HELP!!! Need Interview Advise

[tommyboy®]

a sign company called for an interview TOMORROW and I'm like http://graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/eyecrazy.gif, I need your advise
I am a experienced designer but this is what i'm scared of:

* Always worked on PC never Mac (they only have macs)
* I just moved from the Dominican Republic so my english is not that well
* Don't know Illustrator and just some Quark, always worked with Coreldraw andPhotoshop
* Ohhh the salary
Should I turn it down or give it a shot?? Ohhh God http://graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/frusty.gif

I have some savings to get a mac but as we all know they Cost$$$ and working as a security guard is hard to save some money

HELPPPPPPPPPPPP

[defjoe]

Honestly, my friend, you don't have a chance. I'm just being straight up with you. But go and get the experience of the interview.

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'

[D-Frag]

exactly, you might luck out and they might higher you on a lower pay and train you...that would be your best bet. As for learning stuff on a mac...hmmm is there an Apple store near bye? You could always just buy a used one off of ebay or something to get a feel for it.



censored by the all mighty gods of reality. (http://www.broadjam.com/songtracking/playsonghifi.asp?songID=70045&play_file=6353_70045 &sessionID=AD25B69960314533A78B9AE267360C5E&sessio nINDEX=5525)

[tommyboy®]

what do you think about the $800 emac?????, that's all I can afford

[D-Frag]

im the wrong person to be asking about macs : ) ill tell ya to go buy a PC, lol



censored by the all mighty gods of reality. (http://www.broadjam.com/songtracking/playsonghifi.asp?songID=70045&play_file=6353_70045 &sessionID=AD25B69960314533A78B9AE267360C5E&sessio nINDEX=5525)

[Kool]

I don't know if you can pull it off but I had never used a mac until the job I have currently. I got tired of people looking at me like I was some kind of amature because I had only worked on PCs. So when I went to the interview I told em I had worked on macs for years. (confident that I could pull it off) They never knew and other than it took me 15 minutes to figure out how to open the damn cd drive tray I didn't have any trouble. /emoticons/cool.gif

http://home.comcast.net/~rnick9/KoolsSig.gif

'I used to be with it. But then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me.' Abraham Simpson

[uncle carbunkle]

FIRSTLY: MAKE SURE YOUR PORTFOLIO LOOKS GOOD!!! work printed, cut and mounted PERFECTLY in a respectable-looking portfolio. portfolio/talent is SO VERY IMPORTANT.

MACS: listen, you're not going to learn how to use a mac in a night. the programs are pretty much the same and macs are very user-friendly, so if you can get through the interview, you can practice on one before you start working.

ENGLISH: i'm assuming that it's a design-related position? so, communicate visually! here in toronto, everyone is used to communicating with someone of a different language/culture - it's so insane that it's fun. just do you're best and be friendly - unless they are bigoted rednecks, or your mastery of the english language is directly related to your job performance, they can't hold it against you.

SOFTWARE: illustrator and quark are on the same learning curve as corel draw and photoshop. they are NOT the same, but if you can learn one graphics package, you have the brains to learn another one. be honest, but don't sell yourself short! perhaps most of the work is in photoshop/corel draw (?). it's a long shot, but you've got to try.

SALARY: don't give a number if you don't have to. if they ask what you made in your last position, add a few numbers to it. what i like to do is find out how much they have set aside for the position and 'fully understand the duties and responsibilities of the role' before i give an answer. if you say too much, you don't get the job. if you say too little, you sell yourself short.

i'm curious as to how they found you? did you apply? did you list your experience with only the 2 programs on PC? if so, they know what they're getting into and don't worry. if not, then RELAX, be confident - maybe it's an entry-level position. put the emphasis on your ability to learn and adapt. if it's obvious that you're under-qualified for the job, make sure to impress upon them that you're still learning and will be back in touch with them in a few months - THEN LEARN WHAT THEY NEED AND GET BACK IN TOUCH! this way, they already know you and may be more likely to interview you again for another position. perhaps an internship?

chances are, you won't be qualified, but you never know. and this could lead to something else later down the road. just present yourself as best as you can and focus on meeting as many people and learning as much as you can. then keep in touch with them.

GOOD LUCK!

oh, check out monster.com for interviewing and salary advice. it's not bad.

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In
practice, there is.

[Big Perm-dizzle]

i have an EMAC....i dont understand whats so hard about learning a mac....

Illustrator is a HUGE part of design you need to learn it...

even if you plan on using freehand or something else...know illustrator....

JUST LAUNCHED - www.hirethisdesigner.com (http://www.hirethisdesigner.com) - check it out

[Big Perm-dizzle]

be honest with them....it would suck to get the job and quit your current job and then they fire you....then your screwed.....

just let them know what you know and what you can do....

JUST LAUNCHED - www.hirethisdesigner.com (http://www.hirethisdesigner.com) - check it out

[tommyboy®]

thank you guys, I'm feeling more confident now, thanksssssss

[bunwhisper]

You have a pc right? Go now to quark.com and download the tutorial. At least you will know what it is about and can talk intelligently about it. The biggest problem is that if you have not used a layout program (and Corel Draw is not considered professional by most designers) you may not understand prepress well enough. Do go on the interview and get the experience. And then follow it up with a thank you.

After the interview LEARN QUARK or INDESIGN. Both have free tutorials on their websites. They function the same on Mac or PC for the most part, so just learn it on the computer you have. If you know Photoshop and Corel, you can probably teach yourself a good deal of ID or Quark.

