Advice for students applying to (design) co-op jobs

From someone who’s been on both sides

Suhaila
Suhaila Writes

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I was in your shoes, not long ago. My undergraduate program had 6 co-op terms. I know the stress of looking for a co-op job, applying, interviews, rejections, and scoring a job! Specifically, I know how hard it is to get a design job as a student. Yet without those experiences I wouldn’t have found my passion for design.

I am now across the fence, working as a designer. I’m at a small company, and our design team is even smaller (2 including me). We’re hiring students to help us with designs, and as a way to provide students with the same opportunity and experience that was so valuable to me.

So now, having been on both sides of the hiring process, I’d like to share some tips for students applying to (design) jobs.

Create an online portfolio

I cannot stress enough the importance of having an online portfolio. This is pretty much the only thing that matters. It’s the first thing employers look for in an application, and it’s what we use to make our decision. We want to see your style. We want to see your thought process. We want to see that you have some experience and that you’re serious about becoming a designer. This is especially crucial if you’re applying for a job at a tech company.

Put your work online. Create a website. You can create a simple site using just HTML and CSS, both of which are relatively easy to learn (try Codeacademy). Don’t know how to code? No problem! There are a lot of sites that you can use to host your design work. Here are a few: Behance, Dribbble (if you can score an invite), Squarespace, Dunked, Tumblr, Wordpress.

Don’t have design work?

A good way to start is by creating flyers, banners, and logos for clubs and organizations on campus. This will give you some experience in graphics and illustration. You can also design websites for friends and families. This is a really good way to learn web design quickly.

You can also including some artwork in your portfolio (especially digital artwork and graphics). This will give employers an idea of what your personal style is. Artwork isn’t a substitute for design work, but a few selected pieces in your portfolio alongside some design work would be helpful.

Write a cover letter

Cover letters aren’t mandatory, but they’re nice-to-haves. They’re especially important if this is the first design job you’re applying to, or if you don’t have a lot of design work to show. Use this opportunity to introduce yourself, let us know why you’re interested in design, and why you’re interesting in the company.

But, do not attach a generic cover letter

Either personalize it, or do not include it. We can tell the difference between a generic cover letter and a personal one. Changing the company name and job position doesn’t count as personalizing the cover letter. Put some effort into it (see above).

Enhance your resume

Even though your portfolio or website have much more weight, your resume is still the first thing that we see. Use this opportunity to make a good first impression. Make it stand out! Use colour, a different font, a new layout, and whitespace to your advantage. Use this as an opportunity to show off your design style (basically use your design skills to enhance your resume!). Employers are constantly looking at resume after resume in black and white, and seeing one that has some character is refreshing, and leaves a lasting impression. Just make sure it’s readable!

Make it one page. Remove (or shorten) any content that is not immediately relevant to the job you’re applying to. Put the important content front and centre. Employers generally spend no more than 10 seconds scanning your resume, and most don’t go past the first page. The easier it is for us to read and find the important information, the better your chances are at getting an interview.

Research the company

Do yourself a favour and look at the companies. See if this is a place you really want to work and if the product excites you. Pick a few companies that you really want to work for, and personalize the resume for each. If you can, reach out to designers at those companies and introduce yourself. This research will also help you during the interview when you’re asked questions about the product, and so you can ask intelligent questions about the company.

Apply, even if your degree isn’t related

Everyone gets into design a different way (art, psychology, engineering, programming, business). And it’s those experiences and backgrounds that make you unique. Use that to your advantage and highlight your unique skills and experiences. Having a diverse team is key to creating and building on each other’s ideas.

Meet us in person

If there is an information session, or if you have an opportunity to meet some employers from that company, do it! This is a great way to learn about the company culture, meet people who work there (and you might be working with), and to leave a lasting impression.

Have any other suggestions or advice for students? Has this advice been helpful? Leave me a comment, or give me a shout-out.

Want to improve your resume and portfolio? Think about whitespace.

About me

My name is Suhaila. I recently graduated from a co-op program (Systems Design Engineering) and currently working as a UX/UI Designer at Kik. I’m looking for a co-op student for the Fall term (September to December). Interested? Get in touch!

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Suhaila
Suhaila Writes

Designer, Artist, Engineer. Creator @kohlstudio + @MuslimsDesign. Previously @Zenreach, @GoDialogue, @Guilded