1. Ian Rutter Director, Argent Ram Media Limited

2. What do we do at Argent Ram Media? Website Design and Development Email Marketing Digital Screen Marketing Design-for-Print PR Exhibition and Conference Services

4. What do we do at Argent Ram Media?

5. What do Employers look for when recruiting Design Students And Graduates? Or...to be more precise, what attributes do I look for when I recruit Design Students and Graduates? Some DOs and DON’Ts

6. Gloomy Bits first..... The unemployment rate for 18 to 24 year olds increased by 0.7 percentage points on the quarter to reach 18.0 per cent, the highest figure since records for this series began in 1992. Unemployment for 18 to 24 year olds was 746,000 in the three months to September 2009, up 24,000 from the three months to June 2009. Office for National Statistics November 2009

8. According to Hesa’s performance indicators, the proportion of graduates who were unemployed six months after they left university rose by more than a third, from 5.7 per cent to 8.2 per cent, in 2007-08. Since then, the economic situation has worsened. Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said the Hesa figures made for “grim reading”. “The fact that graduates are entering such a tough job market with record levels of debt must be a cause for concern for all of us.”

9. However, Keith Herrman, deputy chief executive of the Council for Industry and Higher Education, noted that there had been a positive side-effect on undergraduate attitudes towards skills and work. “The recession has forced many graduates and students to think critically about how they equip themselves with the necessary skills for the world of work,” he said. Wendy Piatt, director-general of the Russell Group: “Now more than ever, employers want graduates who are good at problem-solving, are entrepreneurial and able to handle uncertainty.” Times Higher Education

10. DO everything you can to get an interview... You are a Commodity - Market yourself! A - ATTENTION I - INTEREST D - DESIRE A – CALL TO ACTION

11. Look at the advertisement or job description CAREFULLY. Pick up on the wording and try to understand what the Employer is looking for. “Creative Graduate Designers.” What am I looking for?

13. DO tailor your CV. Make sure it grabs Attention and creates Interest. Engage!

14. DO provide what is asked for... If the advertisement or job description asks for examples of your work MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE SOME. COMMERCIALLY AWARE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROBLEM SOLVING

16. DO ensure that the employer knows you are a great candidate. Specific Job? What makes YOU the perfect candidate for that job? An Employer wants you to help him make money. Desire....make the Employer WANT you.

17. DO tout your wares DON’T rely on others to find you work. As Students and Graduates of the UKC, you have unique skills and talents that ARE sought within the industry. Capitalise on that.

18. What have you done today, to make you feel proud? One of my pet hates is the CV that lists every hobby the candidate has done since the age of 3.

20. DO show pride in your achievements I am interested, though, in what you have done outside the normal University course work that SHOWS YOUR TALENT relevant to the job on offer. CREATIVITY CREATIVITY CREATIVITY

22. DO demonstrate your Unique Selling Points Show me freehand drawings, life drawings, sketches you have done during the holidays, photographs you take; any example that shows me you have CREATIVE FLAIR. Remember: the one unique thing that sets you apart from your competitors is YOU.

23. Examples form great topics of conversation that help you to relax and will immediately grab the attention of the Interviewer. Talking about work you have enjoyed doing allows you to come across enthusiastically, which is a massive PLUS. Engage!

26. Commitment

27. Enthusiasm

28. Willingness and ability to learn

31. A distinct lack of personal hygiene

32. A disregard for sensible dress codes

34. My Top 8 Attention Grabbers – 90% of the way to being offered a job: 5. An enthusiasm to show your work; don’t be shy as this will give you something to talk about; 6. An indication that you have at least looked at my company website so know a bit about what we do; 7. An understanding of what the role might entail. For example, knowing that a position for a website designer might involve some website design. 8. Ask questions. I love it when a candidate asks questions as it shows they think.

35. My Top 8 Horrors – 100% of the way to being shown the door: A dull CV that looks like everyone else’s. I employ people because they stand out as individuals, so make your CV reflect your uniqueness; Lateness with no apology; The “I have just climbed out of bed” look; Lack of cleanliness;

37. My Top 8 Horrors – 100% of the way to being shown the door: 5. Being slightly too frank; 6. Being asked a question to receive the reply “Dunno really...”; 7. Not having any examples of any creative work – sure fire way of drawing a blank; 8. Spending the interview clearly dreaming of stacking the shelves at Tescos.

39. You have TALENT

40. You have SKILLS

41. You are EMPLOYABLE