WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE JOB MARKET TODAY?

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2 WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE JOB MARKET TODAY? A Job Market for a New Generation The job market is rapidly changing. Gone are the days when you studied straight after school, got a job and stayed there for the rest of your life. Today there are more career options for young people than ever before especially in the world of design. This new exciting world with many creative job opportunities that did not exist 20 years ago. The job market has become flexible, and individuals entering the market have to learn to be adaptable from the outset of their careers. It is estimated that Millennials (people born between 1980 and 2000) will have up to 6 different careers in a lifetime! The average South African holds 13.5 jobs over his/her lifetime. Whether you are a Millennial or not, it is no longer a question of picking, and then staying, on the same career path for your whole working life. How do you get ready for the rollercoaster-ride that is the modern career? It is quite simple. Firstly you need to continually evaluate your career and personal goals. Secondly you need to learn to promote yourself and commit to life-long learning. You can do this by building your personal brand and creating a personal learning network. The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks. Mark Zuckerberg

3 THE DECORATING AND DESIGN INDUSTRY FIELD OF DESIGN Everything we touch and use in our daily lives has been designed by a designer from the products we buy to the car we drive. Designers are involved in designing brands, graphics, interiors, buildings, packaging, furniture, cars to name a few examples. This has opened a new exciting world of career opportunities that are focused on the creative world of design. None of which is more exciting and diverse then Interior Decorating and Interior Design. Today s world of Interior Design is so much more than just matching your cushions to your carpets, think about the interior of your car, this was designed by an Interior Designer working for the car manufacturer. The field of Interior Decorating and Design is not only limited to residential projects but has grown to include Commercial Design, Retail Design, Restaurant Design and Hospitality Design. EXPLORE A CAREER IN INTERIOR DECORATING Interior Decorators aim to work within the existing structure of the client s space and making it attractive and user friendly. These professionals will use design elements and principles such as colour, light, texture and balance to enhance the space and add interest. Interior Decorators will choose lighting, textiles, furniture, floor finishes, wall finishes and accessories to create a welcoming and beautiful interior which will enhance a mood, feel, theme and sense of space. These professionals will not design or make any structural changes to the building itself but will rather focus on what goes into the existing structure.

4 EXPLORE A CAREER IN INTERIOR DESIGN Interior Designers will not only perform the function of an Interior Decorator but will also focus on the actual structure of the building itself. Interior Designers will alter the structure to improve flow, light, space and character. These professionals will need more technical knowledge to perform a more architectural role before they focus on decorating the space. Interior Designers will need to have a comprehensive knowledge of building construction, project management, technical drawing and spatial planning in order to improve the structure before decorating the interior. These individuals will work closely with architects and developers to create a building from the outside in. Many of which are now beginning to specialise in a particular field of Interior Design such as Retail Interior Design. Larger architectural firms are now opening their own in-house divisions offering a comprehensive service where the architect, interior designer and client all work closely together to achieve a common goal.

5 The Interior Decorating and Design Industry in South African South Africa has recently developed into a country that has become a world leader in the international design community, gone are the days where design was regarded as a hobby. Design in general has now developed into a highly specialised profession. Architects, industrial designers, furniture designers, fashion designers, product designers and web designers are breaking new ground on a daily basis. Individuals born and trained in South Africa have excelled in the local field of design as well as developing their reputations in the international arena as innovative thinkers. Interior Decorators and Designers are no exception to this rule. South African Interior Designers are highly sought after for their unique perspective and skill set. With the development of luxury tourism throughout Africa local designers are being employed to bring five star lodges, hotels and resorts to life. Our local Interior Designers are in demand to design for international celebrities and royalty the world over. There are countless examples of South African Interior Designers that have made their mark on the international scene. Locally, Interior Design has now developed into a highly specialised field where the gap between Architect and Decorator has been filled. Interior Designers are being trained on all aspects of building construction, computer aided design and technical drawing as part of their skill set and are now fast becoming a one stop service. Several internationally recognised institutions are now offering specialised Interior Design courses. These courses range from Certificates in Interior Decorating to more advanced courses such as a National Diploma and Bachelor Degree in Interior Design. These specialised institutions are offering full-time practical courses aimed at the individual who would like to pursue and career as a professional Interior Designer or Decorator. Traditionally, correspondence or part-time courses were not offered by institutions but there are now institutions developing this option for students. This is a ground breaking development with institutions such as Skills Academy developing quality and flexible programs for working individuals to develop these specialised skills.

