How To Get A Web Design Work Placement
Noostyle is a Belfast city centre based, web design company. As such, we receive LOTS of requests from students for work placements. Not only can we not accommodate all of these requests but very often, we don't even have time to look at them in depth or reply to them all.
Here are some tips to get you noticed and score that all-important work placement…..
SELL SELL SELL
One of the most important aspects of web design is selling a product or message so start with yourself and start now. Web designers are used to dealing with creative people and are (usually) creative people themselves. Therefore, we don't want to hear a bland request from a vanilla person. Excite us and show us your creative streak.
THREE TYPES OF REQUEST
It seems there are three basic types of request we receive. Which type are you?
1. An email only, which is likely to be ignored as it's one of 20 or 30 similar emails received this month.
Example:
Dear Sir
I am doing a degree in Multimedia and need a work placement for x months. I would appreciate if you could accommodate me. My mobile number is 07734 649959
Many thanks
Jim Placement.
2. A similar Email with a Microsoft Word CV attached. This is also likely to be ignored as the CV concentrates on academia and not what you can do from a design perspective.
3. Memorable Email with examples of work undertaken at college/university and what was learned from the experience. This is far more likely to be replied to as the applicant has immediately demonstrated where they are at and what they are capable of.
It may take a bit longer but putting the effort into your initial contact will pay off sooner or later.
TIPS TO GET YOU NOTICED
1. Be polite
This may sound obvious but use words such as 'please, 'appreciate' and 'thank you'. In other words, demonstrate that you will be a good ambassador should you have to answer the phone or should we choose to involve you in a consultation process.
2. Tell us your vision
Let us know what it is you are hoping to achieve or learn on your placement and how it fits in with your career vision. This lets us know that we are investing an effort in the right person.
3. Tell us your selling points
What exactly can you do already? Even if you only have basic Photoshop or HTML skills, tell us. We can then utilise your skills and help you develop them. By knowing where you are at in advance, we can have a development programme ready for you.
If you know how to install WordPress, add alt tags to images or crop images, TELL US. We want and need to know!!!!
4. Showcase your skills
As we said above, it gets a bit tiresome reading through bland emails and boring CVs. We want to know about your personality and skills. There is no better way of doing this than by incorporating your skills into your initial contact.
Show us a basic portfolio website you have put together to showcase what you've been working on throughout your course. This will illustrate what you have learned and demonstrate that you know at least HTML and CSS.
Alternatively, make a funky, graphical CV using Photoshop or Illustrator. This will showcase your imagination as well as your skills. Here is an example of what we mean:
With a small amount of effort, you should now be armed to secure that work placement. Any designer or company will be impressed by a website or graphic CV you have created. It shows us your skills, that you're willing to make the effort and that you mean business.
Good luck And remember to visit the Web Design Belfast page.
Peter Robinson
noostyle.com
