Finding a Job That Fits: Tips For ID Seniors

By? Caterina Rizzoni, IDSA , Lead Industrial Designer?at?Kaleidoscope Innovation and Product Design?.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of finding a job in a market that’s increasingly uncertain? The process of landing your first job in #industrialdesign can be both stressful and confusing. We’ve been there too - and we want to share our tools for success with you, so you can find the right job to kickstart your #career in ID. In this article you’ll learn the skills and strategies needed to not only survive but thrive in the field of design. You’ll learn how to identify the right opportunities, #network effectively, and master the art of the informational interview. We’ll also guide you on the right timing and the steps you need to take to prepare for a successful career in industrial design. With the right knowledge, you’ll be more than ready to make a lasting impact in the design world!

Your First Design Job

The first few years of your career will be a period of learning and growth where you’ll be soaking in everything around you. Many companies will be able to teach you the fundamental skills you need to learn in the first few years… but a company that is a good fit will help you grow and flourish beyond the basics and lay important groundwork for your future career. But what makes a good first job, well, good? Ideally, your first role should challenge you and promote growth. One of the most important things your first job can do is provide you with a stepping stone into the industry - it doesn’t have to be a perfect fit, but getting your foot in the door is big in a niche field like ID. It’s also important to note that your first job shouldn’t break down your confidence, or throw you into the deep end without any support. You should have the opportunity to work with design #mentors and subject matter experts who will help you learn and grow your confidence and skills. No matter what kind of job you find, you’ll learn a lot more about what you value in your career after the first year.?

If you’re a #2023 grad, now is the perfect time to kick off your job search. Don’t wait until you actually graduate! By that point, many roles for new grads will already be filled. Finding your first job is a bit like tending a garden - you want to plant the seeds of potential opportunities well in advance, to give them time to grow and flourish. Like gardening, it’ll take a while for your connections to bear fruit in the form of interviews and job offers, so the sooner you start the better! #2024 grads take note - it’s never too early to start thinking about your career, and as long as you are transparent with potential employers, you can start pursuing opportunities as soon as you begin your senior year.?

Finding a Company That Fits?

The reality of the working world is that many ID positions are filled before they are ever posted publicly. This can make it extremely challenging to break into the industry. However, you can also use this to your advantage by networking and positioning yourself to be referred or recommended for jobs, and get into the #hiring pipeline even when it is not publicly visible. That’s why we recommend that you focus on finding a company that fits rather than searching for job openings. According to CNBC, 70% of jobs are never posted online; these are the opportunities you’re going to be aiming for. But because these roles aren’t posted, you have to do a little more digging to find these #invisible opportunities - and it starts with identifying the right company.

Not every company is suited to every designer - different studios can have totally different priorities, work cultures, and vibes. The best way to find the right fit is to start by exploring your purpose - what drives you? What do you want to learn and explore in your first job? Do you have a specific #passion or industry that you want to pursue? You want to use this information to help narrow the field. Start out by looking for companies that are places you would realistically want to work - geographically, financially, etc. This will save you time and stress later down the road. The key to this strategy is using a targeted approach; you don’t just want to find any job, you want to find the right job. By narrowing down your search significantly, you can give yourself more time and energy to focus on each opportunity, increasing your chances of successfully landing your first role.?

Where Do I Even Start?

Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive list of design companies (that we’re aware of, anyway!) We recommend beginning your search with Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) ’s Find a Firm tool - the Core77 job board is another great place to get a basic list of companies that are hiring industrial designers. Narrowing down your search geographically is probably the easiest way to begin, but you can also look for firms or companies that specialize in a particular industry (#consumer electronics, #softgoods, #designresearch, etc.) and begin compiling a list of potential employers. We recommend identifying at least 10 companies to start with (more is great too!) If you have a large number of potential employers, it’s a good idea to keep track of them in a spreadsheet so you can note your connections’ names, interview details, etc. as your #job search progresses.

Identifying the Right Opportunities

Now that you’ve got a list of companies that do the type of design work you’re interested in, how do you know if they really will be a good fit? We recommend using a few different strategies to figure out which companies match your passions. First, start by researching each company on your list. Investigate their #values, vision, and mission. Take the time to review the company’s website and read through the reviews on Glassdoor , as well as a thorough Google search. If they publish a blog, check it out. Do their values match yours? This will help you decide if the organization is right for you and if you can see yourself working there.

Online research can only get you so far - to really understand a company’s culture and values, you’ll need to do some #primary research. Use social media and networking to connect with people who are already employed in the company or industry. It's totally acceptable to reach out to designers on Instagram - just be respectful of their time and try to keep it concise. Ask them questions about the company and see if they have any advice or suggestions.

Finally, make sure to take the time to reflect on your experiences and skills. Incorporate what you learn into your job search efforts. Did you identify new areas of interest for your career? Did you discover new values that you’d like to see a company manifest? If so, note these down, and use them to guide your search. By being intentional with your job search, you will be able to spend your time more effectively and find the right opportunity to #kickstart your career.

Mastering Informational Interviews

One of the single most powerful tools you can use to network effectively is the #informational interview. As a student, you have a unique advantage - most design professionals are invested in the future of the industry, and are more than happy to connect with an ambitious young designer to share their wisdom. This is your chance to get your foot in the door, build name recognition within the organization, and learn more about the company to better tailor your #job application.?

Start by politely reaching out to professionals who work at your top companies via email or LinkedIn . Ask them if they could spare the time for a brief (no more than 30 minute) informational interview. Make sure to come prepared with plenty of questions and information that you identified by researching the company and its #culture beforehand. You should ask about the values you identified earlier, as well as inquiring into their day-to-day experience in the job, what the company culture is like, and what they like best about the organization. Maintain a professional attitude, listen and take notes - it’s important to remember that your goal is genuinely to learn more about the company. Though it might be tempting to try to turn your informational interview into a job interview, it can do more harm than good. Remember, you’re planting the seeds of future opportunities here.?

Finally, thank them for their time and follow up with a thank you email. This is the perfect time to let them know you’d love to hear about any opportunities at their company in the future. Don’t push, but make sure they know you’re interested! Now it’s time to let your #professionalism and friendliness speak for itself. If you made a positive impression, they’ll remember your name and might even refer you for a position in the future. #Referrals can be powerful - according to the job-seeking platform Zippia , employee referrals make up 30-50% of all hires. Referred employees also rate higher satisfaction levels, and are more likely to be employed after 4 years than employees who were hired through a job board. This is the end goal of your informational interview: to gain an ally and an advocate who will keep you in mind for #future hiring opportunities.

The World Is Your Oyster

The process of building a successful career in industrial design may seem intimidating and overwhelming, but with the right knowledge and strategies, you can succeed in finding your first job after graduation. By focusing on identifying the right companies based on your values and mastering the art of the informational interview, you can turn your connections into #career opportunities. By being proactive, planning ahead and taking the right steps at the right time, you’ll set yourself up for a successful career in industrial design. You’ve got everything you need to begin cultivating the opportunities that will lead to interviews and #job offers - but we know there’s still a lot to cover! Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll cover tips and tricks for turning your connections into job interviews, preparing your #portfolio, acing the interview, and nailing your negotiation.