By Sarah Ritchi, courtesy of Design Assembly

By Sarah Ritchi, courtesy of Design Assembly

For many years I wallowed in despair at the number of design graduates regularly and mercilessly pumped out of respected tertiary institutes compared with the number of graduate positions available in our industry. It’s a well-known issue, and one I have – typically – attributed solely to the the tertiary world’s greed for money, success statistics and prestige. Though I still believe this to be (in part) valid, I now see there are deeper points to ponder in this complex situation.

A few years ago I taught graphic design at one of New Zealand’s most well-respected tertiary design colleges. My class size teetered at around 17 students from a wide spectrum of ages and cultures. All bar one of my students graduated. The requirements for graduating were to maintain class attendance above a certain percentage, and the completion of all assignments and exams. Note that I didn’t say they had to attain or maintain a high grade average throughout this time…did you notice that?…perhaps you should read this paragraph again. Even in this day and age I felt I was embroiled in political correctness gone slightly mad.

The sad reality was that a small number of my students – in my opinion – should not have received their qualification and should not have been let loose on an unsuspecting design industry. Of those who I felt deserved to receive their diploma, their skills on offer – and their subsequent employability – varied wildly.

My conclusion is that I am now somewhat at peace with the number of grads in the market for a job, as it is evident that only the bravest and most determined will survive (natural selection in action).

Can you see a gamut of design skills reflected – from the university classroom – in your own workplace? Look at the designers in your team (especially the junior ones). Some possess very good layout skills, or strong technical skills, or work well as Mac Ops – taking direction from others. Precious few are what I would specifically and intentionally term “designers”…with an ability to think and execute proficiently outside the creative box; or be able to design without relying on an Art Director to tell them what looks good.

Is there a supportive argument for embracing graduates with varying levels of technical and design skill? I think the answer is “yes”, however both parties need to know what they are getting into – both buyer and seller beware.

Responsibility lies with you, the employer, to sort through the chaff (and deceptive grad portfolios) to find a grad with the skill-set that you need on your staff. Do you need a hard-working Mac Op with good attention to detail? Great! Just remember that not all grads will be able (either now or in the future) to offer high level design skills…and then again, some Mac Ops (after some time and experience) may surprise you!

Grads and design students, here are some suggestions that will help you to secure a job after you graduate:

Work hard. I can’t impress this upon you enough. You have a limited amount of time to gather the knowledge and skills you need to survive in the industry, and the time flies by quicker than you think. You need to know that the big wide world is a cut-throat and competitive place where you will be judged – almost solely – by the work you generate at school.

Be realistic about your abilities. Get an honest appraisal (from your tutors) about where they see you will best fit in the industry. Your dreams may be as a designer, but the reality may be that your abilities (right now) are more suited to being a Mac Op or a retoucher.

Be prepared to start at the bottom. Remember that the starting wage for a grad in our industry is around $30K – $40K, and you will be on that wage for at least a year or two.

Appreciate your junior position. Just because you are waving a qualification doesn’t mean you can actually do the job. You may have been top design-dog at college, but I can guarantee you will be overwhelmed once you step into an agency. Don’t worry, being a junior is just where you need to be right now.

Show humility, resilience and determination. Yes, I know you want to be a Creative Director, but all CDs started as junior designers and did the hard yards. If you are humble, realistic about your skills, willing to work hard and show you are fiercely determined, you will be far more likely to get a job.

Be willing to delay your dream job. So you can’t get a junior designer job? Take a Mac Op position instead. No, it’s not “beneath you”. 1) You will get your foot in the industry door; 2) you will learn skills that will help you later on; 3) you need to put food on your table…so show you are willing to do whatever it takes. Just remember to stay in that job at least one year – any less tends to show a red flag on your CV.

Learn how to handle rejection. You are now a creative professional – rejection comes with the territory. Harden up and prove that you can come back fighting! If you believe in yourself and your skills, keep trying different tactics until you get a job.

Upskill. Did your course cover only print design? Perhaps you need to take some short courses in web design to make you more employable. Ask for feedback on why you are getting rejected for jobs and then do something to fill in the gaps.

Your CV is you. The first impression that a prospective employer will have of you is your CV. If you profess to be a designer, then show some design skill in your CV! You need to stand out from the masses and be noticed.

Create an online CV/portfolio. This shows you are savvy with web technology and is a visually-impressive way to promote yourself. There are many free services that you can use – you don’t need to be a programmer. Remember that you will still need an emailable pdf version of your CV and portfolio that an employer can print out.

Include video. Why not include video of yourself in your online portfolio? It’s a differentiator and will gain you notice. It is an effective way to show off your personality – something that no paper CV will ever be able to communicate. Don’t give up. I repeat: DON’T…GIVE…UP!

• Courtesy of Design Assembly / conversations on graphic design.