design tools 4k7bi4qdshk resume booklet

QUICK START-UP GUIDE risd career center CONTENTS RISD RESOURCES... 1 PREPARING FOR INTERNSHIPS... 2 SEARCHING FOR JOBS & INTERNSHIPS... 3-4 SEEKING GRANTS & RESIDENCIES... 5-6 BUILDING A LINKEDIN PROFILE... 7 NETWORKING PROFESSIONALLY... 8 INTERVIEWING FOR OPPORTUNITIES... 9-10 WORKING SAMPLES... 11-25 RESUME ACTION WORDS... 26 BASIC RESUME... 27-31 COVER LETTER... 31-32 EXHIBITION RESUME... 32-33 ARTIST'S STATEMENT... 33-34 CURRICULUM VITAE... 34-35 1 ACCESS THE CAREER CENTER’S ONLINE RESOURCES com RISD’s Career Center website is your source for all things career-related! You will find links to ArtWorks, RISD’s online job and internship board; our online career resource library; career program calendars and descriptions; advice on how to find and apply for grants and residencies; a comprehensive entrepreneurial and freelance section; and links to our Facebook page, LinkedIn group, and RISD Portfolios site.

This booklet provides you with essential information and resources to help you get started, thrive and stay connected in your professional creative life. ARTWORKS com/jobs/students--alumni---artworks/ ArtWorks is a searchable database designed to help RISD students and alumni find jobs, internships, and creative opportunities throughout the country and internationally. CAREER ADVISING edu / 401-454-6614 Consider scheduling a career advising appointment to help refine your resume, cover letters and portfolio. Brainstorm with a career advisor about creative opportu- nities and learn about resources that can lead to valuable professional relationships and career strategies for life after RISD.

Career advising is available to all RISD students and alumni. CAREER PROGRAMS com/careerprograms/career-programs Check the career programs listed on our website for updates on workshops, seminars and speakers. Current events will have links to RSVP and you’ll see our brochures and speaker updates. Many of our programs are open to alumni. GRANTS & RESIDENCIES com/grants/grant-resources/ com/grants/residency-resources/ RISD’s Career Center provides information and guidance for a number of national and international grants, fellow- ships and residencies and can provide the research tools you’ll need to find and apply for them. Individual appoint- ments with a grants and residencies specialist are available to assist in guiding your process.

RISD CAREERS @ LINKEDIN com At LinkedIn, you can reach out to thousands of alumni and students from around the world and reconnect, foster professional and artistic relationships, and create career opportunities. Join the Rhode Island School of Design Alumni Group, open to all RISD students and alumni. RISD RESOURCES RISD PORTFOLIOS edu Join RISD’s first centralized source for portfolios powered by Behance and gain outstanding exposure for your work. Being a part of the RISD portfolio community allows you to be seen by employers searching for RISD talent. To join, simply click the sign-up button and follow the signup steps to create your profile.

ONLINE CAREER LIBRARY com/risdcareers com/risdtalent com/risdentrepreneur com/risdgrants Delicious serves as our online career resource library and is populated with thousands of links to bring you valuable and interesting RISD discipline-related websites. Explore four RISD categories of bookmarks saved on Delicious: Career and Discipline, Talent and Networking, Freelance and Entrepreneur, and Grants and Residencies. RISD CAREERS @ FACEBOOK com/risdcareers If you’re career-curious, then risd/careers/ @ Facebook will provide you with up-to-date information on our career programs, pertinent websites, career-related articles and more to help you follow your creative path. JOB BOARDS & POSTING WORK ONLINE com/jobs/job-search-resources/

com/files/pdf/jobs_internships/ pdf RISD Career Center has put together a resource list of useful job boards organized by industry as well as useful sites for posting your work online. These lists are not exhaustive, but should be a nice guide to help you get started. 2 WHEN TO DO ONE Freshmen • First-year internships are possible – use your enthusiasm and flexibility to open doors. You’re likely to have basic responsibilities, but you’ll also see directly the work of a discipline. Credit is not available this year. Sophomore • Apply the skills and knowledge you’ve gained in classes to secure an internship.