6 This field is growing at a rapid rate in South African with the skills and services of Interior Designers becoming highly sought after. Architects are now employing Interior Designers to complement their team with many actually opening separate divisions within their organisations focused on Interior Design. The trend in South Africa is to offer the client a full service where architects are designing the actual buildings and their Interior Design team offers the client the service of designing and specifying the interiors and furniture, all done by one company. South Africa has just been awarded the privilege of hosting the International Design Indaba in Cape Town in This is a testament to the achievements by South African Designers both locally and internationally. South Africa has not only proved our ability to host these events but has also proved our ability to offer groundbreaking innovative design solutions. If you are thinking about a career in Interior Design, South Africa is certainly the place to be!

7 WHERE ARE YOU NOW? To ensure that you make the right choices in deciding on where you want to end up, start by evaluating where you are now and compare that with where you want to be should you follow this career path. Just by downloading and reading this guide, you have taken your first step to altering your current career path and joining the field of Interior Decorating and Design. Accelerate / Jumpstart your career Where am I now in my life and my career? What are my strengths, weaknesses and skills? Where do I want to be? Do I understand the job market? What do I have to Life-long Learning Commit to further education offer? What do I need to do to succeed? Branding Market yourself by starting a brand More qualifications? More experience?

8 Ask yourself the following questions: Do I enjoy my current job? Do I work in the design industry? Do I want a career in the design industry? Am I a creative person? What skills do I possess? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What design experience do I have? What design qualifications do I have?

9 WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE? To help you evaluate your current position and develop a strategy to move forward your need to ask yourself a basic question, where do I want to be? To help you answer this question simply complete a career test. This website will help you make the right choices about your future and your career. Complete a Career Test Visit Where do I want to be? Am I pursuing my passion? o Do I want a new job? o Do I want a new career? o What are my different choices in a changing job market? Do I know where I want to be five years from now? o How does the world see me right now? Do I know what employers are looking for? What do I have to offer? o Do I have a brand? o What educational qualifications do I have? o Am I reliable and competent?

10 Should I study more? o Have I committed to life-long learning? o What are my best options for further education? Do I need more experience? o Are there any organisations I want to volunteer at? o What can I give to the community? o What am I hoping to gain from the experience? o Do I want to do an internship? o Who do I contact? How does my brand improve my employability? o Does my brand reflect my strengths? o Does it make me stand out from the crowd? o What will I do to improve my brand further? How do I develop my personal learning network? o Am I networking properly? o Am I utilising all the online resources available to me?

11 HOW DO I GET THERE? Now that you know where you are currently it is now time to develop a plan on how to get to where you want to be. FORM A STRATEGY Life-long Learning Networking Branding Portfolio Commit to Start building Market yourself by Start recording all further education your networks starting a brand your work by building a portfolio To make this easier simply follow these three steps; Step 1: Build a Brand Strategy for you Step 2: Assess your qualifications and develop a learning plan Step 3: Build Your Portfolio

12 Step 1: Build a Brand Strategy for You What Is A Brand? A brand is the way that a product is displayed and identified by the world. You could say it is the shiny side of a product. So, what product are you selling? Yourself, of course! YOU Are a Brand This means you should learn to develop yourself as a brand. Viewing yourself in this way is one of the most valuable steps towards having a successful and fulfilling career. Remember that when you join the work-force you will be viewed as a commodity or a tool. You become an instrument that gets the job done. While that sounds very impersonal, it is the truth. If you can view yourself in the same way, you are on your way to being a useful product. Just having a CV is no longer enough; employers want to see what you have done and get a clear picture of you as a whole person. Social media makes this very possible. How Do You Build / Improve Your Brand? What do you want? Where do you see yourself in the next 2 5 years? Boring as it may seem, it is the first and most important question you have to ask yourself. You cannot promote and develop something you do not understand. Remember, you get to choose your own adventure. If you choose a job you love you will never have to work a day in your life! Confucius

13 Now that you know what a brand is, let s form a strategy! Make Your Own Brand Map Melissa Stanger (on the youtern.com website) suggests that you make a brand map. Let s try it: Start by putting your name your brand in the middle of the star below. Next you can brainstorm and come up with all the words that define you. Think of the values you represent. What symbolises you? Are you punctual, good at multi-tasking, a born leader or a fashionista? Not sure what your strengths are? When writing down your trademarks focus on the key-aspects that make you truly unique. The special things that characterise you can easily be incorporated in your brand, and will make you stand out. Not sure which words define you? Ask your friends and family. Once you have found five strengths or unique personal traits you can complete your brand map. Never create a brand that is not uniquely you! You will not be able to truly own a brand if you don t feel comfortable with the way you are presenting yourself, and people will instantly know you are not being true to yourself.

