Tips for New Grads
Graduation season is upon us and can stir up some fear in some of the best students. We as a studio encourage mentorship and growth. Getting your first design job can be daunting after graduation. Here are 5 tips to kickstart your career after graduation:
Be patient.
Sometimes it can take up to a year or more and that’s ok. We’ve all been there. The wait might feel endless and you might feel like giving up, but you never know when you’ll finally land the right job, and that right job will help you grow as a designer and open up new doors for you. What can you do while you wait? Work on passion projects. Creative Directors and managers always want to see work outside of school projects!
Keep an open mind.
Be open to new and different opportunities. After graduation, it’s easy to get tunnel vision in the hopes you’ll land that perfect dream job. Most designers and creative directors have all started somewhere that wasn’t their ideal industry or position. But you can gain momentum without knowing if you keep searching and pushing yourself. Sometimes it can change the trajectory of your career path. Sometimes a small contract job might turn into something long-term. Maybe you go for a portfolio review with a seasoned designer and they know about another job that you’d be perfect for. Be open-minded and you never know how your career will pivot.
Build relationships and ask for feedback!
In our industry it is so important to have your “people” - build connections with like-minded designers who understand the industry. Go to that networking event you’re too shy to attend, or that workshop hosted by your local design or advertising community. Even if you aren’t an extrovert, it helps to be a familiar face when trying to land that first job. Connect with other more seasoned designers to have them review your portfolio. They might have feedback that you’ve never thought of. Taking small steps to push yourself out of your comfort zone can lead to big changes for your future.
Keep it simple.
When you’re applying for a new job, it’s important to keep your portfolio clear and simple. Your portfolio should have some of your best work; we advise that you stick to 6-9 different projects that showcase your range of skills. When you’re putting together your portfolio, consider the type of design work you want and the job you’re applying for. Understand what skills make you unique as a designer. As an employer, we want to know that your work fits within the goals of the studio or agency and is right for the position. For example, if you’re applying to work as a graphic designer at a branding agency, you wouldn’t have your photography work from school take up half of your portfolio.
Going back to simplicity, forget about the glitz, glam, and party tricks; you don’t need the fanciest animated website or expensive portfolio book. What we want to see is your work so make that the focal point!
Experience first, freelance second.
Does your dream job entail starting your own business and going out on your own? Every designer is entitled to this opportunity. The idea of calling the shots and having flexibility is an ideal situation for almost anyone. But before taking the big leap, make sure you have enough work experience under your belt. Work for a couple of companies, agencies, or design studios to really have a good understanding of the industry. There is so much that goes into running a business that it’s important to focus on your growth as a designer first rather than worrying about your own project management and administrative work. Your first couple of jobs will be the biggest learning curve and have the biggest impact on your skillset as a designer. Having a good mentor at your first job will also help carry you throughout your career. If you keep a good relationship with your past managers or creative directors, it may open up opportunities that may have been out of reach when you first graduated.
Our studio prides itself on hiring new grads and offering mentorship at the start of their careers.
We’ve seen hundreds of portfolios and have had the opportunity to mentor a few designers along the way. As much as we care about the growth of our studio, we also care about the growth of our designers as well. We hope these tips can offer guidance to any new grads or junior designers in our community.
If you are a seasoned designer reading this, comment below on some tips you wish you had when you first stepped into the workforce.
If you’re a recent grad, comment or email us at hello@liannecharlene.com your questions about entering the industry as a new designer! We’d be happy to connect and provide guidance.
- The LCC Team