There’s a lot of groundwork and networking to do before you apply for a first job. Sascha Flowers, NYSID’s Career Services and Internship Coordinator, is an employment expert and career coach with deep experience in placing designers in jobs that point them toward professional development. She shares her best advice here. 

1. Prepare a General Package   

Before you apply, check out NYSID’s resources on NYSID’s Career Services portal tab or Handshake. Our examples of cover letters, resumes, and portfolio guides will help you prepare a professional package for prospective employers. It’s best to have your materials prepared by winter break so you can begin applying for spring and summer internships right after the New Year. 

 2. Use NYSID Career Services   

If you need help customizing your materials to fit specific jobs and identifying the companies that match your interests, book an appointment with us at careers@nysid.edu or directly on Handshake. Please note that you must have 12 NYSID credits to book through Handshake. 

 3. Identify Connections & Attend Events   

For well-known firms, it’s not enough to go through a job board. You have to find creative ways to stand out. You are competing with students from all over the country. Reach out to potential connections at the company you admire through your personal and professional networks. Research whom you might know through the NYSID alumni network, professors, and professional organizations like IIDA and ASID. Of course, this process begins with building a network by attending professional networking events. 

 4. Master a Soft Approach   

For example, when you use LinkedIn or Handshake to approach NYSID alumni inside a desired firm, don’t ask them for a job. Seek advice on how they made their way into the firm and get a sense of what it’s really like to work there. If you make a real connection, it’s possible they will make an inquiry on your behalf. At the very least, you get insight, which will be gold in the end. 

 5. Follow Up Directly with Connections and Human Resources Professionals   

You can use LinkedIn and Handshake to follow your top companies. Utilize the company profiles to identify the human resources manager or recruiting professionals. After applying for jobs through job boards, don’t be afraid to follow up with your connections and the recruiter managing the hiring. Send an email with a couple of paragraphs on what you do, and why you’re interested in working for them. Mention the position you applied for and resubmit your resume. This shows you’re resourceful and seriously interested in the opportunity. It might be the move that puts you directly in front of the person who posted the job. 

  6. Keep an Open Mind   

Don’t only go after the top firms in the industry. Be open to companies that are not as well known, but are growing. While in school, experiment to discover opportunity and what you want. You can only do that through trial and error. Boutique firms allow you to learn a lot and give you visibility to all aspects of the business. By exploring options, you’ll find a clearer understanding of where you want to work and how you want to contribute your talents.