Written by Paul Slezak, Area Manager, Aquent Sydney

I distinctly remember my lecturer’s “welcoming” words on my first day at University. He said, “Turn to your right. Turn to your left. Only one out of the three of you will graduate from this course”. It was a very daunting thought and one that I still haven’t forgotten – despite my first day of University being quite a long time ago now!

Fortunately today Universities and Colleges are keen to see as many students as possible graduate from their respective institutions, and so it’s far more likely that the people who sat beside you on your first day will also be there at your Graduation.

Now the daunting thought is that with all the Graduates entering the workforce and applying for the same positions as you, only one of you will get the job.

Harsh, but true.

We all begin our careers at the same spot – the beginning. Today with the level of competition that exists in the Graduate market place, how do you distinguish yourself from all the other players?

I believe that the key to successfully securing your first job as a Graduate lies with the following four attributes:

• Skill
• Attitude
• Motivation
• Preparation

Regardless of what you elected to study after High School, all students enrolled in a specific tertiary course will basically learn the same skills. This statement is certainly applicable for those completing a course in graphic design where, as opposed to various presentations, essays and “Majors”, all students will develop hands-on design skills in relevant software packages, specific techniques and industry-related procedures required in any design environment. However given that more often than not, marks relate directly to one’s ability to have understood and mastered a particular skill, this means that as a design Graduate, you can not rely on skillalone to enter the workforce.

Everything you say and do during the search for your first job will leave a lasting impression in the mind of any interviewer, so it’s critical that this impression be a positive one. Remember that you only have one opportunity to establish your credibility in front of a potential employer, and so it really comes down to how you convey your talent, experience and achievements (as well as your skills of course!).

The way you do this is through a positive attitude. If you believe you have the ability to do the job at hand, then this must be reflected through the way you differentiate yourself from the moment you walk in to an interview. Your attitude reflects your mindset and your focus on securing the job. Take advantage of your ability to project a positive attitude.You know yourself better than anyone else and it is impossible to achieve uniqueness and to differentiate yourself from other applicants if a prospective employer cannot detect your belief in yourself.

A firm handshake, being well presented, maintaining eye contact with your interviewer at all times and letting your true personality shine will allow you to make an immediate and credible impression on your potential employer, as these traits all convey your motivation to succeed.

If you have been unsuccessful with a previous application, do not dwell on this, and more importantly never let this show. A better opportunity will present itself and it may well be through the person interviewing you next. A combination of the right attitude and an obvious personal goal drive will keep you top of mind, even if your actual results are not as high as those of other applicants who may be relying on marks and skill alone to secure their first job.

Preparation is key.

The Graduate who ends up getting the job will certainly possess the right skills, display a positive attitude and high levels of motivation, but will also be well prepared.

Firstly you must be familiar with the background and the client work of the organisation you are meeting. This can either be done through speaking to people in the industry, reading relevant publications or researching on the.

It is absolutely critical for any job seeker – especially a design Graduate to not only research the company in detail, but also to have a professionally worded résumé, an impressive portfolio and to be comfortable and confident during interview. However assistance in résumé preparation, compiling a portfolio, and perfecting the art of surviving a job interview are all individual topics worthy of articles in themselves, so for now please consider the following tips and important pieces of advice.

When it comes to your résumé, you must remember to include a well thought-out career objective, state all your relevant work experience, the institution where you qualified and the dates you were enrolled. List any software and hardware you are proficient in and a personal portfolio web site if it’s relevant. You need to also think about whether you have any additional leadership experience, relevant memberships, further education or training, or any personal achievements that will distinguish you from others on the shortlist. Then make an objective judgement on whether or not to include these in your résumé.

Don’t include a photo and don’t use fancy fonts. The secret to a successful résumé is for it to be clear and concise.

Understand that as a design Graduate you need to ensure that as opposed to simply including a static list of work experience positions and university subjects, your résumé must highlight the skills you have mastered and any achievements for which you can take credit. Ask yourself, “What have I done that has added distinctive value to my career?” or “What achievement am I most proud of?”. You need to confidently take credit for what you have done as this will help separate you from the other players in the game.

Given that opinions on any element of design can be so subjective, it is also important to have a well-organised portfolio that really showcases your talent and conveys a professional image. You need to showcase your most stunning work but more importantly you need to organise your work according to what is most relevant to the position you are applying for. Have no more than 10 – 12 pieces, begin your portfolio with your best piece and have another favourite at the back to leave a lasting impression.

Successful self-promotion no doubt also comes down to just how polished your interview technique is. For now, just remember that as a design Graduate you are not only promoting your ability to get the job (i.e get through the interview process), you are there to promote your ability to actually do the job in question. So practise presenting your portfolio to friends and family until you feel confident explaining the concept, thought process and execution behind key pieces at your interview.

There is certainly a lot to digest as you prepare to enter your chosen field. If you know you’re the one for the job, by taking on board some of the ideas outlined above, it will make it easier for you to convince someone else that you are.

Paul Slezak is the Sydney Area Manager for Aquent (www.aquent.com/mcs), a global firm that specialises in staffing solutions for the creative, marketing and communications industries. Through a network of nearly seventy offices in fifteen countries, Aquent services in the areas of print and web design and production; advertising and media, marketing, public relations and business support. Paul also speaks and trains on career and recruitment issues and can be contacted on (02) 9264 1888 or e-mailed via pslezak@aquent.com