Landing a creative job in a competitive field can be very challenging.
With so many talented applicants vying for limited roles, it’s easy to make mistakes that hold you back from getting hired.
Be aware of these common pitfalls when putting together your creative job application.
And work to avoid them if you want to stand out from the crowd to land your dream role.
1. Not Curating and Showcasing Your Absolute Best Work
One major mistake creatives make is failing to carefully curate their portfolio and showcase only their very best and most relevant work upfront.
When applying for creative positions in a visual industry like design, photography, videography etc., you need to put extra time and care into selecting the strongest pieces for your portfolio.
And then make sure those stand out first and foremost.
Don’t make busy recruiters have to dig through your entire portfolio searching for your best work.
Lead with those stellar projects immediately, and make them the centerpiece of your application.
Carefully pick projects that align closely with the type of creative job and responsibilities you’re applying for.
If a recruiter sees mediocre or irrelevant projects up front, you likely won’t get the chance to show them your best stuff.
Curate intelligently so your top work grabs their attention.
2. Allowing Typos, Grammatical Errors or Sloppy Formatting
For creatives applying for roles where language skills are crucial, mistakes like typos, grammar errors, and poor formatting suggest carelessness and undermine your credibility.
When you’re in a visual industry, attention to every minor detail of presentation matters.
Be sure to thoroughly proofread all written application materials like your resume, cover letter, emails, and other correspondence.
Read them aloud and scan carefully for any errors.
Ask trusted friends or colleagues to review these materials too, to catch anything you might have missed.
Sloppiness with written materials suggests you may make similar mistakes on client deliverables.
Avoid formatting inconsistencies and follow proper style conventions.
A flawless, polished application puts your best foot forward as an attentive, meticulous creative.
3. Not Practicing and Preparing for Interviews
Of course, even the most stellar portfolio and resume will fall flat if you’re not prepared to shine in interviews as well.
No matter how strong your application materials, poor interviewing skills can still derail your chances of landing the job.
Make sure to spend time brushing up on commonly asked interview questions for creative roles, and practice responding to them aloud.
Have a friend conduct mock interviews with you for experience.
Come prepared to thoroughly discuss your work samples and background knowledgeably and confidently.
Convey genuine passion and enthusiasm when meeting face-to-face with potential employers.
The interview is your chance to showcase skills and qualities that may not come across on paper.
With practice and preparation, you can ace the interview process.
4. Submitting Disorganized, Inconsistent Application Materials
Hiring managers want to see that you pay close attention to detail and can present materials neatly and cohesively.
Messy, disorganized application materials immediately raise red flags.
Make sure your portfolio, resume, website, and any other supporting materials are thoughtfully and systematically arranged.
Keep formatting consistent across documents and platforms.
Double check that your name, contact info, titles and other details match on all materials.
Disorganization suggests applicants may be just as careless with client work.
So take the time to polish and streamline your application.
Submitting sloppy materials can tank your chances.
5. Undervaluing Yourself and Negotiating Poorly
Finally, a mistake many aspiring creatives make is underpricing themselves or failing to negotiate fair compensation.
Especially early in your career, it can be tempting to downplay your skills, but this suggests a lack of confidence in your abilities.
Make sure to thoroughly research typical salary ranges and industry rates in your field and at your experience level.
Take stock of your unique skills and qualifications.
Be prepared to make a case for what you’re worth to employers.
Consider negotiating respectfully for better pay or benefits.
Know your value and don’t undersell yourself — it will serve you much better in the long run to advocate for fair compensation.
The Takeaway
By being cognizant of these potential missteps, you can avoid the pitfalls that derail many applicants.
Pay close attention to all the details when putting together your creative job search.
With polished, thoughtful application materials and interview preparation, you’ll showcase your talents in the best possible light.
Avoiding common mistakes takes effort, but will get you much closer to landing your dream creative role.
Whenever you're ready, here's how I can help you:
1-on-1 Creative Career Coaching: A 90 minute call to help you get unstuck in your creative career and reach new heights. Think of it like a therapy session...only we're working to turn your passion into an even more successful profession.
