No, no, no.

Some students popped in yesterday. Asked a few questions. Had a look around.

As usual I asked, "Are you seeing anyone else?" as usual the reply  was, "No. Everyone else said no."

Comments

[james]

Maybe I'm bias, being a fourth year Product Designer but helping us pesky students pays off.

Years ago, back in school, we had to design our 'dream bedroom' - catchy title huh? I decided I wanted mine kitted out with rubber flooring (these were the days of Anne McKevitr and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on BBC2's Home Front). and gave rubber flooring company Dalsouple a call. I chatted to them and they made a 14 year old very happy by sending me boxes of brightly coloured samples.

On placement last year I was working on store interiors. We needed some nice non-slip flooring and you can guess who got the contract, a nice big one too.

So to all the companies who aren't like TDC and turn off when the letter reads "I'm doing a project on and wondered if...." let us come and look round, maybe we'll do business one day.

Dan Germain at Innocent and Neil Taylor from theWriter had me in last week... so thanks to them.

[Ross]

This must be a British thing? I can honestly say I have never experienced this problem.

I've visited several firms and printers since I started school a little over 2 years ago, with little difficulty. I actually have another interview coming up this Tuesday.

I live in the U.S., in Seattle, by the way.

[Tom]

My first response is - 'oh no, that's unfair, more design agencies should be mroe welcoming'.

Then I think that maybe they're all contacting the same big boring unfriendly agencies and should widen trheir net a bit (although the fact that they're getting in touch with Ben suggests this may not be simply the case)

But my lasting impression is that they should toughen up and find a way to get into agencies. Maybe agencies are testing them. Make them want to see you. Students don't learn enough business skills and to whinge about how difficult it is to get meetings may be a symptom of this.

I think this is a harsh response but has some merit.

[james]

I do get where you're coming from Tom, I suspect it will be the most out-going, original students who get something back from "companies". As for student's business skills, ooh that's a whole different kettle of fish.

I guess this rant then is about the big-boys who have a closed-door approach from the outset.

[Tom]

Well FUCK THEM then.

Ben - feel free to put those students who came round to see you in touch with your Business Development Manager who should be well versed in helping them knock down some doors (and target the right doors in the first place).

[james]

We weren't taught the assertive 'business skills' to f*** them.

So instead we'll just blame someone else.

Students huh...