From a design student to a professional with a real job
Reflections and lessons when going from that uni bubble to working in a design studio in the big wide world.
In April of 2018, I handed in my dissertation and breathed a sigh of relief that I was finally done. After 4 years of studying, I was lucky enough to walk straight out of university and into my first real, grown-up job. I had been working part-time for Inktrap as their Social Media Manager and they decided to offer me a graduate job as a Digital Product Designer, which I eagerly accepted.
I’ve now been with Inktrap for 8 months and the transition from uni student to working girl has been a fun one, with lots of lessons learned along the way.
So, if like me, you’re new to the working world — or if you just want to hear what I’ve got to say—here’s a little insight into what I’ve learned.
Throw yourself in from day one
It’s easy enough to wait to be given instructions at each step of the way, but one of the best ways to start learning quickly is by jumping straight into the deep end. Be enthusiastic and ready for challenges, and, if you feel comfortable enough, don’t be afraid to ask to be put on the projects which seem really exciting to you.
Get out of your comfort zone
As well as volunteering for the projects that really interest you, try to challenge yourself and be enthusiastic for the ones that aren’t like anything you’ve ever done before. Try not to take on more than you can handle, but trying new things and learning as you go are two great routes to developing professionally (and in your personal life too).
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
After taking on these new projects and challenging yourself, you’re bound to come up against some hurdles. When this happens it’s really easy to keep quiet and try to solve the problem yourself. Whilst this can be fine, it’s a really easy way to end up getting confused and wasting a lot of time (trust me, I’ve been there). The best thing to do is not to be ashamed and just ask for help. Your coworkers know you’re new to the trade, and you’re bound to be much harder on yourself than they will be.
Don’t be down on yourself for the things you don’t know
When starting a new job it’s so easy to compare yourself to those around you and feel overwhelmed by how “junior” you feel next to them. Don’t worry, you are a junior, so you’re not going to know everything as soon as you start! If you’re looking around and feeling envious about how good others are at something specific then don’t be afraid to ask for some tips and tricks from them. They’ll be flattered that you’ve come to them and be more than happy to help.
Watch and listen
Not just when asking for tips, but all the time you can be watching and learning from those around you. Don’t stare creepily but observe the processes that others use in their work and listen when the people near you are having conversations about their work. It’ll give you a real insight into the overall workflow and how others work.
Finally, bring your own skills into your new work
Whilst you may be the newbie of your workplace, you have your own skills and mastery to bring to the table. If you’re a UI designer who’s awesome at illustration, mention that and ask if the next page header can be illustrated, or if you’re a developer and have a speciality in Python scripts, offer that up as a shortcut for the next project it’ll work on. The other people around you will love how you’re helping out and be impressed by what you’re bringing to the table.
All in all, it’s about not being scared. When starting your first grown-up job you just have to not be afraid to get involved and challenge yourself in ways you have never before been challenged.
The most important thing of all though, have fun with it! Your colleagues aren’t as scary as you might think…
Got any other tips for graduates? If you’ve got any advice we’d love to hear from you — please leave a comment here, or drop us a line on Twitter, we’re @InktrapDesign.
