Do companies count college years as part of experience if I was interning and freelancing nonstop as a student? If I graduated a year ago, can I apply for positions that ask for 5 years of experience?

Damn, today’s weather is a high 92 with a 100% chance of getting roasted, lmao

OP, you have 1+ years experience

OP, people tend to forget where they came from, and unfortunately sometimes get amusement out of shitting on young creatives for trying to learn. You'd be applying to a mid/senior level as junior if you apply to a listing like that. Apply to junior jobs listings.. then eventually become a CD who doesn't take time out of their day to make fun of someone trying to educate themselves.

Why stop after highschool? The art you did in daycare counts. I'd say you have 18 years experience.

OP, don’t let these people bring you down. You are a seasoned professional, your experience is valid. Please apply. During the first interview you should start negotiating for an equity package and ask for a personal assistant.

No

Love the support I’m getting from this community

SD1 We all remember where we came from. And how we didn’t try and scam our way up. OP would you rather us tell you you’ll get laughed out the door? Or actually get laughed out the door?

Sweet summer child.

It counts if you were hustling and freelancing and creating work that went into market (or was pitched for real briefs). Don’t let these haters bring you down. I say I have 10 years experience and that includes my final year’s thesis project because it was live and in the world.

The truth is a combination of all of the above. While you can’t count internships or the work you did while you were in school in terms of years of experience towards an actual post-grad job, be assured that it all counts in different ways, and is valuable. It shows you have work ethic and hustle, and that you’re probably fairly business savvy compared to others who haven’t done any of that. In those ways, it puts you ahead of some others. Internship programs have become much more sophisticated than ever before, and we do realize that you probably weren’t just fetching coffee. I know quite a few creatives who sold and produced work as interns. Having said all that, the official experience clock starts ticking once you graduate and have your first full-time or freelance paid job. Hope this provides a bit of clarity for you.

😂

Thank you, that’s helpful

Not sure how someone asking FB for information is them "scamming their way up". Seems like OP is asking to understand better, not to try to lie in their applications about their experience.

If you have the work to back it up then apply! The worst thing that could happen is that nothing happens

Nope

Not even close

Nope

My junior experience was important for me to have ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Or how we tried to scam our way up and fell on our faces. With lessons I learned from experience failing, trust me just be honest about your experience and let your portfolio do the talking.