Design Planning dudes

I have been giving the same interviewing advice over and over during recruitID week here at the Institute of Design. It seems to work and make sense. So I am writing down.

#1
Know what you do.

The short:
We help companies know what to make and why.

The long:
Design Planners close the innovation gap. In an increasingly complex world where anything can be manufactured Design Planners help companies figure what to make using social science, business analysis and design thinking. A critical part of this is bringing design to the beginning of the development process to help generate new options.

#2
Know why you do it.

Tell a story about why you are here and why that matters. Practice your story. Seriously.

#3
If you are bored your interviewer is bored.

Its ok to be a little funny. 80% of your time spent with colleagues will be spent slogging through piles of communication and research. If you seem like you suck you probably aren't someone I want to spend 60 hours a week with. Sorry but it matters.

#4
Make it easy on the interviewer.

Help them get to know you. Tell them why things are important. They are likely your future supervisor or part of a team and this is not their full time job activity. They often don't know what the heck to ask either. Some are good at interviewing and some are bad. Help them out.

#5
See #3

Tags: Interview