- Category
career - Published
2022 - Colleagues
6+ - Favourite spot
Backyard porch
My First Studio
Back in 2020, fresh out of university with a degree in Graphic Communications from England—and with a world-altering event going on—I found myself doubting and ultimately travelling back to my home country, Norway. A friend of mine wanted to live with me in a neighbouring town, and once my mandatory family time was over, I picked up on his offer and moved away from home. With no job and only my life savings in my account, I proclaimed that before I ran out of money, I will find a job.
Looking back, I feel crazy for taking such a leap, simply because I had no idea how hard it could be to get a job—any job—let alone one in your field. First came the issue of being a creative in Norway. Jobs in our field are few and far between, making it hard to even find listings. I also severely underestimated how many people would be applying for the same barista and cashier roles I was going for. After dozens of applications and barely a reply, my confidence started to dwindle ever so slightly.
In the face of the situation, I decided to do everything in my power to better my chances of getting the job I wanted. Despite being unemployed, I treated my days like full workdays. I got up at 7 a.m. sharp, worked out, and sat down at my desk by 9 a.m. to “go to work.” That meant searching for jobs, applying for them, and continuously improving my portfolio website.
Eventually, I came across a job that looked promising. It was close enough to commute to and was within my field, but… their requirements didn't match my qualifications. So, I thought to myself, no point applying.
Luckily, my flatmate thought otherwise. A few days later, he texted me the same listing and told me to go for it. I tried explaining why I wasn't going to apply, but he reminded me of something important: “Might as well try. Worst thing that can happen is they say no.” Without him, I probably wouldn't have had my first job at all.
Fast forward through a new cover letter and a freshly updated portfolio page—and I'd landed myself my first job interview in design.
I'll never forget the nerves I had walking into their studio, and how quickly those nerves shattered when the co-founder of the company sat down wearing two button-down shirts—one open, and the other awkwardly buttoned one button off. To say this caught me off guard would be an understatement. My expectations continued to unravel as, mixed in with professional questions, came golden nuggets like “What's the nicest thing you've done?” and “What's something popular that you absolutely hate?”
In hindsight, I truly appreciated that interview style. It made me more relaxed and able to show both my professional self and my personality.
