Creatives don’t play by the book; neither should your hiring process.

Imagine a job applicant. Which stock photo are you thinking of? Is it the one with a super-eager guy in a suit, hands folded, nervously seated across a long desk? Or is it the woman waving her resume in the air like she’s on a parade float?

You’re likely not imagining a creative. The best creative hires cannot be anticipated. Because of that, keep these next few things in mind when hiring your next creative.

1. The right hire might not be found through your traditional recruiting methods.

It’s not that we’re not looking at job listings on LinkedIn — it’s that some creatives literally might not have an account. Some of the most talented professionals I know promote their work experience through less conventional means like a social feed or a private Vimeo channel.

2. The right hire might not have that required 4-year degree.

Many creative hires become experts in their crafts by way of less traditional education. Whether it’s a graphic designer who’s got an Associate’s Degree, or a UX designer who took night classes at General Assembly, top creative talent might not always have their Bachelor’s.

Before setting your company’s standards, clarify with managers what technical skills are needed for the role at hand. These tend to take precedence in creative work, and you don’t want to needlessly exclude the appropriate talent.

3. The right hire might have atypical work experience.

If you asked a freelancer to list out every client and every project they have ever worked on, you’re in for a laundry list. Since so many creatives freelance for short periods of time, their resumes are long. Don’t always expect to see 3+ years at every previous employer. If you’re concerned with a creative’s capacity to commit, consider asking them what type of work would sustain their interest.

4. The right hire might not be a talker.

OK, real talk: Creatives can be shy, or introverted — even those of us who spend a lot of time with words. Because our contributions are usually hard deliverables like copy or artwork, our speaking skills might be a little rusty.

This doesn’t mean you should lower your standards for the types of soft skills you need. Just remember that creatives might express themselves through other mediums.

5. The right hire might talk a little too much.

On the other hand, you’re bringing in storytellers, and you might get candidates who love language a little too much. These are the people who tell you about their subway encounters, their dental appointments, who they met in the Galapagos, and why.

During an interview, be prepared for some more meandering from a creative than you might expect from other hires.

6. The right hire is still like any other you’ve hired before.

If you’re worried about hiring for creative roles, don’t be. In most ways, hiring for a creative is like hiring for anything else. As a hiring manager, you know how to spot talent. Trust your gut when it comes to creatives — just let us say a few more weird things here and there.

Ryan is a Creative Circle candidate and freelance Content Director who enjoys reading menus. He got his start at BuzzFeed NY, and since has led content initiatives for startups, TV shows, and crowdfunding platforms. He’s now based in LA—but not in a suspicious way. If you want to work with Ryan, contact Creative Circle Los Angeles.

In the same way people say that “finding a job is a full-time job in itself,” looking for the right hire and interviewing candidates can also be like a full-time job. Here are some quick-and-dirty productivity tips to make the early part of your hiring process as efficient as possible.

1. When in doubt, schedule it out

When it comes to interviewing, blocking out time on your calendar to not only complete your work, but to also review applications and meet with candidates, will encourage you to organize your time and not feel as affected by the interview process.

Even though it seems like a simple act, so many of us don’t take our own time seriously enough to block it off on our calendars.

2. Get to know your candidates before you even meet them

To maximize your time meeting with candidates, read through their resumes, look at their LinkedIn profiles, and review any provided links (social media, portfolio, etc.) before you meet with them. Bring focus to the interview by making notes on their resumes with the types of things you want to know about their experience and what their soft skills are.

Not only will your questions lead to more insightful answers, but the process of having done your research will allow you to fairly evaluate the candidate’s preparedness and fit for the upcoming role.

3. Set an interview timeline

Interviewing your stack of candidates in batches is ideal. Depending on additional internal resources and your own workload, giving yourself a set time in which to meet with your candidates will not only allow you to manage the expectations of your candidates upfront, but it will also hold you accountable as you move things forward within a manageable amount of time.

Keeping interview days down to 2-3 days a week rather than trying to get it all done too quickly will keep you engaged with your potential hires. If you take too much time to let any candidate know the status of your interviewing process, you risk losing quality talent altogether.

Finding the perfect candidate can take time when you’re looking for a quality fit. Let us know in the comments section any other timesaving tricks for interviewing candidates you’ve learned along the way!

Annie is a Creative Circle candidate and freelance creative strategist/copywriter working and living in Los Angeles. She knows digital media as well as she knows her own horoscope (she’s a Virgo), having worked at the likes of BuzzFeed and Mashable. She has created branded content strategies for the top Fortune 500 brands, which means she knows the true meaning of “going native.” If you want to work with Annie, contact Creative Circle Los Angeles.