Consider which studios will best prepare you for the future. Department approval is necessary for credits. Junior • Perfect time to put to use what you’ve learned in your major. You’ll have more responsibilities and opportuni- ties during your internship while making professional contacts. Department approval is necessary for credits. Senior • Internships can lead directly to employment, build contacts within your field and open career opportunities. During fall and winter, department approval is necessary. Unpaid experiences, though, may require credits which are not available once you’ve graduated. Graduate students • Prior professional experience, skills, drive and maturity give you a competitive edge.

Identify those internships which most advance your career opportunities. Depart- ment approvial is necessary for credits. Pay options may be more likely and negotiable. TIMING Fall & Spring Semesters • You’ll need to balance an internship with your classes and seek opportunites within commuting distances of RISD. Approval from your department head is necessary for credits. Wintersession • Popular time for internships. Be sure to explain to sponsors that you’ll be available when other students are on holiday break or in classes. Summer • Provides the most options and flexibility and expands the range of places for you to apply to.

Paid, unpaid, credit and non-credit bearing experiences are often available. PAID OR UNPAID Paid • Best case scenario. Usually offered at an hourly rate or stipend per week. Paid experiences may result in job-like expectations and responsibilities which extend the scope of the internship. Unpaid • In changing economies, more companies offer unpaid internships which often require college credits and approval. Speak to the employer about the possibility of a stipend for commuting costs, meals and other expenses. PAPERWORK & FORMS Credit • In order to receive credit for an internship experience, you must complete the online internship application form in ArtWorks which can be found at: http://

com/jobs/students--alumni---artworks/ Approval from your internship advisor and depart- ment head is required for credit-bearing internships and an evaluation from the employer at the end of the internship is also required. • A guide to filling out the online application can be found at: com/files/pdf/ pdf Noncredit • While department approval is not required, you still need to complete the online internship application form in ArtWorks which can be found at: http:// com/jobs/students--alumni---artworks/ to document your experience. PREPARATION Organize • Start exploring internship listings in the fall and fine tune your resume, portfolio and materials. Be aware of any early deadlines for Wintersession internships.

By having your materials prepared early, you can be ready for any opportunities that arise. PREPARING FOR INTERNSHIPS An internship experience can help you build a stronger resume, earn more pay, make professional contacts and see your field firsthand. Seek internships that match your creative goals. It will give you insight to determine what you want to do, and don’t want to do. Students should log into ArtWorks to search our database of listings. com/jobs/students--alumni---artworks/ 3 SEARCHING FOR JOBS & INTERNSHIPS Here are steps to improve your efforts in finding, applying for and achieving the internships, jobs and opportunities that are right for you.

Several of these tips refer to RISD’s ArtWorks and Online Career Library resources which can be found at: com MEET WITH A CAREER ADVISOR Resumes, Feedback, Brainstorming & More • Schedule a career advising appointment and have your resume, cover letter and materials reviewed. • Learn about career resources and how to use them to expand your job hunting opportunities. • Discuss past experiences, challenges and issues and get feedback that can improve your outlook. • Brainstorm new directions for your career path. • Appointments can be in person, over the phone, or via Skype.

RESEARCH Other Cities & Other Markets • Broaden your job definition: Think of places that would benefit from the art and design thinking you have learned at RISD. • Expand your search beyond traditional art and design markets like New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Consider regions of the country that are economically stable even if it means working for a couple of years and moving back to a larger urban area. • Research cost-of-living information at sites like com/cost-of-living-calculator • Broaden your job definition and evaluate related markets that could utilize your skills.

