Designers: Time to get more Instagram professional

As part of every role Forever do as an agency – it’s no secret the first place we turn to when recruiting for any design role is social media, whether this is through LinkedIn, Instagram or Behance, most designers are active – and especially Instagram active.

Designers follow designers and design agencies are also following suit as a fast track way to recruit. The traditional CV and portfolio has been outdated for a long time when it’s so easy to track down individuals on social media and get a true reflection of them. For us at Forever, personality and interests of an individual is very important to fit in our start-up culture.

There’s something more human about Instagram as it’s not only showcasing your work but also yourself.

As the cliché goes, ‘putting a name to a face,’ the balance of personal life and work is key; showcasing your personality and authenticity can’t be portrayed in a piece of paper.

In addition for us agencies, just searching #graphicdesigner brings up over three million posts and #graphicdesign over 16 million making it easy to self-promote but also access constant inspiration. We’re all eyes and ears at Forever – so make sure you as a designer are actively positioning yourselves to be found. Think the blend between location tags and relevant hashtags at all times and offer value with your Instagram stories, watch your personal following grow and sneaky people like us.

A strong account can put a designer on the map showcasing their style and diversity that maybe couldn’t all be placed into a portfolio for an interview. Catching the eye of agencies or even garner work depending on the avenue your wanting to take, Instagram is becoming the top choice of platform for designers.

So, after all the glory – our advice is be careful.

Check our latest work on Instagram here

As we advance into the connected age, make sure you don’t let yourself go too far. Take heed before posting that questionable story from the weekend as you don’t know who is watching but I’d also take it with a pinch of salt as it’s good to see that you have a sense of humour.

Showcase your work and run themes across your portfolio.

Glance across your Instagram posts and question is this the reflection you want to portray to your employer or potential employer, after all most of us mention who we work for in our bio. If you are a bit loose at the weekend and love the banter with your friends, consider two accounts and make your personal private.

It’s time we all took Instagram a bit more professionally serious and embrace the dominance of the social platform.

By Jordan Hall
Designer