.
  3. Be Grateful
    Gratitude can go a long way so thanking the interviewer for meeting with you and following up with a thank you note will show how interested you really are. You could be up against several candidates and if you’re the only one to follow up and thank them, you’re already ahead of the rest.
  4. Questions
    Even if the interviewer has answered everything for you, ask another one! There’s nothing worse than being in an interview and not having any questions prepared or forgetting to ask something. Take in a list of questions and refer back to your notes when they ask you. If they truly have answered everything, at least they can see how prepared you were, but make sure you leave knowing as much as possible about the job and company.
  5. Stand Out
    How can you stand out – what is your unique ability? Winnie Hart of Twin Engine branding has a wonderful series of e-books to help define what makes you stand out.  Whatever your unique skill set, ability, or qualification, bring it up as a topic of conversation to help the interviewer remember you.
  6. Avoid Negative Talk
    This one is absolutely a key point to avoid using negative language. Refrain from saying “I’m not” or “I can’t” and say phrases such as “I’m strong with” or “I can”. Also, avoid speaking negatively about a previous role or boss.  Be truthful about why a role came to an end, however, do it with professionalism.
  7. Infuse Enthusiasm
    Be sure to show your enthusiasm about the role, the company, and the opportunity presented to you. Everyone wants to work with people who share the same excitement and passion about a project or product, so show your personality, and communication style. This is one of our core values here at Artisan Creative too.
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Avoid Doing These 6 Things During a Job Interview

Tuesday, September 13th, 2022|

Interviews necessitate that you make a good impression, however nerves or being unprepared can hold you back from presenting yourself in the best light.  Here are six things to avoid during any job interview to ensure a successful conversation.

  1. Being unprepared. Anticipate questions about your resume and experience, and have answers for the most common interview questions. Do your research to get an idea of company culture, products, and where your skills may translate. A quick search of the company’s website and social media channels will prepare you.
  2. Being unprofessional. There are simple things you can do to solidify your impression as a professional. Arrive on time, say thank you, be respectful to all, and have a positive attitude. Dress professionally, and make eye contact. Turn off your phone and other notification so you can be present.
  3. Discussing salary. Don’t bring up salary in the first interview. Only discuss it if the interviewer asks you about it first.  Otherwise best to focus on the role and company culture and discuss salary in follow-up interviews. If you are working with a recruiter, they will have shared your parameters ahead of time, so leave the negotiation to your recruiter.
  4. Being distracted. Let your friends or roommates know you are in an interview! Don’t get distracted by the chatter in the room.  Pay close attention and listen! What is your interviewer asking you? If you’re not paying attention and either answer the wrong question or ask them to repeat it, you imply that your attention span or attention to detail is low. Show that you can follow directions and keep an open mind by simply listening.  Listen well.  Communicate even better by being concise, articulate, and to the point.
  5. Putting down a former boss or company. Even if your former employer was a nightmare to work with, nothing will make you look worse than speaking ill about them. You also never know who knows who! If a previous job situation was truly terrible, practice explaining what didn’t work for you in that position in a positive way.
  6. Being late. ABOT: Always Be On Time. If you don’t know where the company is, map it out before driving (or taking public transit or an Uber) so you know how long it’ll take to get there and can plan accordingly. Emergencies do happen, so if there is an outstanding situation for being late, like a car accident or a sick child, have `the hiring manager’s phone number so you can call and let them know what’s going on.

Good luck with your next interview.

 

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How to Market Your Freelancing Business 

Tuesday, September 14th, 2021|

When working as a freelancer, you are your business, your product, and your marketing team all in one. 

Having control of all of these aspects of your business is extremely exciting and motivating because it puts you in control of your success. 

Like any successful business, you need a solid marketing strategy that will help you gain visibility in your industry and draw in more clients!

In this article, we will be discussing the following ways in which you can increase your marketing for yourself and your business while freelancing: 

  • Become a Guest on a Podcast
  • Be a Subject Matter Expert (SME)
  • Write a Book, E-book, or Article 
  • Utilize SEO Strategy 
  • Network, Network, Network! 