Adjust language and descriptions on your resume to reflect other career paths. • Find information on companies, people, and industries using LinkedIn’s search function and our Career Library resources at com REFINE WHAT YOU HAVE Resume, Portfolio, Website, & Samples • Update your resume and materials with current work and experiences. Adjust layout, presentation and information. • Target your information to specific jobs and develop multiple versions of materials. • Broaden the description of your abilities and emphasize transferrable skills that appeal across different jobs and markets. Note strengths in communication, organization, management and work ethic.

• Get your work seen and post it to RISD Portfolios powered by Behance at: edu • Consider creating a personal website and posting your work to multiple places online. A list of resources can be found at: com/ pdf NETWORK Alumni, Professionals, & Online Networks • Join RISD’s digital career connection to alumni at LinkedIn by going to com and clicking on the LinkedIn logo. • Use RISD’s online Alumni Directory to access 20,000+ alumni living throughout the world. Search by name, region, major and even company. edu • Approach alumni as mentors, ask questions about markets and seek suggestions for contacts.

• Join professional organizations like AIA, AIGA, IDSA, or CAA to connect with others in your field. Attend trade shows, conferences and art fairs to meet with professionals directly and collect business cards and materials, to use for future follow-up. EXPAND YOUR SEARCH Artworks, Job Boards & Directories • Check out RISD’s job & internship database, ArtWorks, several times a week for direct postings to the college at: com/jobs/ students--alumni---artworks/ • Extend your search beyond Craigslist to art and design specific job boards such as: org (contact us for free access) com org com • There are over 300 job links tagged by art and design specializations in Delicious:

com/risdcareers/jobs • Think beyond job listings and find companies where you could work by using directories, databases and magazines. Subscribe to publications specific to your career, and research directories like: com com com com • Browse our Online Career Library to find numerous 4 directories per major and career path. http:// com/risdcareers/directories • Significantly increase the number of jobs you apply to and the number of contacts you make. Instead of 10, strive for 20 or more. • Create tiers to focus your energy. Top tier are the firms you would love to work for; tailor your materials for them.

Mid tier are good choices that will help build your resume. Bottom tier are your back-ups and may involve less effort. BROADEN YOUR SKILLS Workshops, Career Programs & Grad School • Acquire technical and computer software skills you may need through workshops or continuing education classes. Specifically, look into RISD CE courses or professional development sites like com. RISD offers students a free subscription to the site. Click on the com icon on com. • Attend the Career Center’s programs, panels and presentations that can help improve your materials, inform your decisions and enhance networking with professionals.

• Determine if graduate school and an advanced degree may be a necessary step for your career path. GAIN EXPERIENCE Internships, Apprenticeships & Volunteer • Explore paid internship and apprenticeship opportu- nities, even after graduation, that can help get your foot in the door and establish valuable networks. Check ArtWorks for current internship opportunities. • Devote time to volunteering through trade shows, fundraisers, art fairs, non-profits and other organizations connected to your profession. Meet like-minded individuals and create new tangents for your career. • Check out sites like org for extensive listings of non-profit organizations, internships and volunteer opportunities throughout the world.

• Discover residency opportunities in the S. and abroad for emerging and established artists at the Alliance of Artists Communities and Res Artis. org org • Need a more practical option? Get information and test the waters through a job shadow or an informational interview. BE PERSISTENT Emails, Calls, Follow-Up & More • Develop a plan to contact and follow-up on job leads. Maintain a database and track people, contact information, dates and responses. • Make initial contact with an email; check in with another email in two weeks; follow-up with a call after another two weeks.

Consider a visit to the company to drop off materials. • Try contacting 2 to 4 individuals in a firm – Design Director, Assistant Directors, Project Managers, Human Resources, etc. Don’t rely on one contact. • Request an informational interview if opportunities are not currently available. • Gain excellent advice for your job search at cfm/get-a-design-job • Use the RISD alumni network and LinkedIn to help you navigate organizations. ACE THE INTERVIEW Interview Advice & Preparation • Review tips, potential questions and advice provided through our Interview Handout at: com/files/pdf/jobs_ pdf • Use InterviewStream to record mock interviews and improve your interviewing skills.

