The Job Search – Portfolio Creative

The Cost of a Bad Hire: Why Getting It Right the First Time Matters

March 31, 2026

Bringing in the right person can really move your team forward. But if you hire the wrong one, it can slowly weaken your team, and you probably won’t realize it’s happening until the damage is already done. Bad hires rarely stand out at first. They often show up with potential, interview well, and might have a great portfolio. You feel relieved to have filled the spot quickly, especially when your team is busy. But over time, small issues start to pile up. The work falls short, deadlines are missed, and communication gets harder. What

How to Evaluate Motion Graphics and Video Talent: A Guide for Hiring Managers

June 18, 2025

As video continues to dominate digital communication, finding the right motion graphics and video talent has never been more critical—or complex. Whether you’re staffing up for a campaign, hiring a freelancer, or filling a permanent role, evaluating candidates goes beyond reviewing a demo reel. In 2025, video professionals must be equal parts visual artist, storyteller, editor, and collaborator. And with AI tools now part of the mix, the evaluation process requires even more nuance. Here’s how to assess motion graphics and video candidates with confidence, clarity, and creativity. Start with

Struggling to get noticed in the competitive creative job market? Discover proven strategies to stand out, showcase your unique skills, and land your dream role—even in a sea of talent.

How to Stand Out in an Overcrowded Creative Job Market

May 28, 2025

The creative job market is brutal right now. Open positions attract hundreds of applicants. Ghosting is rampant. And everyone seems to be calling themselves a “brand visionary,” “storyteller,” or “disruptive thinker.” When so many portfolios and résumés start to look and sound the same, how do you make yours rise to the top? While there are no guarantees, let’s look at some practical ways to make real connections, land interviews, and ultimately get an offer – even in today’s hyper-competitive market. Tailor Everything. Every Time. Generic applications get generic responses (or none at all).

8 Truths About Interviews: What NOT to Say (and What to Say Instead!)

April 12, 2024

Landing your dream job often hinges on a successful interview! While showcasing your skills and experience is critical, it’s also important to know what NOT to say.

New Year, New Year…Is It Time for a New Job?

January 18, 2022

By Kristen Harris Every time the calendar turns over, we get inundated with the “new year, new you” online inspo. But there is some wisdom to the power of new starts, fresh beginnings, and triggers like a new year that push us to make a change. There are many reasons people change jobs–focus on the ones that matter the most to you. This year many people are considering a work-related change. How can you determine if that’s right for you? Here are ten areas that could lead you to consider

3 Ways to Protect Yourself From a Job Search Scam

December 16, 2021

By Catherine Lang-Cline Yes, job search scams are happening. Just when you think people can’t get more terrible, criminals are preying on people looking for work. They are also misrepresenting actual companies. We are hearing about this more and more. People are gathering your information to file for unemployment, get your social security number, or credit card numbers. While not foolproof, here are at least 3 ways to detect if it is a scam: A job posted on a job board is not seen on the company website. While some

New Year, New Job? Making the Shift into a New Creative Role

January 7, 2021

By Kristen Harris 80% Expect to Land a New Job in 2021–Despite Covid-19 This headline caught my attention? Did it catch yours? According to the 2020 Candidate Sentiment Study by the American Staffing Association “Eight in 10 job candidates (80%), both active and passive seekers, foresee working for a new company in the next 12 months—despite, or possibly due to, the economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.” This 80% statistic reflects both optimism and necessity. 2020 was a year of change–good and bad–for practically everyone, worldwide.

3 Design Principles to Ace Your Video Interview

October 6, 2020

By Kristen Harris You’ve been talking to a potential employer or client, are excited about the opportunity, and they’ve asked to schedule an interview. Yippee!! Wait, it’s a video interview? No worries–with a few tips and tricks, you can nail this interview format just as well as in-person. Since the 2020 pandemic started in March, people have become much more comfortable conducting meetings via video. Although the technology has been available for years, it was never widely adopted or accepted as a substitute for meeting in-person. Enter the pandemic, with

The How-To of Staying Sharp When You Have Been Furloughed or Laid-Off

June 9, 2020

By Catherine Lang-Cline If you work in the creative industry you are very familiar with the ebb and flow of business. If there is an economic downturn, you can bet that the marketing department is going to be the first to experience layoffs. In advertising, if a client is lost, the entire team for that client might be let go. But if you get caught up in that sort of thing there are plenty of things that you can do to not only stay sharp but to prepare yourself for

Employee to Contractor: 10 Tips for Making the Switch

January 9, 2020

By Kristen Harris Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to (finally) go out on your own as a freelancer or contractor? Have you been building a side hustle that’s getting big enough to become your main hustle? Maybe there’s “something in the air” at your current company, and it feels wise to explore your options. If 2020 is your year to make a move, here are ten tips for making the switch from working as a full-time employee within a company to working independently on your own. Treat it

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