Bored with Behance? Seen everything on Comm Arts 1,000 times? The next time you’re looking for inspiration for your design, advertising, or marketing project, check out a few sources from off the beaten path to get your creative juices flowing.

The World of Fashion

Cutting-edge fashion synthesizes culture and history, often while pushing the boundaries of engineering. Here are a few contemporary designers who are also considered creative geniuses.

  1. Late British designer Alexander McQueen pushed the envelope for form and function in fashion: the iconic knuckle-ring clutch and Lady Gaga’s famous armadillo boots are masterpieces of industrial design.
  2. Avant-garde Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo is loved for her sense of whimsy and elaborate construction. Believe it or not, this look that Rihanna sported at the 2017 Met Ball is one of the designer’s more accessible pieces.
  3. You could describe Rick Owens’ signature style as “maximal minimalism,” but his clothes demonstrate how far you can go just by playing with proportions.
  4. Dutch designer Iris Van Herpen takes an architectural approach to fashion design, often creating her own textiles. She’s even collaborated with famed architect Rem Koolhaas on 3D printed shoes.
  5. The Mulleavy sisters (otherwise known as Rodarte) tend to polarize critics, but they’ve won fans with their painstaking handiwork and intellectual approach to fashion.

Retail Stores

Even though it feels like everything is online all the time, 94% of all retail sales are made at a physical store. And the retailers who want to keep it that way are pulling out all the stops to attract and engage their customers.

  1. You’re probably already studying Nike’s ads; why not dig a little deeper and be awestruck by what they’re doing that’s breathing new life into retail?
  2. Rebecca Minkoff’s New York flagship store takes personalization to new levels and aims to be the future of retail.
  3. Grocery stores aren’t very sexy, but the national chain Kroger is integrating cutting-edge technology that delivers personalized pricing and offers to cement the value of brick-and-mortar shopping.
  4. High-end appliance retailer Pirch has created an in-store experience that makes shopping for ovens and refrigerators whimsical and fun.
  5. Take a trip to your local Apple store and just poke around. The design is equal parts art, science, and magic, offering up a uniquely immersive experience. The New York store has been named one of the world’s most beautiful shops.

Board Games

Board game design is like an elaborate exercise in creative problem-solving. While the humble board game can’t come close to matching the innovative bells and whistles of their digital counterparts, playing a game (and studying the packaging) can help get you out of a creative slump.

  1. Saturday Night Live is a board game. Who knew? With its vibrant colors and iconic images, you might even buy it for the packaging alone.
  2. Over the years, you’ve probably seen Cranium a million times at Starbucks, but it’s worth checking out, especially because it was designed to foster creativity.
  3. Take a look at these 15 reconceived chessboards, and imagine how you could breathe new life into the traditional way of doing things.
  4. Creativity is often tied to ego, so why not make something where you have no expectations? Sagrada is a competition to build the best stained glass masterpiece.
  5. It’s more of a parlor game, but a few rounds of Exquisite Corpse, the collaborative game where people take turns blindly assembling a story or an illustration, can get you excited about collaboration.

If all else fails…

  1. Go to an immersive theater event—imagine being one of only two audience members in an elaborate, six-hour production.
  2. Find a museum with interactive or hands-on exhibits. Think the International Spy Museum in D.C. or the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia.
  3. Sit at a train station and people-watch.
  4. Listen to your favorite music in the dark.
  5. Go back to the source of what made you want to pursue a creative career in the first place.

Above all, when you’re stuck or uninspired, keep your mind open. Be receptive to, and ready for, new ideas and inspiration that may come at you from anywhere. To avoid mental inspiration ruts altogether, regularly expose yourself to new things — even things you don’t think you’ll like. It’s all about nudging your brain into unexpected territory and continuing to expand your own internal creative inspo database.

Lisa is a Creative Circle candidate and seasoned advertising copywriter who lives in Los Angeles. Her background includes both in-house and agency work on Fortune 500 and global accounts in the consumer and healthcare/pharmaceutical fields. She excels at words, fashion, and cats. If you want to work with Lisa, contact Creative Circle Los Angeles.

“Not To Exceed” are three words that send a shiver down the spine of anyone delivering services to clients – especially if those services are creative. What the “Not To Exceed” clause typically implies is that the client has a set budget and expects the supplier not to go over that budget. It is often referred to as a Fixed Price. Seems fair, right? Sure… It puts the burden on the supplier to budget accordingly; set the scope, figure out the deliverables, build the team and then set a budget. Of course, they are doing this before any work has begun. It’s always an estimate; always. Until of course the contract is signed and then it is a fixed price. This is typical and has been the way digital and creative services have been sold for years. And I don’t see it changing anytime soon. Rarely will a client spend a little money up front to accurately scope and budget a project. That would be ideal!

