How I started my design career in San Francisco

Two years ago, I moved to San Francisco with less than a thousand dollars. Today, I am a full time designer. I have learned some skills during the last two years that have benefited me in my career in design.

When I first arrived in San Francisco, I was lucky to have a place to stay, a supportive partner who would give me advice on how to network (my social anxiety used to be too high to do the networking thing). Being a freelancer for years, I was lucky enough to have clients come to me, so I wasn’t really used to interviewing with people. I had to learn how to go outside and be prepared for real interviews. Real. Interviews. Interviewing for jobs in English as a non-native speaker can be challenging. I was terrified.

I had a couple interviews, some by phone, some in person. All of them consisted of me being anxious and overly excited about anything. I did not care which startup or company I worked for, all I wanted was to learn about the exciting world of tech. I stumbled my way into a job and I considered it a huge success. Thankfully, this job allowed me to meet awesome people and gave me the opportunity to work on some great projects.

Last summer, one of San Francisco’s biggest companies contacted me. I was surprised that they were interested in my work. To be honest, at first I thought it was spam email. I accepted their interview. This is when I really learned about interviewing and negotiation skills, and I would like to share my experience with you:

Be patient.
When I started interviewing, I had no idea what to expect from such a big company. I went through a long process that included phone calls, design exercises, presentations about my work and personal projects, one-on-ones with many different people, and salary negotiations over a period of almost two months. These things take time and the longer it goes on, the higher the chances are of you getting the position. 
 
Know what you are worth.
If you can, go out and interview with multiple companies. I have seen friends quit their job and take a month to interview with enough companies to figure out what is important to them and what they are worth in the marketplace. You can try to get a better sense of salaries online or by talking to people from the same location. You are likely to be underpaid if you do not have a target salary.

Make friends.
I found that being friendly reduces my anxiety. Whether you get a job offer or not, it is always nice to make friends, feel accepted, and keep good relationships. Remember that your “industry” is a community, and you want to be active and make friends with other people that are contributing to it.

Don’t fake it.
Know your process and methodology. People will notice if you are bullshitting about your process on an interview. When I am presenting my portfolio, I bring three or four of my favorite projects so I can show work that excites and motivates me. Every design interview is going to ask about your design process, you should be able to show it off with examples.

Fake it.
Five hour long interviews can be tough. You want to get enough rest, relax, and most importantly, know that you deserve to be at this place; after all, you have made it this far. Leave your anxiety at home and enjoy the free snacks.

Work. Hard.
As a middle class Mexican, it has been a lot of hard work to grow professionally and have a voice in a social environment with people who have attended the best Universities, have worked at the best places, or have the best connections. Get involved in projects that are exciting and matter to you; know what is going on in the community you are interested in, and acknowledge that your work and expertise are valuable, no matter what school you went to, or what your credentials are.