4 Tips to Polish Off Your Design Career

1. Clean up your portfolio

Does your online portfolio have work that’s now creeping up to the 5 years old mark? If yes, it’s time to dust off those cobwebs and let go of any outdated and irrelevant work that may be lingering in the deep dark depths of your portfolio. Keep it recent and relevant so your portfolio doesn’t turn into an archive. We’ve all been there. You’re trying to balance work, side hustles and general life admin, as well as keeping on top of your portfolio to ensure you are evolving and growing in the eyes of your potential employers.

Try scheduling into your calendar a yearly portfolio review to allow yourself the much needed time to add new work. This is also a great time to analyse the user experience when navigating through and you can touch up your personal brand itself. Provide the perfect balance of your current skillset and sell yourself to potential employers with work you are proud of, and which will fulfil their objectives too.

2. Get active on social

Apps like Behance, Twitter and Instagram can be great tools to connect with other creatives, employers and the general public. It’s essential to mirror your shiny new portfolio with a shiny new social account. Stay up-to-date by connecting with your industry leaders and professionals. It can often be inspiring to follow the journey of an influential professional in the creative world. And, on the other hand, unfollow inactive or outdated accounts to filter through the noise.

You may want to join the conversations on twitter by sharing and supporting content you value. Commenting, retweeting and interacting with news, stories and work can increase your online activity and showcase your interest in the world of your industry.

3. Branch out your network

LinkedIn is a key tool in connecting with professionals, co-workers, classmates and recruiters. Whilst you may not be actively searching for new roles, ensuring you’re sharing your accomplishments, experiences and work on LinkedIn could lead to your dream job offer!

Attend industry events to interact with people in your field. Find out when the annual Sydney Design Festival is held, when and where Adobe courses and workshops are run, where Panel discussions are had or any presentations that are outside of your current routine. Whilst you are gaining vital industry information and skills at events like these, you are also meeting fellow professionals, new design friends or employers that may help you facilitate your career in the future.

Finally, remember to catch-up for coffee with your uni classmates as you often may cross paths, collaborate or transition into a new role with them. Also, why not hear about the great things your friends are getting up to and how far they’ve gone!

4. Change up your routine

Whilst we may be heading into the winter blues, on the bright side it’s peak travel season! Alter your routine by getting outdoors and away from your screen or device. Whether you’re taking lunch time strolls, or booking a trip to Tokyo, travel and rest can often boost your creativity, provide you with new sources of inspiration, and is great for your mental health. Being refreshed and motivated can get you in the best position to refresh and motivate your career objective. This then allows you to present yourself and your work in the best possible light to future recruiters, employers or clients.

Feature image courtesy of Unsplash.