Your First Interior Design Job: Everything You Need to Know

Introduction

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about your first interior design job? Is it a challenging environment, a tough boss or an easy setting which allows you to thrive creatively? Whatever it may be, the first job is always special as it sets the tone of your career. At some point in time, the idea of how the first interior design job would be like crosses the minds of the aspirants. Just like any other job, your first interior design job would be a little challenging as this would be the time to apply your skills. However, it also provides the best opportunity to learn and grow.

Essential Skills Needed to Thrive in Your First Interior Design Job

1. Sound Technical Skills

Technical skills are vital to make a career in interior design. From designing drafts for complicated spaces to presenting ideas to clients, Computer Aided Designs are now used for everything. Aspirants should master popular CAD tools like AutoCAD to land their first job.

2. Impressive Soft Skills

As per a survey, 72% of interior design companies place as much importance on the soft skills of employees as any other skill. Soft skills such as communication are vital for client attraction and retention.

3. Project Management Abilities

Interior designers of most of the reputed companies manage multiple client projects all at the same time. Thus, as interior design aspirants you must be well prepared to manage multiple client projects simultaneously in your first interior design job.

4. Utmost Creativity

Customization has now become a major part of modern and luxurious interior designs. Designers often encounter choosy clients. The designers have to think out of the box to deliver what the clients desire.

How to Land your First Interior Design Job?

1. Build a Strong Work Portfolio

A strong work portfolio highlighting some of your finest projects can strike a chord with the recruiters. And help you land your first job faster.

2. Do Internships

Doing internships in any top interior design company, alongside boosting your skills, can aid in creating a strong work portfolio. It can all come in handy for your first design job

3. Networking Helps

Internships inadvertently create ample scope for networking as well. A surprise referral can suddenly land you your first interior design job.

4. Build a Solid Job Search Strategy

Online job portals are best for searching interior design jobs. Houzz Pro is the most used job portal for interior designers.

What can You Learn in your First Interior Design Job?

1. How to work in a Professional Setting

One of the most vital things that designers learn in their first interior design job is how to work in a professional setting. Working under a quality mentor can refine your skills further and prepare you for a brighter future.

2. How to Interact with Clients

Interior designers get to interact with a lot of clients in their first job. This exposure opens the gate for understanding new design perspectives. Again it becomes useful for career growth.

3. Site Visits and Vendor Meetings

As part of overall grooming, many top interior design companies expose new designers to vendor meetings and site visits. It helps the designers in understanding various aspects of the Interior Design profession.

4. How to Manage Deadlines and Workloads

Many interior designers have reported that their first job was demanding in nature. Multiple projects and increased focus on customized designs create strict deadlines and increased workload. 

Tips for Success in Your First Interior Design Job

1. Stay Organized

Being organized is the first step to succeed in your interior design career. Dividing tasks and prioritizing vital ones are crucial for succeeding in this job.

2 . Grow with Mentors

In almost all interior design companies, the junior designers work under veterans. This provides designers the best opportunity to learn and grow.

3. Stay Updated with Trends

Latest interior design trends such as biophilic and sustainable designs have swept the interior design market. Knowledge of such trends is vital to thrive in  interior design career.

4. Be Professional and Maintain Work Ethic

Last but not least, interior designers should maintain a high level of professionalism and work ethic to make it big in this field.

Frequently Asked Questions