Click on the icon for InterviewStream at com • Meet with a RISD Career Advisor to discuss interview tactics and gain feedback on your interviewing approach. • If you are offered a phone or Skype interview, you should approach it the same way you would any personal interaction. EVALUATE THE OFFER Personal Finances, Salaries & Other Sources • Evaluate your financial situation; know how much money you need monthly to meet your needs to establish your salary requirements. • Research salary information at sites like com, org, org/salary-survey, and http://www. com/SalaryCenter along with information from professional organizations such as AIGA, AIA, IDSA and others.

• Prospect for grant money from state, regional and national art councils and organizations. Explore NYFA Source at org for its extensive database of resources. • Look past the salary and take into consideration the entire package (benefits, vacation, perks, etc.) 5 SEEKING GRANTS & RESIDENCIES OPPORTUNITIES • Individual artistic achievement and creative excel- lence are often recognized and rewarded through fellowships and scholarships. Numerous opportuni- ties exist for undergraduates, graduates, post-gradu- ates and alumni and these often take the form of specialized grants, cash awards or residencies - all of which are designed to inspire and support the individual by enhancing and sustaining their creative practice and career aspirations.

• Anyone seeking to continue their art practice, carve out time to develop an idea, sharpen their artistic vision, attend graduate school or create a new body of work will find an abundant number of viable opportunities, nationally and internationally. Discuss past experiences, challenges and issues and get feedback that can improve your outlook. RESEARCH • People ask, “I am looking for money to study painting in France – what grant should I apply ” or, “Can you give me a list of the best residency programs in ” Our best answer is: if you walk into a library and ask for a book about France, what are the odds the librarian will choose the perfect book for you?

• Through active, in-depth research and by utilizing the tools and resources provided here and on our website com, you will find opportu- nities best suited to your experiences, tastes, goals, needs and creative direction. Although many well- known opportunities exist, such as the Fulbright Scholarship, the Rhodes Scholarship, or the Rome Prize, many lesser known opportunities also exist and may be far less competitive and a better fit for your specific goals. RISD’s Career Center directly manages several scholarship, residency, and cash award opportunities and provides ample resources on our website to assist in your research.

APPLYING • Regardless of whether you are applying for a fellowship, scholarship, grant, award or residency, once you find an opportunity that interests you, you will first need to determine your eligibility and then begin to fill out the application form, carefully gathering all necessary information and closely following the detailed guidelines. • Depending on the kind of program you are seeking, whether a scholarship for graduate school, a cash award that will allow you to travel and/or purchase necessary materials, a fellowship that provides a stipend for focused research or study, or a residency that will provide studio space, desig- nated time, and a network of like-minded individu- als, the application will be very specific and almost always include an element of writing.

Although the application process may prove rigorous, the experience and insight you gain through the activity will truly benefit you and serve you well for the rest of your career. SAMPLE APPLICATIONS • To assist in your research we post several success- ful Fulbright scholarship applications at http:// com/grants/fulbright for your review. But keep in mind as with any creative endeavor, the process of applying for a grant is an individual experience, which takes time, thoughtful consideration, lots of research, reflection, writing and rewriting. • Although each application is unique, most require a proposal, personal statement, budget, timeline, and visual materials.

Some require personal finan- cial information and transcripts. As mentioned above, be sure to familiarize yourself with and carefully follow the directions associated with any application. • Most imperative is accuracy, including careful proof-reading to correct ALL typos and/or gram- matical errors, providing all materials as requested, and carefully observing all stated deadlines includ- ing RISD internal deadlines that may be different from the award’s official deadline. ADVISING • The Career Center can advise you in every aspect of the application process, including idea develop- ment, editorial support and content guidance, and encourages you to set up a meeting with our Grants and Residencies Advisor to answer any questions you may have along the way.

