I'm 25 years old and I have recently returned to resume my studies of product design and web design, 7 years ago I had started to do it, but for things of life, I had to abandon it.
And now I wanted to try it again, it's something I love, it's one of the few things I'm good at, and I would love to work in it someday.
So while I'm creating designs, making my portfolio and looking for that stamp that characterizes my designs from the rest, I got curious to look for the kind of requirements that companies ask for when hiring people.
In most remote job sites and similar, they always ask for senior/Lead product designers/Web Designer, so far I have not found companies that hire juniors or people like me who are looking for experience or looking for their first opportunity.
In this market, how do you get it, how do you get that experience?
I guess it can be just doing a lot of design or freelancing, but, I guess recruiters don't care if you're good but haven't worked for a company before.
What do you recommend me to do, where can I start? There are so many opportunities and resources, but I feel like they are for people who already have a long track record and experience.
Or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.
The only thing that I would add to the following answer from Perplexity.ai is to practice inhabiting the persona of the designer you aspire to be, for example: make it your identity, write about your experiences, develop and refine a design philosophy that you built in a digital scrapbook or personal knowledge manager.
Perplexity: " 1. Build a strong portfolio: - Focus on quality over quantity - Showcase diverse projects that demonstrate your skills - Include case studies explaining your design process - Highlight any real-world projects, even if unpaid
2. Gain practical experience: - Take on freelance projects, even small ones - Volunteer your skills for non-profits or local businesses - Participate in design challenges or hackathons - Create personal projects to showcase your abilities
3. Network and engage with the design community: - Attend industry events, meetups, and conferences - Join online design communities and forums - Engage with other designers on social media - Seek out mentorship opportunities
4. Develop additional skills: - Learn complementary skills like UI/UX, coding, or project management - Stay updated on industry trends and tools - Consider obtaining relevant certifications
5. Tailor your job search: - Look for internships or apprenticeships - Search for "junior" or "entry-level" positions - Consider reaching out to startups or smaller companies - Be open to related roles that can lead to design positions
6. Showcase your passion and willingness to learn: - Maintain a design blog or social media presence - Contribute to open-source projects - Participate in design competitions
7. Persevere and be patient: - Breaking into the industry takes time and effort - Don't be discouraged by rejection; use it as a learning opportunity - Keep refining your skills and expanding your network
Remember, everyone starts somewhere. Focus on continuous improvement, building relationships, and showcasing your unique perspective. With persistence and dedication, you can find your place in the design industry."
Good luck!
Until you have experience, some designs actually implemented, and evidence that companies will pay for your work, you only have your own opinion about how much value you actually offer. Enjoying doing something and spending a lot of time at it, assessing yourself as "good at it," unfortunately have little weight when looking for a job or clients.
Web design involves more than nice-looking mockups. It means knowing about what web browsers and the programming tools can do to make the designs work. It means thinking about different screen sizes and resolutions, the experience of mobile users, interactivity, user experience, accessibility.
Employers look for evidence that a candidate can work as part of a team, and within the larger organization. Obviously that places junior people trying to get their first job at a disadvantage, because employers have to take a chance on someone with no track record. Regardless of your portfolio you have to persuade potential employers (or freelance clients) that you can deliver and add value.
Right now a lot of companies have slowed or stopped hiring junior and entry-level people for technical and creative jobs. They don't have the resources or the good sense to hire promising but inexperienced candidates and mentor and grow their skills.
In general professional and personal connections work best. An experienced and connected recruiter can help, if you can find one who knows your field, and will take a chance on spending their time on an entry-level candidate in this market. Recruiters only get paid when they place someone in a job, so you can figure out how they allocate their time. Without some kind of inside track through contacts you will struggle along with hundreds of thousands of other people chasing a small number of jobs.
Good luck.