14 How Do You Add More Substance To Your Brand? Know the importance of a good self-image If you portray yourself as confident, people will treat you as if you are. This, in turn, will make you feel more confident and competent, which will result in a positive curve of growth. This means confidence is key. Know how to present yourself, how to behave and how to build your personal networks Start creating your own personal learning network by becoming knowledgeable in your fields of interest. Visit websites that are of interest to you and subscribe to their newsletters. Comment (intelligently) on public forums and engage with professionals who are already in the field. Ever heard the expression, It is not WHAT you know, but WHO you know? Know what is happening in the world of design Follow current decor and design programs on TV or subscribe to various Interior magazines. Research famous Interior Designers and find at least one you like, follow this person on Facebook and twitter to get an idea of what is happening in the field of design. Do you love social media? Then simply follow several news sources on Twitter. Twitter recently revealed that their ultimate aim has always been to supply people with bite-sized and easily digestible pieces of news that they can catch up on while on the run. A surprising 40% of Twitter s active users don t tweet at all, but log in just to see what is happening in the world.

15 Keep studying You can improve your brand by taking short courses and learning new valuable skills. 48% of South Africans employees look for opportunities to keep learning. With that sort of competition can you afford not to seek out further education yourself? This may mean a choice between full time studies or supplementary studies while you work. Distance colleges have a variety of subjects to choose from, and their courses and qualifications come in all shapes and sizes, from diplomas to short courses and certificates. This option will also give you the opportunity work and study at the same time. How to Build Your Personal Learning Network Build your reputation by advertising your brand. How can you do that? By networking. Some people love to interact socially and even thrive on it. However, even the most outgoing people may struggle to speak to complete strangers. For many networking appears to be a nightmare. It does not need to be though! If you are a natural introvert the good news is that networking does not only involve speaking to people face-to-face anymore; a lot of networking is done via social media these days. Join a club or a professional community This is a great way to meet professionals in a slightly more relaxed setting and to gain insider knowledge on your industry of choice. Go to job fairs This will help you understand the current climate of the industry you would like to work in. You may also find out about and subscribe to industry newsletters you may not know about yet. Mainly, however, it will give you the opportunity to market your brand and interact with other professionals.

16 Get a mentor A mentor is a person who can give you information and advice. If you are busy studying, select a mentor among your lecturers and tutors. Alternatively think of someone you admire from your community, or who works in the field you are interested in. Visit a recruitment agent If you need extra guidance or you struggle to find jobs online make an appointment with a recruitment agent. They will be able to explain the current job market and will also be able to assist you in finding a suitable position. Do an internship Reach out. You can gain much needed experience from doing an internship. Contact companies you want to work at. They may have a summer internship for you, or they may be able to refer you to a company that does run an internship program. Volunteer Getting involved in your local community or in other volunteer programs will help you develop your skills to work in a team. It could even give you the opportunity to be a mentor yourself. Join or create a support group There are many other people looking for jobs, and interacting with and supporting your peers can be invaluable, since you are connecting on an equal level with peers that may be your colleagues in future. Keep an eye on the job market You can do this by looking at job ads on job portals and the websites of companies you would like to work at. Find jobs that you would ideally want to apply for in the next five years. This is all part of a long-term plan. When you find the ideal job it should be one that appeals to you and that you should have all the relevant qualifications for when you finish your course. If not, focus on diversifying your studies.

17 Online networking Keep your social and work life separate. While some people prefer separate accounts, having one account on a particular social network can consolidate your talents and be a useful tool to promote yourself, but also to connect and communicate with and to learn from others. Note: If there are photos or comments appearing on your social media profiles that make you feel uncomfortable then it is time to clean up your image. Use the same rules for your online personality and branding as you do for the way you conduct yourself in everyday situations. Learn to use all the networking resources available to you on the internet: Facebook is good for communicating with friends and family, but also for contacting businesses and promoting your brand by making informed comments and by posting interesting and relevant news articles. Companies have also started using Facebook as a word-of-mouth tool to advertise vacancies. It is a good way to keep in contact with old coworkers, since you never know when one of their employers may be looking for new employees. Twitter is ideal to promote your brand in a quick and efficient way and to keep up to date with what is happening in the world. Also look for jobs, market your brand and find brands you want to associate with. Remember to keep your eye on the ratio between your following and your followers. People are more likely to follow someone who is following fewer people than they have followers. Google+ is fast becoming a useful tool to promote your brand, especially in the media and technology industries. It is great for networking, since it will expose you to people who are not necessarily your friends, but are interested in the same things you are. LinkedIn is a professional online network, specifically aimed at introducing potential employees and employers. You can upload a comprehensive profile onto LinkedIn that acts like a CV, and with 225 million users across the world it is changing how people search for jobs. There are more than 2.5 million LinkedIn users in South Africa today and the numbers are growing as the platform is gaining popularity on the African continent and abroad.

