FAQs: About Design Jobs

Please review the questions and answers below; you will most likely find an answer here. But if you still have questions about Design Jobs, just email us.

General
Posting jobs
Posting a portfolio
Searching for jobs or employees

General (top)

What are the benefits for AIGA members?
AIGA Design Jobs allows members-only access to exclusive job opportunities. AIGA members can post portfolios containing samples of work, a personal statement, résumé and contact details. Email notifications will be sent to members when a position is posted that matches their criteria. Live customer support is available during normal business hours to address any questions or concerns via phone at 1 888 756 8282.

What are the benefits of AIGA Design Jobs site for employers?
AIGA Design Jobs allows employers to post job opportunities to a select group of AIGA members, each of whom has shown a commitment to the profession. Employers are also able to browse through member portfolios containing samples of work, a personal statement, résumé and contact details. For each new posting, an email containing a description of the opportunity will be sent out to qualified candidates Live customer support will be available during normal business hours to address any questions or concerns via phone at 1 888 756 8282.

How much does it cost to create a portfolio?
The job seeker profiles functionality is available only to AIGA members, who may post job seeker profiles at no cost. As of January 15, 2003, the current profile template will be replaced with full portfolio that will allow members to input a description, a full résumé and images of their work.

I seem to have lost my login information. Can I get it again?
If you are an AIGA member in good status, you can request your account information.

What does it mean when I see a small black AIGA logo beside someone's name in my search results?
Where the logo appears beside the name of a job seeker, it means that that person is an AIGA member who has pledged to observe AIGA's standards of professional practice. Since only individuals, and not companies, can make this pledge, no job listings are designated with the logo.

Where can I find out how to get my first job as a designer?
See Ideas for students for tips on finding your first job, writing your résumé and avoiding common résumé mistakes.

Where can I learn how to manage and grow my design studio?
AIGA's bookstore offers books on business practices for designers. In addition, watch the event calendar for upcoming business seminars and workshops offered by the national organization or your local chapter.

Posting jobs (top)

What is the process for posting jobs on the site?
To determine your posting rate, you must choose to post as a member or a nonmember. To post as a member and take advantage of the discounted rate, you must log in with your AIGA site username and password or join AIGA. After selecting which type of posting you will be making, you will fill out a form with the job description, required skills, areas of practice and contact information. Within 24 hours, Design Jobs will review your job posting and add it to a search-able database of jobs that is accessible to all site users.

How much does it cost to post a job listing?
The rate for posting a job is $95 per listing for AIGA members, $195 for nonmembers.

How do I pay?
Payment is by credit card only. We do not take payment by invoice.

What is your refund policy?
If you are unhappy with this service for any reason contact our customer support line at 1 888 756 8282 and your money will be promptly refunded.

How long will my job listing remain on the site?
Your listing will remain on the site for 45 days after you create it. After that, it will automatically expire. If you wish to remove a posting earlier than that you can call customer support at 1 888 756 8282, or email designjobs@aiga.org.

How do I edit or remove my listing?
To edit or remove a job listing, you will need to contact the Design Jobs customer support by calling 1 888 756 8282 or emailing designjobs@aiga.org.

Do I have to be an AIGA member to post job listings?
No. Anyone can post job listings. Only AIGA members, however, can view job listings.

Posting a portfolio (top)

What is the process for posting a portfolio on the site?
You log in and fill out a form with your contact information, current job title, skills and preferred areas of practice. When you complete the form, Design Jobs sends you an email requesting that you go to the site and confirm the information. After you do so, your profile is added to a searchable database of job seekers and is accessible to all site users.

Do I have to be an AIGA member to post a portfolio?
Yes, only AIGA members can post portfolios.

How do I send somebody a link to my online portfolio?
Your portfolio comes with a personal URL that you can send to friends and potential employers as a direct link. By default, your personal URL is www.aiga.org/{your_user_name}. "Your_User Name" is the name you use to log in to the site. So, if your User Name is "AIGArocks" your personal URL is "www.aiga.org/AIGArocks." You can also change your personal URL after your portfolio is created, in Edit my portfolio.

I am having trouble uploading images to my portfolio.
If your images aren't appearing properly, check that the:

• Image files you are trying to upload are less than 500K altogether
• File formats are JPEG's, GIF's (and animated GIF's), PNG files, and/or SWF's
• Filenames are only one term long (no spaces)
• Color mode of the JPEGS are RGB

My portfolio doesn't appear in searches.
There is a setting labeled “Privacy” that allows you to temporarily take your portfolio offline without deleting your account. If the Privacy setting is set to private, your portfolio will not show up in search results.

To change this, look for the "Privacy" setting on your portfolio form when in edit mode. The choices are as follows:

Privacy:

• Show profile and portfolio to others
• Do not show profile and portfolio

Select the first choice to have your portfolio appear in search and browse results.

How long before my portfolio is online?
Your portfolio goes online immediately. If you have just created your portfolio and you don't see it appearing where it should, check the "Privacy" setting described above.

How will potential employers contact me?
Potential employers will contact you by sending you email directly. Note that your full name, email address and contact information are visible if you enter this information in your portfolio.

Searching for jobs or employees (top)

Do I have to be an AIGA member to search for jobs or employees?
In order to view the details of any job listing you must have an account with AIGA and be logged into the site. You can log in now, or you can find out how to join AIGA.

How do I search by specific skills or disciplines?
Refine your search using the "areas of practice" checkboxes on the search form. Each checkbox designates a related cluster of professional specialties. You can also search by keyword.

How do I communicate my interest in a posted job?
Job applicants should contact the employer directly, using the contact information listed. Please note that AIGA is not responsible for any communication between you and the employer subsequent to the listing of employer contact information.

How do I know whether a job is still available?
Job postings on Design Jobs expire after 90 days if the employer does not delete it earlier. The date of the listing is included in the job posting details. If you see a job listed on the site, you can assume that the position is still available.

How do I let a job seeker know I'm interested?
If you find a candidate that interests you, you should contact that person directly, using the information listed on his or her portfolio.