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How I got my job

Since I started working at Silverman Trykowski Associates several colleagues have asked me how I got the job. What did I do. What did I say. Truth is the key has always been to plan ahead and follow up. If you’re a designer or a student of design, chances are you’ve heard that before. Below is a series of steps that I followed or was mindful of during my job hunt.

 

Disperse your anxiety
We all have some sort of anxiety when it comes to asking someone for a job. Make peace with yourself on the fact that, yes, there are things you could continue to improve. However, remember you have great, exceptional qualities too. Focus on those and you will do well. The truth is there are many reasons why a firm might turn you down but you can’t address those reasons if you don’t know them.

 

Stay in touch
I met David Silverman, a Principal here at STA, years ago. I was on The Boston Architectural College’s Student Government and he was on the Alumni board. Occasionally our teams collaborated and shared ideas. Though my post today isn’t about networking, there is value in staying in touch with friends in the field.

 

Research, research, research!
Create a profile of the firm you are interested in. My profile included:

 

  • Name of the hiring manager (could be a principal or a project manager)
  • Mailing address
  • Hiring manager’s telephone and extension
  • Email address
  • Website address
  • Open position (don’t worry if you don’t qualify for specifics)

 

Read useful online articles about the firm. I found that news articles were more telling than the firms’ own websites. Through my research, I also tried to answer several questions I had about them. The questions were something like this:

 

  • What kind of work do they do—Commercial? Residential? Healthcare?
  • What are some recent projects? What is interesting about them?
  • What is one project the firm did that you really like? Why?
  • Who founded the firm? Is the hiring manager one of those founders? When was it founded?
  • What is the firm’s philosophy?

 

Every firm is different on each of these questions. The key here is piecing together a story. This is a way of getting to them and being able to have a conversation with them later in the hiring process.

 

Make contact
Everything you do up until this point is for this step. Write a cover letter that is short but customized based on your findings. If you’re responding to a specific position, elaborate on how you’ll bring value to that position. If you are cold calling, pick one key thing about the firm’s philosophy or their work and how you relate to it. The whole point of this is to show the firm that you have invested time in getting to know them and that you’re hoping they would do the same with you.

 

When you do make contact, be aware that everything you do has to be tailored to them in one way or another—not just the cover letter. My portfolio was made after I knew I wanted to ask STA for a job. The research I did early on informed what was going to go into the document. What kinds of projects and what methods of representation I was going to use (schematic diagrams, final plans & elevations, etc.) the most. As a way of showing the firm how I was able to bring my software development skills in with my graphic design-know-how, I created a customized envelope—like the one above. [NOTE: I will be talking about collateral design later in the month so come back!]

 

Follow up!
Having worked at STA for two weeks now, I can honestly say that this is probably THE MOST IMPORTANT part of the whole process! I have witnessed firsthand how passionate a firm like STA is about design. Had I not followed up, I would have easily been forgotten. Following up can be as simple as leaving a voicemail that says “Hi David, I’m calling to see if you received my package. I am hoping you and I can have lunch sometime.” The point of this step is to give the hiring manager a courteous nudge. Chances are s/he got your letter but has higher priorities. Like reviewing construction documents or field verifications! Whatever the reason, that has nothing to do with you—be patient, courteous and always follow up. You might think you’re imposing but people appreciate courtesy. Your timing, of course, has to be right. Give it a week before you ask if they got your mail.

 

Interview them too
If you have followed these steps chances are you’ve not only impressed the firm with your creative portfolio, but with your research. When they call you in, be engaging. Use your research to strike up conversation. Get to know them—interviews are just as much about the firm as they are about you. By being engaging you’ll continue to emphasize your interest, not in a job, but in being a part of their team.

 

Follow up… again!
After your interview, the minute you get back to your desk, hand write a thank you note to the person who interviewed you. They have taken time out of their busy schedule to meet with you—say thank you. I mean it when I say, hand write!

 

Be patient
As I noted earlier, firms that are passionate about design are always busy. If they like you, they will say so. If they are not interested, they will also say so. If they say no, it is alright. Your professionalism has put you on their radar. When a position opens up at that firm, they will think of you and how great you were in the whole process.

 

Good luck! I will be posting about portfolio design and collateral print design in the near future so be sure to come back.

 

-Josh W. Castellano