The ability to communicate clearly by providing sufficient context when asking questions.

Talent and work ethic.

Work placement
In no particular order:

• enthusiasm;
• initiative; and
• patience.

Junior designer*
All of the above traits, as well as being:

• fastidious;
• punctual;
• articulate;
• thick-skinned;
• intelligent; and, of course
• creative.

*A good knowledge of the usual industry programmes is a fundamental requirement.

Hmm...what happens with creatives who have strong ethics? Is it difficult for them to step into a good design agency without much hassle? Or will there always be a problem in design?

There will always be a problem everywhere, not just in design. I work in the music industry and if I only worked on artists I liked, for example, I would quickly run out of job opportunities.

pbc

Ethics may be a problem if the agency has a different set of ethics. If the agency is doing pro life work and a right to life person is looking to work there, I can see clashes.

The one thing you have to remember is that a junior is expected to do what she is told, not to make policy decisions. That said, you always have the option of leaving if the work assigned to you bothers you ethically.

I was just curious Don. I guess it makes sense.

when i was at mtv i interviewed students for internships and assistant positions every wednesday. our needs were for a fair amount of busy work. i’m sure priorities vary between hiring situations.

i saw geniuses and fools and everything in between. the successful hires were not necessarily the most talented. the most brilliant among them often had attitude problems. straight forward eagerness and abilty to learn was a hallmark of the kids with professiona