Wondered what you got yourself into with your new job or internship? Frustrated that you're not getting to be creative? Relating a little too much to The Devil Wears Prada? No job, especially an entry-level one, is ever ideal, but that's no excuse not to get something out of the predicament you find yourself in. Learn how to put a little "spin" on your situation, soaking up as many helpful skills and as much career-boosting experience as possible.

Those of you who participated in Rhodec ASID Student Chapter’s Global Online Symposium during World Days of Design on April 27 & 28, 2007, might be familiar with this topic. We led the class: “Is This Really What I Signed On For? How To Learn As Much As You Can From A Less Than Desirable Job or Internship.”

It doesn’t really matter where you are in your design evolution, and what kind of experience – if any – that you’ve yet had, either with a mentor, an internship, or a full-blown entry-level job in the industry. All of the points that we make will be relatable to your situation in some fashion. And because this topic doesn’t apply only to those in the design world, we’ll be drawing upon some examples and advice from other industries, as well.

This article’s themes:

• Micro-Management
• Earning Respect


Someone To Watch Over Me

One type I frequently hear from new graduates in their first jobs is that they hate being micro-managed because it makes them feel a) stupid, b) not trusted, and c) smothered. Well, here’s the deal. You have to face the facts:

1) There is so much that you don’t know that you don’t even know that you don’t know it. :) So you need to take advantage of the situation and learn as much as you possibly can, no matter how bland it may seem.

2) Mistakes that you make – and you WILL make them – cost both the client and your employer money. You don’t have a financial stake in not making mistakes, unless you get fired for them of course!

I asked the extremely talented and accomplished interior designer Sharon Flatley, CKD, CBD, CMKBD, ASID, to comment on this topic. She owns Flatley & Associates, an award-winning firm that specializes in kitchen and bath design. Here’s what she had to say on the subject…


“When I first started in design, I apprenticed with a man for three years. During those first 2 years I accompanied him to every job site and was not allowed to say anything to the client. I was extremely frustrated at not being allowed to participate in any discussion. During those times, he would have me measure the space including all windows, doors, casing, width of casing, distance from the bottom of the window to the top of the casing etc.

“When we would get in the car, he would go over the measurements to make sure that I had not forgotten anything. If there was a dimension lacking or something that he perceived to be in error, back in I would go and re-measure everything while he stood by chatting with the client. He required that I memorize fraction conversions and would quiz me on a daily basis. It reminded me of my grade school days and I was humiliated when I could not remember the decimal equivalent for 5/32 of an inch.

“We would return to the office after our trip to the client’s home and I would begin to put together the floor plans and work on details for the project. He would change or re-arrange as he saw fit and would then present the design to the client, never ONCE mentioning my input or acknowledging my creativity! Many, many times I fantasized about killing him or just quitting.

“I don’t know why I stuck it out. By the beginning of the third year, he allowed me to accompany him to jobsites and actually begin to have conversations with the client! Soon after, I was allowed to go unaccompanied to new client’s homes and actually work on my own. He would still critique my designs, but in large part allowed me to present my design to the client.

“What I now realize is that he was the best teacher that I ever had. He taught me more than I ever learned in school. I know the importance of attention to detail. I know that to measure twice and be certain is invaluable. Do not allow anything to go unnoticed and even if you think you don’t need a measurement, get it anyhow just in case.

“I learned patience. He was my mentor, advisor, teacher, and – later - became one of my best friends. I owe him so much and can never give him enough praise. I may occasionally forget a decimal equivalent of a fraction, but I do know most of them still, and I use them every day in my job! The moral of this story: sometimes we are learning more than we could ever imagine even if it seems like we are just putting in time.”


“I Can’t Get No Respect!”

Much like Rodney Dangerfield, many newbies complain that they don’t get the respect they deserve on their jobs. Well, that may be true, but here’s a little secret: When you walk through the door of your new job, you aren’t automatically going to be prized. You are going to have to work hard to earn admiration. Interior designer Sonya Odell, ASID, AAHID, who specialized in healthcare for a long time but now works more on corporate projects for Leo A. Daly, shared the following:


“In my first job with an A&E [architectural and engineering] firm, I would never leave at night until I walked around to see who was working in the architecture studio (there were only two interior designers in the entire firm) without asking if I could help them with anything. I was not an architect, and they let me know it. I finally asked when a team was desperate and needed any help, even from a designer. I drew doorframes and window details from their sketches, and completed any work that they would let me do.

“I started to being asked to participate on the team any time there was a time crunch and help was needed. I got to go to the job sites to measure because they had trust in my abilities just from my simply helping someone in a time bind. Soon, I went alone to measure and check plans or existing conditions. It was ‘dirty work’ to the team, but it was fantastic for me to take on that great responsibility to represent my firm. Plus, I’d learn as much about the space as possible – take photos, measurements, note any conditions. Good opportunity to get out of the office!

“My advice: Learn everything, not just related to YOUR job, but how to help out anywhere. For example, ask the business development group to help copy, bind, sort, find data, etc. Learn to be helpful or better known as ‘well rounded’ because it will move your name higher up on the list when the firm has to let the less experienced designers go.

“Look at the level of quality of anyone you are working with and match it. People don't let you do jobs until they are certain you will do it to the level of quality they expect and would not embarrass them. Marketing departments are always behind with last minute details, so help them and you will be noticed.

“Just take initiative to ask, many times to all of the persons above you. You may get told no, but – you can handle it – ask again. Soon they will know that you are serious. Do your very best and ask if you are doing what they expect before you get too far into the project. It helps the person feel comfortable, and you get to confirm you understand what is being asked. If the person knows you have high standards and want to do a good job, you will get more opportunities.”


More To Come

For more sage advice on soaking up knowledge while keeping your sanity, tune in next month when our themes will be Mean Bosses and Office Drama. In the meantime, hang in there!