Become a Guest on a Podcast

Podcasts have increased in popularity in recent years, with the number of listeners in the United States expected to grow by about 10% in 2021 to about 117.8 million listeners. 

With podcasts emerging from every industry and point-of-view, the medium has a dedicated base of listeners that are exploring different topics. 

There are several benefits to marketing your freelance business by becoming a guest on a podcast. With a podcast, the listeners are there to learn and will, therefore, are a captive and engaged audience.

Additionally, podcasts are a more personal medium. By sharing your ideas on a podcast, rather than approaching marketing with a sales mindset, you come across as more authentic. When you connect with an audience, you can develop greater loyalty! 

Next, one of the most important marketing principles is communicating directly to your target audience or market. Podcasts allow you to do that!

Each podcast has data outlining the type of people who listen to the podcast, such as demographic stratification and personal or professional interest. 

 Or, you can even start a podcast yourself! 

Become a Subject Matter Expert (SME)

A subject matter expert or SME is someone who is an authority in their industry or vertical because of their extensive knowledge. 

While one can be an SME in almost any field, it usually relates to knowledge in a technical or educational field. For example, if you are a freelance marketing consultant, you can become an SME in the field of marketing. 

Marketing is essentially persuasion. In other words, you want to persuade your audience to use your services as a freelancer. 

Across the disciplines of both psychology and communication, we know that one of the best ways to persuade someone is by having authority. People are more likely to trust you if you are educated on a topic. 

Therefore, becoming an SME will have a positive influence on your brand. Not many people can tout that they are experts in their field. Having this classification will encourage others to work with you.   

Write a Book, E-book, or Article 

Writing a book or article relating to your industry or work will help establish your authority in the field. Having published work means you are recognized as an expert in your industry!  The self-publishing industry has created affordable means of getting a book to market.  However if long-form content is not your expertise, try writing articles for the Medium, of Business Journal Trust or publish on Linkedin.

Additionally, writing a book or article can help establish greater recognition and top-of-mind awareness with your audience. People are more likely to choose someone whose name they recognize, and the expertise they seek.

Utilize SEO Strategy 

When marketing yourself as a freelancer in today’s highly saturated climate, it is crucial to have a  focus on search engine optimization (SEO). The goal of SEO is to increase a website’s ranking on Google search results. 

Why is this important? Because people will see your website first and be more likely to click on it when searching for the service you offer. The best part is that SEO is free. You need to learn the Google algorithm and how to work with it. 

For example, if you use the right density of industry keywords, your website will better fulfill the search queries of users, and therefore, be ranked higher. 

Or, if your website is user-friendly, well designed, and quick loading, users will stay on it longer, signaling to Google that it is a quality website. Google, in turn, will rank it higher in search results. 

Network, Network, Network! 

As a freelancer, you are your brand! Therefore, one of the best ways to get your name out there is to network. Networking can mean a lot of things, from adding other professionals in your industry on LinkedIn and social media platforms to directly contacting potential clients. 

By connecting with other freelancers in similar industries, you can find a community of like-minded people who will support you. You can learn from each other about new trends and share clients, especially if you have different expertise. 

There are also a number of portfolio-sharing websites specifically for freelancers so that you can share your work with others and give clients an overview of your past work.

The wider you grow your network, the more work opportunities will present themselves. Working with recruitment agencies such as Artisan Creative allows for your network to expand.

Conclusion 

Working as a freelancer has many benefits, from the flexibility of working when and where you want to work to having control over what work you do daily. So, if you are a freelancer looking to gain exposure, implement some of the marketing tips we presented above!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our 593rd a.blog.

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Continuing to Inspire Hiring

Thursday, June 17th, 2021|

When the pandemic hit, many of our marketing and design clients were impacted—projects were canceled, deadlines were pushed out and jobs went on hold…which meant, many of the amazing creatives, copywriters, designers, and marketers we work with, stopped working.