But what clients sometimes say (in fine print or buried in their legal docs) is that in addition to the Not To Exceed clause, there will be unlimited rounds of creative work to be completed before the client signs off and approves the work. Wait….what? You want me to fix my price, not exceed it and you can ask for as many revisions as you want? I don’t think so… But time and time again suppliers agree to it. Why? Because they need the gig and… think they can manage accordingly. Easier said than done. Creative work is subjective. It’s emotional. Some clients simply do not know what they like – but they sure know what they don’t like! And that is when bad things happen.

“Not To Exceed” is bad for both parties.

For the supplier, it is the kiss of death. Unless there is a clear change order process or a way to raise red flags for scope creep, the supplier’s margin will shrink every day there is another round of creative. And the supplier will begrudgingly do the work and it will no longer be fun. And creatives like to have fun.

While it may not be as emotional for the client, this is a bad situation because they will lose their partnership with the supplier. The collaboration and good feelings will have been lost. The supplier now sees the work as a chore and the passion is gone. All they want to do is get it done. In fact, they may move their top talent off the project (due to hourly rates and margin shrinkage) and put less experienced people on task. And in the end, this is bad for the client. Because the work is rushed.

Many years ago, my agency had a top cosmetics brand as a client. We agreed to the “Not To Exceed” clause because a) we needed the gig and b) how could we pass up the chance to work with such a well-known brand. When we delivered our first round of creative they gave some notes and felt we were close. So when we delivered round 2 we were confident we would get sign off. Well…after round 15 we had blown through the entire budget and still had no approval. My team was burnt, frustrated and angry. For round 16 I delivered the creative for Round 1 and guess what happened? They approved it. Argh! At that point, we were out of budget and had to go through a very long process to get the client to allocate more money to the project. But at that point, the relationship was over.

The bottom line is this….don’t suggest or agree to a “Not To Exceed” clause unless there is a way to protect both parties with a change order process. A creative relationship between client and supplier is based on trust and empathy. If the supplier feels they are going to lose money or burn out, then they are going to fail – and in turn, the client will fail as well. The “Not To Exceed” clause simply is not worth it – emotionally or financially.

Michael Weiss is the Vice President of Consulting Services & Solutions at Creative Circle.
This article was originally published on LinkedIn here.

Even if you’ve been working in a related field in the same city, the agency game can be a tough nut to crack. Break into agency life with these three proactive, positive ways you can work to make it happen.

1. Network.

This is the most important part. For some people, this is pretty fun, but for others, it’s not. How should you get started? Check in on agency calendars – many of them throw events that are open to the public. Open house-type opportunities are a great way to make a good impression in a low-pressure atmosphere. If you’re really attracted to a particular agency, weave their culture into your life. Hit up their creatives’ art shows and music gigs. Cultivate mutual recognition.

2. Start doing it.

Are you looking to provide visual services? Writing? Learn as much as you can about it and use your down time to build skills and awareness relevant to the field you wish to pursue. Use strategies like these to keep learning and growing, or dive into the incredible range of resources available online. Blogs, online courses, and endless reading and viewing archives are within reach.

3. Appreciate the seed-planting phase.

Any sort of introductory meeting you score through a contact is going to get you hyped up with nerves. It’s may not be a job interview exactly, but it’s a close relation. Most of the time it’s not going to pay off immediately in the form of a job or freelance gig. That doesn’t mean it’s wasted time. Getting in front of people at agencies is important. At the very least, an informational interview could be beneficial. It’s a seed-planting stage that will put you in people’s minds. It could be months before something comes up that makes them think to contact you.

Wherever you start, the point is to get started. You’ll learn things along the way, you’ll meet different types of people, and who knows, instead of trying to break into agency life, one day, you might have what it takes to open your own agency.

Marjorie is a former Creative Circle candidate based in Portland who recently accepted a full-time offer for her dream job. She is a writer/editor and stylist/producer with an emphasis in the design world. If you are interested in working with someone like Marjorie, please contact your nearest Creative Circle office.

The easiest way to get a new job or acquire new freelance clients is to market yourself long before you even start a job search. And the best way to stand out is to play to your strengths, marketing your most valuable skills and experiences that make you you. Keep reading to learn how you can market your skills

1. Speak the language.

Precise language and terminology is so important to land jobs in our industry.

