An internship is a short-term, entry-level position that gives you hands-on work experience. As an intern you would go to work for a company at regularly scheduled times (although you might work as few as eight hours per week) and carry out tasks assigned by your supervisor. The main difference between an internship and a regular job is that most interns are not paid.
Although you will likely be volunteering your services to a company, you get practical work experience that can be very helpful once you start applying for jobs or start looking for clients for your own decorating business. As an intern you can make valuable industry contacts, learn new decorating skills, and build your resume and portfolio. You can offer your services for as little as a week; however, you will have the opportunity to learn more if you can arrange a longer internship. For example, the Metropolitan Institute of Interior Design arranges ten-week internships for its students.
If you take an interior decorating program through a college, they may arrange internships for students. Ask if they have an internship program when you register. Assuming you are not attending a college that arranges internships, there are a couple of ways to set one up yourself. First, decide which companies you would like to work with. Then start calling. If it's a large company (such as a manufacturer of home decorating products), you can ask their human resources department if they have an internship program. If they do have such a program they will tell you how to apply. If you want to work with a small company such as an interior decorating or interior design firm, ask to speak with one of the owners. To find out the owner's name, ask the receptionist or look the company up on the Internet first. Whether you get through to the owner, or speak with someone else in the company, explain that you would like to volunteer your services as an intern.
While you might think any company would jump at the chance for free labor, some companies are so busy the owner may feel they don't have time to train an intern. In a few cases an interior designer may not want to help train a potential competitor, either. So be prepared to sell yourself, using your persuasive communication skills. Explain why you will bring value to the company.
One thing that most companies need is help doing the tasks that no one else wants to do. If you are willing to answer telephones, make copies, run errands, do the filing – in other words, if you are willing to do "whatever it takes" to help them out – say so. If someone is interested in having you intern for them, they will ask you to come in for an interview and may ask to see your resume and portfolio. In many ways, applying for an internship is similar to applying for a job.
Once you have an internship, do a first-class job with every task you are given, even the menial tasks. Everyone "pays their dues" when they are starting a new career, and those who do it with a positive attitude can make a great impression. Look for any opportunities to get actual decorating experience - even if it means working a few more hours than you originally agreed to. Volunteer to help out whenever you can. Be someone who does such a great job that you will be missed when the internship is over. Here are some tips for making the most of your internship:
At the end of the internship, ask your supervisor for a written letter of reference. If you have done exceptional work, you may even get a job offer from the company you interned for.
For some companies, it may be easier to have you spend a short period of time with an employee than to find someone to supervise you for an internship. Job shadowing involves spending a day, a week, or some other limited period of time observing someone work. It allows you to learn more about a career, ask questions, and actually see what a job entails on a daily basis. Most job shadowing is arranged through personal connections, although you might be able to arrange a job shadow by calling companies that interest you.
Another good way to get related experience is by taking a part-time job for a company involved in the interior decorating industry. Even if the job doesn't focus on decorating, it can give you an opportunity to learn valuable skills that could help with your future job hunt. One of the easiest ways to get this kind of experience is by applying for a part-time retail sales job. Many retailers have high rates of staff turnover, so they are always hiring. While the starting pay won't be high, you will get the kind of experience that employers and clients look for.
The types of retailers that can best prepare you for an interior decorating career are those that sell related products, such as: home furnishings, lighting, fabrics, house paint, housewares, art, antiques, etc. If you have the opportunity, look for a position where you will have an opportunity to work with and learn about a broad range of decorating styles. Read on to learn more about how to decorate.
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03012010
1. Eclectic style is one of the most popular interior decorating styles
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