There’s something that is so exciting about graduation! And I’m not just talking about the celebratory aspect of this occasion or the fact that your hard work will be recognized. Graduation also serves as a time when you officially transition from a student to a young professional!
However, despite this change appearing simple and seamless, the job market can really make it difficult to find jobs for a new grad. Or, another way to put it is that it can be hard to find a company willing to offer you a great entry-level job versus offering the role to someone else with more experience.
And for those of you who are reading this and wondering, “Isn’t that what internships are for?” Well, the short answer to your question is yes. However, not everyone had the chance to take advantage of those opportunities.
Several reasons that instantly came to mind is that 1) they weren’t able to get into a program, 2) they had time constraints that prevented then from committing to the role, or 3) their ideal program wasn’t offered in their area. All of which can make it extremely tough to gain experience prior to entering the workforce.
On top of that, if you don’t have a degree or any experience related to your intended career, then you will have to strive that much harder to prove that you are the right person for the role. But what if the process was a little easier?
Well, one suggestion that I have that might help your search is to look for companies that specifically cater jobs to recent grads. And a great way to get an idea of what is out there is by doing a search on Google for “jobs for recent grads” to see other opportunities.
Why Did I Start the “Jobs For A New Grad” Series?
As I mentioned earlier, trying to find a job as a new grad isn’t easy. I experienced the struggle myself. So, I completely understand how frustrating it can be to try to find a job that you actually like AND meets your needs.
However, one of the biggest issues that you might face as a new graduate is that you meet the education requirements for the role but you don’t have enough experience. So, I thought that highlighting some opportunities that I see might be helpful to you all.
And the first opportunity that I would like to share is a product design job that my fellow new grads can apply for with a company called Duolingo.
About The Company Offering A Job For New Grads
I’m pretty sure that everyone has heard of Duolingo. You know, that language learning app that has the green owl as its mascot. Personally, I consider myself an on-again, off-again user because my urge to learn about a language can fluctuate. However, I think that this company does well with making language learning less intimidating and more interactive.
Duolingo has created both an app and a web-based platform where users around the world can learn grammar rules, how to read the language, and improve their listening skills through Duolingo Stories. This company also offers additional listening opportunities through its podcast. And with over 30 languages available, there’s something for everyone!
But behind every company is a great team! To make all of this happen, the company counts on individuals like you to keep everything functioning well. So, that’s why offering this job to new graduates is a great idea. You offer new skills and have an alternative point-of-view which can help promote diversity, growth, and ingenuity.
What Does A Product Designer Do?
As a new college graduate, your first question probably is, “What do you do when working in product design?” Well, this role can encompass everything from creating designs for the product to improving usability. But I believe that Henry Wu, a Fintech Product Design Manager for HubSpot explains the role the best.
“A Product Designer is someone who uses the different facets and tools of design to create and execute a solution that solves for a user’s experience deficiencies.”
Henry Wu, “Explain it like I’m 5: What is a Product Designer?“
If you would like to learn more about what happens in the life of a Product Designer, you can go here.
Requirements For This Role
Since this is an entry-level product design job, you do not need to have any work experience to get started. However, some key things that might help you get started sooner is if you have:
- Experience with Graphic Design or Visual Design and using related software.
- Knowledge of UI and UX practices and processes.
- An online portfolio that shares your designs for mobile apps
- Be a resident in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or be willing to relocate there.
You will also need to graduate with a bachelor degree by this spring semester (in 2022) if you have not already earned one yet.
Benefits You Will Receive As A Full-time Employee
A great thing is that this job offers recent grads plenty of great benefits! As a full-time employee, you’ll have access to perks such as:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Care
- Life Insurance
- Maternity and Paternity Leave
- Paid time off and holidays
- Retirement Plan (401(k))
- Language learning opportunities
- Catered lunch and snacks
- Company-wide dinners and other social events.
What Will Make You A Good Fit For This Product Design Job?
This job is great for recent graduates who are looking for a job in product design and are ready to enter the workforce. But just because you didn’t earn a degree related to product design, doesn’t mean that you can’t apply. You might also be a good fit if you:
- Like finding solutions to problems
- Try to always make improvements
- Pay attention to the little , but can see the whole picture
- Are able to communicate information in an effective and understandable way
Related Post: How To Build Your Resume Remotely
Where Can You Apply?
If you have always dreamed of working in product design or this job sounds like something you’re interested in, then you can visit the job posting and apply here.
Make sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. That is where you will be able to fill out the application.
Is the job closed? Try checking out some of their other open positions here.
Thank you for reading my post! Feel free to share this with a family member, friend, or fellow graduate who you think would be interested in this position.
Also, if you like the first post in the “Jobs For A New Grad” series, let me know and I will work on searching for other opportunities and keep you all posted. Or, if you have a position that you would like to share, feel free to reach out to me and the next job in this series might be yours!
Happy Job Hunting!
Hannah Roberts is the creator of Do. Live. Study. She loves to learn new things and hopes to help others as they go throughout their journey as an adult. You can connect with her below.