• To ensure that your meeting with the advisor is productive and to get you started before schedul- ing an appointment, we encourage you to comp- lete an initial search of resources to identify possible options and develop related questions. • For more information or to set up an appointment, contact the RISD Career Center at edu or call 401-454-6614. 6 PERSISTENCE • As the saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”. Determination and persistence are critical to success in practically everything related to a career in the arts, especially scholarships, grants, fellowships and residencies.

• Sometimes applicants feel that getting a small grant may be a necessary stepping-stone to receiving a larger grant, and that regional awards are often easier to obtain than national ones, which tend to be highly competitive. But don’t give up! There is something perfect out there just for you! RESEARCH RESOURCES RISD Resources • On the RISD Career Center website, click on ‘Grants/ Residencies’ to find links for Grant Resources, RISD Managed Awards, Residency Resources, Fulbright, Crowdsourced Funding, and meeting with a Grant Advisor. com • Grants & Residencies at our Online Career Library.

An extensive listing of links to grants, residencies, fellowships, scholarships and awards. com/risdgrants • In addition to posting jobs and internships, ArtWorks list residencies, competitions, awards and other opportunities. com/jobs/students- -alumni---artworks/ Key Resources • NYFA Source from the New York Foundation for the Arts is one of the best directories to research grants, residencies and awards. org/source/ SA=1 • Foundation Center Grants for Individuals is an excellent resource listing thousands of grants and scholarships for students, artists and researchers. org • Foundation Center – Cooperating Collections is a great place to find free fundraising information and other funding-related technical assistance.

pdf • State Arts Agencies Directory is a great source for grant opportunities and resources. org/About/State-Arts- php • Alliance of Artists Communities has an exceptional directory of residencies within the United States and abroad including programs for emerging artists. org • Res Artis is one of the best worldwide directories for international residencies. org Regional Resources • New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) org • Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) org • Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (MAAF) org • Mid-America Arts Alliance (MAAA) org • South Arts: org Additional Resources • CaFÉ – Call For Entries

php • Art Deadline - Income & Exhibition Opportunities com • Art Deadlines List – Art Competitions & Exhibitions com • College Art Association (CAA) org/opportunities • National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) net • Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) org/resources- opportunities/awards-scholarships • International Sculpture Center (ISC) org/documents/awards/ shtml • The Furniture Society org/furn/index. page=resources RISD Managed Awards • The RISD Career Center supports a number of national and international funding opportunities with liaisons, jurying processes and internal management. • RISD is one of the top Fulbright producing institutions in the United States.

Be sure to consider this outstanding opportunity and work with our Fulbright Program Advisor. org • RISD Maharam STEAM Fellowships in applied art and design provide stipends of up to $5,000 each for select internships with a government agency or nonprofit organization. com • Windgate Fellowship Award org/grants/ • St. Botolph Emerging Artists Award html • Toby Devan Lewis Fellowship Award com • Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Arts Award org/scholarships/graduate- scholarships • Marshall Scholarship org • George J. Mitchell Scholarship org • Guggenheim Fellowship org/about-the-foundation/the- fellowship • Rome Prize: org/apply/rome-prize/ • Ox-Bow Residency/Fellowship org • Skowhegan Artist Residency

org 7 BUILDING A LINKEDIN PROFILE Think of your LinkedIn profile as an interactive business card. It’s a summary of your professional experience, interests, and capabilities that is designed to attract the attention of important people who are searching for you online: recruiters, networking contacts, art directors or possible clients. A strong profile is a key differentiator in the job market. THE HEADLINE • Your profile headline gives people a short, memorable way to understand who you are professionally. Think of the headline as the slogan for your professional brand. • Check out the profiles of students and recent alums you admire for ideas and inspiration.

