Say yes to everything, and no to everything else.

Hey, I’m Rhi, a junior designer at Cygnus and I’ll try and keep the introduction short because I have a habit of rambling - and that’s really all you need to know about me. To give this blog some much needed context, this is a series for juniors, by a junior.?

Since graduating, I think it’s fair to say that I’ve been around the block when it comes to agencies, job offers, negotiating and all the stuff that seems to be under lock and key by the gatekeepers of the design world. Well, here I am. The blabbermouth that’s going to (hopefully) give someone a little bit of hope, insight or just the classic eye roll.

So, picture this. You’re bright eyed and bushy tailed, straight out of uni with all the hope in the world that this is the start of the rest of your life. Sound familiar? No? Ok, how about, you’re knackered from 3 years of uni course work, exams and deadlines. You’re terrified by the thought of not seeing your mates 5 days a week EVER AGAIN. You know, gone are the days of stressing out tutors, laughing too loudly in lectures and hearing the oh so familiar symphony “did you do the essay that’s due tomorrow?” - Yeah, I think I’m somewhere along the right lines.

It’s rough. The imposter syndrome is already setting in and you haven’t even got a job. Well, my first bit of advice is stop, take a damn minute to breathe. You’ve barely handed in your FMP by the skin of your teeth and you’re here thinking, shit, Amy already has an internship lined up, I need a proper career job, like yesterday. Let me tell you now, enjoy it. Bask in it. The time between you finishing uni and starting your career is sacred and you’ll never get time like that again. I was Amy. I had an internship lined up 2 weeks after handing in my FMP and by the end of it, knackered didn’t even cover it.

Four paragraphs in, we finally get to what I wanted to speak about that inspired this whole series in the first place.?

I had finished my internship. Excited and nervous to walk into my review with the director, I had everything crossed for a job offer. Low and behold, even with a shining review, a job was not offered. But it doesn’t end there, this isn’t about dealing with that type of rejection. Three days later I received a call, it went something along the lines of “Hey Rhi, I’ve been thinking, and I’d really like to offer you a job.” Internally screaming, I proceeded to ask about the job description and salary. The number I was given made my face drop. Thoughts immediately started running through my mind, “Is that really all I’m worth?” “How am I supposed to move out and get some independence on that salary??” “I know It’s a junior role but come on???” So with all this racing through my mind, I asked “When do I need to give you an answer by?” They told me I had till the end of the day. It was 4:30pm. Seemingly shocked that I didn’t reach through the phone and shake their hand there and then the call ended.

In this moment what do you do? Laugh? Cry? Take a nervous wee? No, obviously I jumped straight on the group chat and relayed everything. (I can’t tell you if that’s good advice, but?with an hour to make a decision, that’s what I did.) After having my friends confirm what I already knew, I called the director back.

“Hey, so I really appreciate you reaching out to me and giving me this job offer, but I was just wondering if there was any room to negotiate the salary?” Now. You might be thinking, “Are you mad? An intern asking that? I would have bitten their arm off for a foot on the career ladder.” But hear me out. The very masculine work environment and salary aside, I knew that for any junior, a year's experience was the golden ticket to enter almost any design career. Still, I asked myself, “In a year's time, will my portfolio look the way I want it to if I accept this job.” No? Well then, that was my answer.

Stunned, the director replied “Are you sure?” “Yes, but thank you for the opportunity.” You’ll love this next bit. “But you’re living at home right now, you don’t need to be on a higher salary.” “I think you’re making a huge mistake.” Cue eye roll.?

Obviously I didn’t take the job. So there I was. An exhausted ex-intern, 5 months out of uni, and no job, sprinkled with a director's unsolicited financial advice. But I had never felt better. This story isn’t here to scare any fresh uni grads, interns or juniors. This is here to empower you. Here I am years later, still reaping the benefits of saying no.

So for this post, the last of my first bit of advice is be ballsy and trust your gut. Put yourself out there, but know when you’re destined for more. Take time to rest, knowing that an opportunity that is meant for you, won’t pass you by. Then, when you’re ready, hit the ground running and show them what you’re made of.