Go For the Gold: Having a Successful Internship

After hours and hours of research you landed an internship in the interior design industry! Congrats! Now it is time for a reality check. You need to make the most out of your internship. In a way, an internship could be somewhat like "test driving" your future career. Many individuals go into an internship with the hopes it will turn into a full time position. Now that you have your internship, what do you do next?

First things first be professional! You are entering into the real world of the interior design industry, so it is important you act the part. This begins with your attire. You can take a few tips on what to wear from a previous post. Make sure you find out what the companies dress policy is because that will also help you when it comes to attire. You only have one chance to make a first impression, make it a good one!

Decide what you want to get out of your internship. It is helpful to make a list of the goals you have. Ask you supervisor to sit down to discuss your objectives. Let them know what you would like to get out of your internship. Do not be afraid to ask questions either. No one learned anything by passively siting down. Ask questions about the company's design philosophy or their design development process. Dive in to the company culture head first! Find out everything you possibly can. The last thing you would want to do is waste their time and yours.


At the end of your internship if you are not offered a position, that's okay. You can always ask for a letter of recommendation or ask if they know anyone who is hiring. If you have a portfolio or resume, ask your supervisor if they could critic it for you. It doesn't hurt to get a second set of eyes to look at your work. Who knows, you could get some fresh ideas to revamp the layout of your work.

Make the Most of Your Break

Hey students, we hope you are enjoying your break from school. Why not make the most of your time off and apply for a job or internship. US Green Building Council (USGBC) has some jobs available!! If you are interested in learning more about sustainability and design then apply for one of the positions available. What a great way to expand your knowledge about sustainability and design.

To see the positions available please click here.

Back to School

It's the being of September and most students have already started back to school. It's time to buckle down and get back into the groove of researching, building models, sketching, giving presentations, and much more. As interior design students we try to make to most of our time in and out of the classroom. Sometimes it can feel like a balancing act when it comes to school work and extracurricular activities. Here are some suggestions to make the most out of your time studying interior design in school.

Join RDI and become apart of nextGEN or join other professional organizations at the student level. It can never be said enough how important it is to join a professional organization. Being a student member of a professional does not only expand your knowledge of the design field but it also allows you meet and network with professionals in the industry. There are many avenues within the interior design field, it is helpful you navigate towards your future!

Calling all interior design students, enter design competitions. Entering a design competition can seem a little intimidating. However, when you participate there is an opportunity for your work to be seen by professionals in the industry. Plus it is something you can add to you resume and it a great addition to your portfolio! Many interior design professional organizations, manufacturers, and design magazines sponsor many of the design competitions out there. Therefore, get your work out there and show the design industry how talented you are! 

Start to build your design vocabulary. The interior design field has been given many occupational stereotypes. Be an intelligent and articulate when it comes to speaking about the design industry.

Find yourself a mentor. Don't be afraid to ask a design professional or even your teacher to be your mentor. Many professionals are happy to look at your portfolio. They can give you valuable feedback to better your portfolio or resume. This will be helpful because you can find out what professionals are looking for when it comes to potential employees.

Intern, intern, intern. Internships are such an important aspect for developing what design service or market you would like to enter. Paid or not, you will gain valuable experience. Some internships can lead to job opportunities. Finding a internship in today's economy can be a little discouraging, however, that is why developing a portfolio is so important.

Start building your portfolio, resume, and/ website. The interior design industry is gravitating towards the "digital-age." Therefore, carrying full size drawings and cumbersome portfolios is becoming more uncommon. It is becoming easier to create your own website or digital portfolio. There are many different resources you can use to start building your digital footprint like Blogger, Wix, WordPress, Tumblr, and Posterous.

Learn how to market yourself. As student and emerging professional it is important to market yourself. The job market is becoming more competitive. You want to be the one that employers remember. In a sense you are your own brand, make it a go one! Read more about marketing yourself here.

We how that these suggestions will help you have the more reward experience as an interior design student. Remember once you have graduated and are a young professional don't stop educating yourself! The interior design industry is ever changing, therefore, there is always something new to learn. 

Let's Talk Cover Letters

Cover letters where a topic of conversation on Linkedin Today. The first line of the article is great, "it's never too early to make a bad impression."

Normally the first thing a potential employer sees is a cover letter when reviewing a job applicant. A cover letter is your first chance to make an impression when applying for a job. If proper care isn't taken to proofread and correct all mistakes in your cover letter then I could be your first chance to make a bad impression. Here are some common mistakes that are made when it comes to cover letters:

NOT WRITING ENOUGH: Normally writing too much is a common mistake. However, writing too little can be just as damaging.

PERSONAL STORIES: It isn't bad to give a little history about yourself, however, it's best to save those stories for the interview.

SOMEONE ELSE'S WORDS: Employers receive an influx of cover letters from job seekers that have obviously used the same template. The line must be drawn when it come to using other's words on your own cover letter.

ARROGANCE: "It's one thing to promote yourself favorably in a cover letter, but watch that it doesn't degenerate into overt bragging."

JOKES: Breaking the ice isn't a bad thing. However, having jokes in your cover letter may not be the best idea. It is usually a "turn-off" to potential employers. 

Cover letters are very important when you are in the market for a new career. Once the letter has been sent out there is not an "oops" button to take everything back. Therefore, make sure to proofread your cover letter before you send it out. Remember, "it's never too early to make a bad impression."

To read more about other mistakes made on cover letters click here.

A Student's Best Friend

Hey Students!

Do you have a Linkedin profile? If not, we highly recommend that you get one. Linkedin is a professional network that allows you to connect with colleagues, business prospects, classmates, or people in your industry. It allows its users to create a profile that lists your work history, skills, current projects you may be working on, and much more!

Linkedin has a great feature for students. It could even be considered a "hidden gem." Linkedin offers a place for student to find an internship. Some of the companies that have posted internships include Gucci, Martha Stewart, Ford, L'Oreal, and many more.

Take the time to create a Linkedin profile if you don't have one already. Make sure you keep your profile up-to-date!

Trendland Is Looking for Interns

Trendland is a online Magazine for fashion, trends, art, interior and graphic design, photography, illustrations, and much more. Yesterday Trendland made a post on twitter stating they are looking for interns. The tweet read: "TRENDLAND looking of new interns. Interviews start first week of September. For all inquiries and interviews email info@trendland.net." Trendland based in New York, however, branches out to Los Angeles and Paris.

In the Market for a Job?

The job market is becoming more competitive. If you are interested in finding a job in the interior field here are a few resources to help you find you dream job.

Here are a few...

Stylecareers.com

Archinect

Print Magazine

Interior Design Magazine