From industry leaders, top tips for junior interior designers

Your Studio creative director, Howard Sullivan:"Try everything and anything. Although internships are often criticized, they can be a great way to expand your knowledge beyond college. Make sure you do your research about the company interviewing and that you are prepared. You can arrange the case studies in your portfolio according to the practice to which you are presenting. You can also link your work with other influential cases to show you are aware of the wider context of design. Don't forget to practice your presentation with a friend.

Fitch creative director John Regan:"Aim high, persist... persistence will get you the results you desire."

Jill Higgins, KKD partner:Keep your letters brief and to-the-point. We don't have the time to read essays. Double, triple and triple-check CVs for spelling errors. There are so many CVs we receive from graduates, that we need to reduce them. Although it sounds obvious, don't send a portfolio that is more than 8mb. Do your research before you agree to interview with a company. This doesn't mean just looking at their website. Visit a project they've done to form your own opinion.

George Gottl, chief executive officer of UXUS and co-founderDon't show only commercial projects, but your point of view. If your portfolio isn't complete enough, I recommend that you include personal work. This will allow us to understand the scope of your work and help us see how our visions for design should manifest.

Virgile & Partners creative lead Mario Brown:To keep up with the latest trends in communication, experiences, and events, it is important to maintain and expand your knowledge of brands similar to yours. Stay informed about the latest developments in architecture, design, digital and brand experience, as well as other creative fields. Keep an open mind and a passion for learning.

Dalziel & Pow design director Marcus King:Try everything. To get noticed, do internships and gain work experience. This will help you build connections with industry professionals. You can use all avenues to obtain a job interview. This includes asking your contacts and going to agencies. Keep in touch with people, even if you don't have a job opportunity at the moment. Businesses requirements change daily.

Shaun Clarkson ID founder Shaun Clarkson:Keep your focus clear and directional. Demonstrate thought process and demonstrate that you can understand and execute projects from beginning to end.

Dexter Moren Associates associate interior designer Lindsey Bean Pearce:Make sure that your portfolio is current. It is important to have a balanced portfolio that includes interior plans, layouts, Furniture, Fixtures, and Other Equipment (FF&E), and coloured graphical elevations. It is important to be able tell a story about how you got there. Sometimes, the story is more important than the final product.

HMKM associate director Richard Greenleaf:"Be flexible and open to working as a freelancer if you are offered it. Also, be willing to learn new things. Do not accept a job unless it is going to help you in your chosen career path. If your passion is fashion retail, don't work as an office designer. You may be pigeonholed. Without a track record, it may be difficult to move from office design to retail.

https://www.connectpos.com/artificial-intelligence-marketing-retail/

https://www.connectpos.com/what-persuades-people-to-try-a-new-retail-store/

https://www.connectpos.com/3-ideas-to-clear-summer-inventory/

https://www.connectpos.com/create-counting-procedures-for-inventory-audits/

https://www.connectpos.com/how-much-does-a-pos-system-cost/

What should you look for in a junior interior designer when interviewing them?

Your Studio creative director Howard Sullivan:"A passion for what you do and a connection to it. A willingness to learn and develop. It's vital that junior team members feel connected and switched on in order to maintain the practice's energy.

Fitch creative director John Regan:"Eagerness... A thirst for knowledge... A thirst for design and a desire to be a designer. Young designers should not expect to have all the tools they need for the industry. So a sponge-like design brain is essential. The rest will fall into place.

Jill Higgins, KKD partner:"A solid and varied skill set, enthusiasm and passion about design, initiative, intelligent thinking, willingness and ability to get involved and show the same level enthusiasm for mundane tasks as for more complex ones, confidence and modesty." A person who can bring something to the studio, both from a personal and social perspective.

George Gottl, UXUS chief executive officer, and co-founder:We are looking for designers who can express a story or concept in a physical space.

Virgile & Partners creative lead Mario Brown:"An exceptional communicator and influencer. Team-oriented. Be enthusiastic, persistent, resilient, and influential to transform ideas into concrete and practical plans. Creative problem solver, who can think outside the box to address client problems.

Shaun Clarkson ID founder Shaun Clarkson:"It is important to be able to adapt and move between jobs.

Dalziel & Pow design director Marcus King:There is a lot to be done in order to attract the best talent. Designers need to be able to show their passions and initiative in order for them stand out from the rest. I am looking for portfolios that aren't just filled with the same projects and don't show their peers, but also have work, interests, or practical experience that gives them an edge. They should ask themselves if they are showing enough passion and what makes them stand apart.

Dexter Moren Associates associate interior designer Lindsey Bean Pearce:A portfolio that showcases their best and most exciting projects. We want to interview people who are passionate about design. So, we always ask for a portfolio that showcases their best projects. You can also give us animations and tell us more about the story behind them.

HMKM associate director Richard Greenleaf:"Personality!" Are they outgoing, enthusiastic, and sparkly? Are they able to talk about their work well? Are they passionate about their work? We don't expect experience or depth of knowledge from a junior. However, we do want someone who is eager to learn and ambitious."

What are the most important skills that junior interior designers should demonstrate in their portfolios?

Your Studio creative director Howard Sullivan:An interview is basically a pitch. Your portfolio is your key tool. Edit, structure, and present your portfolio in a way that best represents you. It is amazing to see how a project turns from concept to design. This skill is very useful and will add energy to your interview.

Fitch creative director John Regan:We always strive for excellent sketching abilities. It's the fastest and most immediate way to communicate an idea without words.

Jill Higgins, KKD partner:"Graphic design sensibility" - Ability to lay out a page with control and white space, while also displaying a wide range of 2D and 3D computer skills. If you are skilled in hand sketching. It is best to not include any items that would lower the standard of your portfolio if you don't possess strong skills. Use colour and materials.

Virgile & Partners creative lead Mario Brown:Candidates should be able support multiple design projects simultaneously. It is important to have a good understanding of brands and the communication of brands.

Shaun Clarkson ID founder Shaun Clarkson:"Explain your technical abilities. Do not talk too much. Keep it brief and let the work speak for itself. Your portfolio will be ready in 20-30 minutes.

Dalziel & Pow design director Marcus King:Creativity is the key. I'm always looking for new ideas and innovative thinking. I enjoy seeing how these concepts come to life with style and the right materials. They are equally valuable problem solvers. It is important to recognize that designers can identify problems and have a desire to solve them.

Dexter Moren Associates associate interior designer Lindsey Bean Pearce:A portfolio should have a clear layout, a simple layout, and use good typeface throughout. If you are unsure of what layouts or fonts you should use, take a look at portfolios on Behance. A good mix of CAD should be used to showcase layouts, plans, elevations, and key sections. Adobe Photoshop is indispensable. You can use it to enhance your plans, add shadows, lighting, and other effects to elevations to create a stunning graphic. Use your freehand sketching skills to include it. It's important that you show off all your knowledge and techniques. Choose your most successful projects to show off. An interview should not be too long or boring. You should feel comfortable talking about your work and engaging with us about your ideas.

HMKM associate director Richard Greenleaf:Good standards in CAD drawing and 3D modeling are important, but what is most important to HMKM? The ability to communicate design ideas via sketching. We love sketches and sketch books. A good CAD drawing or rendering should be a requirement for all designers. Sketches are the only way a designer will show their design process, methodology, and thinking.