A little bit of advice I’d like to provide, as I like to encourage people to succeed.
I see the same mistakes being made over and over again…
I’m sure that with most agencies like ours, they get a lot of inquiries regarding employment. As the potential employee of that agency, you will want to stand out from the others. Standing out from the others isn’t that hard, frankly my observations of the current job seeker is that they are LAZY… here a few things to consider.
First mistake I see: People make impersonal phone calls and emails.
If you are in physical proximity, show-up! Dress appropriately and show up at the agency, with portfolio, prepared to interview on the spot. Yeah we may be busy, but the fact you made the time to visit, is much better than an impersonal email. You never know, they might see you then. If they don’t see you then, ask to schedule something later, you’d be may be pleasantly surprised. (I’m always surprised how few people actually show up compared to the number of emails we get. I am also surprised how big of the percentage that do show-up, are unprepared, not dressed appropriately; like wearing shorts and flip flops. Yes I’m serious this happens).
Second mistake I see: Absolutely no follow-up. Use email, phone call or hand written-note, smoke-signals something to follow-up after the visit, thanking them for their time, whether they reviewed your stuff or not. For goodness sakes follow-up. We make it a rule that if someone drops a resume’, sends an email or even after we’ve done a portfolio review, we do nothing, we wait, to see what they do, are they hungry for the job? If they don’t follow-up, we won’t hire them.
First impressions are HUGE. Besides being creative, be professional, in your conversation and in your follow-up. Treat the agency just as you would potentially treat that agency’s clients. We are looking at that type of stuff. We want to see how you follow through with clients and projects, what your communication skills are like, not just how good you can design.
It’s a business
Try to convey how you can help them make money, the quality and quantity of what you can/have/could produce, that what you do will make the hiring agency look good and make them money. Maybe you don’t outright say I can make you X dollars, but ultimately it’s a business and no matter how visually talented you are if the agency cannot connect the dots to you being a viable and profitable part of their business they will not hire you.
Be prepared, be professional and make the effort.
Good luck!