5 Secrets and Nuances which got me first design job from a Mechanical Engineer

Welcome to Design for Change. Thank you for staying tuning in with me. In this podcast, I'm going to be telling you what are the secrets and the nuances which I applied to get my first design job after having a five to six years of experience in engineering and how I switched myself as a designer. Right. So just take a lot of notes. I'm going to be telling you secrets as well as nuances in this podcast. First of all, I wanted to give you a small background. I was a mechanical engineer for the past five years, from 2013-18 when I did my mechanical engineering and then I worked into a company called tafe. I started as a career in graduate executive training where I interacted with engineers, designers, marketing, sales, R and D people, all these people, right? So, and I got a chance to interact with some of the senior people in our organization who make a strategic decision. So at that point of time, I was very much inclined towards getting management related jobs, mba, this, that, but. But the creative side is really a big thirst in my career. That was a big search for me also, which led me eventually to this particular design career. Okay, so if you really wanted to find out that is your real thirst and design is your real decision, first make sure some reason should be there, some intuition should be there, some clarity should be there in that, okay? Because that is a very, very big fuel and a thrust to really get you a proper job in design. Many people don't find this, many people don't know how to do it. So try to recollect what is the reason you have taken this decision. Try to take that one moment like one cause.

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Maybe a one good cause. So don't just see the effect. Effect is right now you are in the design field. But think about the cause. What really pulled you or maybe pushed you or maybe propelled you. Whatever you call that is the first thing which you will need to find out. Guys.

