The long, languid summer is over, and it’s the beginning of a spanking-new school year. All you are thinking about right now is getting on the good side of your most dreaded professor and making it through midterms without suffering an emotional meltdown. (Oh, and maybe figuring out how to get your annoying roommate to stop eating your food out of the fridge without resorting to extreme defensive measures like installing a padlock, surveillance cam, and Indiana Jones-inspired tripwire.) So why think about interviewing now” You’ve got months before you’ll be forced to worry about an internship or a design job, right” Ummm… yes and no. All those frenzied late nights in the studio will blur together into one sleep-deprived psychedelic dream, and graduation will be here faster than you can say, “How am I going to pay off my student loans”” Plus, taking a little time out now to evaluate your future job search will likely influence your approach to and execution of this term’s projects. If nothing else, a little mental preparation will put you way ahead of your less organized classmates.
Reality Check
Fair warning: With all the pomp and circumstance of graduation comes an equal amount of fear and anxiety. After a new graduate’s initial high of “I’m free! I’m free!” comes the crash back down to terra firma and the unsettling realization: “Uh, oh — I’ve got to find a job.”
Business majors don’t realize how easy they have it. A resume, some basic computer skills, a general understanding of accounting, and an 8-1/2 x 11 inch leather notebook, and they’re ready for their first interview. For interior design students, though, the expectation is higher and the load heavier… literally. Some portfolio cases are cumbersome enough to demand an immediate visit to the chiropractor. Figuratively speaking, however, there is definitely a weighty burden on creative types when interviewing.
So what’s a job seeker to do” The majority of design schools out there are offering — at the very least — some sort of Portfolios, Presentations & Interviewing 101. But you are hungry for real world knowledge that will give you increased confidence, not to mention an edge. You crave the specifics of what designers are looking for in new hires so that you will land that first job with minimal anxiety.
Equally concerned, of course, are the designers doing the interviewing. For the sake of maximum efficiency, increased profitability, and sustained sanity, they are just as eager to find the right fit. So what’s an employer to do”
One clear answer: Everyone — students and industry members alike — should pay attention to the results of a survey the American Society of Interior Designers [ASID] Student Advisory Council sponsored this past spring. They joined forces with the Center for Career Services at Syracuse University to interview designers, the goal being to collect information on industry hiring preferences. The results will appear soon in ASID NewsFlash, a national online newsletter, as well as ACCESS, the ASID student newsletter.
The idea is brilliant, and the survey thorough. With a combination of multiple-option questions, ranking systems, and open-ended questions, the survey asked for interviewers’ preferences on the following issues that arise during interviews for design-related positions:
Portfolios:
- Physical size / style of presentation.
- Amount of work required.
- Original project work versus reproductions.
Projects:
- Range and breadth.
- Technical skills.
- Space planning abilities.
Technology:
- Range of skills.
- Software proficiency.
- Minimum requirements.
Resume:
- Graphic presentation / style.
- Internships / other work experience.
- Range of skills.
Interviewing:
- Top interview questions.
- Interviewee’s knowledge of firm.
- Importance of persona / personal traits.
General:
- Presentation of materials.
- Communication methods (phone, mail, email) / types of media.
- Advice to interviewees.
The results of this vital survey will be fascinating because they reflect the current state of the design industry workplace and culture. More importantly, however, the finds will have an influence in shaping national curricula and will act as a more definitive guideline for students, fostering a smoother, more effective, and more satisfying interview process for both employer and potential employee.
While anxiously awaiting the results of the survey, let’s address some basic — yet no less crucial — issues that employers take into consideration when looking to hire fresh new talent. Interestingly enough, a bit of a disconnect seems to exist between what students think employers are looking for and what employers actually expect from new graduates (or even interns, for that matter).
Common worries students have when interviewing are a perceived lack of:
- Relevant projects.
- Advanced computer skills.
- Internship experience.
- Client communication and presentation skills.
- Detailed understanding of how the industry works.
Students, here’s why you shouldn’t let these issues give you prematurely gray hair (there’s plenty of time of that later):
Lack Of Relevant Projects
So you are interviewing for a position in Healthcare design and your best projects happen to be Residential. Or you set up an appointment with a firm that specializes in Hospitality and your course work leaned toward Corporate. It’s common, and it’s OK. Interviewers know that not every program can facilitate every single field of design, and they also understand that you might not have hit your stride until your senior year. The keys to an effective portfolio are (1) demonstration of the process (i.e., how you arrived at a solution); (2) overall quality and presentation of your chosen work; (3) confidence in what you are presenting; and (4) the ability to justify what you did and how you can improve. Concentrate on what you do have instead of what you don’t have.
