What Did You Do Right After Graduation?, I'm a recent grad in between work, curious about life! Options

[ryan.manty]

I'll give you some information as to why I am asking in the first place.

I just graduated with a degree, ID (BFA), in May. I've had a freelance job from a relatively small company for the past 2-3 months. It's gone pretty well, and I'm continuing to keep my eyes out for future work since they are struggling and don't have a ton of work to keep me on.

Ideally, I will get another job in ID soon. For some reason I feel like I need a break of some sort? Did anyone else go through this? I'm not sure if it is because school was so intense the final semesters and I never really shook it. My plan B is to do some part-time work (and any free-lance opportunities) in the area, and spend the rest of the time living poorly and building my portfolio. I'd like to do some projects for fun. I've also considering volunteering overseas for 6months or so.

Is this normal? I want to design... can't seem to get up over the hump and get excited. Before college I took a year off and worked labor jobs- and that totally motivated me to go to school. I'm curious to hear your tales. Thanks folks!

[Cyberdemon]

I moved home from college, spent most of my time rebuilding my basement (where I live), did some freelance projects to keep some money in my pockets, worked on my portfolio (for about a week) and mostly just got drunk and slept.

I got an interview fairly soon after graduating, but it took several months of paperwork and back and forth before I finally started work, so most of that time in between was just spent fishing and relaxing.

[sachin]

For me, the first month or so after graduation was relaxing. Then things became a little too quiet, since I wasn't getting too many responses from the portfolios I was sending out. So while I was sending stuff out I was working on pursuing leads and learning new skills in those pursuits. Later, I learned that those leads didn't work out, so I directed those efforts into fixing my portfolio with help from my friends. I took a good hard look at my portfolio and patched up a few projects and even created a new one. Through those efforts, the company I work for discovered my work online and then called me for an interview and then I got the job!

So from the time I graduated to my hire, a whole year passed. It was a very lonely, stressful year, but I produced some very good work and I learned a lot. Stubborness does pay off, just as long as you direct it towards a good cause.

[hdh6948]

I have just graduated fom a 3 yr Ba(Hons) Interior Architecture course and I'm finding it hard to get employed (I'm 22). I want to start my own company and I'm looking for other people in a similar position or with experience who would be interested in working with me. You have to eat, sleep and breathe design and have the passion and drive to make it work. I want nothing more than be able to create designs and see them come to life. I think the best thing would be to work together for a bit to work out a certain style and build a portfolio ready to put onto a website for possible clients to see. Also I think it would be best to eventually start out with very small residential projects until we work up enough experience and money as a company to progress further into other areas of design. I know the money won't exactly be great to start off with and it will take a lot of time and hard work to get it going, but if you really want to give it a go and make it work then it will! Preferably you will have a degree in either Interior Design, Architecture or a related subject and must be able to use either CAD or VectorWorks, a rendering programme, and being able to draw and sketch for the design process. I only want people who are as serious about this as I am. Hopefully we will be able to build up a pretty good team and be considered a serious company. I am based in the South East London area but would be willing to travel and eventually move to any area to make this work.

If you think you would be interested or have any questions or ideas, please contact me on hayleyhawkins@hotmail.com

I look forward to hearing from anyone who is interested!

[nabee]

Good to hear stories from other recent graduates.

Although i did find a job for now, its not in design field

I think my portfolio is much too weak at current state. And being in central US doesn't help either.

[yodesign]

Good topic.
Like Sachin, lot of time before hiring (8 months).
I wanted to work in the USA, but hard to go there...so, in the beginning of 2008, I changed all my portfolio, while sendind applications in France and abroad. I made several projects, trained myself on 2D/3D softwares, read lots of informations about design and other things...and now I'm employed!

Again, as Sachin said : "Stubborness does pay off", so keep going!

