Hi Archit. Could you provide some insight into your applications at Nokia? What helped, what didn't, etc.

Hi Ivan,
When I applied at Nokia, a few things really worked in my favor:

• Tailoring my CV and portfolio: I made sure my design portfolio highlighted projects aligned with Nokia’s brand identity — clarity, functionality, and strong corporate branding. That helped me stand out.
  
• Leveraging referrals / networking: Talking to people inside Nokia gave me a clearer picture of the culture and how teams work, which I could reflect in my application and interviews.
  
• Clear link to the role: I emphasized not just design skills, but also how I could adapt to constant organizational changes and new structures, since that’s very real in large companies like Nokia.
  

What didn’t help initially:

• Generic applications: Early on, I applied without tailoring much. Those rarely moved forward. Nokia values alignment with their brand guidelines and innovation-driven culture, so a generic “one-size-fits-all” approach didn’t click.
  
• Overloading my portfolio: At first, I shared too many projects. Later I learned it’s better to showcase fewer, but more relevant, case studies with depth.
  

Biggest lesson: Nokia looks for adaptability. Because teams and structures keep evolving, showing that I can guide others through brand alignment and still be flexible was key.

Hope this works!

Regards

Archit.