Thursday, September 22, 2011

Interior Designer at Four IV

Dezeen Jobs strikes again! Dezeen has posted another job opening. It seems that London is becoming a hot spot for new career opportunities. Four IV is looking for an Interior Designer.


Here is the job description:

This is a great opportunity to join our busy and thriving interiors team on a 6-12 month contract, to lead and drive some key international projects both internally and externally with the project team, consultants and suppliers.
As senior designer you will have strong verbal and written communication and client liaison skills, with both on site and roll out experience.
You will have a thorough knowledge of construction detailing and proficiency in preparing drawing packages and specifications, as well as experience in project scoping and management of project budgets and deadlines.

To read more about the job click here.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Landing Your Next Job, Courtesy of LinkedIn

In today's economy many students are concerned about landing a job after they have graduated. Hopefully, you have created a LinkedIn profile, after reading previous posts about the benefits of having a profile. Have you ever thought that LinkedIn could be a potential place to land your next job? LinkedIn is becoming a more popular place to find a job. It is also a place to connect with top business professionals.


Mashable has published an article about some essentials to landing a job on LinkedIn. There are 13 essential tips you should consider when it comes to your profile.

Complete your profile 100%. It is not unusual for an potential employer r headline to run a Google search for your first and last name. More often then not, a LinkedIn profile with be one of the top five results. Make sure your profile is complete and accurate.

Add a compelling headline. You want your profile to stand out from the other possible candidates. Your headline is the first thing that will be seen by a hiring manager, therefore, create a compelling headline that will set you apart. Make sure your headline is clear and concise. You are telling people who you are and what you do.

Add all past and current work positions. It's important to include your past and current work experience.  The hiring manager could have hired another individual from the same company you have listed in your work experience. 

Give and receive recommendations. The more people that can vouch for you, the better. The best way to receive recommendations is to give them first. Take the time to right recommendations for people you know, trust, and like. The more you give, the more you receive. 

Connect with everyone. Some say that you should only connect with others you know. Then what become of networking? The point of networking is to connect with others and then those connections grow into new connections. Therefore, connect, connect, connect!

Be concise in your message. Provide a preview for people so they know what is coming next. Get them facts about yourself, like the skills you possess and inject your personality into your profile. Make sure to add honors or awards that you have received. Provide information so other can connect with you.

Stay active. Nothing is worse than letting a potential employer see your profile stagnant. Each time you take action on your profile, it shows up on the home page of everyone you are connected to. This creates a chain reaction by allowing your picture and name to be seen by all your connections, possibly causing them to keep you in mind if a job opening becomes available.

Join niche groups. Groups are a great way to find a job boards with new jobs being added on a regular basis. As a member you are given an advantage because you are able to send messages to almost everyone without upgrading your account.

Create a group. Why not create a group instead of just being a member? Being a creator of a group has its perks. You are able to send messages once a week to all your members, and you're perceived as a leader or decision maker.

Add your honors and awards. Adding your honors and awards is just another way to add to your profile. Employers want to hire winners and those who like to excel.

Answer questions. You an add an 'Answers' widget on the right-hand side of your LinkedIn home page with the industry topic you know most about. When a question pops up answer it! Provide as much information as possible. Really give your two cents when answering the question.

Import your blog and Twitter feeds. There are many ways to add to your profile. Social networking is becoming more popular, why not link your Twitter account or blog?

Connect with others. When you help two people without asking for anything in return, you leave a lasting impression on all involved. This will help amplify your own job prospects, as people will be more likely to help you achieve your goals in the future.


To read the complete article click here.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Graduate Portfolio Day


Hey students,

Are you thinking of furthering your education? The National Portfolio Day Association was created in 1978, solely for the planning and organization of portfolio days. The National Portfolio Day Association is hosting Graduate Portfolio Day.  