DISPLAY AN APPROPRIATE PHOTO • Remember that LinkedIn is not Facebook. If you post a photograph — and we recommend that you do — select a professional, high-quality headshot of you alone. SHOW OFF YOUR EDUCATION • Be sure to include information about all institutions you’ve attended. RISD is a brand, use it to get noticed, or to create networking contacts. Include your major, and maybe courses from Brown or other institutions, as well as highlights of your activities. It’s also appropriate to include study abroad programs like EHP. • Don’t be shy — your LinkedIn profile is an appropriate place to show off your strong GPA and any honors or awards you’ve won.

DEVELOP A PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY STATEMENT • Your summary statement should be concise and show that you are confident about your goals and qualifications. • Remember to include relevant internships, volunteer work, and extra curriculars. • Present your summary statement in short blocks of text for easy reading. • Bullet points are great, too. SHARE YOUR “SKILLS” • “Skills & Expertise” is the place to include keywords and phrases that a recruiter or hiring manager might type into a search engine to find a person like you. • The best place to find relevant keywords is in the job listings that appeal to you and the LinkedIn profiles of people who currently hold the kind of positions you want.

This is a place where you can list information that may appear in the skills section of your resume. UPDATE YOUR STATUS WEEKLY • A great way to stay on other people’s radar screens and enhance your professional image is to update your status at least once a week. Tell people about events you’re attending, major projects you’ve completed or any other news that you would tell someone at a net- working reception or on a quick catch-up phone call. If you use Twitter, connect your account to LinkedIn and your status updates appear as tweets.

SHOW YOUR CONNECTEDNESS WITH LINKEDIN GROUPS • Joining groups is the perfect way to show your pro- fessionalism and your desire to connect to people with whom you have something in common. • Most students start by joining their university’s LinkedIn group as well as the larger industry groups related to the career they want to pursue. COLLECT DIVERSE RECOMMENDATIONS • Nothing builds credibility like third-party endorsements. • Impressive profiles have at least one recommendation associated with each position a person has held. • Think about soliciting recommendations from profess- ors, internship coordinators and colleagues, employers, and professional mentors.

CLAIM A UNIQUE LINKEDIN URL • To increase the professional results that appear when people search for you, set your LinkedIn profile to “public” and claim a unique URL for your profile. for example: com/in/yourname • This also makes it easier to include your LinkedIn URL in your email signature, which is a great way to demon- strate your professionalism. SHARE YOUR WORK • Enhance your LinkedIn profile by adding examples of your design work or other accomplishments and displaying URLs or adding LinkedIn applications. • By including URLs, you can direct people to your RISD Portfolios profile, website, blog, Facebook page or Twitter feed.

8 NETWORKING PROFESSIONALLY 100% COMPLETE = 100% MORE LIKELY TO GET NOTICED • You can’t build connections if people don’t know you exist or see what you have to offer. Your LinkedIn profile is your online business card, your resume and your portfolio, all in one. • Don’t be shy: users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities. YOU’RE MORE EXPERIENCED THAN YOU THINK • Complete profiles are so important because the more information you provide, the more people will find reasons to connect with you. • Think really broadly about all the experience you have, including summer jobs, unpaid internships, volunteer work, and student organizations.

You never know what might catch someone’s eye. USE YOUR INBOX • Contrary to popular belief, networking doesn’t always mean reaching out to strangers. The best networks begin with those you know and trust, and then grow based on personal referrals. • Start building your LinkedIn network by uploading your online address book and connecting to friends, relatives, internship colleagues, and professionals you know in the “real ” GET PERSONAL • As you build your connections on LinkedIn, always customize your connection requests with a friendly note and, if necessary, a reminder of where you met or what organization you have in common.

• If you’re being referred by a mutual friend, write a brief intro of who you are and why you’d like to connect. You’ll impress people with your personal touch and they are more likely to connect. JOIN THE “IN” CROWD • Form new online relationships by joining LinkedIn Groups. Start with your university group—alums love to connect with students—and then find other volun- teer and professional organizations. • As a member, you can comment on discussions, ask for advice, find exclusive job listings, and meet people who share common interests. LEND A (VIRTUAL) HAND • As you build connections and group memberships, think about what you can do to support others.