These challenging times brought out our entrepreneurial thinking, and to help in the best way we could, we launched InspiringHiring.com as a free portal for impacted creatives to post their resumes and get hired. While it may seem odd that a recruitment firm would open up its resumes for others to see and connect without any strings attached, we decided to do it anyway.

We were determined to inspire the hiring of the amazing talent we believe in, even if we weren’t directly involved.

Now on the eve of the first anniversary of this launch, we continue to help our creative community find jobs. If you are looking to hire, look here and reach out directly to the talent you see listed.   And, if you aren’t able to find the exact candidate you are looking for, or need help with recruitment, then contact our Artisan Creative team.

If you are a candidate looking for a job, please look at our open jobs page, or post your resume here.

Together we can re-build a more creative world as we put the pandemic behind us.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the 586th issue of our weekly a.blog.

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Revamping Your Resume with SEO Keywords

Tuesday, October 27th, 2020|

This has been a whirlwind year in our creative industry, impacting recruiters, clients, and candidates alike. Many companies have had to restructure or downsize, creating a large talent pool and increasing the ever-competitive market. 

Making sure your resume stands out has always been a top focus here at Artisan Creative, and it is even more vital in today’s job search environment than it ever has been before. Utilizing SEO keywords throughout your resume is an effective way to make sure that relevant information is being highlighted when you are applying to jobs.

Oftentimes when resumes are submitted, they are processed via applicant tracking and resume management systems. These systems scan the resumes and highlight keywords that are relevant to a position. If your resume isn’t crafted with SEO keywords, your resume may not even make it to the next phase of review. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your resume with SEO keywords (and what to avoid!).

Use Industry-Specific Keywords. Are you applying for a creative agency as a web developer? Be sure to use SEO keywords such as “creative, frontend development, backend programming, and Javascript”. Or if you are a creative marketing manager searching for a creative role, updating your resume and adding SEO keywords such as “social media, email marketing, SEO, analytics, digital marketing, and project management” may raise your profile. Keep a list of effective SEO keywords that are associated with your industry handy.

Add Job-Specific Keywords. Read the job ad and see which requirements are listed. Include any keywords that match your experience. If a web developer role specifies WordPress, include it as one of your SEO keywords. The marketing manager role may prefer Adobe Analytics over Google Analytics. Be attentive to these details. By listing these job-specific keywords, a company’s tracking system will recognize your resume as relevant. 

Include Hardware and Software Proficiencies. Creative positions will require specific design or programming proficiencies. By adding these to your resume, you will increase the chances of your resume being selected by a company’s tracking system. It is also helpful to include your level of proficiency along with these keywords.

Avoid Too Many “Fluff” Keywords. While certain skills are necessary for creative jobs, a resume may become lackluster if it is encumbered by an abundance of “fluff”. If you have “great communication skills” – try to include specific examples that demonstrate how this is true. The tracking systems may pick your resume because of the general skillset, but by providing definitive examples – you can really wow an employer with your resume.

When tailoring your resume with our SEO tips, it is imperative that you are mindfully adding keywords that are relevant to your industry, your experience, and the specific job you are applying to. 

Your resume is the key to catching a potential employer’s eye and by following our guide to adding SEO keywords, your resume will really stand out amongst the rest!

We hope you’ve enjoyed the 572nd issue of our a.blog.

 

Related articles

Job Search Best Practices

Creating Impactful Resumes

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7 Ways To Revamp Your LinkedIn Profile 

Tuesday, October 13th, 2020|

Linkedin continues to be a great resource for job seekers. If you have ever applied for a position through LinkedIn or used it to search for an employee, client, or friend then you know that similar to other ‘social media,’ platforms, LinkedIn allows a prospective hiring manager to quickly assess one’s expertise, availability, and experience for a role.

Although it is not the platform to post your vacation pictures and funny cat videos, LinkedIn functions as an intermediary between job seekers and employers who are looking for talent, and a hub for professional networking. 

