Any advice on how to get your first internship or job?
I have recently graduated from NUA with a degree in Design for Publishing and I have been emailing companies and applying for different internships, jobs or any opportunity since late May and it feels like I am getting nothing back. I know it is meant to be tricky, but it feels like I am getting nowhere with the way I am at the moment so I am seeking any sort of advice or feedback.
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- Don’t feel to hard on yourself. Suggest scoping portfolio bar and level of what a internship looks like and Junior etc. This will give you a perspective what level your portfolio should be.Other factors what is your tone of voice in terms speaking and contextually when reaching out, i.e. do you come across ethically matched to the places your applying for.Are you contacting direct taking time to construct emails personally to people rather than jobs(at)example(dot)com where your email could be lost or ended up in the spam folder.Don’t aim high or in the same place everyone dreams to work, aim for smaller places like working in-house or charities orgs.It can be like a multiple-choice getting chose when applying for jobs like "Eenie, meenie, miney, moe" out goes you.
- @Sarah Boris Hi SarahThank you for your reply. I'll definitely take your advice on board and start seeing if there is anything I can change in my portfolio by showing others and tailoring it to each company more. I'll also have a listen to the podcast episode, looks great!
- @ɐɹoᗡ ɐuu∀ ˥ Hi Anna,Thank you so much for your reply. I agree with the timings of my emailing, although I am still trying so, like you said, hopefully August and September will be better. Also, love the work on your website!
- @Alan Whitlock Hi AlanThank you so much for your reply and the luck! This is some great advice and I will defiantly take it on board. You're right - I do need to hold back on asking for an internship/ job straight away and show more interest and appreciation for their work first, it'll be great to build some relationships within the design community.
- @Scott Morrison Hi ScottThanks so much for your reply! This sounds like a great plan that I will take on board. Great to hear it has worked for 3 of your workers.
- @Scott Morrison snap great minds think alike!
- Hello Emily, I must admit that your current approach may not yield the best results, as many others might be using similar strategies. Allow me to offer some advice on how to approach this situation:Firstly, consider where you would truly love to work if given the opportunity. Once you have identified the ideal workplace, conduct thorough research about the company, especially focusing on the creative department. Find out who heads the department and get to know the various individuals working there and their respective roles. If possible, gather their names and connect with them on professional platforms like LinkedIn.Taking a proactive stance, try to establish direct contact with these individuals through email or other available means. However, when reaching out, refrain from asking directly for a job or internship. Instead, express your genuine admiration for their work and politely inquire if they would be open to having a casual conversation. During this chat, you can seek their valuable advice and insights.This approach aims to build meaningful relationships and connections within the industry, showcasing your passion and enthusiasm for their work. By demonstrating sincere interest and seeking guidance, you may naturally create opportunities for yourself, including potential job offers or internships.I hope you find this advice helpful, and I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of your dream career!
- Hi EmilyChoose a company you absolutely admire and want to work for.Find a challenge or opportunity you think they’re not delivering on.Find a way to create some immediate and impactful value with your solution.Go and present it face to face or find an innovative way to demonstrate it.Then, make yourself invaluable.I’ve had 3 people do that for me when I was a CMO and they’ve forged great careers from constantly seeking out and creating value.Stay Boom!S
- Hi Emily,First thing is timing - late may is not a great time to start looking. January - February and August - September is the time when you should start to look for any kind of employement.Secondly, I personally got my first internship by cold mailing to a company that I been applying before. First time they said I almost made it and second time when I cold mailed guess what I got an internship within a week.Generally you need to find the right match to your style and you have to be an attitude that makes you to stand out, on the good way.Hope it helps!
- Hello Emily, if you're not hearing back perhaps show your portfolio to people around you to get feedback. I found in the past that if we don't hear back at all, it might be time to review our portfolio. It's not necessarily about changing your work, but about presenting it differently. In the meantime try to make connections in parallel to looking for a position. Go and visit people if you can. One final tip is to maybe expand your field of applications. I found that tailoring an application to a specific place I wanted to work in really worked. It definitely takes a bit of time and craft but it's worth it. Here is the link to the podcast in which I mention how it worked out for me. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/my-life-in-design-podcast/id1618059450?i=1000617930997 I hope this helps but feel free to message if you have any questions
- Hi Emily,I’m Jamil from The Dots! Here are my top tips to help you find work:1. Follow your favourite companies so you’re the first to know when they post jobs and call-outs:https://the-dots.com/follow-pages2. Build your network by connecting with people you already know, and people you want to know! (fun fact: 50-80% of jobs are filled through networking):https://the-dots.com/account/connectionsOh, and your newsfeed is the place to discover all the best opportunities to network, find work and more:https://the-dots.com/feedI hope that helps!Jamil
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