• Comment on a classmate’s status update, forward a job listing that fits the criteria of a friend, or write a recommendation for a summer job colleague. You’ll find that your generosity is often rewarded. UPDATE YOUR STATUS • Networking is not just about who you know; it’s about who knows you. • Stay on other people’s radar screens by updating your LinkedIn status at least once a week—you can do this directly on LinkedIn or by linking your Twitter account and marking tweets with #in • Mention events you’re attending, projects you’ve completed, and other professional news.

Q&A EVERYTHING LINKEDIN’S • Answers feature is a great place to seek advice from a wide variety of people all around the world • You can also show the world what you have to offer by answering people’s questions about a topic where you have some expertise. DO YOUR HOMEWORK • Before an informational interview, a job interview, or a networking get-together, use LinkedIn to learn about the background and interests of the people you’re scheduled to meet. • Access Company Pages to research organizations and their employees, and use Advanced Search to find commonalities with people you’re meeting.

NOW STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER... • Change the perception that young people are only comfortable communicating online, by supporting your online networking with real human interaction. • Set up phone calls, attend live events, and send snail mail notes to people you connect with on LinkedIn. • Remember that online methods should supp- lement, not replace, in-person relationship building. With LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional online network, the “who” is at your fingertips. Follow these easy steps to get connected now - and to turn those connections into opportunities. Also, remember to join the Rhode Island School of Design Alumni Group:

gid=3809&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr 9 HOW TO BEGIN Online Research • Make sure to investigate the company website and pay particular attention to sections such as: About Us, Company Philosophy, Client List, People, Leadership and/or Mission Statement. Do your homework; use LinkedIn’s Company Pages to research organizations and their employees. Topical Issues • Periodicals, blogs and trade journals are excellent sources for information on specific industries or companies. Virtually every field has useful director- ies that provide information about the industry. Direct Contact with the Organization’s People • Informational interviews are the best way to gather data and get a glimpse into the industry or field you are researching.

Consider an informational interview with a company you may be interested in. This is a way to get your foot in the door and make a great first impression. WEIGHING YOUR OPTIONS Research the Organization’s Mission • What business is it? • What services or products does it provide or produce? • Who are its customers or clients? • Is the company a subsidiary or does it have subsidiaries? • Is the company involved in a growing industry? • Is it a leader or notable in its field? • Who are its Foreign or Domestic competitors?

Its Size and Structure • Number of employees? • Any RISD alumni working for the company? • Does it have one location or is it regional, national, or multinational? • What are the current trends in the industry? • Financial stability of the firm and growth potential? PORTFOLIO Preparation & Presentation • The quality of your work is a key factor in getting the job you want. When you are ready to begin assem- bling your portfolio, you face some important decisions about what to include and how to present it. Faculty in your department and the advisors in the Career Center are resources for this process.

Each professional area has its own norms and standards. You should investigate those standards by looking at the portfolios of professionals in your career area. For examples of RISD student and alumni work, go to: edu and com/risdtalent General Guidelines • Neatness is essential; artwork should be free of smudges, erasures, and any other distracting information. • Sequence your work carefully and logically, start- ing strong and finishing strong. • Only include those pieces that you feel are your best work and are appropriate to the kind of job for which you are applying. This means that you might have to change your portfolio for different kinds of interviews and prospective employers.

• You will have to make some decisions about the focus of your portfolio. You may want to show the breadth of your talent and your ability to do many different things or you may want to focus your portfolio in a specialized area. These decisions will be determined by your chosen field and the spe- cific kind of work for which you are applying. • Be prepared to talk about your work and to have comments for all your pieces. • Establish an online presence join RISD Portfolios at edu EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Start with InterviewStream • Use InterviewStream to record mock interviews and improve your interviewing skills.

