There are 3 ways by which you can get your foot in the door:
<aside> 🤝 Referrals Referrals from people working at the company you want to work at are the best way to get your foot in the door because it basically guarantees that your resume will be read by a recruiter. Note that this doesn't guarantee you an interview but at least guarantees that your application will be read.
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<aside> 💻 Applying Online (Job boards, LinkedIn) Mid size to large companies who are recruiting for interns typically post jobs on LinkedIn, their own website, or both. If there is a company that you want to intern at, make sure to check their website often and set an alert on LinkedIn for new open positions.
Additionally, applying early rather than waiting until the last minute is key because early applications are more likely to get read and be contacted for interviews rather than very late ones wherein most, if not all spots have already been filled.
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<aside> 💌 Cold Emails Cold emails are emails that you send to recruiters you don't know. Recruiters get a LOT of emails, so if you want to cold email them, make sure you:
Find the right recruiter: if you email a recruiter who is recruiting for a different position (say, senior product designers rather than product design interns), then they may not have the time to respond or forward your application to the right person.
Customize your email to the recruiter and their company: explain briefly why you would be a good fit for the role based on the job description they posted, and then attach your resume and link your portfolio website in the email for their convenience.
If you are planning to reach out to a small startup who likely doesn't have a full time recruiter yet, cold emailing their CEO or Designer is a good way to get your foot in the door. If you show your interest and enthusiasm for their company and the product they're building, then you are very likely to get a reply. If the internship opportunity doesn't work out, at the very least, the people you email could turn into good mentors who can guide you through your professional design journey.
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<aside> 💡 What kind of roles should I apply for? There are so many different but adjacent roles on the job market related to digital design: Product designer, UX/UI designer, UX designer, UI designer, interaction designer, visual designer, and more.
Do note that some companies use these roles interchangeably (or sometimes erroneously), so it is important to read the job description to know exactly what you will be doing. Use the job description to evaluate whether the job matches your interests and skillset.
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<aside> 🤔 What size of company should I be looking for? This is completely up to you! Big tech companies can give you the mentorship and structure that you need to develop your design craft, while startups can give you a more expanded skillset and the opportunity to try new things and wear many hats.
If you are recruiting with no prior internship experience, it may be easier to get your foot in the door by applying to small startups. Working at a small startup can help you build experience and gradually increase your confidence in your skills. It is also much easier to reach out to small startups to ask for an opportunity because the CEOs of those small startups are typically reachable by email or LinkedIn and are likely to need design help.
For your reference, here is a list of the different kinds of companies (size, type, etc.) that currently exist: Different kinds of companies you can apply to
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<aside> 🔥 What do I need in order to apply? You just need a resume and a portfolio website with case studies of past works you've done to apply. See the Recruiting Materials section on the previous page for helpful information on how to set these up!
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<aside> 📌 What personal processes/tools can I use to track all my applications? The designers we interviewed used different tools to help them go through the application process by tracking what companies they applied to and at what stage of the application process they were in. Here are some of the tools that they used:
• Google Sheets • Huntr.co • Google Docs/Word Document • Notion
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<aside> 🤝 Network and cold email designers for advice When we asked designers about the importance of networking to the recruitment process, we got some mixed answers. Some designers said that networking was very important in the beginning of their career since many companies preferred hiring people that were referred by current employees. On the other hand though, other designers said that it was not important at all and that most of their replies came from online applications.
Even if you choose to apply to companies online, it won't hurt to "network" and reach out to designers or student designers who are/were in the position you want to apply for. They will be able to tell you about what kind of work they actually do and therefore give you accurate advice on how to succeed in applying and interviewing at your dream company(ies).
Tip: Asking for a 15-30 minute call is appropriate so that you can actually get to know them and build a relationship with them as opposed to just having them type out an answer. It's also really important to customize your message to the person you're sending it to instead of sending a vague blanket message to everyone you plan on contacting. Look at their LinkedIn and portfolio and see if anything they believe in or have worked on in the past resonates with you or interests you.
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<aside> 🚪 Be active in your community
1. Be active in your school's design and tech community. Getting referred or mentored by peers or alumni in your school clubs/organizations is very helpful and can give you a big advantage over other applicants. If your school doesn't have a design or tech community, starting one will help you bring your school's designers together so that you can help each other throughout the recruitment process.
2. Go to networking events and job fairs hosted by your school or school organizations. Do note that while most companies at technical job fairs are looking for software engineers, there will be some that are open to hiring design interns as well. One designer we interviewed was able to get a design interview at an on-campus event by talking and engaging with the company even when they were primarily hiring for engineers only.
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<aside> 🦶 **Be strategic when applying to companies
2. Think about how your portfolio aligns with what the company you're applying to is looking for. "Again, think about the people who are reviewing your application, and do your best to connect your application to the company’s product/need." – Lawrence
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<aside> 👉 Overview of the Design Interview process
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