A well-crafted LinkedIn profile is often the first impression you make with potential employers and collaborators. Therefore, your online presence should be as crisp, concise, and professional as any job application you formally submit. 

Here are some ways you can revamp your LinkedIn profile: 

Highlight the Portfolio Section

  • Add a featured section to your profile to highlight recent work or blogs to draw attention
  • Add your online portfolios, articles, podcasts, and other work that has been published online. 
  • If you work in a creative field, this a fantastic way to show off your work, and it easily accessible to hiring managers. 
  • Add industry-specific keywords in your headline and throughout your LinkedIn profile including the description of past experiences and your summary. 

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Your Headline

  • Your headline is the first element of your profile an employer sees. 
  • Communicate more than your current position. Considering that you have a whole 120 words, it should include the skills you have, and titles of the positions you hope to have in the future. 
  • Maximize SEO for keywords that align with your skills, and experience

Update your skills

  • Highlight skills that are relevant to the positions you are applying for. 
  • List your subject matter expertise
  • Skills and relevant keywords will help your profile with SEO and increased visibility
  • Change the order in which skills appear on your profile to ensure that the most relevant ones come first.

Join Groups

  • Join groups on LinkedIn based on your interests and affiliations. 
  • Network with those in the same industry or who have similar interests as you. 
  • Communicate with like-minded people, keep up-to-date with industry changes, and even bolster your network for a future job search. 
  • If you are unsure about where to start, LinkedIn recommends groups for you to join.

Activate Open To Work feature

  • Under your profile photo, you can Let Recruiters Know You Are Open To Work: 
  • Make your profile discoverable by recruiters and hiring managers
  • Once you have chosen this option, you can share your tailored career interests with recruiters. Additionally, you can share this information with only recruiters, or share it with the whole LinkedIn community, to increase your pool of opportunity. 

Get Recommendations

  • Testimonials are one of the best ways to increase efficacy. 
  • If you have just completed a freelance project, make it a practice to ask for a testimonial
  • Ask your employer or client to endorse you on LinkedIn or add a recommendation. 
  • By doing so, you show that your work is valued by a diversity of people, and helps verify the skills you claim to have.

Update Your Summary

  • This is your elevator pitch and needs to be clear, concise, and demonstrate the skills you have and what you are looking for in a future position. 
  • Keep it engaging, and use an active voice to write it
  • Detail education, work experience, certificates, and volunteer experience.  

 

Your LinkedIn profile should be curated for the job you want, not the job you have. It should reflect how your experiences make you stand out from others applying for the same position. In today’s highly-competitive, technology-driven job market, tailoring your LinkedIn profile will make all the difference.   

We hope you’ve enjoyed the 571st issue of our a.blog.

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3 New Normal Job Search Strategies

Tuesday, July 21st, 2020|

These unprecedented times require applicants to be more creative in utilizing new networking channels and better job search strategies to connect with hiring managers and companies.

The first step is to look at the industry and vertical you are interested in to find out if this particular industry has been impacted positively or negatively by the pandemic. Then, determine whether that industry is growing or shrinking its current workforce.

Once you’ve set you’re your parameters, the following channels and resources can be beneficial to learn more about that industry or a specific company, its culture, and the leadership team before you apply. You may also make some valuable connections to help you directly apply to a hiring manager.

Slack

There are thousands of Slack communities that are focused on specific industries or interest groups. Hone in on your specific skill set or target industry and network there. Solfie is a great resource to help you find the right group for you. For example, if you are a marketing candidate or an SEO specialist a resource such as Ahref’s Slack channel can help with both upskilling as well as networking.

Podcasts

Special interest podcasts are a great place to get introduced to new companies and influencers within those companies.   There are many design podcasts for freelancers and design professionals that include tips and best practices. Debbie Millman’s podcast Design Matters is a top podcast on design.

Additional design podcasts can be found here. Our own Artisan podcast with a focus on creativity, inspiration, and determination is another great resource to hear from creatives on how they got their start and what keeps them going and growing.

