Now that you’ve obtained your interior decorator certificate, you’re undoubtedly keen to get started in the industry! When it comes to looking for interior decorating jobs, you likely have a few ideas of where to start – Internet searches and networking events are two of the most common ways. But did you know that there are other unique avenues to find rewarding roles worthy of your talent and education?
Read on for 5 unique places to look for an interior decorating job, and get ready to think outside of the box!
Volunteering
If you’ve ever spent time helping out a local charity or providing your decorating services pro-bono, you know how amazing it feels. Home decorators need to gain experience once their interior decorating course is complete, and volunteering your time will not only allow you to hone your skills – you’ll also get to know other professionals in the industry!
This networking opportunity is highly unique, as you’ll be actively working and improving your skills while making important connections that could very likely lead to job opportunities. Be sure to keep your business cards handy, as well as a short elevator speech that allows professionals to get a sense of your educational background, experience, and capabilities as an interior decorator!
If the name Twitter doesn’t ring any bells, it’s time to do a bit of research into what it can do for you as a design professional. Social media has changed the world in many ways, including the way in which job searches are conducted. As a job seeker, you’ll not only need to have a strong presence on channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you’ll also need to engage with professionals who could turn out to be potential employers.
While Facebook and Instagram are highly valuable tools for interior decorators, Twitter is truly in a league of its own when it comes to the job market. Hashtags are clickable anchors that allow interested users to search through lists and lists of tweets that relate to a specific topic. If you’re looking for interior decorating jobs in a particular city, you can use Twitter hashtags to narrow down your search and connect with potential employers in a highly efficient way. In order to do this, you’ll need a strong Twitter presence of your own which illustrates your areas of expertise, the type of work you’re looking for, and where you’re located. As it’s such a speedy way to communicate, you may find yourself in a discussion with employers sooner than you think!
Expand your social circle
Home decorators are naturally outgoing, friendly people. How else could you work closely on home interior projects with clients? Because of your extroverted nature, making friends has never been a difficult task for you, which is a good thing, because meeting new people is an excellent way to look for interior decorating jobs!
Start by letting your current social circle know about your job search. Tell them exactly what type of role you’re looking for, remind them of your interior decorator certificate and how you earned it, and even provide them with your business card if you can. The world is often smaller than it seems, and you never know what homeowner your friend might come in contact with, and what services they may need. If you want to take this one step further, get involved in some creative groups in your area using a website such as Meetup.com. This will put you in touch with a wide variety of people you may have not otherwise met, such as people who love to paint, discuss home design ideas, or chat about their current renovations.
Recruitment agencies
A common assumption about recruitment agencies is that they specialize in placing talented individuals in office jobs, and focus much more on administrative roles than creative ones. While that is mostly true, it is very possible that an interior design company has asked an agency to help them find the most qualified interior decorator possible. When hiring for specific projects or highly specialized design roles, often it is very difficult for employers to find a candidate that ticks all or most of their boxes, so they will hire a recruiter to help them with the process.
The process of being contacted by a recruiter for an interior decorating job will require more patience than the two options mentioned above, but that doesn’t make it any less worthy of your time! Research some reputable recruitment agencies in your area and spend some time meeting with them and sharing your interests and career goals. You never know when your phone will start ringing with that perfect opportunity!
Reach out to an industry professional
When you’re conducting your job search, never underestimate the importance of being aggressive. While you need to maintain a professional image, and show employers that you are a confident, capable interior decorator, there is definitely something to be said for taking initiative and reaching out to established design professionals. It shows that you are serious about your career, and demonstrates your tenacity (which is a seriously valuable skill for interior decorators!).
Chances are, you already have several interior decorating individuals or companies that you’ve always admired. Using social media to start a dialogue with them is a great first step, so as mentioned above, be sure to maintain a strong and active social media presence on channels such as Facebook and Twitter. Also, finding the contact information of a specific designer and emailing them directly is an excellent way to put yourself and your services out there. You don’t need to immediately mention that you’re looking for a specific type of interior decorating job, but letting them know that you are a new design professional who completed an interior decorating course will allow them to get to know you (and perhaps they’ll mention that they are looking to fill a specific role!). Check out this list of ways to impress interior decorators for some inspiration when getting in touch.
The worst that can happen is that you don’t receive a response, so it is absolutely worth putting yourself out there and seeing what happens.
