10 Tips on landing you an ID jobI think this is a big issue for many the graduating
designers. So I have compiled 10 Tips,
of things they don’t really tell you.
This is based from my personal experience and from other design
professionals that I have spoken to.
1. The 10% Reality
I think this is the biggest tip I can give and something nobody
likes to talk about. Only about 10% of
any graduating ID cohort will find a job right out of school as industrial
designers. Yes that is the hard
reality. Many fresh grads need to come
to terms with this, and move on. How to
move on, we’ll see below.
Many ID grads become just as successful but in other design
or non-design related professions. I
have ID friends who become owners of their own Interior Design or 3D CAD
businesses, or even internet marketing managers. I have also a friend who is a successful
writer and drama/play critic. As you can
see, you still can be successful in what ever you do. Take heed an ID degree arms you with problem
solving analytical skills vital in any organization.
For the record, I was not one of this 10%. I graduated just out of the top 10% of my
cohort.
2. Be true to
yourself and know what you want
This leads me to the next point. You now need to look deep inside and be true
to yourself and your dreams. Do you
really want to be a designer? If you
really want to be an designer, you will need to recognize the path will be long
and hard and will need to put in a lot of work to be one.
Determination, passion, persistence and drive to work hard are
the key, as the road will not be easy.
Notice I left out creativity and ability to design? Creativity is important, but the difference
between the great designers and the so-so designers is really the first few points.
I have seen many designers complain on how they cannot find
a job, but don’t do much to help themselves by improving their own skills and
work first.
3. Figure out your
strengths weakness
This is also a very important point, and ties back in to the
point above. You need to face the mirror
and tell yourself you suck in this X design skill or that ability….its humble
pie, and a good exercise.
Its funny, I have interviewed candidates who are totally
oblivious of their own ability! They go
on bragging about their work and how good it is when in reality they are no
where close. Perhaps its confidence and
bravado, but you need substance to back it up, and if you don’t have substance,
you are totally off track.
What a budding designer needs to do is literally sit down
and write out his strengths and weakness.
And you need to be totally honest and frank about it. You may also want to talk to people who know
you well, like your fellow design graduates or school lecturers. Also look at the portfolios at core77 or at IDAsia.org,
see how people react to good design work, and by noting the fine points, you
can learn to do good design work too!
The worst thing you can do is announce strengths you think
you have, but in reality are not your real strengths. This process is also important when you go
for an interview as you can tell your prospective employer what you can do
best.
The other reason for this listing exercise is to look at
your weakness and improve on it. Suck in sketching (as I was), go out to buy
sketching books and practice. Suck in
presentation and speaking skills, look for self-help books or attend
classes. During my time of unemployment
(6-8months) when I graduated, I was in book stores almost 3-4 times a week and
the rest of the time working on my portfolio, and improving my skills.
4. Portfolio
presentation and improvement
Ah, another of my favorite topic. I won’t touch so much on portfolio and resume
design and execution because there are lots of articles on this. But what I want to say about this is this
point. Nobody else can be as excited about your portfolio as you! Your portfolio is your crowning glory. You must be proud of it and thus only show
work you are proud to show. If you have
to apologize for a piece of work, take it out!
You will be surprised to hear that there are a lot of tired
designers droning on and on about their work with little enthusiasm, or
portfolios full of white fungus with bits falling out. If you don’t take time or effort to prepare
you work, how can an employer feel confident you will take the same effort for
their design work?
Another thing is always look to improve your portfolio at
least once a year. This way you take the
effort to collect the pictures and data required, and not have to panic if you
don’t have the images. Every 6 months
even, if you have the time. It’s a good
habit to have and ensures that you will be prepared when that juicy job
opportunity arises.
5. Cold calls and attend
as many interviews as possible and ask for feedback
Many great job opportunities are passed by word of mouth
only, especially in the creative field. So pluck up the courage and cold call
the design organizations directly. At
the very least, just ask to put your resume/portfolio on file so that when
something comes up they will call you.
If you are lucky, they may call you up for a chat, and you will have
your foot in the door! Also you could be
referred to other organizations that are looking. I have been asked for recommendations and
even have resume/portfolios passed to me from others. The trick is to get into the thick of things
by making your self know to the design community.
