Tips on finding a web design job?

[Ride9650]

Hi all,

Just graduated from college and I'm ready to jump into the real world!

But I've so far had a very difficult time finding work, even for entry level and internship positions!

I do have one internship opportunity available to me, but its far away and I'm trying to stay close to home to save money....trying to make a last ditch effort to find something close by before I say yes.

So with that in mind, I just wanted to ask the web designers of macrumors how they found/are looking for jobs.

So far I've been constantly looking through craigslist, simplyhired, monster, as well as other smaller sites, any other good places I should be checking out?

Other advice on the process would be greatly appreciated too! Thanks!

 

[bthockey]

I'm not really sure if you will be able to get one here but, I would check out dice.com. They have a lot of jobs just in the tech industry all around. I hope you get a good job! I might be looking for the same thing in a couple years anyway. Good luck.

 

[design-is]

Where are you based?

Have you approached all of the local opportunities in a persistent (not annoying), creative, and skilful way?

 

[niuniu]

You can make some cash on Guru.com (Freelance site for professionals) until you get your job. I use it to hire guys when I get stuck and need someone to fix a bit of code here and there. Last guy I hired had earned over 30k dollars just from that site in one year (earnings are public)

I'm not promoting it or related to it, I just noticed that recently so figured it must make money for some people.

 

[Ride9650]

I'm not really sure if you will be able to get one here but, I would check out dice.com. They have a lot of jobs just in the tech industry all around. I hope you get a good job! I might be looking for the same thing in a couple years anyway. Good luck.

Thanks for the tip! Looks like a great site, though, there doesn't seem to be anything I qualify for at the moment but I'll definitely keep checking back.

Where are you based?

Have you approached all of the local opportunities in a persistent (not annoying), creative, and skilful way?

I'm in the US,

err...I suppose I can't really say I've been any one of those things, its really been more about replying to ads and sending a portfolio.

You can make some cash on Guru.com (Freelance site for professionals) until you get your job. I use it to hire guys when I get stuck and need someone to fix a bit of code here and there. Last guy I hired had earned over 30k dollars just from that site in one year (earnings are public)

I'm not promoting it or related to it, I just noticed that recently so figured it must make money for some people.

Yea, I've thought about the freelance route too and found a different site called odesk, but given that I lack a lot of experience I'm loosing out on bids to more experienced designers, but I'll take a look on guru too. Thanks!

 

[7on]

I got hired because my now-boss found my resumé on craigslist.
Just keep at it and you'll find something. Sometimes you just have to be flexible in travel. How far away is this internship? (mi) If you're young you could always sleep in your car or see about rooming with any coworkers once you've been there a little bit.

And if you're in the Kansas City area, we're hiring on a second designer

 

[H00513R]

I'm a New Media grad and I found my first job in a newspaper ad. I've freelanced some in the past but find it really annoying. You have to be strict on your pricing or you'll end up a slave to your customers. I also wanted to give my customers a fair deal which put more work on me. I know a lot of designers charge out the ass for simple things, but really nowadays anyone can get a site done generically that will be almost better than having it customized. Good luck with your internship!

 

[citizenzen]

So with that in mind, I just wanted to ask the web designers of macrumors how they found/are looking for jobs.

By being good at what I do.

You have to prove it even before you actually do it.

So... do you have a website up... even if it's just self-promotional? Can you explain in an interview the various design and scripting choices that you implemented in its creation? Can you describe how the skills you learned can be applied directly to the position you're seeking?

If not, you lose... because some other candidate can... and will.

 

[thecheda]

Special

Differentiate yourself from the crowd. Developers come at a dime a dozen. Do something that hasn't been done. Post some work up online.

 

[Ride9650]

I got hired because my now-boss found my resumé on craigslist.
Just keep at it and you'll find something. Sometimes you just have to be flexible in travel. How far away is this internship? (mi) If you're young you could always sleep in your car or see about rooming with any coworkers once you've been there a little bit.

And if you're in the Kansas City area, we're hiring on a second designer

Thanks for the encouragement. Well I'm in northern california, internship is in southern california, a little over 300 miles, so sleeping out of the car is not gonna work out nor is moving to Kansas haha. Not a huge move I know, but after living in the area for the better part of the past 6 years( for school) I've discovered I'm just not a huge fan, and I only really applied to the internship as kind of a last ditch effort, I mean, some work is better than no work right?

I'm a New Media grad and I found my first job in a newspaper ad. I've freelanced some in the past but find it really annoying. You have to be strict on your pricing or you'll end up a slave to your customers. I also wanted to give my customers a fair deal which put more work on me. I know a lot of designers charge out the ass for simple things, but really nowadays anyone can get a site done generically that will be almost better than having it customized. Good luck with your internship!

Thanks for the advice and encouragement!

Differentiate yourself from the crowd. Developers come at a dime a dozen. Do something that hasn't been done. Post some work up online.

I have work online already, thats what I've been sending when responding to ads.

I know I gotta differentiate myself, problem is I'm just not sure of what I'd do yet. It seems like all the good ideas have been taken! haha

 

[ChicoWeb]

By being good at what I do.

You have to prove it even before you actually do it.

He speaks truth. If I have 10 candidates who want a job, 9 went to 30k a year design schools and 1 didn't....And the 1 is better. HIRED.

 

[memco]

I forget the actual statistics now, but your chance of finding a job online (even in tech fields it's less than 20%) is abysmally low compared to canvasing your area and visiting local companies to see if they'll hire you (30+%). This is according to the book, What Color is your Parachute? (2009 ed.). Does that mean abandon the online search? No, but it does mean you should definitely stretch out beyond the power of Craigslist and Dice to find out if any local companies will hire you.

Based on personal experience, all the work I've gotten has come from word of mouth.

One of the things I've noticed (but not taken advantage of) is that a lot of places I visit on a regular basis like restaurants, dentists etc., have really poorly designed sites. If you're up to the task, you may try to do some research on places you visit, and if you think you can do better than what they've got, ask if they'd be interested in hiring you.

PS: Fun tidbit from the book: you have something like a 40% chance of finding a job just by walking into any company and handing them your resume.

 

[Ride9650]

I forget the actual statistics now, but your chance of finding a job online (even in tech fields it's less than 20%) is abysmally low compared to canvasing your area and visiting local companies to see if they'll hire you (30+%). This is according to the book, What Color is your Parachute? (2009 ed.). Does that mean abandon the online search? No, but it does mean you should definitely stretch out beyond the power of Craigslist and Dice to find out if any local companies will hire you.

Based on personal experience, all the work I've gotten has come from word of mouth.

One of the things I've noticed (but not taken advantage of) is that a lot of places I visit on a regular basis like restaurants, dentists etc., have really poorly designed sites. If you're up to the task, you may try to do some research on places you visit, and if you think you can do better than what they've got, ask if they'd be interested in hiring you.

PS: Fun tidbit from the book: you have something like a 40% chance of finding a job just by walking into any company and handing them your resume.

Thats insane! Well I just discovered that there are a surprising number of smaller firms nearby, I've begun trying with them as well.

I've thought about cold calling local business too, cause you're right, a lot of places near me too have really really, really bad sites, I just haven't worked up the nerve and thought of what to say just yet cause I'm usually not that forward.