Community Q&A: How to get a job in the design industry
In this community Q&A series I answer questions that come up in my Facebook group and outline my thoughts on what people are asking.
If you want to submit a question for me to answer for this series make sure to join the Facebook group and post your question!
The question I’m looking at in this post is all about how to get a job in the design industry. Here’s the question:
Here are some of my tips for your job search in the design industry:
Network: Reach out to professionals in the industry and attend events where you can meet new people. This is a great way to learn about potential job opportunities and make connections. Networking is also just a good life skill to improve at.
Go hunting for roles proactively: Don’t just apply for roles you see come up online or are publicly advertised, put some work into researching and seeking out the places you want to work at and be creative about how you approach them (sending cold emails won’t work). Here’s some ideas:
research the firms or businesses that interest you, and make a list of companies you would like to work for.
try to find the contact at each company who is responsible for hiring and reach out with a personal message. Explain why you're interested in working for the company and what value you can bring. If they are active on LinkedIn then message them there - this is often a less clogged place than an email inbox and you may get a better chance of a response.
don't just rely on sending cold emails (in fact don’t do that at all - I delete all of them). Be creative in your approach and think about other ways you can reach out and make an impression. For example, you could create a thoughtful and well designed resume or portfolio that stands out or offer to complete a small project for the company on a volunteer basis to show your skills and passion. I’ve got a few more ideas about this below.
Your portfolio: Create a strong online portfolio showcasing your design skills and any previous work. This will give potential employers an idea of your style and ability. You could do this in many ways including a more ‘traditional’ portfolio but also think about:
how you are showing up on social media and what you’re curating there
creating a personal brand website you can send them to
creating videos where you talk about yourself and your experience (and put these up on your personal brand website)
going beyond what other applicants will do - go the extra mile to stand out.
Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your skills and experience for each place you want to apply to. Don’t make it generic.
Creative approach: Instead of sending a cover letter think of more creative ways of reaching out to places you’re keen to work at. This will help you get noticed. Here’s some ideas for that:
Create a short (and personalised) video introducing yourself and explaining why you're interested in working for the company.
Use LinkedIn or Instagram to showcase your work and connect with people via DMs
Instead of a traditional cover letter, create a creative and visually appealing piece that showcases your design skills and demonstrates your passion for the industry.
Ask friends, family or colleagues for referrals to companies or individuals in the design industry. Personal referrals can often be more effective than cold emails or online applications.
If possible, schedule an in person meeting to introduce yourself and show your enthusiasm for the company and the industry.
Make sure your online presence is professional and showcases your skills and experience. This includes your portfolio, resume and social media profiles.
Be open to different roles: While you may have a specific role in mind, be open to different positions they may offer you. An assistant position may be a great starting point for you to gain experience and learn from others in the industry. If you do an amazing job at that role you’ll likely move up in the firm quite quickly.
Offer value: Show the value you can bring by sharing other skills you have - e.g. administrative, management, drawing and software skills.
Overall keep pushing and provide as much value as you can in the interactions you have with potential employers.
By being proactive and taking a creative approach you will increase your chances of standing out and making a positive impression on potential employers.
And get ready for plenty of nos - when you hear no, just move on to someone else and keep moving forward! Every no is your chance to gain more experience and iterate your process.
If you want to read the rest of the industry views then make sure to join my free community Facebook group where you can read the responses to this post and many more like it (plus ask your own questions as well).
What I've said in this post isn't directed at the person who wrote the post, it’s just a chance to write out my thoughts on the topic.
Thanks for reading and catch you in my next post :)
Clare x
Dr Clare Le Roy
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