Intern - Alex Dudson Talk

Intern Magazine
@Thisisintern

1. Choose your subject (the person you want to contact and a few back ups) Has to be someone that isn't too busy.
2. Make you aware of how accessible your subject area is.
3. Contact ASAP - do it over the holidays.
4. Have a look on their social accounts to get an idea of their availability and interests - base your interview questions on their interests that they show on their social media such as things that aren't part of their design practice but relate.
5. The better you understand your subjects, the better quality of questions that you'll write and a better chance of getting them to respond - need to structure these so I can get detailed, insightful responses.
6. You only have one chance to make a good impression - need to come across really professional, well-researched.
7. Maybe you'll reach out to them on Instagram or Twitter or LinkedIn instead. (make a LinkedIn account to build a relevant network.)
8. Usually one of these social medias or ways of approaching them will be more personal and unfiltered - e.g messaging them on instagram might allow them to be more personal and opinionated.
9. ASAP move the conversation to a face-to-face meeting or to an email thread if starting from social media.
10. How do you search for a contact address? - LinkedIn profile, websites, studios have general inquiries, instagram profile, google it - Domain Search 
11. When emailing, don't include any CC (especially if you're guessing emails.) So you should include it in BCC then the person who is being emailed cannot see anyone else. Worst case scenario is that they'll see the guess in the To: field if the correct one is in BCC. (Designers may be annoyed if they've been trying to hide their email addresses - usually bigger businesses/designers)

Emails are not the most ideal way to approach someone as it can be considered junk, might be lost in the amount of emails, or too busy to reply. It can be hard to make yours stand out. Can stand out by:

• using a cool signature - a gif? An animation or a design with a link to instagram or what not.
• maybe an email that looks more professional e.g getting an email that is solely for professional design use.
• get to the point really quickly - ask people for what you want. Structure it so they can spend a minute and just respond with yes or no. make it clear and propose dates and times for the interview. use a google calendar invite to make it easier to reply and for them to remember as it will be on their google calendar as well.
• where possible - conduct video over phone or video call. Why might your subject prefer that? It's easier.

Always follow up after an email or meeting or call - thank them for their time. This is a way to build up a network. - Might move on to do placements with them or work with them. 

The most powerful thing that will dictate whether you get a job or not is the network you build.

Share the finished creative report with them - it will emphasise this network connection.

Don't send pictures of it just on a desk - maybe it will look good scanned. Maybe collaborate with a photographer to use a studio with lighting. The time and work put into documenting work professionally is extremely important as a designer.
Then add them on socials and LinkedIn.

bit.ly/CRTEST in this drive there is a text and images to help with constructing the interview.