Interviewing for a creative position is a tough gig, but if you’ve found your way to The Creative Attic you likely know that already. Interviewing for your first creative position is even harder – when you’re promising you’ve got what it takes to be the Next Big Thinker. But your tie or pencil skirt reveal how much you have to learn about the industry yet. Or maybe that was just me, 10 years ago now.

I love interviewing junior advertising copywriters. I love it because I shared that same naivete, enthusiasm and ambition (all crammed into an Objective statement). I love looking through junior portfolios at their shiniest brightest work on display, while trying to determine whether the chops behind this press release will translate to writing great direct response. (I’m also a little scared of it, especially when I see a resume with a degree that didn’t even exist when I was in college. Digital communications?!)

But oh aren’t there just times you wish for a Zach Morris and “Time Out” to stop time to whisper a better answer or issue a do-over? Like, feel free to change that comment about wanting a 9-5 job! The only time I have broken through the fourth wall is to comment – positively, constructively – about portfolio work. Show off that work that didn’t get produced – let me see how your brain works, not your brain edited by clients! I once had someone do it for me (and didn’t get hired) and I’ve always appreciated that honesty.

In one of the tightest job markets, we want to make sure we’re not selecting someone who is going to up and leave as soon as something better opens elsewhere. We want someone who wants This job, not A job. And there are so many simple, simple things that I can’t believe candidates overlook: Preparation and Followup, to name two major.
• Take a few moments before the interview to investigate the company’s website. Learn the clients and certainly the industry.
• After the interview, follow up! Sending a short note to the email listed on the business card you received shows you appreciated their time, and do truly want the job.

During the interview, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the position. Again, this
should be as much a fit for you as it is for the company. Don’t be shy.

These tips just a start, what advice do you have for young interviewers looking for
their first job in a creative industry?