How to Stand Out as a Spotify Internship Applicant

Applying for an internship at Spotify isn't a one-size-fits-all process. (Take it from us, former interns!) Your unique background, experiences, and skills are ... notedHowtoStandOutasaSpotifyInternshipApplicantAugust2022CopylinkArticleArticlecreditsKateJungChristinaShiRenéSimonssonIanHarryssonJosefinaGeisseWonderinghowtogetnoticedamongaseaofinternapplicants?Nomatterhowmuchyou'veworkedonyourresumeorportfolio,youmayhavehitawallwhentryingtostandout.So,tocounterthecompetition,weaskedSpotifierswhattheydidtoimprovetheirodds.WespoketofourproductdesignerswhosucceededintheirSpotifyinternshipapplicationnotlongago.Here’showtheyusedtheircreativitytotheiradvantageandlandedtheirproductdesigninternships.Canyoushareabitaboutyourbackgroundindesignbeforetheinternship?Howdidyoumaximizethatexperienceinyourapplication?Christina:MypassionfordesignstartedtogrowwhenIwasdesigningfilmpostersformypeerswhenIwasinfilmschool.IdevelopedalovefortheintersectionofdesignandmusicwhileworkingasadesigninternatanindiemusiclabelbasedinNewYorkCity.Idecidedtopursuedesignasacareer,wenttoadesigngradschool,andtookonmoreinternships.  InmyapplicationtoSpotify,IhighlightedthedifferentproductdesignskillsetsIfocusedonduringeachofmyinternships,suchasvisualdesign,productthinking,anddesignstrategy.Ialsoemphasizedmypassionfortechandmusicbyhighlightingthemusic-relatedprojectsIworkedon. “IhighlightedthedifferentproductdesignskillsetsIfocusedonduringeachofmyinternships,suchasvisualdesign,productthinking,anddesignstrategy.”René:Icompletedasix-monthUXinternshipin2020whereIgottoestablish“ResearchOps”,whichinvolvedorganizingandoptimizingprocesses,tools,andstrategiestosupportlarge-scaleuserresearchandamplifyingitsimpactacrosstheorganization.BythetimetheSpotifyinternshipstartedinthesummerof2021,IwasgraduatingfromaUXdesignprogramataschoolcalledHyperIslandinSweden.Iwasalsonearingtheendofaseven-month-longdesigninternshipatacreativeagencywhereIworkedwithbigfashionclientsontheirdigitalexperiences.MyvariedpastexperiencemeantthatIwasfamiliarwithdifferentpartsofthedesignprocess,whetheritwascomingupwithanewdesignconceptforaclient,carryingoutusabilitytestingwithusers,orproposinganewbusinessvertical.Whatdidyoudotoprepareyourpersonalbrandpriortoapplying? Ian:Istartedpreparingformyapplicationaboutfourmonthsbeforeapplying.ThefirstthingIdidwasreaddifferentresourcesondesignportfolios,resumesandinterviewpreparations.Ispentasignificantamountoftime"cleaningup"andpreparingmyportfolio.Iprioritizedqualityoverquantitybygettingridofprojectsthatdidn’tnecessarilyhelpmycase,andIfocusedonshowcasingwhoIwasasadesignerandmywaysofworking,ratherthantheendresultandshinymockups.Ialsomadesurethatmywritingwasrelevantforeachcaseandtoucheduponthedifferentphasesofthedesignprocess. Secondly,Ilistedoutmystrengths,weaknesses,andthingsthatIwantedtolearn.Identifyingstrengthsgavemeagoodunderstandingofmy“superpowers”aswellaswhichpartofthedesignprocessIfeltmostexcitedabout.ListingmyweaknessesandthingsIwantedtolearn,monthsbeforeapplying,motivatedmetoimproveandgavemesufficienttimetodoso.Asaresult,Ifeltmoreconfidentgoingintotheapplicationprocess.ThingsIwantedtogetbetteratorlearnrangedfrombuildingmywebportfoliofromscratchusingHTML/CSS,improvingmycraftbydoingpassionprojects,anddeepeningmyknowledgeofhuman-centereddesignandapproaches.Ididn’tnecessarilyreachallthegoalsIhadsetouttobutdedicatingtimetodosotaughtmetoholdmyselfaccountableformyownlearningandprogress.Josefina:ThefirstthingIdidwasfocusonhowIwantedtopresentmyself.ImadealistofthethingsI’mgoodat,myexperienceand,mostimportantly,whatmyinterestsare.IstartedcreatingmyportfoliobywritingabriefintroductionthatIcouldusetopresentmyessenceinafewparagraphs.Idecidedtoavoidspeakingtoomuchabouttechnicalities,likewhattoolsIknewhowtouseorcoursesIhadtaken(Iputthoseattheendofthedocument),andImadesureIincludedmyfavoritebooksandhobbies.IbelieveditwasimportanttoshowSpotifymyownpersonalrelationshipwithdesign,soIaddedapagewhereIexposedhowIfeelaboutwhatwedo(spoiler:designiseverything!).  