Navigating Creativity: A Guide for Interviewing for Creative Roles

Entering an interview for a creative role is an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. To help you navigate this journey and present your creativity in the best light, here are 10 tips for acing interviews in the dynamic world of creative positions (whether that be agency or in-house/brand side roles):

1. Craft Your Story:
   
   Come prepared for the interview with 3-4 projects that were your favorite to work on / or have a great story behind them. Make it engaging, highlighting key milestones or experiences that showcase your passion and unique perspective. While highlighting projects, share more about the team you worked with, how you partnered cross-functionally with others and what was the outcome of the project? (be prepared to speak about the results of the campaign with specific KPIs.) 
   

2. Showcase Your Portfolio:
   
   Your portfolio is your visual resume. This sets the stage for a discussion tailored to your creative achievements and sets a tone of genuine interest. Having your main portfolio with a variety of projects is great, but it is also helpful to have subsections of your portfolio that may be built out for the specific role/company you are interviewing with. (Example: If you are interviewing for a Creative Director position at a CPG brand, be prepared to showcase more of your CPG related work.) 
   

3. Share Your Creative Process:
   
   When discussing your work, articulate your creative process. Take the interviewer through the journey from idea generation to execution. Highlight your problem-solving skills, adaptability, and collaborative approach. For many, it is helpful to even include images of your thought process such as sketches, drawings or research that was conducted. 
   

4. Emphasize Collaboration Skills:
   
   Creative environments thrive on collaboration. Talk about your experiences working within creative teams. Share how you handle feedback, contribute ideas, and foster a collaborative spirit within a diverse team. For many, you may have worked as part of an Art Director / Copywriter team - share your experience with that. Or maybe you've worked across a number of teams at once, this all goes back to selling a great story, be prepared to share your collaboration with each of those teams. 
   

5. Highlight Your Adaptability:
   
   Creativity often requires adapting to changing circumstances. Share instances where you adapted your creative approach due to shifting project requirements or evolving industry trends. Have you ever worked at an agency where the client changes their mind last minute? Or worked brand-side where marketing switched their campaign direction? Creative is constantly having to adapt and sharing your experience and how you dealt with those changes during an interview is imperative. 
   

6. Embrace Creative Challenges:
   
   Be ready for a creative challenge presented by the interviewer. Approach it with enthusiasm, showcasing your problem-solving skills and ability to think on your feet. This practical exercise allows you to demonstrate your creativity in action. This challenge should be either presenting on a project you've prior worked on, or a paid working interview style challenge where the hiring team can get a sense of your thought-process, or may be a take-home paid project. This is a great opportunity not only for the hiring team to get a sense of you, but for you to also receive feedback from the hiring team and get a sense of what it is like to work with their team. 
   

7. Express Your Passion Projects:
   
   Discuss your passion projects and creative pursuits outside of your professional work. This not only showcases your personal interests but also demonstrates your genuine passion for creativity beyond the workplace. I personally love hearing about the band you're in or your next screenplay you're writing! 
   

8. Reveal Your Inspirations:
   
   Talk about what inspires you creatively. Whether it's other artists, experiences, or diverse industries, sharing your sources of inspiration gives the interviewer insight into the depth and diversity of your creative influences.
   

9. Demonstrate Communication Skills:
   
   Effective communication is key in creative roles. Articulate your ideas clearly, convey feedback thoughtfully, and express how you collaborate with non-creative stakeholders. Strong communication skills are vital for bringing creative visions to life. This is all about practice, practice, practice. For many, effective communication does not come naturally - the more you practice the better you'll do in a high-stress interview environment. 
   

10. Express a Commitment to Learning:
    
    In a rapidly evolving creative landscape, express your commitment to continuous learning. Discuss how you stay updated on industry trends, attend workshops, or acquire new skills. Emphasize your enthusiasm for growth and staying ahead in your creative journey. Mention associations or communities you are a part of - such as AdClub, American Marketing Association, and so much more! 

Remember, this interview is not just about showcasing your skills but also about authentically presenting yourself as a passionate and adaptable creative professional. Use these tips to make the most of the opportunity and let your creativity shine! Good luck!