What Does the Job of an Interior Designer Encompass?
For many years the job of an interior designer had to do with decorating living or business spaces by using the appropriate selection of furnishings, lighting, floor and window treatments, artwork, and the use of color.

For the most part, these are the primary functions of interior designers but recently the tasks of interior designers have expanded to architectural aspects such as planning for interior detailing, the placement of windows, stairways, escalators, and building renovation elements.

Interior designers are responsible to their clients and must assess what their needs and wants are before going into the actual phase of interior design planning.

A great deal of communication is needed during this phase to make sure that the concepts of the client and the interior designer are in phase.

Interior design jobs can be as small as a one room treatment of a kitchen, bathroom or living room to taking on projects for entire office buildings, retail stores or public locations.

These projects are often done under tight deadlines and the interior designer must be able to work well under pressure and multitask effectively.

What Steps Are Necessary to Prepare for an Interior Design Career?
Entry-level interior design jobs require a college degree in design. Professional design schools offer programs that take 2-4 years to complete. There are also 2-3 year certificate programs in interior design offered by community colleges, art schools, and online education centers. Some graphic design schools also include interior design in their curriculum.

Some graduates of interior design programs gain needed work experience by interning or serving in a design apprenticeship program. These apprenticeships are 1-3 years in length and provide career training for aspiring interior designers.

Apprenticeships are usually done at a design firm or architectural firm under the watchful eye of a professional designer.

The Qualities Employers Seek from Prospective Candidates
Many employers of interior designers want individuals who are proficient in using computer aided design (CAD) software. A basic understanding of engineering and architecture is also desirable.

Those seeking employment as interior designers should be creative, efficient, and have strong communication skills. They should also be constantly attuned to what is going on in the interior design industry in order to maintain a current perspective of what is fashionable and what is not.

The Job Outlook for Interior Designers
The future looks bright for interior design positions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be a 19 percent increase in interior design jobs from 2010 to 2018. Although there will be substantial openings for interior design jobs, the competition for these spots will be extremely high.

In 2008 the mean annual wage for interior designers was $51,020.

More Survival Tactics for Graphic Design Students
In our last article we pinpointed two important things to help you survive graphic design school — time management and not to constantly compare yourself with your fellow classmates. This time around, we’ll delve into some pro-active issues for you to try.

Find a Buddy or Two
Graphic design majors have quite a bit on their plates — they must learn and assimilate a variety of design methods, hone their graphic design skills, work on class projects, and tackle the academics related to art history, trends, and design. All of this can become overwhelming if you don’t have a few friends to support you.

Graphic design majors encounter unique challenges and situations that non-liberal arts majors do not normally come across. Graphic design students must constantly rely on their creativity, artistic talents, and design skills to be successful in their classes. This heavy reliance on imagination and originality can sometimes be quite draining.

Establishing a few close friendships in graphic design school can bolster morale and self-confidence through the sharing of common experiences, to bounce ideas off one another, and to generate a support system that all can benefit from in your group.

The creative process can sometimes be a lonely one, but if you support others, they’ll also support you as well.

Get Involved in Classwork
It is easy to become passive in class. Most of our past educational experiences have placed us in situations where we listen quietly while the teacher presents the material. But in graphic design school, the situation changes because the things you learn are creative in nature and cannot be passively internalized. In other words, you must do and not just listen.

The art projects and assignments that are given to you help form the basis of what you need to learn in order to qualify for jobs in graphic design, media, or other related fields.

Some students just do enough to get by but in doing so they miss out on the crucial elements of discipline and process of producing professional quality work. Try not to look at your art projects as busy work, but see them as building blocks for your artistic and design skills.

Ask Questions in Class
Your professor is there to teach you, but also take advantage of the process of asking questions in class to clarify or expand upon a particular topic.

If something is not clear to you, chances are that you are not the only one in class that doesn’t’ understand.

Try to schedule an appointment with your instructor in topics that you need extra help in. You are paying for your education and getting the help you need is not outside the boundaries of school protocol.

