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My resume got shortlisted for Operations Associate/Engineer-Amazon Managed Services role. I am an experienced AWS engineer with 5YOE.I feel like this role will be degrading in nature for me. Is it worth joining for this position. I would love to join Amazon based on my experience and skill set. But Not to some position which doesn't require AWS experience.
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Hi all,
I have a offer from Perficient and joining in 2 months time. Question :
1: how is the company in terms of job security and projects? I work with web analytics
2: How is the hike and work life balance.
3: Attrition rate
4: Hike is good but will it be a safer vet like Accenture Operations?
Need some views from people working there.
Thanks in advance.
Pro
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I’m about to start an internship at IBM for UX Research. I’m super excited about it, and was wondering if anyone could tell me about the design culture there or how the company is for designers? So far online I’ve only heard about the company from consultants or software engineers. For more reference I’ll be working in Austin.
Anyone at Nike? What’s the vibe?
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Congrats! I’ve been managing creative teams for the past 10 years and I’d say the most important thing would be to make sure you have good systems established for project management and file archiving, and a great DAM, even if that’s just Box or Dropbox. This is all a lot less fun than the mentoring and collaboration, but projects can get really messy for a team without a system.
Thank you!! 😊 Love it! Definitely huge in keeping projects and files in check and systems! The previous job I worked at we had a server for all projects, this one (year in) we don’t, that’s a great call out! Going to tackle that this week 🙏👏💪🙌 Thank you!!!
First of all, the way you’re approaching this and the fact that you’re asking for advice is telling me you’re gonna do great.
To me one of the most powerful, yet underutilized tool of leadership is to simply remember that you were in their shoes not too long ago. Look back and take note of things that managers did that you found helpful, or things that you wish they would have done and do more of that.
Look back at situations that were frustrating to you and consider how you can avoid or minimize those.
Being a good leader means constantly asking yourself what you can do to help the people you lead. What can you do to make their jobs easier? What roadblocks can you remove? Which fights can you fight on their behalf?
Lastly, and this is at least personally the hardest one — Just because something isn’t the way you would have done it doesn’t mean it’s bad or wrong. When briefing someone I find it almost impossible to not start solving it myself, or at least thinking about how I would approach it. If a few days later I’m reviewing work and none of it resembles what I had in mind it’s easy to be dismissive or even disappointed. In those moments it’s really important to take a step back and do your best to evaluate the work as fairly and objectively as you possibly can. There’s rarely just one way to solve a problem so always ask yourself, is the work really flawed or is it just not what you imagined?
to CD1s last point, I do think there are some things that just have to be done a certain way for efficiency's sake. I think it's always worth showing younger designers a faster or more efficient way to do something, since that's the type of training they're expecting to receive.
Congrats, I can tell your excitement which means these people are in good hands 🎉
Hopefully gaining a Jr. Designer role in future, any advice, skills to focus on and things to hit the ground running in terms of output, quality and successful first six months that you would give them?
☺️🙏 Thank you! I love what I do (and where I work) and I’m so happy that I’ll have at least one designer let to share that joy with!
Great questions!
I feel no matter what level a designer is at that you can tell they have taste. Even if they don’t get it ‘right’ or have the skills to take it all the way.
Practice, Research, Willingness to be coached and receive feedback well (not a fan as much of calling it ‘criticism’ because that leaves a negative mindset).
Being open about your workload, your ability to complete a project in time, and knowing when to ask for help, advice, feedback is great, too.
Definitely going to look into these and more for a six month plan! Thank you so much!! ☺️ 🙏
I love that you’re so excited for this. You’re gonna do amazing sweetie 🩷🤧
☺️ I’m with you in spirit!!! 🥴👻😅
I'd recommend reading this book. It really helped me understand the ways that I needed to change to go from individual contributor to manager... it's a very different and challenging set of skills.
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Manager-What-Everyone-Looks/dp/0735219567
Thank you so much! Love book recommendations - adding to my list! 😁🙏😁😁
Wow, that is truly kind of you! I think someone who is very genuine and kind in sharing his or her experience, expertise, and advice while also taking the time to guide us would be a very good help that a senior can offer.
I do have a question regarding applying for a job tho, How do you as a design director determine what kind of qualifications a junior designer (especially the one who is a fresh graduate) should have that you'd like to have on board with you to help assist you with a bunch of projects?
😅that was long! But hope it helps!
Man I'm so curious on what company you're at considering junior roles are tough as nails to even find
I won’t say 😅😅🫣 BUT I will say that at my old job at a design studio we never posted a single job online (until the last like month I was there because we were kinda curious of who would apply). Everyone we ever hired reached out to us in school to be an intern and then we hired them full time OR we went through a local talent scout - a friend owned the company.
And with this new job, I’m doing similar methods. I also haven’t posted it online, I’m working with the talent agency to secure candidates.
I’m also pretty active with local universities and I have at least one or two contacts at most of the schools. I’ll reach out to them directly and ask if they know of any soon-to-graduate designers or any alumni looking for work.
I go to design events - both local and national - even portfolio reviews (alumni go to those too! Just met an alumni looking for a job and am interviewing him!) and network via LinkedIn (I say this as an introvert, I make it work!).
I like to add people on my LinkedIn for a few main reasons:
- they’re great! Love to network with cool people doing cool things
- I like to ‘like’ their job posts or opportunities since a lot of young designers follow me.
- sometimes they are at a job they love. Then a few years later, they don’t love it or they want to do something new OR I remember seeing all the work they share and I reach out to them and see if they’re interested in looking for something new
And sometimes companies don’t post officially on LinkedIn because it costs money. So their employees will make a post instead and it’ll pass thru their network. Or they say nothing online, like me.
If there’s somewhere you’d like to work but they haven’t posted a job opening, it doesn’t mean they aren’t/wouldn’t hire. Take a look on their site - specifically their contact and careers page. If it doesn’t explicitly tell you NOT to send a resume or inquiry, then (to me) it doesn’t hurt. And you may already be doing this! I’ve had a lot of experience with young and junior designers not realizing that’s an option, but also a lot that do, too!
Hope this helps and hope you find a new role!
Honestly good guide rails and process is great. even file org and naming. Once all thats set, you can get to the fun stuff 🤩 give them some autonomy, but let them know you are prime decision maker and make sure feedback helps them do the work themselves. I found a pitfall for myself was doing everything when I didn’t see what i wanted and that doesn’t teach them the skills they need to progress. Also try to be an advocate for them so you are removing roadblocks so they can concentrate on producing. Give them stretch projects as they get to know the business.
Congratulations! I would say always have a good communication and be upfront. Be a mentor and be human. When a mistake happens, understand what happened and move on. Also let the creative be creative, give the designers some freedom creating or they will get bored out of their minds. Of course there are always boring tasks in a job and they need to get done, but once in a while giving a motivating project to a graphic designer is a breath of fresh air. We all want to make an impact.
I have also over 10 years but I've never been the only designer so congratulations and best of luck!