What will I wear? Will I get my own desk? How will I remember everyone’s coffee orders? Will my coworkers like me? Will I actually get any design work? I wonder how many paper cuts I will get this summer from filing papers all day…

These are only a few of the questions that were whirling around my mind like a tornado of anxiety the night before my first day as a graphic design intern at The Focus Group. I hadn’t had a real graphic design job before this, so I had no clue what the next day would entail. This was a small stepping-stone in my career as a designer, but a stepping-stone nonetheless. I didn’t want it to crumble and leave me working at McDonalds the rest of my life.  Fortunately, through all the Google research and advice from my family and friends, I was able to put my big girl pants on and walk into the office like I hadn’t a care in the world. This week will make a full month that I have been an intern, and I have already learned more than I could have ever imagined.

Here are a few tips that may help you ease into your dream internship and possibly jumpstart your career as a graphic designer:

1. Do Your Research

The more you know about the company you are interning for (or looking to intern for), the better. Read up on whom their clients are. Look at past work and see if it is something that interests you. Examine current employee bios to see whom you will work for or against. If anything, knowing all of this will at least get you brownie points with your boss for knowing your stuff.

2. Analyze Your Finances

If you are offered an unpaid internship, do you turn it down? It depends on your financial situation and lifestyle.  While most internships these days are paid, unfortunately, not all are.  You may need to figure out ways to scrimp by so you can land your dream internship. The more flexible you are, the more offers you will receive. Being willing to work for no pay is also a good way of saying that you are ok with just gaining valuable experience.

3. Ask Questions

You are interning because you still have a lot to learn about graphic design. Don’t be afraid to annoy your superior designers. Gaining a new intern, they knew what they were signing up for. They want to pass down their skills to the younger generation. You may think you know how to do something, but your coworkers may have a better solution. Be open to change, and don’t act like you know everything.

4. Show Them You Have Skills

You weren’t hired for nothing. Your creative director obviously felt that you had potential, so don’t let him or her down! When asked to create a design, create it specifically how it was asked of you, plus some. Giving a variety of designs to clients shows that you spent a lot of time and effort on them. Everyone will appreciate your hard work. You never know, the client or your boss may like your design better than their initial idea!

5. Keep Expanding Your Portfolio

A lot of the work you do during your internship may be able to boost your portfolio. Ask your studio and the client if they are ok with you putting studio work in your portfolio. As long as you are honest about your role in the project, not many people have a problem with helping a student bulk up his or her portfolio.

6. Keep In Touch

Make sure to stay in touch with the studio. You don’t have to visit them ever week, but an email or phone call now and then wouldn’t hurt. It may just land you a freelance job or a full time position down the road.

And that’s that! Six easy tips that can help you land an awesome internship, get the most out of the experience and hopefully open doors to future opportunities as a graphic designer.

Shannon Hill
Graphic Design Intern