Social Media

Follow thought leaders, influencers, and companies you are interested in on Twitter. This will give you an opportunity to create conversations and learn more about the philosophies and methodologies of companies who are game-changers in their verticals.

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for showcasing your candidacy as well as searching for and learning about job openings. LinkedIn has a weekly article featuring hiring activity in various industries. The benefit of LinkedIn is that you can actively join industry groups and network, respond to and follow thought leaders within your circle of interest, get recommendations, and update your profile and availability.

As you update your LinkedIn profile, make sure you upload your resume to other design portfolio sites and job boards as well. Also check out our newly launched Inspiring Hiring portal where you can create a profile, upload your resume, record a video of your accomplishments and thought process, and share your core values with hiring managers.

The best approach in this climate is a multi-pronged approach.   Leave the guesswork and haphazard approach to your competition—and plan your success to stand out from the crowd.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the 565th issue of our a.blog.

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3 Tips to Navigate Your Job Search

Tuesday, May 12th, 2020|

The current massive unemployment rates have many talented candidates out of work and searching for new opportunities. Additionally, the impact of stay-at-home measures is clearly exasperating the job search efforts for many.

As we navigate these unchartered waters and contemplate what the next version of what “work” is going to mean, it becomes important to take a moment and reflect. Julio Vincent Gambuto calls this moment “The Great Pause”.

We are indeed in a (prolonged) moment of pause—which is not comfortable.  However, since we are unable to rewind and go back to what once was, we can be more fully present and work on evaluating the future and possibilities that we can create.

To do so, here are three tips on how to evaluate what you really want to do next.

Define your Core Values

Take the needed time to think about what you want to do next and how that may align with your core values and purpose. If you haven’t had a chance to define your core values yet, now is a good time to partake in core values or visioning exercises to discover what is important to you.

Focus on Upskilling

As you re-imagine what that future of work will be for you, now is also a great opportunity to upskill. Many well-known universities around the world are offering free online classes. If you’ve been thinking of pivoting into other fields such as UX or product design, now is your chance. Ideo offers Design Thinking classes, as well as Leadership and Innovation classes. Masterclass is another great resource to try out a new hobby, learn something new, or write the story you’ve always wanted to tell.

Give Back

Volunteering is a great way to keep busy, make new connections in a new field, and help others in need. If you’ve always wanted to help out a non-profit what better time to share your expertise? It also provides a great opportunity to enhance your resume. More importantly, giving back is a great mood enhancer as it boosts oxytocin levels by creating levels of engagement, productivity, and usefulness which leads to gratitude.

We wish you the best as you embark on your job search.  For additional tips on resume writing and interviewing please check our a.blog. We hope you’ve enjoyed our 560th issue.

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Become Your Own Influencer

Wednesday, September 25th, 2019|

Social media influencers are changing the way we think about marketing. You don’t need fancy vacations or five-course meals to make use of the concepts behind influencer marketing. As a creative professional, the success of influencers can inspire you to build your personal brand, increase your network and reach, and find better professional opportunities.

Know Your Niche

As a creative professional, the more specifically you define yourself, the more you will stand out. This means honing a concrete elevator pitch and choosing a niche within your industry. “An easy way to select your niche is to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses,” says digital marketing consultant Shane Barker. “Choose a niche that allows you to showcase your strengths and hone your skills further. Deciding on a particular niche will help you streamline your audience and tailor your content to suit their preferences.”

Develop a Content Strategy

Once you’re clear on who you are, you can create content that reflects your skills and values and establishes your presence and authority in your industry and community. Your content strategy can encompass your design portfolio, your social media activity, blogging, video, or anything else that gets your message out and makes others aware of what you do. To become more influential, treat yourself like a small media company, and be thoughtful and deliberate about what sort of content you put out and how it aligns with your brand.