18 People are not only using LinkedIn to find employment. 80% of LinkedIn members use this platform to network with other professionals. Step 2: Assess Your Qualifications and Develop a Learning Plan It is important to continually improve your qualifications and skills. The design industry is rapidly evolving especially when it comes to new software and computer aided design programs. Employers and clients will always expect designers to be able to use the latest programs and offer presentations of their designs using these updated versions. In order to keep up with the rapid changes you must make time to study continually. One of the easier ways to do this is to look at distance learning colleges which offer courses that you can complete while working. Look for institutions that allow you flexibility on deadlines so that you can continue studying without adding to the normal stress of life and your job. This method of studying will not only help you plan your life but will also keep the pressure of studying to a minimum. By studying through distance learning colleges you will be able to enjoy your course and have the freedom to create innovative and quality designs while completing your projects without compromising the rest of the demands you face in your daily life. Step 3: Build Your Portfolio The most important tool a designer has to showcase their expertise and experience is their portfolio. A portfolio must include your best work from projects you completed while studying to projects you completed during your working career. The more diverse and interesting the portfolio the better your chances are to appealing to a broader client and employer base. Your portfolio should include hand drawn projects as well as showcase your computer design abilities proving that you have not only the creative ability to add value to your client or employer but the you also have the relevant skills required to do the job.

19 There are many ways to develop your portfolio, you can; Complete a series of short courses including updating your computer aided design skills to top up on your current qualifications. These courses will offer you an opportunity to complete new projects which can be included in your portfolio. Offer to get involved in designing and decorating your friend s houses or offices. Take photos of the space before, during and after the project. Complete a decorating or design diploma. A diploma will include several practical assignments covering many relevant subjects all of which can be included in your portfolio. Make sure you get copies of all your designs, drawings and projects that you complete while working so that you can continually update and improve your portfolio. Remember Your Portfolio Is Your Business Card!

20 TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CAREER Useful Exercise Take charge of your future by mapping your progress: o Decide on a list of actions you want to implement in your career or studies on a month to month basis. o When you complete an action make a tick next to it. This will give you an overview of your accomplishments throughout the year. Month Action Achieved January February March April May June July August September October November December We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don't let yourself be lulled into inaction. Bill Gates

21 HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? We at Skills Academy understand that the needs of each student are different as some students are already working, others want to change their career while many are just leaving school. For this reason Skills Academy has designed several new exiting courses for all types of students. We offer short course certificates that can be used to top up the skills of people who are currently working in the industry or who want to add specific practical and theoretical subjects to their current qualifications. We also offer courses for both Interior Decorators and Interior Designers which are current and include course content that is relevant to the design industry today. These courses are designed for school leavers as well as those who would like to change their career and enter the design industry. There are four categories of qualifications offered by Skills Academy which cater for all types of students, these include; Short Course Certificates Certificates Advanced Certificates General Interior Design Diplomas

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23 BENEFITS OF STUDYING THROUGH SKILLS ACADEMY We at Skills Academy understand that life is hectic and stressful and that studying can add to the stress and demands of everyday life. For this reason we have tailored our courses to make life for our students as easy and as affordable as possible. We offer; Pay As You Learn. You Can Put Your Studies On Hold To Accommodate The Demands of Everyday Life. Qualified Tutor Support. Practical Assignments that Encourage Students to Network and Build Their Portfolios. Up To Date Course Material That Is Relevant to the Design Industry Today. Courses That Take As Little As 3 Months to Complete to Full 3 Year Diplomas. CONCLUSION

24 By answering the questions below, let s see if you have a better idea now of what your next step should be. o Have you indentified any aspects that still need work? o I am interested in a career in: o Three of my strengths are: o These five personal traits will benefit my brand: o I can promote and develop these traits in the following way in the next 2 years: o I possess these three job related skills: o My brand is all about: o I will cultivate a positive attitude by: o These are the educational qualifications I still want:

25 o I can improve my personal learning network by: o In the next five years I will be: o In the next ten years I will be: Successful people begin where failures leave off. Never settle for 'just getting the job done.' Excel! Tom Hopkins

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