From grad to gig: Laying the foundation

Throughout design school, you likely thought about the career you wanted after you finished. Now, as graduation nears, you might be honing in on your vision even more. 

In the first instalment of this series, we'll be diving into five key points to remember as you take your first post-grad steps in your design journey.

Point 1: Remember what you bring to the table. The comparison game is futile.

Everyone plays into the comparison game, but it's important to recognize that your skills and talents are special. You might be jealous of someone for their lettering capabilities, but chances are, they've spent ages working on those skills. At the end of the day, you're going to be amazing, and people will be comparing themselves to you for the things that you've spent the most time on.

— Meg Lewis, Founder of Ghostly Ferns & Co-Founder of Fool Proof

Point 2: Remember to have an open mind about your first post-grad job.

“Your first job might not be your best job. Who's to say that your third job might not be your best? Don't put that kind of pressure on yourself to find your dream job right away.”

— Sara Wong, Designer at The Office of Gilbert Li in Toronto

Point 3: Remember that your social media reflects your seriousness about the industry.

“Instagram was really the deciding factor in the last three people that we've hired. If we haven't seen someone in a month or two since their interview, it's a great way to check to see if they are continuing to develop their skills and if they have an active interest in design.”

— Hans Thiessen RGD, Partner & Creative Director of Design at Rethink in Vancouver

Point 4: Remember that your interests in school don't have to dictate what you do post-grad.

“Who you were as a student is going to change after you graduate. I realized that I wanted to go the more illustration designer route versus being the best document layout designer in the world. But I felt like I needed to be that kind of designer, because that's what my training had told me I'd be the best at. So if you're feeling like maybe your interests lie elsewhere after you graduate, don't push those feelings aside.”

— Paul Twa Associate RGD, Designer + Illustrator in Edmonton

Point 5: Remember that the choices you make now aren't final. You have a whole career to build.

You aren't carving anything in stone when you take a job at a certain studio or in a certain environment. If something works for you, that's great, but if you find something isn't quite right, you can always try something different.

— Jeff Close, Associate Partner at Pentagram in NY