This leads me to the next thing about interviews. Attend as many interviews as you can manage
and don’t be afraid. Its nerve wracking
at first, but the idea is the more you attend the better you get at selling
yourself and answering questions. Soon
you will know of keywords employers like to hear and you can use this skill
over and over again in anything that you do.
Also interviews are a great place to get feedback from
professional designers. That’s the most
important thing a budding designer can get when he/she starts out. But you will need to ask. This is because most people will actually not
tell you. It’s also a nice way to end the
interview, as it shows your keenness to improve one self.
6. Network: Ask
bosses out for lunch, talk to people
This is kind of an extension of the last point, but it can
be a life of its own. If you seem to get
along with an interviewer, take that fellow out for lunch and have a chat. Outside of the job environment, you can get a
lot of soft information. For example
what is the design culture in that organization like or how is the design scene
like in that area/country etc.
Also attend talks and designer activities and talk to other
fellow designers whom already have a design job to get their opinion of things
as well as your work.
However you need to temper this a little, and don’t go
overboard. Otherwise people start to
think the only thing you do is network instead of do actual work!
7. Look for a mentor
I have been blessed with someone that really took the time
to look over my work and gave me fantastic feedback. I had met him when I interviewed with him for
a job at his organization. He has somehow
been quietly in the background all these
years giving me feedback on and off.
(Though we lost touch for about 3-4 years) Recently I hunted him down and now I talk to
him maybe once a year. Unknowingly he
actually was my unofficial mentor, and of everything I have done, I have learnt
the most from him with actually very little input from his side.
So I do encourage you to look for a mentor or someone that
will take the time to guide you. Don’t
ask anybody that comes along, make sure that person likes you and has your best
interests at heart.
The great thing is they can come from anywhere, just keep
your eyes open.
8. Do any job you can
find, but make sure it’s at least remotely ID related
That’s right people.
If you have to pick between doing freelance career to finding a job,
pick the job. This is because being in a
design job is not only about doing design.
Being on job you learn so much more things, like administrative matters,
dealing with colleagues and such.
However do ensure that it’s at least related in some way to
design. The product development process
is a very long one and an ID graduate can actually work in any place down and
up stream in the process.
I spent the first 3-4 years of my life doing all kinds of
things, and it has really given me a strong foundation in my career as a
designer. I was designing ethnic Asian
furniture, bending metal and acrylic for kiosks, sanding/painting rapid
prototype parts, and even project managing Tender projects.
Just make sure you communicate your work scope to each new
employer you interview with.
9. Freelance work and
going it on your own.
A lot of people go “well I can’t find a job so I’ll start my
own business”. Yes that’s a good plan to
have but it should be a medium term one.
Unlike the other design professions, industrial design is an extremely
complex and rigorous profession. Thus my
advice is spend a few years in the work force to learn the finer details and do
freelance work at night to build your portfolio.
On the side, to date I actually have not heard of any
successful designer or founders of design organizations that started straight
out of school. Most worked for a few
years before going out on their own.
Another thing about freelance work, is that most companies
do not like the fact you do freelance work,.
If you do any freelance work, make sure it’s not related to the work of the company you work for. For example if you are designing taps and
bathroom fittings, make sure you don’t do the same for someone else. Use freelance work instead as exposure to
other fields and to broaden your portfolio.
Also keep the work out of the office.
It is tempting to combine the two, but it’s a “firing” offense for most
companies.
Freelancing and sub-contracting work for companies you want
to work for is also another means of getting your foot in the door. But I do caution, if you are already employed
its considered as working for another company.
However if you are currently un-employed, as I was when I did this, it’s
a good opportunity for a prospective employer to see how you perform in a work
situation. I was actually offered a job after my freelance project!
10. Keep in touch
Last but not least, keep a black book of your contacts, and
keep in-touch with your prospective employers.
Design companies constantly get tons of resumes and people
looking for a job. You don’t want your
resume to be at the bottom of the pile, so by calling up once or twice a year,
you move to the top of the pile, and when a job arises, you could be the first
they think of, as its very likely are design organizations are often small and
flat in reporting structure. Plus any
company likes a potential enthusiastic employee. | 
