What does Entry Level Designer mean to you?
It's been many years since I've met an Entry Level Designer that measures up to the bar at R.BIRD.
That's not said lightly or for bragging rights. It's a concern.
As every year goes by, our minimum expectations for Entry Level Designer gets deeper and more difficult. At the same time, the candidates we see emerging from academia move farther away from meeting the minimum.
When we hire Entry Level Designers we are more likely to be creating added burdens for the company. That is: more time (and cost) invested in managing and nurturing the talent with reduced output (a.k.a. "lowered expectations").
Of course, "everyone needs to start somewhere." But, in my mind, the starting should have begun much earlier in the cycle.
Take a look at the current recruiting page at RBIRD.com.
I attempted to post the same skills description as a single job opening ad on Creative Hotlist.
It was refused.
Why?
The director said, "this is clearly not one position, it is several. Please create separate job listings...."
I don't think so.
That list of skills and pursuits is an achievable - I think, necessary - model for designers at all levels. So, we continue our looking.
What does Entry Level mean to you?
Now I am not normally the type who is inclined to post on new blogs, most of the time I am quite the lurker. But this post really caused an immediate reponse in me, and it went something like this (pardon the length, but it was due to lack of time).
I certainly see nothing wrong with wanting top-notch talent on a lean team, since in essence every team member you add should be a multiplier. Especially when creating cross-disciplinary teams, it is vital for every member to add value, taking the combined effort of the team to an even greater level. Entry-level designers need to have an entrepreneurial spirit (without the arrogance of a rock star), a thirst for knowledge (with the humble nature to admit when they, in fact, do not know something), and an innate intellect for brand identity as a whole (that it entails every touchpoint the consumer interacts with, not just the Brandmark and stationery system). Having the software skills and design execution should be a given; it is the marketing and business acumen, the constant strive to become better, and the passion for the craft of true communication design that sets the true ‘entry-level designer’ apart from the flock.
How do you feel?