Next Time…
As your graduation from your graphic design school approaches, your thoughts will be centered on looking for a job in graphic design, web design, illustration, photography, or one of the other media arts. In the next article we’ll look into the typical work environment and qualifications that a typical job in graphic design requires.

The Standard Resume vs. Creative Resume
When you seek employment, one of the first things your potential employers will want from you is your resume.

People who are looking for a job in business or retail sales will use a standard resume form. It includes contact information, experience, education information, and other facts about the person.

But what if you are seeking a job as a graphic designer, illustrator, or other position in the arts or media? Does a “standard” looking resume work or should you express some of your creativity in your resume?

If you take a look at the numerous books regarding resume writing, most of them will give you a limited selection of resume styles.

But that’s for “regular” jobs, not necessarily for graphic designers or artists.

Should your resume be different and creative? This question isn’t an easy one to answer because each firm, interviewer, or human resource person is wired differently. If your resume is different or stands out, depending on who is on the other end of that resume, you may get noticed or a frown.

The Examples
We’re not sure if the following resumes landed a job for the applicants or not, but they are certainly eye-catching, and different. Look over these examples and decide if you want to try a few of the ideas.

Perhaps the best bet is to have two resumes available for passing out — one that is “standard” and the other one more “creative.” If possible, you can ask the person who is handling resumes which one is more appropriate.

Without further ado, here are the examples.

Will a resume like this be taken seriously or will it be an attention grabber? Click on the image to see the full-sized resume.
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In our next example, the graphic artist has taken the approach of formatting his resume to look like formula guide cards. Click on the image to see the full- sized resume.
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The next example is based upon an old newspaper ad section. In this case however, the graphic designer is selling himself. The idea is interesting and makes reading his resume fun. Click on the image to see the full- sized resume.

As you can see, the variations of what you can do for a creative resume can be almost limitless. But the question remains, when is it appropriate to try a resume such as the ones displayed?

Next Time
We’ll explore a few more creative resumes and talk about what a successful graphic design resume should include. We’ll also try to answer the question of when it is appropriate to use creative resumes.
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The Job Interview Questions Everyone Knows About
At the heart any job interview is a vetting process that relies heavily on a candidate’s response to questions. Interviews can be challenging if you don’t know what sorts of questions will be asked.

But virtually everyone is familiar with the “standard issue” questions:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What are your plans for the next five years?
• What can you bring to this company if you are hired?

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While these questions have worked in the past to screen individuals for job positions, the mere fact that they are so well recognized by the general public has taken much of the edge and usefulness away from them.

This doesn’t mean that you won’t be asked these questions during a job interview, but you should also be prepared for questions that are “outside the box.”

Questions That Make You Think
Firms are using an alternative interview method based upon behavioral responses from potential hires.

Questions that are behaviorally based try to determine how well a job candidate may fit into the company based upon the person’s performance on previous jobs.

Behavioral interview questions can reveal how a job candidate reacts under pressure, how well the individual works with others, and how creative the person is in problem solving.

Some of the behavioral questions you may encounter during a job interview are:

• What did you do about coworkers that were uncooperative and difficult to work with?
• When you didn’t agree with your supervisor or manager about something job related, what did you do?
• When you were criticized about your performance on a project you were working on, what did you do?
• Tell me three things you would change about your last job and why?
• Give me an example of how you motivated other coworkers to do better in their work.
• Tell me about a time when you were able to use your creativity and problem solving skills to complete a difficult project or request.
• Tell me what you did when your design for a project wasn’t working out as planned.

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Make Sure You Can Remember
Behavioral interview questions dig deep into your past, so make sure you are prepared to answer questions of this sort. If you just graduated from a graphic design school, the questions you are asked will be in relation to your school experience.

Next Time
We’ll wrap up this series with the topic, “Things Job Interviewers Won’t Tell You.”

In this upcoming article we’ll explore what the interviewer is looking for in a job candidate, what things that can fail you during the interview, and whether you should accept the job offer.

