Getting experience as an instructional designer

As with many careers, there comes the point where you’ve got your degree and the knowledge you’ve acquired from coursework, you’re looking for a job, and you’re told “must have 2-3 years of experience in instructional design.” You think, “that’s why I’m applying to this job, to get the experience. Where else am I supposed to get it?” Thus, the unavoidable conundrum: You’re applying to the job because you want experience, but you can’t get experience because the job wants you to already have it.

This is not unique to instructional design. One thing that’s great for instructional designers, though, is the fact that instructional design is in high demand just about everywhere you look. So, if you’re willing to do something unpaid (to get that experience), you have plenty of avenues.

This has definitely been true in my own experience. Three years ago, I reached out to a university and said that if they had anything they needed done in terms of ID, then I’d like to help. What was the result? I spent the summer converting courses from in-person format onto Rise. I also took a project off their plate that they had been hoping to do for a long time: I used Articulate Storyline to create a module discussing the importance of avoiding plagiarism. Keep in mind that this was the first time I had ever used Rise or Storyline, so this was great experience.

I continue to use this strategy. Three months ago, I contacted a local homelessness organization asking if they needed any work done where an instructional designer could help. Nonprofits are a great place to look, as they may be wanting in terms of funding or staff. I received a reply within a couple of hours. The next day, I was discussing with the director of the organization how to develop both a webinar and an online module raising the public’s awareness on homelessness. I am still in the process of working on this project, but I’ve already made new contacts and have used some software that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

The point is, if you’re willing to do some work for experience alone, there are a ton of options available to you. You’ll meet new people, and the skills that you pick up along the way are likely to become part of your repertoire as an instructional designer.