Click on the InterviewStream icon at com Remain Positive • An interviewer wants to learn not only about your skills, but also about your character. It is impor- tant to keep your responses, and the interview in general, upbeat and positive. Employers look for people who can think under pressure, and the in- terview is an opportunity to prove you can do this. • Employers are like everyone else—they want to hire and be around enthusiastic and motivated people. It is important to feel confident and relaxed. Practice interviewing can help you feel comfortable and ensure that you are making the best impression possible without being insincere.

IntervIewIng for opportunItIes 10 Body Language • Beware of how feelings and attitudes can be expressed visually. Use your skills to interpret the interviewer’s body language. Good eye contact and a firm handshake are only part of successful body communication. Posture, tone of voice, facial expressions, and hand movements also play an integral role. Dressing for Success • It is better to err on the side of formality than informality. Professionalism in personal appearance is a strong complement to the quality of your work. There will be plenty of time to express your individu- ality once you get the job.

ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS Typical Interview Questions • Tell me a little about yourself. • Why did you choose to attend RISD? • What led you to choose your major field of study? • What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? • How do you feel about your work being changed or modified? • Can you work under pressure? • Who was the worst person you ever worked for; why? • Why are you interested in this position? • Why are you interested in this firm? • What is the greatest challenge you have had to face?

How did you handle this situation? • What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses? • What kind of decisions are most difficult for you? • What do you see yourself doing five years from now? • Is graduate education a future goal? When? • What are you most proud of about yourself? • Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? • How do you feel about working in a team setting? • What else should I know about you? • I see many students with credentials similar to yours, why should I hire you?

• Remember that you are being evaluated throughout the interview process and especially during “casual” conversations, lunches, etc. Federal laws, and some state laws restrict interviewers and require them to ask only questions that pertain to the job require- ments. Inquiries about race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, and other matters not directly connected to job performance are not valid, or legal topics. ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS They Expect You to Ask • Asking questions serves two purposes: first, to clarify issues or concerns you may have related to your potential employment, and second, to convey your interest in the position.

Questions should never be gratuitous, but if you are really interested in a position, you can always think of something more that you would like to know about it. Prepare Your Questions Beforehand • As I gain more experience, what opportunities might become available to me? • Can you give me a little more detail regarding the specific job responsibilities? • What do you think is the most challenging aspect of the job? • Who would be my direct supervisor? How is the supervision done? • What qualities are you looking for in new hires?

• What would my work environment be like? • What kinds of projects do you see the company developing within the next few years? • How would this position allow me to use my initia- tive and develop my skills? • Don’t bring up the issue of compensation during the interview. The interview is about your potential to perform the job well. You will want to make sure the interviewer has an objective opportunity to realize that you would be an excellent choice before you discuss your requirements with regard to salary and benefits. If the job notice asks for a resume and salary history, send the resume and the salary range you feel is appropriate given your experience, education and knowledge.

Follow Up • After an interview, send a thank you note/email, as well as any additional materials the employer has requested, within 48 hours. Keep it short and sincere. The follow-up serves several purposes: • It provides the opportunity for further visibility. • It gives you the opportunity to briefly remind the interviewer of your strengths and genuine interest in the position. • It demonstrates that you are a thoughtful person who values the interviewer’s time. SALARY NEGOTATIONS • Salary Negotiation is a sometimes complex and nuanced discussion. It is difficult to explain briefly, and likely may require advising from one of the Career Advisers at the Career Center.

However, being prepared by researching average salary numbers for your field as well as in your geographic location is a good start. Also, be sure to consider the benefits package being offered, as this is a big part of your compensation as well. 11 Resumes, Cover Letters, Artist Statements, & Curriculum Vitae WORKING SAMPLES These samples provide content and formatting for basic job resumes and cover letters used for fine art and design opportunities. Examples for both entry- level and more experienced candidates are shown. Use these samples for guidance and inspiration, to create your own unique documents based on your per- sonal background, skills and goals.

The content and design of your materials should reflect the best way to describe and demonstrate your abilities.