1. Can you please tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
This is your chance to learn as much as possible about the role so you can decide whether this is a job you really want. By learning more about the day-to-day tasks, you will also gain more insight into what specific skills and strengths are needed and you can address any topics that haven't already been covered.
2. Show Me What Makes You Stand Out As A Graphic Designer?
With this question, the employer is basically asking you why they should hire you over any other candidate and they're also testing how well you know yourself as a professional graphic designer. Again, with this question it's important to be honest and to think about what qualities and experience you might possess as a graphic designer that other candidates might not - this could be your previous client base, the range and depth of your experience - or even some of the techniques you've picked up in your career. Whatever reasons you give, be sure to have some examples to hand so you can back them up.
3. Tell me what do you like best about working for this company?
Ask about your interviewer's personal experience for additional insight into the company's culture.
4. Tell me your personal creative process?
Explain what you do to be creative. Researching, sketching, reading, collaborating, critiquing, discussing with client, wait-time…
5. Tell us about an instance when you were disappointed with your performance?
I was assigned a project disappointed when I was given a project with a very short deadline and I wasn't able to spend as much time on the project as I wanted to. I completed the project on time and the customer was satisfied, but I would have liked to spend more time on the project.
6. Explain what is the typical career path for someone in this role?
This question can help you learn whether the company promotes from within, and how career advancement works within the organization. By asking the question, you show your interest in growing with the organization - just be careful not to phrase it in a way that sounds too self-serving (i.e. When can I expect a raise and a promotion?).
7. Tell us What Is Your Favourite Part Of The Design Process?
This question can seem a bit personal - but again, it's just another question to try and determine what makes you tick as a designer. Again, with this one it all comes to down to personal opinion and - as with any other interview question - it's important to be honest because if you lie here, it could come back to haunt you later down the line. In general, the design process can be split into three chunks - the initial consultation, the creative process and the final negotiations/finished results. If you can't pick one particular stage, you could pick out different aspects of each and explain why you enjoy them.
8. Tell us what products do you have experience with?
Logo design is a frequent job for graphic designers. It's not advisable to simply list a long history of all the products you've ever done. Instead, linger on one or two and demonstrate your expertise by talking about them. For example, say that logos may seem like a job for beginners, but actually they require a fine sense of the current trends and client's need to be efficient and simple, but memorable.
9. Tell me where do you think the company is headed in the next 5 years?
If you plan to be in this role for several years, make sure the company is growing so you can grow with the company.
10. Tell me What Attracted You To The Graphic Design Industry?
With this question, the interviewer is obviously keen to find out where your passion lies and what your motivations are for working in the industry. When trying to prepare your answer to this question, think about what it is that makes you want to continue to work in the graphic design industry. Is it the creativity aspect? The chance to create pieces which will be seen by thousands of people every day? Or the fact you get to create lots of different pieces of work every year? With this type of answer, it's easy to tell who's being false and who's being honest so whatever answer you give, try and stay true to yourself and avoid copying anyone else.
