Career Resources

Building Career Professional Basics

A resource hub is specific to IxD and Graphic Design students.

A welcome to this resource from career advisor Ann Marie!

Welcome!

Greetings From Ann Marie

Ann Marie came to SMC’s Career Services Center with a background in marketing project management. With several years’ experience hiring artists and designers to execute corporate visions, Ann Marie brings and shares her knowledge on how to stand out and get hired to the IxD Program Students.

Ask her about: Job search tips, resume building, LinkedIn profiles, Networking tips, Portfolio check-ins, and Mock interviews.

About This Resource

This resource is designed to be mobile-friendly and provide you with essential information to support your career search. This resource is provided as a website so you can easily access it from your smartphone. I encourage you to bookmark it on your phone so it's easy to find and reference when you need it.

Job Readiness Checklist

Click to check out the job readiness checklist to get an idea about how to best prepare for an internship or job when you graduate.

Resume (Fall First Year)

  • Find job/internship description

  • Highlight three class projects on your resume


3 projects in your portfolio (Fall First Year)

  • Create case studies of those three class projects


LinkedIn (Spring First Year)

  • Copy and paste your resume into your LinkedIn account

  • Link your portfolio to your account


Networking (Spring First Year + Ongoing)

  • Follow three organizations on either LinkedIn or Social Media

  • Schedule an informational interview or portfolio review

  • Attend an industry event or participate in a design competition


Internships: www.smc.edu/internship (Spring First Year)

  • Apply for internships

  • If you get an internship you must enroll in GrDes 90 if you want credit

PRO TIP: ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS

What are your strengths? Where are your areas for improvement? Name three people—dead or alive—that you would want to meet? Can you name a quote from a book, person or another resource that gives you inspiration? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Calendar Of Events

Click to view upcoming workshops to level-up your career readiness game right now! PDF Download

85% of jobs come through your network!

Networking basics and pro tips can be found in our networking section.

Academic Counseling

We're here to help


For information on the program, assistance creating your educational plan, or exploring transfer preparation visit the SMC Counseling Center for the Center for Media and Design (CMD):


There are different counselors and programs available to serve all needs. Once on the web page, select the Center for Media and Design button to schedule an appointment,

Classroom Support

Take A Class


GR DES 50, Graphic Design Portfolio and Professional Practices focuses on the development of an effective communication design portfolio and addresses the process of building a portfolio that meets the current professional industry standards for presenting work to potential employers and clients.