Who are you ?
Hi, My name is To Nhat Minh. I’m a fresh graduate of FPT University. My major is Digital Art
and Design. I’m 22 years old and I was born in Ca Mau city, but currently I’m living in HCM
city.
How do you know our company ?
I heard about Shuttlerock at my school. I hear that your company have a collaboration with
Mr. Lam Ky Phuong class. I also know about Shuttlerock through my friends and family.
Because all three children of my family also study and work in the Creative Industry. I also
know about the company on the website Linkedin.
Shuttlerock is an advertising agency company focused on short format video ads founded in
New Zealand in 2011. The company is partnered with a lot of big foundations like Facebook,
Instargram, Youtube, Google,..
Why do you want to work with us ?
Because I know that Shuttlerock is an international company, I can learn about the global
working systems, also I know that the company offers many development opportunities I can
take part in to expand my skill set.
Where do you find inspiration ?
Well, it’s hard to describe but I find inspiration with my eyes and my ears. It means that
everything I see or hear could be my inspiration if I find it interesting. For example, like a
picture I see on Facebook, or a sentence I heard people talk about; I would want to build a
story over it with all of my skill. Like in my graduation project, it all started with a question
from my friend : why are you afraid of bees ?
How did you design your portfolio?
In my portfolio in 2022, I begin with a little play around shape and typography to create my
CV as you can see right here. After that I will separate all my work into many sections and
choose only the best to put on my Portfolio. For example: illustration, or typography, or
branding.
Just a few days after my graduation project finished, I discovered that Shuttlerock is hiring
for this position. I immediately took the chance and prepared my CV for this interview, so that
i dont have enough time to make my 2024 Portfolio.
Tell me about the projects you're most proud of and why. What was your role?
Of course. That is my most recent project, also my Graduation Project that got me the 2nd
ranking grade. It is SOC - an AR Illustration Book about Bee Extinction. Actually, I also bring
the book in case you're interested.
To summarize, according to my research, almost half of the honey bees have disappeared
and 40% of the remaning face extinction. So my team wants to create something that can
educate the young generation but also spread the information and warning to their parents,
somehow solve the problems before it’s too late.
In this project, I was the team leader. I write the scipt, the beginning idea and develop the
whole story with my friend. I also sketch the layout of the book, including layout of words and
illustrations, and take part in character design. All of the motion and sound in the project was
designed and created by me. And I am also responsible for designing merchandise.
Where do you see yourself in five years ?
Hm, as a fresher just graduated from the university, i dont really have a wide perpective and
experience about this field yet. But I hope I can continue to grow, to expand my skill set, and
to be more valuable in my role than I am today.
What inspired you to become a designer ?
In the first place, i dont know what to choose when i graduated from high school. It's my dad
who lead me to this path. But the more i connect, the more i expenrience in this fied throught
my study and work in in school, i started to find it interresting, and i was having a lot of fun
creating and designing with my friends and my teacher. That's why i choose this carrer.
What are your strengths and weaknesses ?
I think my greatest strength is Fast-learner. Studying in FPT Uniniversity, I always have to
deal with several deadlines of different subjects at the same time. So in order to get through
all of that with a high grade, i have to get used to a fast - pace collecting knowledge and use
it efficency in my project.
My weakness is i want prefection in my work so that i always forget about the time. It happen
when i have to finish many task and i usually focus to made one things the best and
abandon all others. I dont have lots of expenrience to diverse those task equally. But i
definitely am learning to control it, to maintain time while still doing all task efficiencly thorugh
my career.
Procress of working ?
I've never tried the profesional eviroment like your company before, so i will explain my
process when i'm doing my team project or my freelance work.
First of all, I will analyze the customer's brift, try to understand what they want. For example:
how they want the final product to look like, the vibe, the visual effect. And I will ask for more
(if need) information to understand completely the task I am supposed to do.
After that, I will begin to research the idea, the direct and indirect audience, find references
of image, animation, visual, storyboard,...and gather all that in one presentation to show to
my customer, maybe advise them for one or two more ways to offer them with many choices.
After the agreement of all that. I will start to work and report weekly or daily, depending on
what my customer wants until the final product.
What is the difference between Animation anh Motion Graphic ?
The main difference lies in their purpose and complexity.
Animation is used for storytelling and can be very complex, including character development
and detailed story or content. The length also differs. An animation can last 10 seconds or it
can be 10 minutes, as long as it tells the story.
Motion graphics are used to convey messages or information in a direct, simple manner,
often including text, basic shapes and images. It focuses on typography, visual effect, motion
shape. The length is often shorter than animation, it is more about providing information to
customers in the easiest and most effective way.
Are you a good fit in team work ?
As you can see in my Behance, i've done many project with differences teams, and 80% of
that all the others members voted me as the team leader. I dont say that i have the ability to
control the crow or to manipulate my team member, but i believe i'm the connection of the
group. It's always full of laugh and comfortable enviroment when we working together. So
yeah, i think i'll mantain to get along with your team in no time.
Salary expectations ?
I think with all my strengh and valuation I could bring for the company, I am hoping for the
Net salary at 15 milion dong per month.
"we have a range salary for fresher at 12mil"
I believe with all my differences from other fresh graduates, like I've graduated with one of
the highest grades in my graduation project, or all the strength that I have. I will gracefully
take part in the will to strengthen your company. I will definitely accpet the salary of 12 mil
but I hope you can reconsider after a 3 month trial period.
Situation question ?
1. What will you do if a deadline is coming and you have the “Art - Block” ?
For all designers, an art block is something that is unavoidable. Sometimes I get it too. My
solution is to drop the project above my head, go do something else like play games or play
sports. But if i’m under a very strict deadline, i’ll do all i can to have the work done.
The first solution would be asking for help. I dont mind asking for help at all. I often share my
ideas with my friends and give them advice. I believe they would do the same thing for me.
The second solution is I will have a word with my boss or my leader, to move the deadline
back so that I have some time to solve my problems.
QUESTION FOR THE INTERVIEWER:
- Beside design and English training, What opportunities are available for further training and
development?, for example: 3D training. Cause I ‘ve just started to learn 3D recently and I
found it very interesting.
- Can you tell me more about the department or team I would be working in ?
- Are there any sports clubs or sports activities in the company ? Cause I’m a big fan of
badminton and I’ve been playing it since I was a kid.
- How does the company evaluate an employee's capabilities ?
- What specific criteria are used to decide if an employee is a good fit for the position after
the probationary period ?
