Contributed by Eydie Voss

As my first month of being a project manager for HDD comes to an end, I realized that the learning did not stop when I was handed my diploma. Oh no!! It has only begun! For students all over it is a common misconception that when we are given that oversized piece of paper, that we instantly become masters of our field. Quite the opposite is true. This week has been a reality check to say the least.

Let me begin by saying, this month has been quite the transition from my protective bubble many refer to as college, especially since I aggressively dove into the real world in the matter of a weekend. It all began on my first day when I was struck with the realization that I was now an employee of a company that relied on me as much as I relied on it. The difference is astronomical. A month ago my only responsibly was passing my classes. Now, however, I am a vital part of a growing Interior Design Firm and I am determined to make a significant impact on it. I will be the first to admit that the transition has had its hiccups, and the process is still continuing. However, I can promise that I have treated this month as an ongoing learning experience and have made several notes for self improvement. Here are a few examples of what I have learned thus far and advice I would like to pass on to my fellow graduates of 2008.
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• Preparation is key. It is impossible to be overprepared when you are getting ready to present a project to a client. It is important to check all your work over and over again for accuracy. Also, having another set of eyes look over the project guarantees accuracy.
• Never Assume!!!! Assume is an UGLY UGLY word especially in the world of design! “Did that client hate the color green, or did she love it?” “Will she trust me to select a faucet for her, or should I consult her first?”. Talking with your clients thoroughly will prevent any bad assumptions.
• Anticipate the client’s needs. This skill develops with experience and being a good listener. Hearing the message behind the actual words is important as well.
• No mental naps. A project manager must be on top of their game 150% of the time. Being proactive is much more satisfying than “firefighting” by reacting.
• Love what you do!! When you enjoy your work, the clients can read your passion and the love you put into the process. As a result they fall in love with what you created. After all, isn’t that why we chose to be designers??!!

Each day the transition is becoming easier and the amount of hiccups are decreasing. I am very excited to see what the summer has in store for all of us here at HDD and how I can be a part of that. Check out my next post to learn more about the new additions to the HDD family, and my continued exploration of this uncharted territory known as life post graduation.

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 21st, 2008 at 4:29 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.