Is it possible to land a job when you have no previous qualifications?
III
Replies13
- Hello Stefan,You've had some great answers below but just wanted to put my thoughts into the mix.We used to live in a world where the only way you could get into an interview was to have a qualification. People are looking more and more for people that are a good fit for the company, culture and work. Yes qualifications can be a plus but when hiring, I would always look at the actual person and their work. Regardless of wether someone has A* or no qualification at all, these do not reflect everything about the person and can sometimes reflect opportunities that some may have had that others don't get rather than wether they are the right person for the job.The main thing people want to see is your work, wether that was made on a Mac, PC, paper napkin or the side of the build-board, the medium is not important or how it was made. The important thing is the work and the person. People want to give others their break or ‘in’ to an industry. I know I was looking for this a while back to try and get into the game industry. It took a while as unfortunately, some hold the view if you don’t have experience, you can’t do the job. But that is slowly changing, and eventually was given a great opportunity to show what I could do. I hope this helps, but never measure yourself by qualifications or what school you went too. These are tools to help us find our passion / special skills and what we want to do, not defining features of the people we are and can become.
- Maybe.I remember Richard Branson saying he would say he could do something even if he couldn't and then research the topic like mad to learn and understand the job, the role or the process.
- Totally possible!Your portfolio is what will get you through the door to interview and if your work is a fit for the studio/agency then personality fit (within the team) will land you the job .Whilst I do think a good design education is invaluable I don’t believe its the only way to land a job, it’s always a delight to find talented folks that have made their own path to.So my advice... keep building that portfolio and respond to a mixture of real briefs alongside the challenges you are setting yourself.You could easily borrow briefs from student design awards and do them just for the design challenge:https://www.dandad.org/en/d-ad-new-blood-awards/https://www.thersa.org/action-and-research/rsa-projects/design/student-design-awards/design-briefshttps://www.istd.org.uk/education/2020-student-briefsDefinitely also check out D&AD shifthttps://www.dandad.org/en/d-ad-future-creatives-shift-london-new-blood-advice/
- Depends on the type of job you're looking for, but yes it is! If you need noone else to create work that will help you showcase that infact you can do the job, then invest your time in doing just that!Creative fields are great for this type of approach because you can mock-up and execute briefs to show potential employers your'e commited and know what it takes. For example, graphic design work, fashion editorials, branding decks, etc.Interning is a great way to get a foot in the door as well, but keep in mind not all intern opportunities are created equal. Instead of going for a top intern position at a major company, may look at smaller ones / start-up's, etc. You'll have a better chance of being really hands on, and not just making copies.Hope that helps offer a little bit of fresh insight, wishing you the best with your journey in 2020!
- You can always start with an internship to get your foot in the door. That way you can make the connections with the right people... and wouldn't matter so much if you didn't have any previous qualifications.
- I just published The life of a designer sucks https://link.medium.com/gYVHovQQC2 maybe this can help.
- Creative industries certainly. If you can demonstrate that you are committed to your subject and can produce high end examples of your work then be bold.
- Absolutely.And you know what, places that won't consider you without previous qualifications are probably not places you want to work anyway.You'll have to prove something though so write cover letters that prove your worth, and create some spec work that proves your skills.P.S. I failed my A Levels, didn't go to uni or ad school, and have no qualifications for my profession. But I worked hard to learn and prove that I could do what I wanted to do - you can do that too. Good luck!
- Hi Stefan,It is absoutely possible, the future of the workforce will be skills based - employers will be looking for a strong background of roles where you will have honed your skills - so experience is key. Of course, for some companies, it will be a hurdle, but the most forward thinking companies, will not be looking for for qualifications.If its any solace - I got an E in business studies A Levels and haven't done too badly!Attitude, determination, energy and skills - along with some strong reference will stand you in excellent stead.As a side note, think about your CV in a creative way, the traditional format lends itself to putting qualifications high up on the list - as a graphic designer could you create a 'new' style CV, showcasing your skills to your potentially employer at the same time?Wishing you all the luck,Holly
- It depends on the role and the industry, but preparation and hustle will get you further than you'd think.Not every role requires a degree these days. Startups in particular are mostly looking for switched on people with lots of energy and passion to get shit done and learn along the way.Good luck! :)
- I believe you can, BUT, you must show that you have applied yourself to.IF there is a position you would like to apply for but do not have the qualifications,Take time to research and understand the tasks entailed with that job role.Maybe gain work experience and find an internship so that you can apply your secondary research about the position, and gain a a practical insisght to the position and what it entails.You may then identify gaps in the position that you can make more efficent, more practical or just a new method to enahnce the practice of the position.Then you can begin to apply yourself in a sense, what can you bring to the table for that company in that position.So you may demonstrat your understanding of the position, then back it up with your work experience, then propose what you can bring to the table, if you have a plan or an idea to make things better, any employer would be interested and keen.If you get it right, but bare in mind some positions you need the qualification and an institution background to cerfity you have been educated by an official institution recognised in that business or industry e.g. Doctors and Nurses.
- Everyone's looking for different things when looking at CVs/portfolios. Academic qualifications are always good, because it shows you've applied yourself. But I also want to see someone who shows a genuine interest in [insert field], who asks questions and wants to learn, and who doesn't wait to be told what to do or what to study, but just goes out and starts learning it on their own because they're motivated and interested in the subject.
- I know of people that have done this for sure. There are so many YouTube tutorials these days that you could easily create a stand out body of work if you work at it. Your portfolio can often land you a job over degrees, if it is up to a high standard. It obviously helps you stand out CV-wise if you have a degree, but with something such as graphic design, many people are self taught. I studied BA Hons Illustration, and in all honesty, very little of what I learnt 'officially' has helped me in every day life. I had to teach myself in my spare time.
You must sign up or log in before you
add a comment.