Global tech brand HONOR has joined forces with creative software provider Affinity and leading creatives to launch the #StandOutWithHONOR global creative program.
As the second phase of HONOR Academy, the whole idea of #StandOutWithHONOR is to help you stand out from the crowd and get yourself hired. The program – which you can see detailed in the following videos – shows how to take your job-hunting skills and CVs to the next level.
The program enables you to access a series of educational content from expert designers and creatives around how to break into the creative industry, including CV tips and tricks and advice on how to ace virtual interviews.
The HONOR MagicBook Pro is one of the best workhorse laptops around, able to run everything you need for your creativity from the fastest photo editing and graphic design apps to the most powerful publishing software. Running Microsoft Windows 10 and powered by AMD Ryzen 5 4600H, the sleek laptop boasts 11 hours of battery life plus a 16.1-inch FullView display perfect for all creative work.
The compact and lightweight design is perfect for today’s flexible workforce and students alike enabling you to get full performance on the go. Plus, if you want something smaller, there’s the HONOR MagicBook 14 and 15 to choose from, too.
As part of the program, HONOR brought together some of Europe’s most influential creatives in the video to give young people unparalleled advice on how to break into creative industries, especially during these difficult times. The panel includes:
Laura Jordan Bambach, Chief Creative Officer of Grey London, Francisca Maass, Chief Creative Officer of Grey Hamburg, Pete Way, Creative Director of BCW London, Tristan Macherel, Executive Creative Director of LANDOR & FITCH Europe and Christian Bracht, CEO of Sleek Magazine.
To demonstrate how tech can give you a head start when hunting for new roles, HONOR and Affinity also teamed up with popular artists and designers including Scott Balmer, Peter Greenwood and David Daniels on a series of creative tutorials, sharing top tips and tricks for giving your CV’s a creative edge. The program also invited young people to take part in a series of challenges to showcase their creativity for the chance to earn a four-week paid internship at leading creative agency Grey in the U.K. and in Germany.
The advice in the video from the panel includes the following key advice:
Starting out
Build your own empire: Get out there and see what you can do for yourself. Find connections and partners you might like to work for and don’t shy away from your own creative pursuits (Laura Jordan Bambach, Grey)
Don’t be afraid to reach out directly: Even if a place doesn’t have a role for you, find out who the creative leadership team is for the agency you want to work for and approach them directly. The relationships and network you can build will only ever do you good in the future (Laura Jordan Bambach, Grey)
Developing your CV or portfolio
Difference inspires: If you’ve done something creative or have interesting experience that is outside of the industry you want to work for, don’t be afraid to include it in your CV. (Pete Way, BCW)
Design matters: With so many CVs to look through, it’s amazing how many applicants don’t consider what their CV looks like. Remember to put thought into how your CV looks, and avoid following generic templates that are available online (Laura Jordan Bambach, Grey)
Impressing in the room or over Zoom
Prepare your surroundings: Make sure you’re fully prepared in advance - check all the technology works ahead of time and that you have all the right software downloaded onto your laptop. Think about what’s around you and find a calm space where you’re not going to interrupted. (Laura Jordan Bambach, Grey)
Passion is key: Don’t be afraid to bring examples of your work in or talk about your passion projects outside of work. If you have done something relevant and cool and can speak about it with courage and conviction, then you’ll get a chance to show the interviewer a different side to yourself (Pete Way, BCW)
Knowledge is power: Do your research on the agency you’re interviewing for and be prepared to speak about your favourite campaigns and pieces of work they have done. (Pete Way, BCW)
Make it conversational: Asking questions isn’t a bad thing. Incite a conversation with the interviewer by asking what they think about a certain subject to create a natural flow of conversation and make the chat more memorable (Pete Way, BCW)
Don’t be afraid to follow up: Always send a thank you note and don’t be afraid to follow up. If you haven’t heard back, try tweeting or another method to start a dialogue of conversation in a different space (Laura Jordan Bambach, Grey)