1. You are not the first.
There are very few ‘firsts’ these days. Countless others have started studios, freelanced and requested internships. It can be done. #the50
2. There is always someone better.
Regardless of how good you are, there will always be someone better. It’s surprisingly easy to waste time worrying about this. #the50
4. You cannot score without a goal.
If you don’t know what you want, then how can you pursue it? Having a goal defines an end point, and subsequently, a place to start. #the50
9. Curate your work.
Never stop editing your portfolio. Three strong pieces are better than ten weak ones – nobody looks for quantity, just quality. #the50
10. Listen to your instincts.
If your work doesn’t excite you, then it won’t excite anyone else. It’s hard to fake passion for mediocre work – scrap it. #the50
12. Hand-write addresses.
Clients, prospective employers and potential clients gravitate to letters with handwritten addresses. The personal touch goes far. #the50
14. Never take an unpaid internship.
This is not a necessary evil – a studio that doesn’t pay their interns (at least the minimum wage) is a studio not worth working for. #the50
20. Ask questions.
Assume nothing. Ask questions, even if you think you know the answers. You’ll be surprised at how little you know. #the50
22. Seek criticism, not praise.
You learn nothing by being told how great you are. Even if you think your work’s perfect – seek criticism, you can always ignore it. #the50
24. News travels fast.
A good intern will find their reputation precedes them. Jobs are nearly always offered on this word-of-mouth evidence. #the50
25. Don’t get drunk at professional events.
There’s a difference between being ‘merry’ and ‘paralytic’. The latter costs you your dignity, your reputation and possibly your job. #the50
37. New ideas are always ‘stupid’.
New ideas are conceived with no context and no measures of success – this falsely makes them feel silly, awkward or even impossible. #the50
50. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Take your work seriously, take the business of your craft seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously. People who do are laughed at. #the50
….read the full article here(+)
Love these tips….will take note…..
Great advice- I had a friend intern with kengo kuma in Tokyo unpaid, crazy work, long hours but a fantastic resume builder! May have been worth no pay….maybe. :)
Hi disgruntled,
maybe you will find interesting Peter Eisenman’s point of view in his short interview really supporting unpaid internships. Personally I think is good to do one or two at the start of your career, especially in a “big” office setting, where you get connections,experience and a good cv instead of a payment.
–>http://futuregiraffes.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/discussionpeter-eisenman-on-unpaid-internships/