Published on | Prototyping: From UX to Front End — Medium Ekaterina Semeshina Google Search

Recently I interviewed over two dozen of designers for a position at my company.

Requirements were simple:

I am looking for an assistant to join me on the team.
Please add me on skype and schedule a 20 minutes skype call:
https://uiuxdesignbykath.vyte.in/link to meeting
Which required to attach your portfolio.

Skype ID: ekaterina.semeshina (Name Katherine)
Your responsibilities will be:

– UI / UX Design for Web & Mobile Interfaces
– Apple Watch Interfaces
– Design Documentation for Developers

Tools to know:
– Sketch
– Adobe Photoshop
– Adobe Illustrator
– Flinto / Principle / Anima / Framer JS is a huge plus

Add posted on Facebook, so DMing me was a natural solution. As well as going to my company’s page and find the email to contact me, was also a good way to show, that you can find a solution to an issue in front of you.

Before I could close the app on my phone, I saw the red dot around my facebook app — naturally, I was curious, maybe it is my ex-boyfriend liking my pictures again or something like this.

Guess what — BIG FAT NO. People started commenting on my add in all possible ways.

Here are some examples:

Can I get more details about the collaboration tools that we’re going to use fo communicating files, designs, assets, etc.

Can you post your email, please? Or mention how we can apply. Thanks

Check out <portfolio link>”

So these candidates didn’t even pass the first step because they didn’t do what I asked them to.

People who actually went a step further, DMed me. I started having a conversation with them.

Here are some fun facts about our interviews:

1. Wasn’t able to speak English
2. The second one agreed to the meeting and had a translator next to him, so to get a response to simple questions, I was waiting for 15 minutes
3. Told me they are an agency, not a freelancer

There were many more interesting cases…

But all of them can be summed up in a couple of crucial mistakes all of these candidates committed. If we dissect those answers and approaches you will see the most common mistakes why you are not getting hired or getting jobs you want:

Number 1: READ and FOLLOW the requirements…

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None of them truly complied with the requirements. Read and follow the requirements posted by the job owner until you are sure you understand what the client wants. And if you don’t ask questions. But please follow the requirements. You not doing so shows disrespect for your potential client.

Number 2: If you don’t meet them, do not apply

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Why? Well, you’re wasting your time, my time and our all together resources. And let’s just imagine that I am not as proficient as you in design and I hire you. We will end up both in disappointment because you won’t be able to do the job as per requirements, I will not get any value for the money I am paying.

For example, if I am saying I need someone in my timezone, there should be a pretty good reason. And I hear you tell me but what about a better organization, etc… At some point, this doesn’t help. Moreover, if I am looking for an extra pair of hands to join my team, that means I want to simplify my process, not make it more complicated.

Number 3: Show your creativity and nonobedience to the rules when required.

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Most of the jobs posted online, etc. have some kind of the instruction on how to apply and what does the client want to see. Go and follow it to the T, no matter how ridiculous it looks and sounds to you.

What will it do in the eyes of your client: show that you are an excellent subordinate, and let’s face it you are because you are looking for a job.

It will show that you pay attention to the requirements and details, which is an essential soft skill for a designer.

It shows you can accept someone else’s rules to play by, which gives you a big plus in the group dynamic.

My take away from this situation and my past failures when applying for jobs are that:

1. Don’t overthink it.

People write and say things mostly because they actually think them. There is no hidden sense

2. Do what you are asked to.

Don’t go and tell the client it is your fault. I guarantee you it is not going to get you any further. Instead, come up with a suggestion next to what he or she or they want to see.

3. Communicate, communicate and communicate

Remember you task in communicating with the client is to transfer a certain concept, information across the table and make sure he or she understands it the way you originally meant it. There is no more purpose in it than this.
If you decide to play games and go into miscommunication, then don’t be surprised that sooner or later you will end up in conflict with yourself, your clients and your surroundings.

Have you ever hired somebody? What was your process? What candidates did you select and which ones did you not even look at?

Why aren’t you getting hired … was originally published in Prototypr on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Why aren’t you getting hired …

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