As that time of the year approaches, I thought suitable to write a short article for 3rd/4th year degree/HND students regarding Degree Shows. Back when I was on the ‘home straight’ of my third and final year of University, a huge ‘department-wide focus’ started on the preparation for the impending release into the big bad world. Finding a job.
I studied Graphic Design (Ba) at university and along with several other creative courses in the department, the lecturers helped us prepare our ‘Degree Show’. Our degree show essentially consisted of us fine tuning and presenting a series of portfolios alongside printed banners of our select work.
With dissertations finally off for marking, and no further projects to finish, this showcase was then displayed along with sandwiches and wine to the friends and family of the students. One important thing that they didn’t really prepare us for was the fact that industry professionals could also be attending. Maybe they did say something to us, but I was not as prepared as I could have been.
The point that I am trying to make is that local design companies do go to degree shows, often anonymously , in search of talented students with the intention of offering placements and potentially careers. During the opening night of my degree show, several people came to talk to me about my work. At first I just assumed that they were mature students or possibly relations of fellow students. As the evening progressed I suddenly realised that I was having mini-interviews with local web design and graphic design companies. I couldn’t believe it.
A few days later, after the weekend, I accrued several voice-mails with email addresses and phone numbers to contact for interviews. I was lucky, despite potentially missing an opportunity, I went to a couple of interviews and managed to get a foot on a rung of the career ladder.
In terms of where I am going with this article, looking back at when I was preparing for my Degree Show, I would have possibly done things a little differently. Those things being the advice that I would give to all students who are about to start their preparations of finishing at university and preparing for their degree show:
- Put as much effort in as possible in the presentation and selection of your work that is to feature in the show.
- Spend time, money and attention in the design and printing of business cards for the show. Business cards at degree shows are like mini-cv’s. If people like them, they will pick one up.
- Listen to the advice given to you by lecturers and teachers.
- Stay with your work on the opening evening. People may want to come and talk to you about your designs and ideas. A lot of students tend to miss the point, have a drink and make themselves unavailable to their potential employers!
- Treat the degree show like a job interview. Several of my close friends who I graduated with similarly were offered jobs with companies off the back of the degree show.
- Keep an eye out for Ex-Students ( Some of which are now employed ) the successful ones often come back to the degree shows year after year to meet up with the lecturers and to check out the latest students. Sometimes, like in my case, to offer interviews.
You only get one degree show as a student, don’t waste the opportunity!
