Lisa Cummings (@LisaCummings) is a corporate consultant and trainer, and host of the Careers Q&A Podcast on PinchYourselfCareers.com. She offers insight and advice to job seekers and people at all stages of their careers, answering questions about office culture, hiring, money, and other career-related topics.
Today’s conversation borrows the format of her show, answering user-submitted questions specific to the create professions.
Show Notes & Links
On quantifying your work: put it in their perspective, be able to communicate your successes, make it all about the company. Also, get those figures wherever possible.Present a business case rather than ask for stuffOn “creative” resumes: The content has to be solid, they don’t have to be infographics per se, inject your brand and personal style, show precision and attention to detail“Your resume is the first piece in your portfolio” ← Click to TweetA resume is for 3–5 seconds. A hiring manager may only see your resume 30 seconds before they meet you.On learning in preparation for quitting: present your case as a learner and leave the quitting part out, get the knowledge elsewhere by training outside the studio, take advantage of the business’s need for “utility men”“Open the Kimono”On declaring your [small] role on a project: be honest in describing your role and the other people involved, spin your part as a learning experience, describe the new skills learned, don’t lead with the shortcomingsTwo (or Six) Degrees of Kevin BaconOn reading books to learn business skills: learn the people skills (you’ll need them), also check out courses (online or off)To Sell is Human by Daniel PinkHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieInfluence by Robert Cialdini7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen CoveyHow to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul by Adrian ShaughnessyThe Essential Principles of Graphic Design by Debbie MillmanThe E-Myth Revisited by Michael GerberThe Rational Optimist by Matt RidleyThe Long Tail by Chris AndersonOnward by Howard ShultzSteve Jobs by Walter IsaacsonOn being hired without a prestigious background: you can’t go through the front door, Lisa’s podcast episode about job descriptions, network like crazy, Big Spaceship, AKQA, RazorFish – well-known web design agenciesOn building your portfolio as a young creative: Do self-initiated work, do projects for community organizations, family or friends, take on a before-and-after, plan your time for taking on projects “for fun”“Spray and Pray“, the wrong approach to job-huntingTools
Resume and PortfolioTechniques
Chronicle everything. Get co-workers testimony, get figured & statisticsUse your promotion opportunities as a chance to update your portfolio. Keep things fresh.Ask for feedback following an interview, don’t accept “you need more experience”Habits
Save your praise, especially in a corporate environmentBring two copies of your resume to any interview, on the paper that you chose. Control that experience.Always be networkingGet The Episode
Download The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 33(MP3, 44:16, 21.4 MB)Download The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 33(OGG, 44:16, 38.3 MB)Subscribe to The Busy Creator Podcast on iTunes
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