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After that I started choosing the best college in the country and I tried for multiple places and I got into one of the big colleges in India, which is nid. And then I did my design education. And interesting thing is that I have a very, very big mindset of an engineer, right? So it took me a lot of time to translate that into a how do I really design thinker thinks. How do a designer really thinks? Let me tell you guys, the moment when you ask how do a designer thinks and how should I also be tuning into that, it's a very first act of failure. You are again trying to copy someone or some strategy or somebody's intention. Right? That is why you need to be very careful in it took me a time to understand it's your own methodology, it's your own thinking and it's your own innate potential which was going to give you a first design job. Okay, this particular podcast is also to give you the outline of this. Whatever I discussed so far is damn important guys. Rather than the strategy, I would say this perspective is very important. If you are resonating with that, definitely you will pause this podcast and think about that moment. What is propelled you into this? Because without that, following some strategy like a rulebook or a textbook kind of an approach is not going to give you any difference in your outcome. Okay, so with this caution, I'm starting this particular information. The very first thing which has helped me. Okay, I'm just telling from my perspective, my experience, my way of guiding students. In fact, I have a lot of experience in handling students and helping them and guiding them for design jobs. Lot of pain points. I've worked with them, I've addressed them. Some of the students have got results in 30 days, 15 days, 45 days, two months. Some of them have not got results after three months also. So I've handled different variety of students, experienced students, freshers and people are coming from different background people who are working as a designer and they wanted to improve their career into 2x3x4 different category of people I worked in. So I'll tell you how I can relate with my experience as a guy who got a first design job. The very first secret which I'll be sharing you guys is try to find out the genuine reason why you are coming into design and you need to know how to tell it to the recruiters. Even if you're not telling your name or introducing yourself, tell why you wanted to become a designer and why you are choosing that particular organization to work in that. That is the first secret which made the first impression into the recruiter. Okay. In fact I would say that is the top priority reason which I really got hired. Also your portfolio, everything comes little later to that. The second important secret which showed me is the genuinity and the authenticity what you involved in your college projects, right? See, if you are someone who is looking for a job, you need to have a very good project. Maybe it could be a self made project or it could be some your own project or it could be an industry project, it could be your college academic project, it could be a sponsored internship. It's fine. You might be having a different category. Put your Heart and soul. And do your best in that case because that's going to really show you who you are as a person in your design skills. Right? So that is the second important element. And I took 30 minutes in my interview to explain that you need to create that engagement also with someone to make sure they're listening to 30 minutes in your project. You need to have that much of substance, right? I did eight months of work in my project. I summarized everything and that's what in fact the slot is only for 20 minutes in my interview. But seeing that the recruiter really extended me up to 5, 50 minutes. In fact, the next person coming to me has joined the waiting room and he told just wait guy and I'm completing Jagdish interview and call you. So that level of engagement is very, very, very, very important. How do you do it? Document everything, collect good pictures, neatly put it, collect either put it in a website or put it in your behance, paper or whatever medium you want. Try to make a storyfication and explain it in a very storytelling way. If you explain it in a storytelling way, people will have much more engagement. If you don't know how to tell a story for your project, go back to my earlier podcast. I detail it out 2, 3 different podcasts on why it is important to tell stories if you want to really hook your project to someone. Okay, the second secret, the third secret, what really got me hired is really showcasing that intention of vulnerable and openness. Lot of times what people make mistake is they want to hide themselves. They want to make a very blanket or kind of a layer when they wanted to talk to recruiters, right? It's not true, guys. It's opposite is true. You have to tell them what you are really good at. You have to tell them what you're not good at. You wanted to improve in that you're taking action in it, right? So see, I'll tell you one real case study, real story. One of my recruiter asked Jagdish, your 3D modeling ability is not good. So I said 3D modeling is a tool, it's a software, I can learn it. But the intention of making this particular solution and this and the ability is what I spend 80 to 90% of the time. Skills in the 3D modeling could be learned and there are specific teams who can do a better 3D modeling which I can help, which I can take a help of them and do it. Surprisingly, I got selected. You need to be honest, you need to tell them. So we should not show attitude. We should tell honestly who we are and what is our thought process towards it. Can I tell you something very, very interesting, guys? The same guy who recruited me in my organization, he later told me Jagdish, in fact I made mistake also in my organization. I mean, there was one situation which I delayed it. I mean because of that one hurdle happened in the project. And that particular manager who hired me said, Jagdish, we really got disappointment in this instance with you. But it's because of your attitude we are not having a big, what do you call a bad name on you. Please save that Jagdish. In fact, if others would have been in that situation, they would have taken a different action for that employee. See guys, people really expect this kind of openness, genuine attitude in you, right? The same person who tell me that Jagdish, some issues have happened. But because of your good intention and attitude, we really did not take a big action. So I later corrected, I apologized and then I corrected. Mistakes definitely happen, guys. But the thing is, if you have that attitude and intention, people will respect you. This is a real thing happened and not every time people will leave you for that. But see, this has saved me a lot, right? I really thank that person for giving me this honest feedback. And after that I didn't make that mistake at all. I was very conscious in doing that. In fact, it's a very small mistake but the impact is really large. So you need to understand this important secret when you are really becoming open and vulnerable to it. Okay, so the fourth important secret which got me hired is by asking questions. Very, very important, right guys? I asked question, can I understand what are the projects? Are we working in our organization? Can I understand what is the projection we have for the next five years? Can I understand? So you need to be asking a very good question to them that shows the intention that you're damn interested in that role. Very, very important secret, guys. This. Okay, the fifth important secret which I'll be telling you is a very important secret I would say is making your particular skills known to them instantly. Like let's say if you're telling something like you're very good in ideation, if you're very good in creativity, if you're very good in some research skill, you should definitely showcase an example and a case study for it. Don't just tell in your mouth. People will ask you what is your two unique propositions or two best skills which you can talk or talk about your best project. You have to definitely showcase that live. Keep that ready, Keep that skills ready and prepare for that. Don't just search there on the spot of the interview. That's bad thing, right? So you need to be very, very careful about keeping that thing instantly showcasing that if telling, telling that if you're a honest person, quote an instance in your life where you are really honest in that reward paid and showcase like if you are a very good storyteller, tell an instance where you really told the story and then that got a very good successful appreciation. Because people will guess and understand you based on the instances what you're really true at. It's not like, hey, I can say I am a big person, I do a creative work, I'm a big designer. This, that end of the day the justification is not matched, right? So that is a very, very important secret which I'll tell you guys. Okay, so the nuances have you. Having learned the five secrets, you have to know the nuances of handling the interview, right? So first nuance is your energy, guys. You need to show a great energy in your interview. Whatever interview you go. This definitely is a very, very important factor. If you have a high energy, your words will be different. If you are in a huge energetic sense, your attitude will influence that, your body language will influence that and people will feel that vibe.

