315: How to hire (and get hired) in a brand design role

Design Life

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Femke and Charli discuss Gusto's new Creative Director role, including why the company hired for it and what they’re looking for. They talk about whether agency or in-house experience is better, how candidates should prepare for interviews, and what makes a talented brand designer stand out. They also mention whether having a broad or focused portfolio is better, common red flags to watch out for, and offer tips for applying to the brand designer role.

Episode timestamps:

01:02 Episode start

02:16 Framer sponsorship

03:45 How did the need for a Creative Director at Gusto come about, and what is the company looking for in this role?

08:24 When hiring for a brand role in a tech company, do candidates from agency backgrounds bring unique qualities? Or are in-house candidates generally stronger?

11:11 Do you influence the interview questions during the hiring process?

13:44 What type of presentation do you expect from candidates?

15:33 What distinguishes a truly skilled designer from someone with skill gaps?

19:00 How important is breadth of work for a brand designer compared to product design? Do you prefer candidates with diverse experience or specialized expertise?

23:25 What are common red flags to watch out for?

28:52 Any advice for candidates applying for the brand designer IC role?

30:46 Charli's Book Update

Links:

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