You may be wondering what is Graduate Portfolio Day. It is an opportunity for students who have completed their Bachelor's degree and are looking to further their education. This even provides prospective MFA, MArch, and MA students immediate feedback on their portfolios. It also gives students a chance to learn about  the curriculum, faculty, application process, and other information from a  number of colleges.

Graduate Portfolio Day is not an examination, nor a competition. Students should not expect to gain admission or scholarship to colleges visited during the event. It is gives students a chance to get specific information about the quality, depth and consistency of portfolio requirements required at the graduate level.


Check out the Graduate Portfolio Day schedule for 2011-2012.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Upcoming Student Competition Hosted by nextGEN

Calling all students!

Are you interested in showcasing your work to industry professionals? nextGEN is proud to be hosting an upcoming student competition. The competition will be October 2011.  The competition is open to ALL interior design students currently attending an accredited design program.

We will be posting more information about the competition, so please keep checking back.


Friday, September 9, 2011

Project Architect at Piercy Conner

Here is another yet another career opportunity outside of the United States. Dezeen Jobs made another post this morning, on Twitter, about an job opportunity with Piercy Conners Architects.



Here is what they are looking for:

We are currently seeking a project architect with exceptional design and detailing skills for our Clerkenwell studio. Piercy Conner has a very diverse range of work in the UK and internationally. Applicants must have experience of leading design teams on complex design projects.
Piercy Conner make extensive use of 3D CAD and physical modelling and digital illustration. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate relevant skills in these areas.
Candidates will be fluent in English and qualified to work in the UK.

 To read more about the position click here.

Need Help Sprucing Up Your Resume?

When it comes to creating your resume put some thought into the actual design of it. You do not want your resume to end up in the "unqualified" pile just because the design and layout of your resume is not aesthetically pleasing. 

Especially in the interior design industry you have more creative freedom. Employers receive tons of resumes. Therefore, it is crucial to have your resume stand out. Create a resume that causes a potential employer to stop and thoroughly read through your resume. A good resume is the first step to getting a call back for an interview.

This image has been floating around the internet. Take the time to read through it. It is very beneficial. 

Infographic_modern_resume

Dressing for an Interview

It's the night before your big interview and the question your mind is "what do I wear?" With unemployment rates being at an all-time high, first impressions are more important than ever before. Your goal of the interview is to get the job. Therefore you should dress the part.

An outfit can help or hurt your chances of being successful. In the first few seconds of meeting your interviewer, their brain will be trying to make the hiring decision based on the only information they have; the way you look. Can they imagine you doing the job? Can you fit in with the company's culture?

How does your outfit impact you? Can you picture yourself doing the job your are interviewing for? You picked the clothes you're wearing, so you MUST confident and physically comfortable! It's your time to show them what you are made of!

Times have changed when it comes to dressing for an interview. Having a pop of color in your interview attire is becoming more acceptable. However, if you do chose to have color in your outfit make sure it isn't too "loud." If your outfit is distracting it could be harmful to your chances of landing your dream job.


Here a few things to consider when dressing for an interview.

Dress conservatively: do not show too much skin or leg
Do not OVER accessorize: stick with simple, classic pieces of jewelry
Keep your make-up and perfume light: you do not want to knock out your interviewer
Keep your suits and separates neutral in color
Wear a jacket or blazer: it adds some extra polish to you outfit

There are many good resources to help you dress for success. If you would like more tips on how to dress for your next upcoming interview click here.

Happy job searching and interviewing!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Back to School

It's the being of September and most students have already started back to school. It's time to buckle down and get back into the groove of researching, building models, sketching, giving presentations, and much more. As interior design students we try to make to most of our time in and out of the classroom. Sometimes it can feel like a balancing act when it comes to school work and extracurricular activities. Here are some suggestions to make the most out of your time studying interior design in school.