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And the second important nuances is talking and making them free initially, building that trust quickly introducing yourself and asking them the questions. Sir, can you tell about yourself? How are you? Where are you from? So this kind of a icebreaker questions you need to ask. Sir, what's your name? Can I get you understand your full name? Sir, can I understand where are you coming from? Can I understand? Like you have to be little personal with them. Not in a very personal way, but to that extent. And you have to maintain that professionalism also. So you need to loosen the people who are in opposite to you and you have to build that trust. Because this is a big nuance which people lack initially. They'll start with, okay, tell about yourself. No. So once again, so before that I want to understand what's your name? Because in a zoom call, your name is not very clear. Okay. Hi. So your name is Sachidanandam Kumar. Hi, Sachinandan Kumar. How are you? Beautiful name. I've heard it's not like you are blabbering something or if you're not just telling in their face. Just like for saying you need to really mean that if you wanted to say that, you can compliment them truly if they have a very good outfit or dress, if they have A very good communication. If they have a like let's say 25 years of experience. If they're a vice president. You have to be. I'm really glad to have a interview with such a big person. You have to be showing that genuineness. If you are in that particular thing. You don't have to fake that. Guys, that's a very important caution I'm giving you, okay? You have to be truly connecting with that person very strongly. And the other nuance which I would say is don't give any gap in the interview that leads you to a nasty questions. Always try to bridge that gap by telling about your project or your skills or your intention or your anything.

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That's a big nuance. And the fourth big nuance is you have to show that feel of the desperateness. This is the only company which you are looking for. You wanted to join. Tell some successful testimonies of it. That shows your desperateness to join the company. Again, desperateness. Don't take it in a very extreme side of it. No sir, I wanted this job, sir. If this job is not there, I won't be able to pay my education loan. Don't definitely people will throw you out. So you need to show the desperateness that this is the company which you're looking for and the exact moment which you are looking for. And it is exactly the project what you are did to get hired. And because one of your seniors or your seniors or somebody who has given you a great feedback about this company and quote that testimony and tell this is what is the exact opportunity I am looking for to work in my career and I am really excited. You know what? People will hire you for that. So this is the nuances you need to learn, guys. Okay, so let me repeat you guys. The first is the secrets I'll tell you. You need to find the why behind why you wanted to become a designer. Second is showcase your skills.

Okay.

Tell honestly what your skills. Third is be more open and vulnerable and get a feedback. If somebody is giving you feedback, be more open to get that thing and showcase your strength and weakness. Fourth is asking good questions at good times. Fifth is keep your skills and stories and instances quickly ready so that you'll have a very clear showcase of your skills.

Okay?

And the nuances. What I would say is first is you need to show your energy in a very high level. Second is loosening them and asking some questions and building that trust and connect. Third is truly you need to connect with them and you should not give any gap in between the communication so that they are giving you what you call a complete engagement which is happening in the interview.

Okay.

And the last but not the least nuances is ask the question when I'll be joining in this interview. In this particular what you call company. In fact, I forgot you the one nuance which is a desperateness to show that you are really committed to join that company. And after that you need to close with a question. When I'll be joining this job, people will be interested like, okay, this guy is really interested to join. You tell him I'm right now joining. Not like you tell I'll join in May, April. If your earlier organization is telling some notice period, tell that. Sir, what is your fastest way I can join? One month? Two months? Excuse me, I have a small concern. My company is asking me for two months notice. Can I negotiate with them for 45 hours? Is that fine for you? So this is how you talk with them. If they're saying no, we want immediate things. So give me a moment and I'll get back to you, buy some time, talk to this HR in your company and get back. So if you close with that, that's a very positive sign that you are selected in the interview. Because if you're not primarily selected, they will not give you this answer. You can itself know whether you're selected or not. So implement all the strategies, guys. If you do this, definitely you will have a greater impact in your interview session and you will get your first jobs cracked.

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So have your own learnings, your own methods, your own framework. I would not say this is own and only because design is always unique. Your career is unique, you are unique, unique. So you bring out unique value, proportionate.

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I hope this is a great podcast for you. You would have enjoyed it, you would have taken a lot of notes to understand this. If you do this guys, definitely in 30 days you will start seeing some results in it. Trust me, this happens.

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So bye bye guys. Thank you so much. We'll meet in another episode. Take care. All the best. And subscribe me in this podcast for further episodes and give me a best star rating if you find this useful in Spotify and Apple. But if you need my mentorship support to help you, guide you and get you very faster results, you can hit that email dfcdesignforchange at gmail com. I'll be putting you in my internship program if you're damn interested. Okay, thank you so much. Bye bye. All the best. Take care.