Out on the hunt for your next gig? Here’s a few things to remember when considering a job change

Contemplating a shift in your job can either be an exciting or a daunting task, or maybe a bit of both, depending on where you’re at in your career. Perhaps you’ve been looking for a new opportunity for months, sifting through job boards, or maybe, the idea of a new adventure in your career has been brewing slowly for a while. No matter what’s pushed you towards a change, when looking for a new job, it might be helpful to take a beat before diving head-first into the hunt. Even a bit of window shopping can sometimes send one in a tizzy – after all, there’s so much that can throw a spanner in the works. The idea of locking in on an ideal fit, and then bringing your best self to the interview, all while balancing out ‘what you bring’ vs ‘what you get’ can be an incredible juggling act, making one quickly lose sight of the details. To help ease the process and get you started, we asked five leading designers and studios about the top things to consider when looking for a job change.

Have an honest conversation with yourself

To kick things off, it’s always a great idea to get candid with yourself. Why are you looking for a change? Perhaps you feel like you’ve “peaked and plateaued at your current job,” suggests Sophie Mascatello, Creative Director & Head of Design at Mythology. “If you have absorbed everything you can from those around you, and you’re itching for a new challenge, it’s probably time to move on.” Often, zeroing in on the ‘why’ can lead you to the ‘what.’ “It’s important to know why you want to switch and that, in turn, will define what you are looking for in the next job,” says Sanchit Sawaria, Creative at Google Creative Lab.

Details like hours, culture, remote work etc matter.

Make note of goals too, at this point. Are you moving laterally or looking for a bigger role? “It’s crucial to understand if you’re looking for a new experience, as opposed to a lateral switch that doesn’t necessarily push you into the next phase of your career,” suggests Mascatello. “Ideally you would use a new job as a moment to level up in terms of new skills, a better title and compensation, etc. Of course, a lateral move can be necessary, but the best case scenario is that you’re getting something fresh and valuable from that effort.” Irrespective of whether you’re shifting lanes or looking to step up your game, asking yourself some open, honest questions can help you inch closer to your ideal fit.

Be curious about your role

Always remember to dig into the details of the position or the role you’re looking at, to suss out whether a certain job practically works for you. “Details like hours, culture, remote work etc matter,” says Emunah Winer, Co-founder & Creative Director at Nihilo. “These things make or break a person, and you can’t create good work if you’re broken. Don’t be intimidated to bog your interviewer down with these questions – they’re just as important as the creative output.”

Really understanding what you’ll be doing at a job, on a day-to-day basis, is also key. “A lot of people associate a certain title with a set of responsibilities and make assumptions about schedules and requirements, but each team and practice have somewhat different needs and responsibilities attached to a particular title,” notes Mascatello. “For example, as a junior designer, will you be contributing creatively to studio projects or will you just be executing digital assets? Who would you report to and be responsible for? What does your growth potentially look like?” Asking these questions early on, and being curious about the fine print, can help keep any unexpected surprises at bay.

A job is more than the work you’ll be doing

Each of us thrive around people whose beliefs and outlook aligns with our own. In that sense, how you fit into the culture of a team is crucial. Also, the inner workings of a studio might not always be apparent, so it’s critical to ask the right questions. “When looking at a new opportunity, there are a few points I always cover. How big is the team? I want a sense of how many designers (senior, junior), writers, strategists, managers, directors work together. I also make sure to ask about the dynamics of the team in terms of who reports to whom,” Sawaria tells us. “Sometimes, an interviewer will give you all the information upfront; it’s always a good thing when this happens,” says Riccardo Baldani, Design Intern at Codea Studio. “And when they don’t, a few pointed questions can help to learn more about the team you’ll be working with. For example, for me, it is interesting to know if the studio’s employees come from different countries around the world, or only from the country in which the studio is located.”

It’s also very easy to overlook the work-life balance you might have while working somewhere, which is “often sacrificed in favour of a relevant position in perhaps a more established studio than the one you want to leave,” he adds. To help with this, Sawaria offers some ideas. “I always disguise the question of work-life balance in a number of ways – I make sure I ask how many designers work on a single project. How many projects does one designer work on simultaneously? Is there overtime pay for extra hours?”

Asking the right questions at the right time can also help you weed out definite red flags. “I was once talking to an agency where they had working Saturdays. I asked them what the reason was, since most other studios had a two day weekend. The employer’s response was, “What else will you do on a Saturday?” Sometimes, studios romanticise labour and unhealthy working hours in the name of culture and grind.”

Being interested and curious is a massive green flag for us.

An interview cuts both ways 

In the excitement and the trepidation of nailing an interview, it’s easy to forget that a conversation with your potential employer runs both ways. Just as you prepare to give them a sense of who you are and the work you’ve done, also use the opportunity to learn more about the studio and their goals. “Being interested and curious is a massive green flag for us at Rabbithole. We would 100% notice and be impressed by it in an interview,” says the studio’s Director Mark Martin. “One of my favourite mantras is: “If you want to be interesting, be interested.” And the best way to show interest is to ask questions and actively listen. This is one of the ways we provide exceptional service to our clients. An interviewee demonstrating curiosity and interest in Rabbithole indicates that they would do the same with our clients – it’s a tremendous point scorer.”

Being curious about the ethos of the studio, and having an appetite for the nuances can also reflect a certain self-confidence in who you are, and where you’d like to go. “Interviewing is a bit like dating – if the other person is desperate, you don't want it,” says Winer. “You start to wonder if they only want to work with you because they’re desperate. Talent, skill and hard work are never desperate.” At Nihilo, Winer’s team is always looking for candidates who are aware of their own potential. “It’s always interesting to look for people who believe in their own talent and skills, even if they may not have a paycheck or the years behind them to prove it. In their minds, coming by the right opportunity is only a matter of when, not if. So question us, our ethos, our studio; make sure we’re as deserving of you as you are of us.”

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