Just Say No: When Interior Design Jobs Aren’t Right for You
By Dawn WestInterior Design School Review Columnist
Great jobs in interior design can be hard to come by, so when a client comes to you with an exciting interior design job, why would you turn them down?
No ambitious interior designer wants to turn down good interior design jobs, but sometimes it's the best choice. Here's when to say those painful words.
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Situation #1 -- You Don't Have the Skills the Job Requires
A prospective client asks if you'd design the interior of a new hospital wing. The problem is that you're a residential designer who specializes in kitchens. Sure, getting the experience will expand the types of jobs in interior design you're qualified to take, but if you want to learn more about hospital or commercial interior design, take a class or a job under a commercial designer, not a job where you're bound to disappoint.Situation #2 -- You Don't Have the Time
Some jobs in interior design swallow all your free time in a single gulp. If you can't fit it in, let the client know they have to find another designer. Otherwise, you'll be miserable, and your client will regret hiring you. Better to have them wish they'd gotten you than to have them wish they could get rid of you!Situation #3 -- You Just Can't Get Along
Some clients are miserable people; others simply have an aesthetic that clashes with yours. It might seem easy to turn them down, but when they offer you great interior design jobs, they can become awfully alluring. Don't be fooled. Everyone involved will be happier if you pass on the job.You don't have to hold out for perfect interior design jobs, but saying no to the ones that you can't succeed on will make your life much more pleasant.
About the Author:
Dawn West teaches writing at Oregon State University. Her previous experience includes working for the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance, a not-for-profit in New York City, and serving as the director for an educational program for at-risk youth in Boston. Dawn holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University.
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