Landing Your First Design Job

Looking for that big break? A gateway to the thrilling world of design? Want to do it all on your own? Follow our 10 step program and you will be on your way!

Research
1. Decide which country and city you most would like to work in and decide which firm or designer you would most like to work with.
- Consult books, magazines, websites and ask fellow designers and professors: where would they go and whom would they want to work with?

2.Make a list of at least 10 different firms and designers that you want to contact. Rank them (using criteria such as location, coolness of projects, reputation in design community, specializations, skills you will learn there) so that you know where to put your best effort.

3. Find everything you can about the city and designers and firms of your choice.
- Again, look at books and mags, etc. Get the design firm or designer's contact information. Use on-line directories, like our DesignDirectory to help you with this.

Contact
4. Put together a good cover letter that introduces you and your work to the firm or designer. See How to Respond to an Ad, point #4, for more information.

5. Include samples of your work! Very important!
- Slides, color photos, color printouts, even a photocopied or laser-printed sheet with clear pictures of your projects is enough.
- If you have particular skills or talents, like sketching or modeling or computer work, emphasize them in your samples.
- Five or six images should be enough to whet their appetites, but send more if you have enough quality projects and photos.

6. Include your C.V. or resume
- Keep it to one page.
- List experience with work, computer programs.

7. Don't over-design this little package! Don't spend hours working on your letterhead and picking special papers for your envelopes and letters. Don't try any crazy layouts or stunts to make your package stand out - play it straight and let your work speak for itself. Just be sure you:
- Make it clear
- Make it short
- Include pictures

8. Call, fax or e-mail the firm or designer to get a contact name - the person who handles hiring - and label your package to their "Attention."
- Send it off!
- Even if the firm says they are not hiring at the moment, get a contact name and send off your package anyway.

Follow up
9. A week or so after sending your packet to the list of designers:
- Contact the firms by phone, fax, or by e-mail.
- Be sure to talk to the person you sent the package to.
- Confirm they have received your package. Ask them if there are any questions they have about it. Ask them if they would like to see more work.
- If they have questions, answer them; if they want to see work, send them some more. If they want to have you come in for an interview, do it!
- If you need to travel a long distance for the interview, try to set up a few other interviews for the same time, and give yourself some time to see the sites- make the trip as multi-purpose as possible.

10. Repeat Step 9 every month (even every 2 weeks) or so until you get someone to invite you over for an interview. Being persistent pays! Stay in contact with the firms and send them more of your work as you produce more. Gather more firms from on-line directories, like our DesignDirectory.com and look for firms that are hiring at coroflot.com!
Keep at it!