Read on Twitter(If you& #39;re a designer at an intermediate to senior level looking for your next gig, this might give you some insights)
These are a few things that worked for me
1/20
Design process is almost assumed, what else?
When I last interviewed for a design job in 2018, all I had to prove was that I had a decent grasp of the design process, craft and was a keen learner.
2/20
When I last interviewed for a design job in 2018, all I had to prove was that I had a decent grasp of the design process, craft and was a keen learner.
2/20
After 2 years of Cleartrip, the questions I needed to answer was – What did I do different and what impact did I make? The interviewer also doesn& #39;t have the time for anything extra. Just highlights enough to peak their interest and give you a call.
3/20
3/20
Portfolios are 50% your work and 50% you
Storytelling is key. I drafted the story on a doc, edited it for weeks and then made my presentation. Bringing in your personality into it is key. Keynote& #39;s magic move is a brilliant tool for communicating and capturing attention.
4/20
Storytelling is key. I drafted the story on a doc, edited it for weeks and then made my presentation. Bringing in your personality into it is key. Keynote& #39;s magic move is a brilliant tool for communicating and capturing attention.
4/20
Notion portfolios are great, but lack your brand.
Get a website builder or make your own website and show your design sensibility through your website. I prefer to code it myself as I always get frustrated by the lack of control with these services.
5/20
Get a website builder or make your own website and show your design sensibility through your website. I prefer to code it myself as I always get frustrated by the lack of control with these services.
5/20
You have to pre-empt the questions they might ask and try to answer them even before they ask it. But I also left room for questions. Being able to provide reasoning for my design on being questioned was something they were going to judge me on.
6/20
6/20
You don’t have to say it if you show it.
My presentation had no words. Only visuals that supported my voiceover. You don’t need to say you have strong prototyping skills if you show them really sexy prototypes with smooth interaction design. Let the interviewer decide.
7/20
My presentation had no words. Only visuals that supported my voiceover. You don’t need to say you have strong prototyping skills if you show them really sexy prototypes with smooth interaction design. Let the interviewer decide.
7/20
Interviews don& #39;t necessarily emulate real world scenarios – My first 2 white-boarding exercises were complete disasters after which I paused for a few weeks and instead practiced with my friends and fam from the design community.
8/20
8/20
This was incredibly useful as it gave me confidence and I saw patterns of where I was going wrong and what my weaknesses were. But was still finding it incredibly challenging to make wireframes (on Miro/Figma) in real time while being interviewed.
9/20
9/20
To emulate the real world white boarding experience I made an investment in an iPad, which I screen shared and drew with a pencil while I was talking. Much faster, Allowed me to think and ideate freely. The return on investment was instant.
10/20
10/20
People = Work culture
Right from the first HR call, to the final interview, I noticed subtle things. I got calls at random times of the day but some asked me to choose preferable timings and scheduled phone calls by sending me invites to my calendar.
11/20
Right from the first HR call, to the final interview, I noticed subtle things. I got calls at random times of the day but some asked me to choose preferable timings and scheduled phone calls by sending me invites to my calendar.
11/20
I needed to take charge and show my experience, but I appreciated brainstorming exercises that were collaborative – calming me down. Everything adds up, when they respected my time and treated me with empathy, I felt a-lot more assured about joining their team.
12/20
12/20
Identify your strengths and weaknesses
At Cleartrip, I developed an exhaustive iterative process, fine-tuned my visual design skills and learnt to take projects from an idea to development. Being a mature company, we were extremely intentional about anything we designed
13/20
At Cleartrip, I developed an exhaustive iterative process, fine-tuned my visual design skills and learnt to take projects from an idea to development. Being a mature company, we were extremely intentional about anything we designed
13/20
I wanted to experience an environment that would allow me to do things fast, experiment, fail and correct. I didn’t want to join a big company, with rigid processes and years of legacy. Nor did I want to join an early stage startup that didn’t have product market fit.
14/20
14/20
Timing is key but keep an open mind
Make a list & a rough strategy for your interviews. Early and mid startups are really quick. Whereas bigger companies take their time. You might decide to start interviewing to practice and then interview at your places of choice
15/20
Make a list & a rough strategy for your interviews. Early and mid startups are really quick. Whereas bigger companies take their time. You might decide to start interviewing to practice and then interview at your places of choice
15/20
I sucked at the first few interviews. In 1, I saw enough red flags to know I wouldn’t join them & another where I really felt bad for applying too soon. But thats okay. After I got better and more confident, I started reaching the final rounds very quickly.
16/20
16/20
Know what you want before you start negotiating
I did research on what people with my experience are earning, but I calculated the number below which it wouldn’t be worth my time rather than thinking of a multiple wrt my current salary.
17/20
I did research on what people with my experience are earning, but I calculated the number below which it wouldn’t be worth my time rather than thinking of a multiple wrt my current salary.
17/20
I practiced strategies to evade telling them my current comp. Eg: We can talk money later or I’m sure you will pay me equitably. Some decided that they weren’t going to take the hint. I told them very clearly that my current value has nothing to do with my current salary.
18/20
18/20
Most companies respected this. 1 adamant to know my current comp, did not move further without it. I weighed the pros and cons and in the end I came to the conclusion that the upside of joining that company didn’t align with my current goals anyway. So all was good.
19/20
19/20
Wow! You& #39;ve reached the end. As a continuation to this threat, I might write about some red flags I noticed while interviewing. Do share this with your network, if you found this useful.
Cheers!
20/20
Cheers!
20/20
thread*
