+++ STAY CALM AND DON’T FREAK OUT++ ++
This post has those corny, positive messages that heaps of people puke at. I was never the puking type. I apologise. But those messages are good awesome. If you want more, find me here.
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This post isn’t about cash. It’s about how you perceive your skills + the value that they bring. I like being challenged and questioned. I LOVE positive people who take things on and use their initiative to do even better than I expected. I like people who take notes and really listen to what others say. They’re able to create a design that isn’t all about the aesthetics, but about the function as well.
Does it do what you set out to make it do? Or is it just a pretty piece of blah.
(Found via: Petnoga)
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Reasons why you haven’t been paid
- Your work isn’t fit to send to a client (yes, you may have the bare bones, but it will take you twice the time to prepare those bare bones than it would an experienced designer).
- You won’t have thought of basic things, like having a call to action on your promotional piece.
- Another designer is going to have to amend your file and ensure it’s got basic things like bleed before it goes to print.
- You are hard work. You need more feedback and more looking after. This means more time can go into you than expected.
That said, if you are positive, take criticism well and are ready to take on more, you’re working your way up the ranks and fast.
(Image from: Striking Truths)
Reasons why you shouldn’t work unpaid
- All you’re doing is getting coffees and filing. You’re here to get something. Just make sure, what you expect from the role and what they’re ready to give you, is the same thing. It’s a simple give and take. Stop giving if you aren’t taking – the taking doesn’t have to be financial, but it has to be something.
- You stopped learning new things a long time ago. If you’re not learning new things, why do it?
- You’re becoming a bit of a free resource.
- Sometimes, when you’re a bit fresh, the work environment may be new – you might be a bit disruptive or a bit chatty. It’s ok. But, it’s not.
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I’ve hired people based on the amount of work experience and internships they did. Personally, I think it’s super impressive when people are hungry for work. Shows that they really care and will be grateful to get foot in the door.
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I once had a woman who said to me: “Kish, why don’t I come in for a week and we see how it goes. No obligations. You get to know me, I’ll get to know you. We’ll see if it’s the right fit.”
I was more than happy to give it a go. Sometimes, you may need more than an hour to prove yourself in an interview. Why not get yourself a week?
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Things you can hope to get out of a 1 month internship
- a referral letter if you know you were pretty damn fine.
- relationships with designers within the studio. I don’t mean you become besties (don’t go adding them on facebook), but you can always ask them out to a coffee / drinks and if they’d mind sharing some of their knowledge with you.
- a bit of link love – Laura came in for a week, I asked her to sketch me images for this page – and I’m hoping, people go to her website or her facebook page and she gets a bit of work thru it – or Laura-awareness at the very least.
- a bit more than deep-etching. We had a lovely girl in helping us with really basic photoshop work, she worked hard and diligently. I wanted to make sure she got a mix of work, so she ended up helping us with a flyer design that she can now have in her folio.
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If you really, really, really want to get a graphic design job. You have to want it bad. And be ready to do the right things to get that job in line. There are so many more designers than there are jobs.
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I get an email a day from designers asking for work or an internship. Imagine that. We’re not even a studio that has been around for that long. Make yourself damn good. If it’s what you really want. I really want to run a design studio. That means I’m in most weekends. I’m forgetting to have my lunch on time. I’m staying back late. I’m checking my emails when I’m meant to be on “annual leave”. While Papa and I both agree, this isn’t the ideal way for Kish to stay healthy (and I have toned it back a lot) – doing the yards is just part of getting there. (Did I forget to mention I joined a gym this year… Easy for me to be motivated when it comes to work. If you have any tips on gym-ming, email them my way).
(Image via the super awesome, crazy, talented Lee Crutchley)
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We are Kish+Co and we do: brand, strategy and execution.
Sometimes Kish uses this website as a sound board to voice her opinions on design, business and growth.
