You know those TikTok videos that tell you all about what you're supposed to do but never how to actually do it? Lose weight, lower your cortisol, make money in your sleep...it never ends and it's useless if you don't know the important part-the how.

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This May officially marked five years of being at Made by Emblem. In that time, I went from a "Kind-of-a-little-bit-Talented" graphic design intern to "Obviously-More-Talented-at-Being-Type-A" project manager. I started off overconfident in my skills only to realize very quickly that I had so much to learn. I see the same feelings reflected back at me when I have Office Hours meetings with students coming to the end of their education and looking for ways to get started in the industry. A baby fish in a huge pond oblivious to the many, many layers in the pond…and none of them are labelled.

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The horror.

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Every student has the same concern—getting a job. Emphasis on the how, as if there’s some secret “hire me“ password. The reality of the creative industry, as with any industry, is that while it grows, job opportunities become more demanding and competitive. There is no secret password but here are tips and specific actions I took that helped me get to the point I’m at now in my career:

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• There's power in what you know. The design industry is vast, but you can always spot those passionate about it. Research whatever company/agency/industry professional you'll be communication with. Find inspiration in the work being done, keep up with design trends and current events, read about design, visit museums, talk to professionals, go to events, record interesting thoughts that come to mind, and carry a notebook around with you. By doing this, you're starting to form opinions on what you like and what you don't. This will translate into developing your design style and your confidence: being prepared and knowledgeable will go far in your interactions.

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• Some doors stay closed. Have confidence in your ability to grow without fear of getting a "No". Even if you get the "No", don't feel defeated or take it personally, and don't let it deter you from continuing. When you get the "No", ask for feedback and be open to it. Your job at this point isn't to be perfect, your job is to be open to learning from others.

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• Don't default to just class assignments to carry your portfolio. While it's great to see what you did at school, it's even more important to see how you apply those skills in other ways to develop your style further. Revise old assignments or take what you know and reimagine them into something new that reflects work you actually want to do so you don't get stuck doing work you aren't passionate about. Be open to it, but don't pretend it's all you want to do for the sake of being hired. If you're targeting a specific company, tailor your portfolio to the work you want to do and the kind of work they're already doing. Think about it this way: If your entire graduating class worked on a mock rebranding assignment for Coca-Cola...then that's 50+ students showing the same portfolio piece to the same design agencies. What did you learn from that one assignment? How can you apply it to a stronger portfolio piece? How can you stand out?

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• Highlight your thinking. For industry leaders and art directors, the process of getting to the pretty picture is worth more than the pretty picture. Design is visual problem solving and how you solve those problems is a valuable and unique skill-that is what the industry is looking to hire. When showing portfolio pieces, show mockups of the final pretty picture, but also show your sketches, show the design thinking that got you to the pretty picture. You might find it valuable to start with five solid portfolio pieces, but one or two of them could be built out as case studies that go into greater depth so that you can clearly outline your design choices.

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When I was searching for internships, I solidified my personal branding: my resume, cover letters, email signature, PDF portfolio, and website were all consistent. I researched prospective employers and found that I wanted an internship that would allow me to practice editorial work. My program consisted of various disciplines and my preferences were design, photography, and writing–all of which had separate assignments. Instead of showing off an assignment piece, I put all those skills together to shoot, write, and design a double-page spread editorial layout on a topic I knew well. I spoke directly to my prospective employer whose work I admired and walked them through my process and specific projects that I liked from them. That preparedness turned into an internship offer a week later and a job offer a month later.

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Some of these tips seem very obvious, but having been a student working in the industry at the same time, I’ve had the privilege of being able to see both sides in tandem. Those who are successful are creatively talented, but they’re also the ones willing to take risks, try new things, and present themselves as being eager and nimble to the needs of the industry.

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It is hard to get a job, especially in today’s climate but hopefully, I’ve shared enough how to help you get one step closer, no TikTok nonsense required.

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