[waikit]

I traveled a bit (2 months) in China after my graduation and did some interviews in Shanghai. Went back to Holland and worked part time as a salesman and on my portfolio (sketching, modeling and rendering exercises) and did interviews at a couple of companies.
4 months after graduation I got hired as an industrial designer by my current company, where I was interviewed during my China trip.

[Kiwi_Roly]

I can relate to wanting a break following the intensity of that final semester.
I moved cities and spent 3 months 'tweaking' my CV & portfolio while on the dole in gf's parents spare room. (by tweaking I mean online video games..... 'trying to find my muse' my a$$)
I was applying for a non design job when I noticed an ID position at same firm - I hurridly withdrew boring, non ID CV, finished the porfolio (the beauty of constraints!)and sent it in.


As with the others - keep polishing your work, it'll never be perfect
And keep an eye out for those "foot in the door" opportunities

[under-dog]

I was doing freelance for a company about two semesters before graduation. and they wanted to hire me but had to hold off until my to last semester which was just filling in a few credits I needed. The second to last semester was 21 credit hours + freelance. There was no way I could have gone inhouse at that time. Graduation was a welcomed rest to only be working for @40-60 hours a week.

That was years ago. Last years average between internal and freelance work was @ 80 hours a week with the peak of that avrerage at 110 hours.


I am a bit of a workhorse though. Working since 12 years old in some capacity. "heavy" part time(@30hrs) to full time since 14. Through school.

so the answer....Work

I have always seen freelance as a good foot in the door. Lets you establish a relationship and let sthem see what you are capable of. Always worked for me anyway.

[twinger19]

In the months leading up to graduation I was pretty stressed out about finding a job. I didn't have much real design work experience and I didn't know how my portfolio would standout in the "real world." I was going to school in California but I was open to going anywhere for a good first job. I had been working in retail and applied at their headquarters to be a product designer on a whim one day. Next thing I know they asked for my portfolio, did a few phone interviews, they flew me out to Dallas for more interviews and they offered me a job a week before I graduated. 3 days after graduation I moved to Dallas and started working. 1 for 1 on applying for an ID job and I was happy with what I got. There were two major keys to me getting this job quickly.

1) I was willing to move around - I didn't have anything really holding me back so I was open to moving and that obviously expands your possibilities 1000%.

2)I had an "in". Even though I was just a part times sales associate, I think it really gave me an edge on getting an interview. Honestly, the hardest part is getting an interview, then it's all up to your personality, and portfolio/skills.

[AutomóvilVerde]

im still in high school, but i've been wanting to take a trip to europe, and spend a while over there traveling all over, after college. you guys think that's possible? or does that hurt your chances of getting a job

[twinger19]

If you have the money to travel around after college I would say go for it. Once you start working you really won't have much time to travel like that. I don't think employers will care if you took time off after college, they might even like that you traveled. The bottom line in design is it comes down to how good you are. But you have a lot of time to think about after college if you're still in HS. I didnt switch over to the ID program until my second year of school.

im still in high school, but i've been wanting to take a trip to europe, and spend a while over there traveling all over, after college. you guys think that's possible? or does that hurt your chances of getting a job

[nabee]

thanks for good information...

still trying to land that "first" design job. Currently in shanghai but it is still as challenging .

[p waddy]

3 days after graduation I flew to San Diego from the UK, spent 6 months working and travelling over there. I had the best time of my life and would recommend it to anybody. I know that once I have a design job, it would be easy to settle and be happy. Therefore I feel after finishing education, spending a couple of years travelling isnt a bad thing, you can still work on your portfolio. I believe it changes you as a person

[PEDROBRAS]

Hi, i have just graduated, and I'm starting at a new college,

Business Administration graduation, Next, I intend to do a Master Degree in product design, and later an specialization on product development.

I'm currently workin, but not exactly in product design area, more lie an autocad monkey...(have my bills to pay)

but I'm looking for a decent job in the design area...what really pisses me of is that design market isn't really strong here and we are not well payed at all...

good luck for you!