Nail the interview and get that designer job

A vast pool of tempting articles has been written about designers sitting in the heart of every product: about their skills to deliver elegant solutions and the great satisfaction that comes after the exploration process. A good designer needs to be empathic, smart, creative, critical but also sharp in knowing their software — sexy. No wonder that, due to its relatively easy access, in the last few years it has become a trendy career choice. Many people with a wide variety of backgrounds get interested in how to land a job in the field. But how do I get started with the transition? What do I need to know?

I was no different. Fed up with the broken educational system and attracted by the promise of constant learning, this sounded to me like a perfect match. Freshly after uni (and some very cliché gap year travelling), I researched the heck out of the field, set up my portfolio with a bogus project, and — in one of many tech startups, popping up like mushrooms — did my internship. Too short lasting internship to fill me with confidence when applying for a real position. I wish I knew back then, what I’m going to share with you in this article: the hard skills might be valuable, the portfolio impeccable, but the subtleties of the certain mindset — that’s what moves you forward.

The Decision 🤔

At the time of applying to Doctolib, I was already working in a healthcare software startup. Gaining experience and with lots of responsibility as the only designer, I wasn’t exactly unhappy. That’s why, I had to first answer the question: Do I really want to change? I took a piece of paper and wrote down all the reasons why. Changing jobs is choosing what kind of environment will become an integral part of your everyday life. What should it look like for you, what should it consist of? What is it that you value at this specific moment of your professional and personal development? For starters, I imagined my new workplace to provide me with what I’ve been missing:

• Learning opportunities,
• A team of designers who share knowledge and inspire each other,
• An organisation with established structures where design plays a significant role,
• Flexibility when it comes to working remotely.

I also knew for certain that I wanted to stay within health care. It was clear to me that the projects I’ve been working on didn’t stop making me excited and curious. I think there’s at least three reasons why:

• The new KHZG-related push for digitalisation opens a space for new areas to innovate — the whole field feels like one vast redesign project.
• Considering the specificity of the medical field, this user group more than any other urgently needs some proper user experience — an endless stage for accessible, intuitive, stress-free interfaces.
• Health care is a noble field to support. There’s no doubt that making health practitioners’ tedious tasks a smoother experience, enables better care for patients, heck, maybe even potentially creating a happier society!

After that was clear to me, I moved on to inspect the overall feel of the company. There’s no right decision if the feel is off. I learnt to never underestimate the gut feeling. Do people who work there seem fun and happy? Does the tone used on social media reflect a friendly and inclusive environment? Does it excite me to read about them? Are they transparent, so that I have an idea of their approach? Do I know anything about the leaders? Do they engage? I made sure to approach the interviews in a way that would allow me to investigate these further.

The Mindset ❤️

There’s one simple mantra that makes hiring process almost stress-free:

You’re not here to get the job, but to see if you‘re a match.

I’ve already formulated the basics of what’s important for me in a workplace. Now, the interviews should answer some questions and let me paint a picture of what it could look like in reality. Sure, you could get hired and let yourself find it out on the job. But the truth is, nobody wants to go through the recruitment process more than necessary. It is usually tedious and long, with uncertainty as the leading state.

That’s why, it’s safe to assume that, after you’re hired, you’re here to stay. Do you imagine yourself working there for the next several years? How does the description of your role align with your long-term plan? Without knowing those answers deep in your heart, you set yourself to float rather than land. Floating from one workplace to the next isn’t too bad if you’re still exploring what’s the right career for you. But if you love what you’re doing, get that pen and paper and try to sketch an outline of what experience you need to become an expert. Or to become rich or conquer the world — whatever floats your boat!

During my interviews, I communicated all this openly. Because again: we’re here to find out if we’re a match! Can the skills I already have support your organisation and upcoming projects? Can they be useful on your path to achieve the business goals and making your vision come true? And could I at the same time learn and grow? Could I reach my professional goals in an environment that’s inspiring and friendly? What compromise could we agree on to make this happen? What would be the means for it to become reality?

The Approach 👩🏻‍🎤

There are a few things good to be reminded of before your interview:

Read

Surround yourself with articles, YouTube videos, any content jargon-heavy — this would make articulating your thoughts smoother during the interview.

Be friendly

Nobody wants to work with jerks! Maybe even sparkle a hint of something personal or funny (if appropriate) to lower the tension and make you pleasantly relatable.

Extra hint: Make the introduction of who you are into a mini-story: structured, compelling and easy to follow. Rehearsal welcome!

Be open

I don’t mean to immediately reveal all your weaknesses but when you’re confronted: isn’t it better to, rather than saving your face with empty defence, humbly admit to the shortcomings and ensure the will to learn?

Be slower

Chances are, your stress levels will speed your speech up. You want to get your thoughts across as clearly as possible.

Focus

Listen to their side of the story and reference back for extra points.

Extra hint: Have a pen and paper next to you (easy to do during a remote interview) and note the key words down, anything that you find intriguing or important — that will help you reference back. It’s also helpful to create a mental map of an organisation while they tell you about the structures — you might want to later ask about the details of how your team is situated within it!

Engage & stay curious

Put on that curiosity hat, forget they’re watching you, and engage as much as possible. Be confident in expressing what you know as well as what you don’t know yet.

Extra hint: Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification — by the end of the conversation, you want to have a solid enough understanding of your future workplace!

Junior designer? No problem 🎓

What if you read through this and think: “Damn, I definitely know what I don’t know and it’s a lot”. Well, think about it, they already invited you to an interview after they saw your portfolio, they must be aware of a thing or two you still might need to learn! I know for certain that what I didn’t know before my first interview was what’s important to ask. With no experience, how can you? Here’s a list of some non-lame questions:

Design

• What’s the role of design in your company?
• What’s your design process?
• How do you measure success?
• What do you value the most in a designer?

Growth

• What’s the possible speed of the career growth in your company?
• How would I be evaluated?
• What are some career growth opportunities?
• What is the company’s vision for the next 5 years?

Company structures

• How do you select ideas to focus on?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What’s the overall attitude in the company towards failure?
• What do you like about working here? What would you rather change?

Good luck 🍀

Do you feel inspired to apply? Try our Career page to learn more. We’re always on the lookout for talent, so feel free to use the tips and reach out!