Join RDI and become apart of nextGEN or join other professional organizations at the student level. It can never be said enough how important it is to join a professional organization. Being a student member of a professional does not only expand your knowledge of the design field but it also allows you meet and network with professionals in the industry. There are many avenues within the interior design field, it is helpful you navigate towards your future!

Calling all interior design students, enter design competitions. Entering a design competition can seem a little intimidating. However, when you participate there is an opportunity for your work to be seen by professionals in the industry. Plus it is something you can add to you resume and it a great addition to your portfolio! Many interior design professional organizations, manufacturers, and design magazines sponsor many of the design competitions out there. Therefore, get your work out there and show the design industry how talented you are! 


Start to build your design vocabulary. The interior design field has been given many occupational stereotypes. Be an intelligent and articulate when it comes to speaking about the design industry.

Find yourself a mentor. Don't be afraid to ask a design professional or even your teacher to be your mentor. Many professionals are happy to look at your portfolio. They can give you valuable feedback to better your portfolio or resume. This will be helpful because you can find out what professionals are looking for when it comes to potential employees.

Intern, intern, intern. Internships are such an important aspect for developing what design service or market you would like to enter. Paid or not, you will gain valuable experience. Some internships can lead to job opportunities. Finding a internship in today's economy can be a little discouraging, however, that is why developing a portfolio is so important.

Start building your portfolio, resume, and/ website. The interior design industry is gravitating towards the "digital-age." Therefore, carrying full size drawings and cumbersome portfolios is becoming more uncommon. It is becoming easier to create your own website or digital portfolio. There are many different resources you can use to start building your digital footprint like BloggerWixWordPressTumblr, and Posterous.


Learn how to market yourself. As student and emerging professional it is important to market yourself. The job market is becoming more competitive. You want to be the one that employers remember. In a sense you are your own brand, make it a go one! Read more about marketing yourself here.


We how that these suggestions will help you have the more reward experience as an interior design student. Remember once you have graduated and are a young professional don't stop educating yourself! The interior design industry is ever changing, therefore, there is always something new to learn. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Everybody Needs a Little Kate

"Kate Spade New York is known for its utilitarian yet sophisticated handbags in unexpected colors and patterns. But who, exactly, is Kate Spade? The brand was acquired by Liz Claiborne, Inc. in 2007, and so began an exploration into Kate and the brand identity. 'It’s not about Kate herself, but rather the modern, progressive woman she represents,' explains Robin Kramer, president of New York–based Kramer Design Group. "
Source Contract Design


Kramer Design Group didn't create a traditional storefront. They created  an experience of the Kate Spade customer. They created a vestibule window display inviting the customer to enter into the world of Kate Spade.


It seems that "Kate" has just left the room. With hair accessories left on the table, handbags hanging on the back of chairs, and shoes on the floor as if they have been kicked off. It is also reminiscent of a closet as well.  


Such a fun store design. There is great use of bold, vivid colors and patterns. A girl can never go wrong with a little Kate in her life!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

A True Blue Company

Levi's has been around for many years. This brand has been apart of American culture throughout the years. The brand has certainly flourished with the growth in brand loyalty. New York based design firm Anderson Architects was behind this store in the Meatpacking District. This New York Levi's store is on the same block as Stella McCartney, Diane von Furstenberg, Hugo Boss, and Alexander McQueen in the Meatpacking District.


To reference the hard-working heritage, working class Americans, of the brand by using simple materials such as polished concrete, raw steel, glass, and plywood. The design of the store is so simple yet so effective. It is reminiscent of a factory were the employees would be wearing Levi's jeans.


Even though Levi's came from a humble beginning, it still needs to be able to compete with the demands of the area and other high-end clothiers where a certain level of customer service is expected. The fixtures were designed to showcase the premium and quality Levi's delivers.


Levi's has certainly meet the demand of other high-end clothier. The store has a on-site tailor for on sport alterations. Having these on spot alternations creates a more individual garment for its customers.


Even though times have changed Levi's still channels itself to its humble beginnings.