Design Jobs Part 1:  Application packets 

Last year, I sent out about 10 design applications to various newspapers. I got two interviews and no internship. Since then, I’ve seen a bajillion design applications to work at The State News, and sent out a million more of my own. Getting an interview never is a guarantee, but I’ve learned how to put together a design application from two angles — as the employer and the applicant.
 
Often times, I feel less than qualified having to choose one person to hire from as much as 12 applications. There is so much talent out there, and a plenty of people with buckets of potential. Because of this, I’ve developed a system. I also use what I’ve learned from looking at the work of other designers to prepare my own applications.

The most important part of any design application is your set of clips. It’s the first thing an employer flips to. It doesn’t matter if you’ve read Newsweek since you were 6 months old — your work had better be top-notch.

Most internships I’ve seen ask for a specific number of clips, but as a default I usually go with between five and seven. How to choose which clips to send is a whole different blog, though, so more on that at a later date. 

The next thing I look at when I’m going through applications is the résumé. If you’re a designer, your résumé sure as hell better be well-designed. It doesn’t have to be kitschy, or overdone. You don’t have to go as far as to make your résumé an infographic or anything like that. (I’m not completely against the idea, though.)

A designer’s résumé, in my humble opinion, should have a nice, clear typographic hierarchy. It should be simple, clean and show your personality. The rest of your packet should match it. If you have your contact information stylized very nicely in the top left corner, use the same text treatment on your cover letter.
 
The contents of your résumé are not quite as important as your clips, but it’s valuable information. If you don’t have a lot of professional experience, that’s OK.

You always can put design classes you’ve taken, or student shows you’ve been featured in, just make sure to include descriptions. Nobody cares that you took JRN 336; they want to know why that class was valuable and how it helped you improve as a designer.
 
If I’ve gotten through your clips and résumé, the next place I’m going to look is your cover letter. I know there are folks out there who say the cover letter is obsolete, and nobody actually is reading them, and that’s partially true. I don’t read cover letters very often — unless I really like the work of two people and am having trouble deciding which one I want to work with. Then the cover letter is key. 

Your cover letter should tell your potential employer more about you. Talk about experiences you’ve had in design, why you love what you do, and why you want to work for that employer specifically. Don’t just say what you hope to gain, talk about what you can do for them.

And NEVER, under any circumstances, do I think it is acceptable to not include a cover letter. Regardless of its content, the fact that you took the time to write one is significant. An application without a cover letter just looks lazy. It never hurts to schmooze a little, either. When it comes to cover letters, it’s better to land on the goody-two-shoes side than the arrogant one.

This is, of course, just one girl’s opinion. I’m sure there are employers out there who read every cover letter, or don’t care if a designer didn’t design their own résumé.

These aren’t hard and fast rules, just general guidelines. I’ve seen a dozen applications, and sent out a dozen more — and at the end of the day it’s always a gamble. Just give yourself the best odds possible.