This document contains advice from Ryan Ford for job seekers in design fields. It discusses the importance of networking through sites like Dribbble and Behance to find jobs and connect with other designers. It provides tips for finding jobs, preparing applications, interviewing, negotiating pay, and respecting yourself throughout the process. The overall message is to gain experience, put your best work forward, be humble but value your skills, and use your network to continuously improve your career prospects.

1. Hi
I’m Ryan Ford.

2. This is not a nice slideshow
Forgive me.

3. Why I’m Lecturing You
•Graduate of Otis
•Been working professionally since 16
•Career has ranged from design/ad agencies to tech
companies
•Formerly Creative Director @ Deviantart (one of the
world’s top websites)
•Been on both sides of the interview table.
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4. Importance of Networking
•Community sites like dribbble.com and behance.net are
important!
•Helps to find nearby talents with similar interests and
abilities to you.
•Meet local designers. Make friends. Bitch about clients.
•Knowing others helps you find future jobs.
•Reciprocate favors.
2/12

5. Find a Job to Apply For
•Dribbble is THE best resource for design jobs. Both for
finding them and hiring designers.
•Angellist is also a great resource, but it’s more tech-focused.
•LinkedIn is crap. Don’t use it except for keeping a “book”
of connections.
•Other portfolio-driven sites, like AuthenticJobs, are crap.
3/12

6. Preparing to Apply
•Diversify your portfolio
•Only show your best work, even if there’s less of it.
•Have your own website (even if it’s basic).
•Write design-focused blogs/posts.
•Don’t complain and whine publicly. You’ll be hurting
yourself. Employers DO look.
•Not enough stuff in your portfolio? Invent your own
project!
•It’s not about how beautiful a design is, it’s about how
functional it is.
4/12

7. Actually Applying
•Curate a short list of work geared to wherever you’re
applying.
•Write a brief application.
•Always show you understand the problem at hand. That
problem, in this case, is why the company NEEDS you.
•Don’t have an ego! Be grateful and humble.
•Your resume doesn’t need to be elaborate, but you
should have one.
•Learn everything you can about the company.
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8. The First Response
•Respond as soon as is reasonable. Don’t leave them
waiting, if you can help it.
•Be flexible with your schedule, but be honest.
•Confirm the interview time.
•Re-Confirm the interview time 1-2 days prior.
•Follow-up on promises, even if they’re stupid.
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9. The Interview
•Dress appropriately.
•Don’t wear gross shoes.
•Trim your beard.
•You’ll be nervous. Plan ahead.
•Don’t show up drunk or high.
•Be early.
•They might offer you water. Take the water.
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10. The Interview (cont)
•No seriously. TAKE THE WATER.
•Make eye contact.
•Speak intelligently about your work.
•Don’t lie during the interview.
•If you hate advertising, lie about that. Say you like
advertising just fine.
•Ask questions about the company. Culture, clients,
expectations, etc.
8/12

11. Attire Guide
•Startup or tech company? Casual-Nice.
•VC Firm/Does Money Stuff? Nicer.
•Architecture Firm? Nicest.
•Big Design Agency? Nice.
•Small Design Agency? Casual-Nice.
•Ad Agency? Nicest.
•Game Company? Casual-Nice.
9/12

12. Respect Yourself
•Don’t do work for free. Ever!
•Come back for a second interview. Always!
•Don’t wait around to hear back. Keep interviewing at
other places.
•Got an offer from one job? Let the other jobs know, see
what they say.
•If the job isn’t the right fit, let it be known.
10/12

13. Negotiating Pay
•Too many people under-price themselves.
•That doesn’t mean you should over-price yourself.
•Know the flexibility of the client. Know your worth.
•Don’t ever accept the first number.
•Know what other people with similar experience in a
similar industry and location get paid.
•For best results, ask them to name a “fair price.”
•If stock/equity is offered, weigh your options.
•Do not take stock in lieu of good pay!
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14. Stock/Equity Guide
•You might be offered stock.
•You’ll probably be offered “options” in un-vested,
common stock.
•Options are not yours until you literally purchase them.
•You can’t sell them until they’re “fully vested.”
•Owned options are only valuable if somebody else wants
to buy them from you.
•In other words, options will only be bought if the
company is acquired or goes public (stock exchange).
12/12

15. Question Time
•Ask me stuff.

16. Fin