Any designer should know Macintosh--I wouldnt even look twice at a resume if the person was pc only. Not to offend anyone, that is just how it is. I dont want to train them (dont have the time) and yes many things are different. This will make you more employable--most design firms and studios use Macs. If you know PC, all the better, but you cannot get by for long knowing ONLY PC's.

Get yourself a secondhand Mac. There are many good places to buy them--secondhandmac.com is one. Avoid eBay as many of the computers there are frauds and you will never see what you purchase. Yes, good deals can be had there but computers is eBay's biggest problem area. You should be able to find a nice used Mac for about $500 or less that will be good enough to learn on. That's all you need right now.

I quickly found this Mac http://www.powermax.com/cgi-global/generate_css_temp.cgi?p=c-u55862 for $569 and its perfectly good for what you need. And here is another for $369--only a G3 Lime iMac but will be great for learning. when you make more money one day, you can upgrade /emoticons/smile.gif http://www.powermax.com/cgi-global/generate_css_temp.cgi?p=c-u55715

Good luck!

[PrintDriver]

This guy is going for an interview at a SIGN SHOP not an ad agency.

Tommyboy, for heaven's sake don't do the suit and tie thing. Wear a jacket of course and chinos not jeans. Look like you aren't afraid to do work as well as design. Cuz you will in a pinch.

A nice design portfolio is a good thing. Neatness does count because a good sign company will want meticulous work. Think of it as showing your fabrication skill.

It's odd to hear they use only Macs. We use PC's for our sign production machinery (vinyl plotters and CNC routers). The sign cuttiing software is very, very similar to CorelDraw and Illustrator. I wouldn't expect a new hire to know the sign software off the bat. It changes with each upgrade (LOL). Some sign companies even use CorelDraw instead of Illustrator.

The PC/Mac thing is overated. Some people just can't see the comp as a tool. I wouldn't discriminate either way if the interviewee had skills I was looking for in either format.

Quark or InDesign are NOT used for signmaking. Unless that is the only tool a designer has.

Are they a 'printing' sign company? If they are, cool. If they aren't and you know Photoshop, you might point out the options of adding print capability either in-house or outsourcing. Be sure you REALLY know Photoshop before proposing such a thing.

Good luck!

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

Post Edited (PrintDriver) : 6/3/2004 1:50:32 AM GMT

[3howards]

i agree with pd on the mac/pc issue. there are only minor differences but if all the software is the same. i'm thinking that a sign company focuses mainly on vector-based software, i'm sure photoshop and quark would be helpful, but not necessary to fulfill the job. i was hired at a printshop years ago even though i didn't know how to use quark. i convinced them that i could learn it quickly and adapt to the fast-paced environment printing presents. heh, after i left, they wanted to use me as a sub-contractor instead of hiring someone new.

i don't think you getting the job is a longshot. it's all in how you sell yourself, present yourself and your work, and finally, whether you are confident that you can learn what you don't know. employers know that certain things like software and platforms can be learned or adjusted to, but talent can't. if you have the talent, focus on that. and then your capacity to learn.

good luck tomorrow and let us know how it turns out.

[D-Frag]

bunwhisper said...
You have a pc right? Go now to quark.com and download the tutorial. At least you will know what it is about and can talk intelligently about it. The biggest problem is that if you have not used a layout program (and Corel Draw is not considered professional by most designers) you may not understand prepress well enough. Do go on the interview and get the experience. And then follow it up with a thank you.
Hehe, I like you already!! http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/cheers.gif

Ill sell ya a blue Imac for $200, depending on where you are for shipping it may be cheaper then the $365. I can even overnite it if you use paypal.



censored by the all mighty gods of reality. (http://www.broadjam.com/songtracking/playsonghifi.asp?songID=70045&play_file=6353_70045 &sessionID=AD25B69960314533A78B9AE267360C5E&sessio nINDEX=5525)

[PrintDriver]

LOL @ D-Frag.
Hate em so much he's given em away.

Most sign shops mix Mac and PC because the equipment usually likes PC's better. Macs are generally used for design and client file setup before sending it in for production.

There is a HUGE difference between what a 'professional designer' uses for programs in a sign company and what one uses in an Ad Agency. A designer in a sign company may actually spend more time fixing client files than designing signs. Depends on the size of the shop. There is usually no 'prepress' involved.

Most logo files and signs are in vector format. Or at least they should be. CorelDraw, while maybe considered 'unprofessional' by some, was and probably still is a major piece of software in the sign industry. We don't happen to use it but I know other shops that do. Illustrator is the main program. Freehand is still seen. Quark and Indesign are a pain in the ass. Gotta do too many hoops to get the plotters to read those files.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

Post Edited (PrintDriver) : 6/3/2004 2:07:46 PM GMT

Great Advice PD.

This is what makes the GDF a good place we have alot of folks that just straight up know.

tommyboy® good luck loco! Be honest and confident. If they ask you something and you don't know tell them you don't know it but that you can learn it fast.

If they are interviewing you it's for a reason. I went to a few sign shop interviews and it's design/production with a big part assembling your final product.

Good luck and the expericence is second to none.

[Debz]

ohh yes good luck!! I just went on an interview.. I walked in knowing that I can do whatever they throw me, and i think my confidence showed.. (of course theres a little part of me going 'ohh i hope i can do this.. hehe')

Just be yourself and proud of what you do. :) i do reccomend learning illustrator.. its my fav app! :D

http://uploader.co.uk/images/debz22222.gif

[PrintDriver]

So, How'd it go?

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing