How do you find new talent if you won’t give design graduates a break?

I am a recent graduate from an industrial design degree course and it took me nine months, 20 interviews, rail travel all over the country and more phone calls than BT could imagine to finally find employment.

Coming up against job ads asking for junior designers with two years experience, I was banging my head against a brick wall. In the end I started to apply for design jobs in fields which I wasn’t even interested in.

New graduates may well apply for these “junior designer” positions, but a vast proportion will not only turn their backs on the job after a poor response, but also on a career in design. In the end it’s the industry that loses out.

From my own experience, design education has a lot to answer for in the big bad world. Students are groomed to produce good grades and not good design.

Once students are through the door a lot of what they are taught is of little use to them. CV writing and job applications are an art which is never touched upon.

After 20 interviews and numerous letters you may well find success, but to make this an industry which is pushing the boundaries of innovation and new ways of thinking it needs to embrace new talent.

The backing of education is also needed to produce graduates who can succeed at college, and in this tough market place.

Richard Powley

Sinergy People

richardp@sinergy.co.uk