Starting Out – Inside Lucy Whiteford's first role and the reality of getting there

Given how competitive the industry is, a lot of graduates encounter difficulty landing their first role after completing their studies. Did you face any struggles finding and applying for roles after graduating from LCF?

The period after graduating can feel quite daunting because there’s a lot of uncertainty. During my final year, I was balancing finishing my degree, focusing on my final project and trying to think ahead about what I wanted my first step into the industry to look like. Although graduating felt like a big step away from familiarity, I also knew that change was necessary to move into something new and exciting. Reframing that uncertainty as something positive, being open, excited and ready for new experiences helped me stay motivated and avoid becoming overwhelmed by the fact that creative careers are rarely linear.

One of the important things I learned is that it’s okay if it takes time. There can be pressure to feel like you need everything figured out immediately but for me it was very much a journey, especially after a challenging final year where I needed time to rebuild confidence in myself. The period after graduating can feel quite heavy emotionally because you’ve invested so much time, energy and passion into your degree, so naturally you care deeply about what comes next. It’s difficult not to approach that process emotionally but I learned that being patient and kind with yourself is just as important as staying ambitious.

Alongside applying for roles, there was also a lot of personal change happening for me; moving out my rented accommodation, adjusting to a different routine, taking time to reflect on the past four years and what I wanted my next step to be. Looking back, that space was critical because it allowed me to think more clearly about what kind of role suited me, rather than rushing into something out of pressure. I also found it important to be mindful of how social media can affect that experience. It is very easy to compare yourself to other graduates, especially when you see people sharing new roles online but that can quickly make the process feel heavier than it needs to. What I learned was the importance of focusing on your own path, recognising your own strengths and setting boundaries with comparison.

"Once I stopped measuring my progress against other people, I found it much easier to stay calm, motivated and trust that with consistent effort, the right opportunity would come at the right time."

When applying to roles, what helped me stand out most was the experience I had built during university through internships. Working in multiple brands was essential in giving me a clearer understanding of industry expectations and allowed me to speak more confidently in applications and interviews because I could draw on real experiences rather than just the academic work I covered. Having more niche placements on my CV, such as working for a start-up and within a design consultancy for luxury brands, gave me hands-on experience in product development within smaller teams, where I was able to take on more responsibility and gain a broader understanding of how products move through design and development. That also exposed me to product lifecycle systems and ways of working that employers really value. This shows an understanding that design is not only creative but also relies heavily on accuracy, communication and commercial awareness.

I would also say that when applying for design roles, it can be difficult not to become emotionally invested, particularly when application processes involve completing design tasks and presenting new ideas to brands after investing a significant amount of time, thought and creative energy. In some cases, I was not only designing product to a brief, but also writing written responses and recording video interviews, so naturally it could feel disappointing when that work did not lead to the next stage. However, I learned not to let rejection make me question the value of my work or the effort I had put in. Over time, I realised that not every role is the right fit in either direction, and that each experience still offers something valuable to take forward. I tried to use every process as an opportunity to reflect, learn and strengthen how I approached the next application. I think resilience is a key quality throughout this process and something I developed strongly during my degree through independently managing my own creative challenges, receiving constructive criticism and adapting under pressure.

From graduating to getting my first role, the process took around six months and that was a highly transitional period that taught me a lot! Handling rejection, adapting to different interview styles, staying disciplined and learning patience. Looking back, every stage of that process taught me something valuable, even when things didn’t happen as quickly as I had hoped.

For a lot of graduates, their first role after leaving university can be their first job full stop, and they can feel daunted about what to expect. From your recent experience of just having just started at Joules, what advice would you give to graduates on making a good first impression at a new job?

I think the best advice I’d give is to take the pressure off yourself to be perfect straight away.

"Starting your first role can feel overwhelming because everything is new, but it is important to remember that no one expects you to know everything immediately."

The sooner you allow yourself to be yourself, the sooner you can build genuine relationships with the people around you and that makes a real difference, especially in an open office environment where collaboration is such an important part of daily working life.

I have found it valuable to learn what everyone around me does, not only within design but across buying and merchandising too because understanding how different roles connect helps you contribute with more confidence. It is also important to understand the company’s market positioning, develop an awareness of trends and how they translate into products that feel relevant for the brand. Be comfortable adapting across different product categories because the pace and variety of the workload can be very different from university. A lot of these skills take time to develop, so I think the most important mindset to have is being open to learning and willing to adapt to a completely new way of working.

It is important not to take challenges personally. There will be moments where things feel difficult or unfamiliar but that is often where the most growth happens. If something feels hard, it usually means you are learning. Putting yourself in situations where you do not feel completely confident can be one of the best ways to grow both personally and professionally.

Starting a new job is also a major life change beyond the role itself. For me, beginning this role also came with practical changes such as moving closer to work, adjusting to a new area and building an entirely different routine while meeting lots of new people in the process. When so many things are changing at once it can sometimes feel overwhelming, so giving yourself time to settle in and adjust is just as important as learning the role itself.

Try not to judge a new workplace too quickly! It takes time to understand team dynamics and ways of working and often patience allows you to settle in more naturally and build a stronger sense of ease within the environment.

I’m sure many graduates and soon-to-be graduates will resonate with Lucy’s experience, and realising they aren’t alone in their new job insecurities, and the challenges it takes to get there. Thank you Lucy for sharing your insights and experiences!

This is part one of a two part story from Lucy. Check out part two ‘Breaking In – What actually helps when you’re trying to get hired’ to hear more of Lucy’s experiences on what tools and support really helped her to land her first role.

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