Advice for Young Professionals (#9 in a Series)

The present may be challenging, but the future is yours

When I graduated from college in 1973, there weren’t any jobs. It was a time of long lines at the gas pump, the Whole Earth Catalog, Watergate and the end of the Vietnam War. If you had a degree in the arts, you were pretty much out of luck. No one was hiring.

A newly graduating designer today might feel some of that same angst. With this in mind, here’s my perspective:

A design education is even more valuable now. You have the tools to create, integrate, analyze, synthesize and visualize vast amounts of information. This is a skill set that will be in huge demand as we experience global economic and cultural shifts.

Learn everything you can about your prospective employers—their projects, people and culture. Stay in touch with them in as many ways as you can think of. Once is not enough. If you can’t find a position in the short term, don’t give up. Add to your “experience bank.” Take a business class. Learn a new language. Volunteer.

Time is on your side. Firms will soon be hiring again, and they’ll be looking for your energy and talent. You offer amazing fluency in technology, including social networking and collaboration techniques. You also bring a balanced perspective of family, friends and work, which enhances your ability to be creative.

Designers are the ambassadors of change. I can’t wait to see your next design!

~Janet Martin is president of Communication Arts, Inc., a multidisciplinary design firm in Boulder.