AfterIhadpresentedmyself,itwastimetodisplaywhatIhaddoneinthepastbyshowingafewprojects.However,IdecidednottoshowthebestprojectsIhaddonebuttoframemyprojectsectionbasedonmyinterests.Ichosethreeorfourinterests(storytelling,digitalcommunication,UX,andillustration)andpresentedaprojectrelatedtoeach.ByshowingwhatIlike,IdemonstratedaclearvisionofwhereIwantedtogo(andthingsIstillneededtoimproveon).SinceIjoinedSpotify,I’verealizedthatmanagerslookforinterestingprofilesofpeoplewhoareoriginalinthewaytheypresentthemselves:someonewhoiscomplexandnotafraidofshowingtheirweaknesses.Ihighlyencourageeveryonetocreateauniqueportfoliodocument!It’snotaboutyourprojects,it’saboutyou.Whatdoyouthinkwasmostnotableoruniqueaboutyourapplication?Christina:IthinkthemostnotablethingaboutmyapplicationwashowIuseddifferentprojectstoshowcasemyvariousskillsetsasaproductdesigner.Ipickedtwoprojectsformyportfolioreview,onefrommypastinternshipthatfocusesmostlyonvisualdesign,andonethathasmoreemphasisonUXandproductthinking.Duringmypresentation,ImadesuretoemphasizethepointofeachprojectbybeingintentionalabouthowIcommunicatedthem.Fortheprojectthatfocusedmoreonvisualdesign,IspenttimediscussingthedifferentdesignoptionsIbrainstormedandwhyIlandedonthefinalsolutionbasedonuserneedsandbusinessneeds.FortheprojectthattouchedmoreonUXandproductthinking,ItalkedabouthowIledtheprojectfromendtoendbycollaboratingwithuserresearch,product,andengineering.  Inordertomakemyapplicationstandoutfurther,ItailoredmyapplicationtoSpotifybydoingtwothings.First,IincorporatedSpotify'sbrandingelementssuchasfont,colorpalette,andillustrationstylethroughoutthedesignofmypresentation.Secondly,IalsomadeconnectionsbetweenmydesignprojectsandSpotify'sexistingproducts.Forexample,myfirstprojectwasarounddesigningsubscriptionemailsforcertaincustomers,soinmypresentation,ItouchedonhowIwoulddesignSpotify'ssubscriptionemails. IbelieveeveryproductdesignerhasauniquesetofskillsandpointofviewandSpotifyreallyvaluesthat.Yourapplicationwilldefinitelystandoutmoreifyouleanintoyouruniqueperspectiveasadesigner. Ian:SomethingthatIthinkwasnotableaboutmyapplicationwasadriveandwillingnesstolearn.Duringmyinterviewprep,InoteddownthingsthatIdidn’tnecessarilygettopracticeduringschool,thingsIwantedtolearnduringtheinternship,andwhatIwasexpectingtogetoutoftheinternship.AlthoughIfocusedonhighlightingmystrengthsandinterests,I’vetriedtobeopenaboutmygrowthopportunitiesduringanyinterviewthatI’vehadwithanycompany.Doingsofeltintimidating,especiallyinthecontextofaninterview,butIalsobelievethatitcanshowcaseagrowthmindset. ThefeedbackfrommySpotifyapplicationreflectedthis:theymentionedthatIseemedsincereandeagertolearn.BeingopenaboutthisalsopreparedmetosticktothathonestywhenIjoinedSpotify;whentheinternshipstartedItoldmybuddyaboutonespecificareaofimprovementthatIwantedtofocuson,whichtheywereabletosupportmewithduringthecourseoftheinternship.Ultimately,internshipsaremeanttosupportyouinlearningnewskillsandimprovingonexistingones.Keepinmind,however,thattalkingaboutgrowthopportunitiesisnotthesamethingasstatingthatyoucannotdosomething.IdefinitelyendedupinsituationspreviouslywhereIdidnotgetanofferbecauseIframedagrowthopportunityasaflaw.AnyothertipsforaSpotifyinternshipapplicantlookingtostandout? Josefina:Therearethousandsofexcellentdesignersouttherebutnoteveryonewillusetheiruniquepersonalitytobringsomethingnewtothetable.Myfirsttipwouldbetotakeadeeplookatwhoyouareandhowyouaredifferentfromwhat’soutthere.Whatmakesyouunique?Itcanbeahobbythatyoulove,aspecificphilosophyyouoftenthinkabout—itdoesn’tmatter,aslongasyourecognizeitasapartofyou.Onceyouhavethat,translateitintoyourapplication.Notonlyinthedescriptionsandtextbutinyourentireportfolio.AvoidusingA4whitecanvasestowriteyourresume;makeitfuninstead.Haveastorytotellandletallthevisualelementscommunicatewhoyouare:colorsandfonts,picturesorillustrations,icons,everything.Itdoesn’tnecessarilyhavetobeaestheticallybeautiful(youcanalwaysimproveyourgraphicdesignskillslater);ithastobeauthentic.Makethemwanttogettoknowyoubetter.Usequotes,tellthemaboutyourfavoritebooks,movies,andgames.Whatisitthatyoulove? Don’twasteyourtimemodifyingwhoyouareinordertofitwhatyouperceiveSpotifytobe.Spotifyisaplaceofdiversity,collaboration,andinspiration.Youwouldn’twanttoinviteahundredclonesintoyourband,wouldyou?  “Myfirsttipwouldbetotakeadeeplookatwhoyouareandhowyouaredifferentfromwhat’soutthere.Whatmakesyouunique?”René:ThedesigncommunityatSpotifyvaluesindividuality,acreativesensibilityandstorytelling.Whetheryouhaveanunhealthyobsessionwithtuftingoryou’reastampcollectorontheside—whatevermakesyoutick,showit!Screamit!Embraceit!Makeyourpersonalityandpointofviewshinethroughinyourworkandapplication.Oftentimes,it’swhatI’vedoneontheoutsidethat’shelpedmewithsolvingaprobleminsideatSpotify,andallofusinthedesigncommunityhaveveryuniqueanddifferenthobbiesthatshapeusandourdesignapproach.Ultimately,welivebyourBandManifestosoit’simportantthatyoucanresonatewithit.Weallresonatedifferentlysomakesureyoucandemonstratehowourvaluesalignwithyouinawaythatisuniquetoyouandyourexperiences.ApplyingforaninternshipatSpotifyisn’taone-size-fits-allprocess.(Takeitfromus,formerinterns!)Youruniquebackground,experiences,andskillsarewhatdifferentiatesyoufromtherest—sobeclearonhowthistranslatesintoyournextrole.Doubledownonwhatmakesyoushineasadesigner,andletyourcreativitydotherest.Lastly,tothoseaspiringinterns,keeppushingyourself!Theinternshiphuntisanerve-rackingprocessbuteveryopportunity—successfulornot—isachancetoimproveintherightdirection. Fromallofus…thebestofluck!Kate,René,Ian,Christina,Josefina,andIan Wanttojointheband?ApplicationsforSpotify’sglobalsummerinternshipsopeneverylatefall/earlywinter,inmultiplelocationsaroundtheworld.KeepaneyeoutforupcomingopportunitiesatStudentsatSpotify.CopylinkCreditsKateJungAssociateProductDesignerKateisaKorean-Canadiandesignerworkingonnewproductinnovation.ShelivesnearToronto,whereshecanbefoundcafé-hoppingandtakingwalkswithherdog.ReadMoreChristinaShiProductDesignerIZhenyuan(Christina)isadesignerandprintmakerwhoseekstobringpoeticnessandplayfulnesstoeverythingtheycreate.Likes:possums,chess,andboxing.ReadMoreRenéSimonssonAssociateProductDesignerRenéisdeepinsocialdiscoveryandsharingatSpotify.Outsidework,helikesbigwords,diggingintomusicsamples,andvisitingStockholm’sdivebars.ReadMoreIanHarryssonJuniorProductDesignerBasedinMalmö,Sweden,Ianisapartoftheteamdesigningin-home-experiences.Inhisfreetime,Ianenjoysdrinkingnaturalwine,running,andreading.ReadMoreJosefinaGeisseProductDesignerIFromsouthernChile,Josefinalovesspottinghiddenproductflows.Outsidework,sheoftenleavesrealitytostickherheadinbookswithfairiesorwarlords.ReadMoreCopylinkNextupQ+AAskSpotifyDesign06Thedo’s,thedon’tsandeverythinginbetween:fourdesignersansweryourportfolio-relatedquestionsinaspecialeditionofAskSpotifyDesign.BehindTheScenesHowtoNailRemoteOnboardingandInfluencePeopleSeniorUXWriter,NicoleA.Michaelis,sharesherexperienceofonboardingremotelyastheonlyUXWriterinherteam.BehindTheScenesHowtoGetaJobatSpotifyDesignGetnoticed.Tellyourdesignstory.Anddon’tforgetthedata.ThisisourguidetogettinghiredatSpotifyDesign.EventsScreenShareDayRecap:Over200ConversationsWithAspiringDesignersWe'vecollatedSpotifyDesigners'answerstothemostfrequentlyaskedquestionsfromthisyear'sScreenShareDay.OurlatestinNotedWantSpotifyDesign updatessent straightto your inbox?EmailSendByclickingsendyou'llreceiveoccasionalemailsfromSpotifyDesign.Youalwayshavethechoicetounsubscribewithineveryemailyoureceive.NowPlayingLoadingplaylistAuthenticatingClose