How to hire an interior design assistant

How to hire an interior design assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step interior design assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an interior design assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new interior design assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the interior design assistant you need to hire. Certain interior design assistant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An interior design assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, interior design assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents interior design assistant salaries for various positions.

   Type of Interior Design Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Interior Design Assistant	Interior designers make interior spaces functional, safe, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting decorative items, such as colors, lighting, and materials. They read blueprints and must be aware of building codes and inspection regulations, as well as universal accessibility standards.	$16-31
   Visual Merchandiser	A visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans... Show more	$12-25
   Designer	A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences... Show more	$21-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Space Planning
   • In-Home
   • Revit
   • Auto CAD
   • Administrative Tasks
   • Design Concepts
   • Design Services
   • Purchase Orders
   • Sketch
   • Client Presentations
   • Design Firm
   • Design Development
   • Design Process
   • Sample Library

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the website and twitter page, write the blog posts and attend numerous fashion shows and sample sale rooms.
   • Create a presentation or sketch mapping out the space.
   • Work extensively on AutoCad, powerpoint, Microsoft suite.
   • Organize and make weekly PowerPoint presentations to local realtors.
   • Review and reply to RFI resulting in delivering successful projects.
   • Create digital 3D render spaces of client projects using Google SketchUp.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your interior design assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An interior design assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, interior design assistants' average salary in vermont is 47% less than in new mexico.
   • Seniority. Entry-level interior design assistants earn 48% less than senior-level interior design assistants.
   • Certifications. An interior design assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an interior design assistant's salary.

   Average interior design assistant salary

   $47,621yearly

   $22.89 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level interior design assistant salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing an interior design assistant job description

   An interior design assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an interior design assistant job description:

   Interior design assistant job description example

   • Track design schedule to ensure timely execution of product development calendar
   • Support Designer(s) in creating Illustrator sketches; assist in preparation of specification sheets; prepare designs for line review; prepare line sheets and update as necessary
   • Support 3D initiatives by participating in block creation for all product categories
   • Follow up with Design teams on all pending information post style review meetings
   • Maintain product development logs, line sheets, boards and design archives library; maintain designs in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system or shared drives
   • Assist in generating Bill of Material (BOM) pages comprised of all garment components: fabrics, trims, embellishments, labels and packaging
   • Assist in creating production ready woven and knit technical layout/pitch sheets based on fabric construction and yarn counts
   • Research and coordinate raw materials and trims for approval; maintain fabric/trim library
   • Review lab dips with Designer(s) and Senior Designer(s); coordinate print and graphics where appropriate; observe and assist with fit process; keep detailed notes

   Customers & Relationships

   • Follow-up with internal customers and partners including technical design and production; facilitate interoffice communication
   • Provide support to the Technical Developer during style review meetings by taking accurate notes on style, stitching and embellishment details for all product categories
   • Provide organizational support to the Design Operations team by maintaining digital and physical reference materials
   • Build collaborative relationships with vendors and internal customers

   Leadership & Teams

   • Contribute positively to team dynamic and manage up where necessary

   Our Best Fit Candidate Would Have

   • Superior organizational skills and excellent communication skills; team oriented
   • Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines, highly detail oriented, meticulous and creative
   • Ability to work in a fast pace, high performance environment while maintaining a high level of accuracy and accountability.
   • Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or related field
   • 1-3 years related experience and/or training in apparel
   • Comprehensive understanding of the entire Product Development cycle and all milestones
   • Basic knowledge of garment construction, pattern making, silhouettes, color ways, sewing techniques, seam classifications, fabrication and trim.
   • Technical knowledge of fabric qualities, construction and finishes for all product categories
   • Superior organizational and communication skills; team oriented.
   • Proficient in Flex PLM, Microsoft Office, Adobe products; knowledge of CAD preferable

   In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401 (k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

   Be part of our growing community by getting involved with groups, teams and initiatives like Be Green, Be Giving, and Be Celebrated.

   Centric Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer

   #LI-JE1

   #LI-Hybrid

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find interior design assistants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your interior design assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit interior design assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting interior design assistants requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new interior design assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the interior design assistant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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