I have a job interview today. Aside from part-time, suitable-for-high-schoolers jobs this is my first job interview in nearly 4 years. I’m a little terrified. (Yes, I know you can’t be a little terrified.)
It’s not that I don’t think I’m good enough. Actually, I feel rather good about it, as the company is interested in me after seeing my work at my portfolio show (did you want pictures? hmmm?). My stuff isn’t bad. But how much of that is me, and how much of that is my teachers? I don’t know.
I’m hoping that the experience I got from my internship is indicative of what I can expect as a junior designer, with patience at how slow I’ll start out and a good deal of overseeing from the art director or lead designer. Because I’m terrified of being on my own. I think, more than anything, that’s why I didn’t truly search for a journalistic postion. I didn’t feel, at my internship, that there was enough support, and wasn’t mature enough to stop worrying about falling on my face.
I’m still a little too worried about falling on my face. I also don’t think I know anywhere near as much as I need to know. I don’t know what I’m looking for…maybe I should spend more time looking at the AIGA website…but I think it’s mostly the culture thing. Like, how do I dress? How do I talk to people? What do I do with my hands? It really is more of a social fear than anything else. No one has told me when to speak up when a potential employer is viewing my work. I know I should speak up. I know I shouldn’t speak the entire time. But what spot in between these two is right? How do I know when my work is speaking for itself? And the pieces I’m bringing, if one is a package design, should I also bring the mock-up? What if it looks MUCH more impressive in the mock-up than on the board? What if I don’t have a decent picture of it? Maybe I’ll just take a picture of it.
And how many copies of my resume should I have?
When do I take out my sketchbook to show how I come up with ideas?
Should I have a process book on hand?
What if my hands are sweaty? What if my throat closes up?
Granted, once I’m there I’m pretty sure I’ll feel fine, but these hours beforehand terrify me. Especially now. Since it’s what I really want to do.
There are all of these stupid questions that I’m pretty sure everyone else knows the answers to, or else doesn’t worry about them.
So to deal, I look at funny things like this courtesy of mefi and sing loud songs to myself.
I just need to stop overthinking it.