For starters, if you’re applying to a job and your resume and cover letter don’t have position-specific keywords, your resume may never even make it into a human being’s hands, thanks to applicant tracking systems.

The more technical the field, the more terminology you weave into your resume or profile (and use correctly). Study the resumes and LinkedIn profiles of people who are working in your ideal or target job. Most importantly, make sure you’re using the same skills, keywords, and lingo as the job description you’re applying for!

Important: Don’t just stuff your resume and application with keywords for the sake of getting a callback. If you’re not being honest about your talents and skill levels, there is a 100% chance you’ll be found out. And if you waste a recruiter or hiring manager’s time with a bogus resume, you won’t be considered for jobs that you might have been a fit for.

2. Consider your contributions.

Now that you have added relevant keywords to your resume, take a step back and answer the question, “How will these skills solve a potential employer or client’s problems?” Weave those keywords into a meaningful narrative or elevator pitch that shows how you used those skills. It’s even better if you can tie them to quantifiable results.

It’s harder for people in creative roles, but consider adding in bullet points that tell stories like these:

  • My contributions helped our team land the $X million XYZ account
  • Wrote copy for an email marketing campaign that averaged an open rate of X% and a click-through rate of X%
  • Helped manage the research, production, and deployment of an integrated campaign that led to a 12% increase in sales

(And this is why it really pays to be able to speak your discipline’s language.)

3. Tell the right story.

Your portfolio will be a living, evolving archive of your accomplishments, but if you’re trying to position yourself in a specific niche, make sure your work immediately conveys this. If you’re lucky, you’ll have five or 10 seconds to pique a hiring manager or creative director’s interest with your portfolio.

Start off strong, (re)organize your work, and make sure it reinforces the impression you’re trying to create. Web platforms like Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress are great for giving you the on-the-fly flexibility you need to tailor your portfolio.

4. Act like the expert you are.

Broadcast your expertise in a field by finding or creating a place to share your voice and opinions. than with your own blog or podcast. It doesn’t have to be fancy or formal, and it doesn’t have to be about the “hard sell,” either.

Hone your personal brand and position yourself, based on your skills and experience, by sharing and making insightful comments on articles and posts. Aim for a few of these interactions every week, if not on a daily basis.

If you have the time, start writing a few words about your own unique experiences or skills. Add a blog to your portfolio or personal website and promote it on LinkedIn; you’ll be surprised at how much extra traffic you can generate.

5. Don’t wait until you’re actively looking for a job.

You should be building the blocks to market yourself and working to keep your professional visibility high.

LinkedIn is a good place to start. Begin with a solid profile, complete with a professional-looking picture, which means no bathroom selfies, illustrations, pictures of your dog, pictures where you cut someone else out, or other images that would make a hiring manager pause.

Request a few meaningful recommendations from people who are familiar with your abilities – ideally, close colleagues who know the skills and value you bring, or more senior types to burnish your reputation. Endorsements are also good, but personal recommendations stand out.

Don’t forget the little things.

In the end, you still may find yourself competing against people with similar experience, qualifications, and skillsets, so you’ll need to make the effort to stand out.

  • Start out with a no-brainer, like spellchecking all your communications and doing a quality check on your website and portfolio.
  • Showcasing any volunteer work on your resume can also swing the vote in your favor, since company decision-makers are 82% more likely to choose a candidate with volunteer experience.
  • Your portfolio and experience should ideally highlight and demonstrate your particular skillset, but having legitimate certification can make you stand out. Be sure to include relevant training and applicable certifications on your LinkedIn profile, portfolio and resume.

Whether you’re actively looking for a job or new business, it’s always a good idea to keep your eyes open for new opportunities to showcase your skills and experience.

Lisa is a Creative Circle candidate and seasoned advertising copywriter who lives in Los Angeles. Her background includes both in-house and agency work on Fortune 500 and global accounts in the consumer and healthcare/pharmaceutical fields. She excels at words, fashion, and cats. If you want to work with Lisa, contact Creative Circle Los Angeles.

During my time as a Creative Circle Recruiter, I met with thousands of freelancers in the creative industry who were extremely talented individuals but lacked the motivation and confidence to consistently book gigs. Then there were others who were always busy, had a consistent flow of work, and would actually turn down jobs that weren’t exciting to them. Which made me wonder: what’s the difference between these two types of people? How do some freelancers seem to have a steady stream of client work, while others are desperate to get whatever they can find?