The Job Interview
Upon your graduation from graphic design college, the next step is to look for a job.

The job interview process can be mystifying, but in this job interview series, we list pointers and tips that can help you to interview successfully.

What to Do During an Interview
In part one of Interview Tips for Graphic Artists and Designers, advice was given on what to do in preparation for a job interview in graphic arts.

But what can you do during the interview to make it go smoothly?

Here are some tips:

• Be Yourself. This bit of wisdom is rarely given but is very useful in defusing any jitters you may have during the interview. It’s OK to say, “I’m a little nervous,” to the interviewer. The human resources person or potential boss understands this. Putting on a veneer of self-confidence rarely works and is usually quite transparent, so be yourself. Your honesty will be appreciated.

• Talk. Try to be straightforward with your answers and avoid long pauses or periods of silence in your responses. Part of the interview process is to evaluate your communication skills. If you are naturally quiet, that is fine. Just be prepared to speak more than you usually do during the interview.

• Ask Questions. Although job interviews are sometimes thought of as a one-way street — the interviewer asks questions while the interviewee answers, this isn’t necessarily the best approach for job candidates to take. If a question doesn’t make sense, ask for clarification.

• Demonstrate. If your portfolio is reviewed by your interviewer during your interview, you can offer information on what role you played in designing the pieces. Was it a team project or did you produce the work on your own? The interviewer may ask you what creative processes you used to arrive at your designs.

• Technical Terms. In any job there is a specific amount of jargon you need to know and understand. Your interviewer may present questions that are technical in nature such as, “What do you think the CMYK mix for the color of a red fire engine truck would be?” Brush up on your graphic arts terminology.

The Importance of Education
Getting a chance to interview for a design job can be a very exciting and nerve racking experience.

Your artistic talents are laid out for all to see and your work stands on its own to make or break the job deal and this certainly can be a little stressful.

But along with talent is the necessity to get a well-rounded education in your specific field of design.

If you are contemplating a career as a graphic artist, illustrator or media professional, graphic design schools can be of immense help in providing the career training you need to prepare for jobs in design.

The Next Time
What sort of questions will you be asked during the interview process? Should you take the job if the company makes you an offer? What else can you do to increase your chances of landing a job? We’ll cover these topics and more in the next few sessions.

Rethinking Remodeling
Interior designers face new challenges in today’s economy. Potential clients are not only looking for excellence in taste and functionality, they also want their remodeling to be professional, and affordable.

Times are changing; interior designers who make adjustments can remain competitive even in a down economy.

The idea is to adjust to smaller project budgets and maximize results.

Cut Costs Not Quality
There are several ways to work within the budget of your clients by carefully selecting options that will save them money, while also fulfilling the parameters for remodeling their home.

• Prioritize the most important wants of your client first and eliminate non essentials.

• Instead of using marble for counter tops and wood for floors, try using laminates or refinishing to save costs.

• For major cost savings, avoid knocking down walls. Work within the allocated space available.

• Refinish cabinets instead of replacing them.

• Select lighting, carpeting, or furniture from warehouse outlets rather than designer retail stores

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Home Staging: An Alternate Income Source
What does a home stager do? Think of the job as redecorating a home on a quick turn around to give it the highest curb appeal in order to sell the house. Home stagers remove clutter, rearrange or replace furniture, do moderate landscaping, and enhance the overall look of the house.

Home Staging Sells Houses
Why is this service important for home sellers? Jan Van Horne of Coldwell Banker Realty said, “Typically, a potential buyer has made up their mind ten seconds after they step in the front door. They were already forming an opinion as they pulled into your driveway!” Putting the best foot forward, in this case, is essential in increasing the chances of selling a client’s house.

Give It a Try
Home staging affords more flexibility because more projects can be done in the same time as a three month project in remodeling one home.

Give home staging a try. This side business may help you weather the economic storm until the economy recovers. For students or recent graduates, home staging may be a great alternative career.