Choose Your Channels

There are many digital channels available, with more emerging all the time. Rather than trying to use them all, it’s better to choose a few you enjoy the most and are best for transmitting your work. If you’re a visual designer, you’ll want to use video or image-based channels to showcase your aesthetic sensibilities. If you’re a copywriter, you can publish articles on LinkedIn or use Twitter to test your concepts, slogans, and taglines. Newer channels can present unusual opportunities for those on the cutting edge.

Keep It Consistent

Your choice of channels is less important than your commitment to show up and stick with them. To build influence, you should be willing to put out a steady stream of content, provide value for your audience, and pursue continuous growth and improvement. With social media, being “always-on” can be a challenge; automation software can help, allowing you to create lots of posts in one sitting and parcel them out over time.

Engage and Grow

If you persist, iterate, and keep putting your best self forward, don’t be surprised to see your influence grow over time. As your work touches people’s lives and new opportunities present themselves, be sure to engage with those who support you. The ability to develop a worldwide professional network and work out your ideas with a supportive audience in real-time is perhaps the most rewarding perk of being an influencer, even if it’s just in your small corner of the world.

At Artisan Creative, we help creative professionals find new ways to enrich their portfolios, networks, and careers. Contact Artisan today to learn more.

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Job Hunting Best Practices

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019|

When attempting to move up in creative careers, especially when switching fields, job seekers are haunted by one perennial frustration: it can be hard to get experience when you don’t already have experience.

Hiring managers and creative recruiters gravitate toward candidates who already have proven track records and know how to navigate the responsibilities that come with new opportunities. If you’re angling for a job or a career in an area in which your prior work history is not applicable or sufficient there are steps you can take to compensate for a lack of relevant professional experience. Career coach Martin McGovern suggests three moves that can open new opportunities that you may not be able to get with your CV alone.

Side Hustles

“Let’s say you want to be a copywriter at a food publication,” says McGovern. “Don’t wait for them to hire you before you start writing about food. Create your own food blog and get to work. I have a close friend who was able to break into the highest reaches of the culinary world through strategic use of Instagram, blogging, email marketing, and outreach. Give yourself permission to do the work and others will be clamoring to work with you.”

Developing a side hustle in your field of choice is a great way to choose yourself, explore your passions, and show potential future employers and colleagues what you can do. If you properly manage your schedule, you can usually pursue some freelance work without sacrificing your day job.

Meetups

“Recently, I had a student who really wanted to work in sports-tech as a web developer,” McGovern says. “So he started a sports tech meetup. Instantly, 35 people joined the group. He was able to leverage this to reach out to CEOs from his favorite companies and ask them to speak at the first event. After the event, they came up to him and asked if he was looking for an internship, which allowed him to completely circumvent the whole job search process.”

Meetup groups are an excellent way to engage with your professional community, broaden your own horizons, and unearth the sorts of opportunities that may not readily present themselves through Google searches. Spending time with successful peers can also help you become fluent in the language of your chosen industry, which can be an enormous help in tailoring your resume and maximizing your social media presence.

You can look for interesting communities in your area on Meetup.com, or attend a lecture from Creative Mornings. If you can’t find the right group, start your own. You may be surprised at how many like minds you find.

Professional Organizations

“Most cities have professional organizations for your line of work and they are always in need of help,” McGovern says. “Sign up, go to their events, volunteer, and join the board! This will show you are ambitious, forward-thinking, part of the community, and knowledgeable in your desired field.”

Local creative communities tend to be particularly well-served by professional organizations. For designers, there’s AIGA. Marketing professionals have the AMA with many other local alternatives. For those on the creative side of the technology world, exciting organizations such as World IA Day can always use volunteer help, providing ample opportunities in return to tap into your skills and make life-changing professional connections.

Whatever your current level of experience, you can always find creative ways to improve yourself and build a career you love. At Artisan Creative, we help creative professionals make the most of their many opportunities. Contact Artisan today to get started.

For more related articles on this topic check out:

We hope you’ve enjoyed the 537th issue of the a.blog

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