If you are like me, after graduating from a graphic design school, your goal was to make it as a freelance web designer. The lure of flexible hours, working from home and the freedom to manage your own time was too much to resist. At some point, I decided it may be “easier” to work directly for a company. Health benefits, paid time off, and technical resources provided and paid for by my employer seemed to be the way to go. But, I had worked on my own for so many years, I wasn’t sure where to start when the time came to actually go on an interview. So, I did some research and here’s what I found out:

• Prepare your resume and have several copies available during the interview. Be sure your resume paints a clear picture of what you have been working on as a freelancer. This is your chance to “brag” without seeming conceited or over confident. List the industries you have worked for and bring a design portfolio. Any kudos or awards received from clients should also be included.
• Do your homework. Research the company you will potentially be working for – what industry are they in, what exactly does the company do, how many employees do they have, how long have they been in business, etc… A future employer wants to know you have enough interest in becoming a member of the team to look into what they are all about.
• Ask questions. Most interviewers will ask if you have any questions. Inquire about the direction they would like to take their web site, what they envision it to look like in five years, and/or any questions that came up as a result of your company research.

Good luck!

Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / FreeDigitalPhotos.net http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1786

A picture is worth a thousand words. Graphic design schools teach us that photos on web sites have the potential to capture our attention, motivate us to read more or even propel us to navigate to another web site entirely. They inflict emotion and can establish a connection between site visitors and the goods or services that are being represented. Industry experts have debated the value of using “real” photos versus stock photography. Here are my thoughts on the pros and cons.

• Beware of double duty photos. Have you ever spotted a stock photo you have purchased for a web site on someone else’s page? Whether your site is selling a product, promoting a service, or offering information, there is the potential for it to lose credibility in the eyes of consumers if they see your graphics gracing the pages of other sites. While this holds true for their opinion of the competition as well, it is something to consider when deciding on stock or original photos.
• Dollars and cents. The truth is, in many cases, stock photos are less expensive than original digital photography – especially if you can find royalty-free photos. Consider the time it takes to coordinate a photographer and the financial investment of reserving the photographer’s time and resources.  Although there are always exceptions, stock photos can be a great option that take less of a bite out of a client’s wallet.
• Original photos may have an expiration date. If photos are of a client’s employees, there is the issue of regularly updating the photography if an employee leaves or is terminated. Even when the proper release forms are signed the situation surrounding termination may impact the decision to keep the person’s photo on the site.