If you want a job after college, great grades and recommendations alone don’t cut it in today’s job market.
What really gives you an advantage is getting some real-world experience before you graduate. You can do it through internships, cooperative work arrangements or alternative learning experiences.
In 2010, 73 percent of employers said that they wanted higher education to put more emphasis on students learning to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings, according to a survey conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Companies want to see experience beyond the classroom.
That’s exactly what Savannah College of Art and Design students get when they take interactive design courses sponsored by Kids II Inc., a global manufacturer of infant and toddler furniture and toys, headquartered in Alpharetta.
“We started this partnership with SCAD three years ago because our company thrives on innovation and we had great respect for what SCAD does in developing students in the creative arts and with the latest technologies,” said Steve Burns, vice president of product development in gear product lines. “It made sense to collaborate.”
Kids II takes 24 students annually into its product design program and contest. Divided between gear and toy design, the students are asked to develop new concepts for products. They work with company and SCAD instructors to refine their concepts for possible production. Company designers teach in Savannah, and students visit the Kids II facilities in metro Atlanta to see the process at work.
“The classes give students real-world experience, and it gives us exposure to new creative talent,” said Burns. “Students learn the very real challenges of maintaining design intent while overcoming market obstacles like cost or manufacturing processes.”
Students emerge with stronger portfolios, and the top 12 innovators earn a trip to the company’s offices and factories in Hong Kong and China. In some cases, students also earn an internship or land a job.
Aaron Flores took the toy design class last year, graduated from SCAD in May and was hired by Kids II in July as a junior product designer.
“You have to work hard and earn the right to get into these classes, but there’s no comparison designing in the controlled atmosphere of the classroom and for the real market, where anything can happen,” Flores said. “For the real world, you have to consider product integrity, safety, industry standards and regulations, marketing and manufacturing issues.”
SCAD students present their concepts to a panel of industry designers, marketers and manufacturers. “Presenting and getting feedback from people with different points of view changes the way you think,” Flores said. “You start grounding your designs in reality.”
Flores enjoys the creative freedom and variety of his new job and credits it to the interactive class. “SCAD offers a number of these types of classes that partner with industry. I took three before I graduated, and they helped prepare me for work. I tell students to take them. You won’t get this kind of experience by just going to class.”
Proving his worth in an internship earned Willis Sprayberry an assistant engineer job with Doppler Studios in Midtown.
“When you watch a real engineer mix a record for an artist who is paying big bucks for studio time and knows exactly what he wants, you start to get a grasp of what the job entails. It’s fast-paced and your client may not have a whole lot of patience,” said Sprayberry. “When you’re in a scenario with real money and lives being impacted, that shapes your decisions and molds your skills. An internship is a true application of theory into practice.”
He interned with Doppler Studios while attending the SAE Institute, a school for audio engineering technology in Atlanta. The job offer sprang from an emergency need at the studio and came soon after he graduated in 2008.
“I got the opportunity because I’d worked hard as an intern and earned their respect,” he said. Promoted to engineer a year later, he’s worked with top recording stars such as Ludacris, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Akon and Nelly.
“We get 300 to 400 applicants a year for six internship spots,” said Sprayberry. “I tell students that persistence pays off. Apply early and keep seeking internships that fit your goals. With so many applicants, rejection may not be personal, so keep your skills up and keep applying.”
Interns should dress professionally and always be willing to go above and beyond when needed. Flexibility is valued, and hard work will get you remembered.
“Develop your strongest relationship with the guy who holds the job you’d like to have and learn everything you can," Sprayberry said. "This is the start of your professional network.”
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