Three Parul University students got hired in different fields of design: a UI/UX designer, a graphic designer, and an industrial designer. The steps they took and the process they followed led them to the jobs of their fields. They took initiative, made their work visible, and said yes to real experience. Here is how to get a design job, drawn from what actually worked for them.
Taniya Mitra‘s journey is a remarkable one; she bypassed the usual route, where one has to work as an intern and then get into a full-time job role. She meticulously worked on her resume, collected her work, listed it in the portfolio, and attached it to LinkedIn, Indeed, and other public platforms so it would be easier for recruiters to access it. The recruiters found her profile through these platforms, were impressed by her style of work, and connected with her directly. The takeaway is to stay active on hiring platforms and keep your profile and portfolio up to date to increase visibility.
You learn more in one month of a real job than in a year of hypothetical college projects.
– Taniya Mitra
Take the Initiative to Find Opportunities
GurKiran Kaur did not wait for the opportunities; instead, she went to find them. Connect the agencies offering the role she was looking for, landed multiple interview offers and finalised the one that matched her goals. Through all these, she worked on herself, built her portfolio and worked on making her skills strong.
Puja Sarmah followed a similar route, entered the role through an internship, and with networking, she got a full-time role through her work.
In all three, the common thread is agency; they went looking, rather than waiting to be placed.
Grab Real Experience, However Small
The advice that they strongly believe in is saying yes to real-world experiences at an early stage. Even an internship of short duration or project work, be it part-time, grab it. Taniya, who worked on projects and internships, believes that a month of real work teaches you more than a year of hypothetical assignments. Real-world exposure gives you more learning than any other scenario: how to deal with clients, real obstacles and genuine stakes that a classroom cannot replicate.
When a portfolio is filled with real work apart from spec work, chances of getting new opportunities increase, creating a compounding advantage over peers who wait until graduation to start.
Also Read: Industrial Designing Careers and Puja Sarmah’s Experience
Build a Network Early
Networking is very important, and students should give weightage to it. Build a good professional network that helps you get opportunities. Through a strong network, you get referrals, recommendations, and a contact who remembers your work, so building genuine relationships with faculty, seniors, alumni and industry professionals is an investment that will help you during the hiring process. This is not about self-promotion so much as being known and being remembered by people who encounter real opportunities.
Understand What the Market Actually Wants
All three pointed out that you should prepare yourself and work around real demand, something that follows the market. Do research, find out which skills and roles companies are actively hiring for, master a few of them deeply rather than spreading thin, and keep an eye on how the industry is changing, including the rise of AI. Getting hired is far easier when your skills map onto what the market genuinely needs, which is a matter of research as much as talent. The interview itself is a separate skill, covered in how to stand out in a design interview.
FAQs
How do design students get their first job?
To find opportunities in the design field, you should build a strong portfolio, make it visible by attaching it to hiring platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.; actively research and contact the companies; do internships and work on small real/live projects; and last but not least, build a professional network. Several designers are discovered by recruiters through portfolios posted on public platforms, and many secure roles by directly approaching companies whose work matches their goals.
How important is an online portfolio for designers?
Very important. A visible, up-to-date online portfolio lets recruiters discover you directly, and it is often the single most decisive factor in getting hired, more than grades or attendance. Posting a well-organised portfolio on public platforms has led designers to be contacted directly by employers who liked their work.
Do you need campus placement to get a design job?
Not necessarily. Many designers find roles through their own initiative, researching companies, applying directly, posting portfolios online, networking, and taking internships. Building strong work and making it visible tends to be the most reliable route, and it puts a designer in control of their own career search.
What matters most for getting hired in design?
A strong body of real work, presented in a visible portfolio, combined with initiative, relevant in-demand skills, and practical experience. Employers value demonstrable skill and problem-solving over credentials alone, so building real projects, gaining industry exposure early, and mastering the skills the market actually needs matter most.
