I subscribe to a newsletter from http://sidebar.io/ and it is the cat’s pajamas. Every day I learn something new, find a new technique/tip, or read a fascinating article. That happened a couple of weeks ago when I read a post from Michael Owens called “Designing the Hiring Process.” It was a great article that highlighted the way some industry leaders hire for creative positions. You should read it. Then come back here to read these 10 tips that could help you get successfully through those hiring processes.

Some of the tips may be new and some may be industry standards — but who doesn’t like a reminder every once in a while? If you have these 10 bases covered, you’ll be set up for success. If you read the article I mentioned above, you probably had a few “holy s@%&, they do that?!” moments and, undoubtedly, you’ll have some surprises in the process of getting hired. If you’re as prepared as you can be and have the basics down, then the unexpected will be an opportunity not an obstacle.

1. Focus on the work

I start an evaluation at the portfolio, but then make my way into the work samples pretty quickly because that’s really what I care about most. Putting a lot of time and effort into a portfolio site is definitely a bonus and an attention grabber, but the portfolio itself isn’t really a big decision factor for me personally.

There are two reasons for this. First, when you’re designing your portfolio, you are your own client (although also at times your worst enemy), so it doesn’t tell a prospective employer anything about your ability to react and respond to tough feedback. The feedback interpretation skill is one of the hardest to develop, yet most crucial to the success of any given designer.

Second, portfolio templates are frequently used in the design community. If the template you choose has a significant amount design to it, it can feel like a misrepresentation of your skills. It’s your portfolio site and it should always be a representation of your abilities. Services like Cargo, which showcase work more than a site aesthetic, are great for your creative portfolio when you may not have the front-end chops to create something that you’d feel proud of.