I am in the third year now of my BA (hons) in Graphic Design, graduation is getting closer and closer, and the reality of getting a job is starting to sink in. Each year thousands of design students graduate, to be exact in 2007 there was a total of 534,495 students graduated (Orchard Suits Lecture), all of them hoping for jobs in the industry, but there simply aren’t enough jobs for all of these graduates. Now there’s recession happening, it makes getting a job even tougher and the competition fiercer. Throughout this course I have seen many guest lecturers that have spoken at about how to get a job in the industry when you graduate. Most of the lecturers I have seen have been designers from agencies in the industry already, they simply spoke of their own experiences on getting a job and what they think would be good ways to impress, but each designer has a different opinion, design is such a subjective area and there isn’t really a right or a wrong, just different opinions.
A recent article in The Independent discusses this area, “creative industry heavyweight Ian Cochrane told design students that they should ‘get out’ of the sector.” (www.theindependent.co.uk) This statement has raised massive debate and also huge discouragement in students. But I believe as long as you are dedicated and passionate about design then any negativity you read shouldn’t matter, your enthusiasm should keep you positive.
“Are design students wasting their time? Cynics say they’re foolish to nurture a ‘frivolous’ dream of finding a job.” (www.theindependent.co.uk) I Disagree with this statement, I believe that agencies will always need fresh, young designers, without them agencies would become stagnant. Graduates will bring new fresh ideas to agencies, and will be more than likely the next generation of creative directors. Telling students not to bother with the subject, I believe is ridiculous. If there aren’t jobs out there then graduates can always turn to freelancing. The recession wont last forever, and when the economy is back on its feet, it will be these new design graduates that will get the industry flowing again, with fresh new talent and ideas.
I decided to email an ex-student called Dan Ingham who now works at Mark Studio, and I also emailed Ady Bibby the creative director of True North, asking each of them some questions about their views on this subject. (Questions can be seen on ‘Contact Reports’ section of blog) I thought it would be interesting to get the opinions of two different ends of the spectrum, one being quite new in the industry with only a few years experience, and one already being in the industry for many years. I asked the particular question, “Do you think it has got any harder to get a job in the industry since you left university?” Both Dan and Ady agree on this point in saying yes it has got harder, Though Ady found it quite easy to get a job at The Chase after a placement, Dan had to work a bit harder, this could mean it just getting harder as the years go on because there are many more students and because of the recession less jobs. The best advice Ady gave me was just to get placements and keep asking, be persistent. Another reason its going to be harder to get a paid job is because companies can’t afford to take on grads, instead just giving them unpaid placements which could last more than six months at a time, which is good experience for you and cheap for them but you cant work for nothing forever, and eventually you will have to make a decisions. On the other hand it could just be a case of right place right time and get lucky, just keep well connected. Another question I put to Ady and Dan was, “What would you personally suggest to graduates about getting a job now?” Both simply advise to start now, send CV’s and work samples, be persistent until they offer you a placement. Meet as many people as possible, show your work everywhere, network and learn as much about the industry as you can, read design magazines, blogs anything and everything. Be patient and always enthusiastic.
I always thought it might be easier to maybe get a job in London, but after asking Dan and Ady their view on moving to London, both agree that moving to London could be harder. More creative’s in London have lost their jobs than in any other area, if companies can’t afford to pay their own designers they aren’t going to pay graduates of less experience. Also as Dan says in his answer, moving to London may probably be harder as everyone talks about “moving to London” from all over the country so even though there might be more jobs the competition will be greater.
The only thing I can do now is take all the advice I have been given, give it my all and hope to the best. Fingers crossed.
Articles:
http://www.creativereview.co.uk/crblog/
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/
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