The answer is all in your mind – literally. Your talent alone is not enough. You need a positive, empowering, and confident mindset to find gigs and consistently book out your freelance client list.

Here are five questions to reflect on to improve your mindset when it comes to freelancing:

1. What is your “why”?

Too often, the routines and responsibilities of working bog us down, and we can lose sight of the bigger picture. Why did you go into this industry to start with? Why did you want to be in the creative field? What do you hope to achieve with your creative talents in your lifetime? By scaling back and reminding ourselves of why we do what we do, we discover a refreshing sense of optimism and passion that carries over into conversations with potential clients and our work.

In my coaching business, I help women get “unstuck” in their life, whether it’s in a corporate job, freelancing business, relationship, finances, or physical health. My “why” is to empower women to take back control of their own happiness and well-being. I’ve come a long way in my own personal and spiritual development journey and I want to share that with others. My “why” is to help others recognize their limitless potential and to use it as fuel for inspiration and life-long change.

Reflect on your “why” now. Spend 15-30 minutes writing down your “why” – why you do what you do and what you hope to achieve in this lifetime. Remind yourself of your “why” before going to interviews or presenting your work, when speaking with a client for the first time, or if you’re feeling discouraged in the job application process to uplift and inspire you.

2. What are your unique strengths and abilities?

What makes you different? What skills, life and work experience, and past projects set you apart from others who are applying for similar gigs? Focus on your unique strengths and make a list of the top qualities that set you apart. What do your friends come to you for help with? What would your family or significant other say are your best qualities? What are you naturally good at? What do you genuinely enjoy doing, and how is that related to your freelance skill set? Think about these questions and how you can use these skills to your advantage.

3. Where are your money blocks?

Money is a taboo subject in our society, and yet, it’s something that we’re all driven by in some capacity. We carry around stories and fears around money that we’ve adopted from our parents, friends, the media, and society in general, and these stories can hold you back from charging what you’re worth, finding clients who actually have the budget to pay you, or attracting freelance gigs that will bring you a steady income.

For example, many of us walk around with deep-rooted beliefs that money is the source of all evil, that people who have a lot of money are selfish and greedy, or that wanting to make more money is something you should feel guilty about. Others may think that they’ll never have enough money, so they are constantly living from this “lack” mentality.

Think about what you’ve been taught to believe about money and wealth from your parents, your friends, the media, and society in general. Write down your top 10 beliefs and fears around money and reflect on how these thoughts may be blocking you. Choose to reframe these beliefs to be more positive and supportive of your career goals instead.

4. What is the best-case scenario?

Visualize your ideal scenario one year from now. Imagine you’re working with top clients, adding amazing projects to your portfolio, and making exactly the amount of money you’ve always dreamed of to live your best life. How does that version of you feel? What does that version of you do, say, or think when speaking with potential clients? What does that version of you believe about your work and your abilities to consistently book awesome projects?

Write down this best-case scenario and reflect on THAT possibility every single day. Then show up as if that is your reality NOW, embracing all the positive feelings that will come from that place of being.

5. Are you operating from a place of lack or a place of abundance?

Reflect on your mindset around lack versus abundance when it comes to your freelance work. Are you naturally a more optimistic person who trusts that money and clients are just around the corner? Or are you constantly thinking about how bad you have it and how unlucky you are? Are you excited about the possibility of new projects, challenges, and opportunities? Or are you burned out by the idea of having to sit through yet another project brief?

If you find that you’re operating from a place of lack mentality (i.e. never having enough), reframe your thoughts and beliefs to be more abundant.

Become more aware of the thoughts that go through your mind on a day-to-day basis and ask yourself: are these thoughts mostly positive or mostly negative? For example, in an average day, you might think that the weather is crummy again, the traffic is always such a pain, your boss is driving you crazy, and you can’t believe how busy you are with back-to-back projects, again. That would be the landscape of someone with a mostly negative, lack-based mentality.

You can change this mindset by focusing on the things that you can be grateful for in the present moment. In the above example, you could catch yourself in this negative thought pattern and course-correct by thinking about how grateful you are to be able to drive to work and to have a job that provides you with the finances you need to live your current lifestyle.

What we focus on expands, so choose to see the opportunities and things you can be grateful for as much as you possibly can.

When you can address your mindset in these ways, not only will your clients pick up on it, but you will feel more balanced, fulfilled, and excited about the work that you’re doing every day!

Lauren Madden is a Mindset and Wellness Coach and Yoga Teacher in Phoenix, AZ with a background in advertising and marketing. She helps women break through fears and limiting beliefs that are holding them back from living their best lives. To find out more, visit here.