Lack Of Advanced Computer Skills
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Most design schools require much more advanced computer skills than most designers currently use. Unless you have your sights set on one of the huge national or international firms who tend to have specialized computer and graphic techs anyway, the fact that your proficiency in AccuRender and InDesign surpassed that of your classmates may be lost on your interviewer. But don’t be mistaken — your aptitude for complicated software will be quite impressive, just as possessing the ability to speak another language is impressive. Simply realize that just because you can parlez français (or DreamWeaver), does not mean that you will be expected or asked to do so. What will be lauded, however, is your capacity to tackle new challenges.
Lack Of Internship Experience
Sure, it’s great to have a design-related internship, and you should definitely seek one out if at all possible, but almost any type of employment will show a potential employer that you are serious, capable, and professional. Whether feeding caffeine addictions at the corner Starbucks, corralling rowdy toddlers at the neighborhood daycare, or satisfying a diner’s sugar fix at the local drive-in, the existence of a past job establishes a desire to take on responsibility and the ability to handle it.
Lack Of Client Communication And Presentation Skills
Here’s another secret. Unless you possess speaking talents in the echelon of Oprah Winfrey, the chances are a bit low that a new graduate has had heavy contact with existing clients or presented projects to potential ones. Some people are natural speakers, but most are not. As we age, our base of knowledge grows, which then leads to increased confidence and poise. With this maturity, however, does not always come a faculty for expert repartee. We all have our talents, and yours may not ever be in tune with creating client harmony. Don’t sweat this shortcoming — though absolutely plan to work on it if your goal is to be front and center.
Lack Of Detailed Understanding Of How The Industry Works
Of course you don’t know how the industry works — you are a student. Mastering (or merely grasping) the intricate politics of a large development project, the delicate dance between eccentric client and frustrated designer, or the occasional gray area associated with awarding a bid is not expected to be in your realm of expertise upon graduation. Knowing who does what, whom not to trust, and to whom to run are skills acquired over time, so unclench your jaw and relax a little.
Get Back To The Basics
Yes, a silver tongue, the talent to sketch upside down and the techno-savvy to network computers on a LAN are all fantastic skills and will undeniably set you apart, but you might be surprised what interviewers honestly hold in high regard for a new employee. It’s really back to the basics . . .
Awareness
Be aware of how your behavior affects those around you, especially when it comes to time. According to Tom Schwenk of Jordan Thomas & Associates, the number of interviewees who arrive late or completely blow off an interview is alarmingly high, so showing up is practically half the battle. Promptness exhibits respect for others’ time, as well as an ability to follow through, which will translate into the power to meet crucial deadlines. To summarize, don’t be a flake.
Responsibility
If an employer is generous enough to give you responsibility, then they want to be assured that you will assume it and relish it. When you accept their mission, they also want to have the confidence that you will not only ask for help when you need it, but will also admit to a mistake. The fastest way to cultivate disappointment and get kicked to the curb is to point fingers, blatantly lie, and run in the other direction. Be the first to own up to the situation and attempt to provide a solution, and you will earn the respect of those around you.
Motivation
No one wants to be forced to babysit an employee, no matter if they are new to the job or have earned the proverbial gold watch. A willingness to learn — even from those younger or seemingly less experienced — is an attractive trait in any relationship: employee / employer, friend / friend, husband / wife, etc. Admitting ignorance, adapting to change, accepting new challenges, and moving beyond your comfort zone without being paralyzed with fear or being bitter with resentment will move your career — and life — much faster than anything with wheels.
Professionalism
It’s time to grow up, though that does not mean becoming bland and lifeless. Being professional doesn’t have anything to do with maturity, but it does have everything to do with understanding situational appropriateness, whether related to appearance or demeanor. Different office cultures certainly have varied levels of acceptable behavior and dress, and a clever interviewee will seek out that information and act accordingly; however, a volatile temper, petty jealousy, expansive mood swings, and demeaning verbal attacks are universally unacceptable, so, if you have any of that kind of baggage, be sure to leave it at the door.
Compatibility
Whether in a studio of five or a firm of 500, successful working relationships are the backbone of a strong company. Compatibility with other employees impacts quality of life, employee turnover, and, ultimately, productivity and achievement. Pretending to be someone you are not — or something, in the case of a firm — during the interview process will only lead to mutual dissatisfaction, inefficiency, resentment, and unhappiness, and no one wants to expend that kind of extra energy. Better to be smart and save it up for something fun, don’t you think”
Aim For Mutual Satisfaction
As ASID’s survey participation request so aptly pointed out, “Sometimes, very talented students fail to obtain positions because they do not know how to present their skills effectively.” Interviewees want the right job, and employers want the right employee, so the more mutual the understanding of expectations, the more benefit to all parties. Good luck, and happy interviewing!
Note: A version of this article first appeared in the June 2005 issue of Joan Gaulden’s designeresources.com newsletter and will appear in part in the Fall 2005 issue of the ASID student newsletter, ACCESS.
