We’ve spoken with many designers who pivoted careers and jumped between jobs in their first years after graduation, but what about graduates who find a good fit on their first try? Nick has been with Think Company since he was hired there out of school, and he chalks it up to discovering a passion for UX as Abby’s student in his senior year. Join us as we talk about how to negotiate a salary, what makes a strong UI/UX portfolio, and why you shouldn’t be nervous about not knowing your design passion during your college years.

This season is all about designers’ transitions from school to the working world – but what about graduates who went on to give back and become educators? In this episode, we chatted with Dylan Ball about his journey from school to work… and back to school again, this time as a Computer Technology teacher. In the process, Dylan shares what he learned about building professional skills at design school, spotting red flags in a potential employer, and honing in on what line of work brings you joy. 

From LinkedIn networking to rejections in the interview stage, job hunting isn’t easy – take it from Vash Persaud, who sat down with us to talk about her transition from school to her fellowship at AdFellows. In this episode, Vash breaks down how her support network at school led to opportunities in the professional world, her experience working at a design fellowship, and why you should always explore new connections (even if they don’t lead straight to jobs.) Tune in as we explore the world of building a professional presence after school.