Manipal Institute - Graphic Designer - Sept 2025

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (Intern) Company: ZenTrades Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India Job Type: INTERN Category: Marketing Operations / Design Support Date Posted: September 18, 2025 Experience Level: 0-2 Years

🚀 Role Summary

• This internship focuses on providing foundational graphic design support within a dynamic marketing team, contributing to the visual communication strategy of ZenTrades.
• The role involves the creation of digital assets for various marketing channels, ensuring brand consistency and visual appeal across all platforms.
• Interns will gain practical experience in a fast-paced environment, working on real-world design projects that impact marketing campaigns and brand perception.
• This position offers an excellent opportunity to develop core design skills, understand marketing collateral creation, and learn about brand identity management within a growing technology company.

📝 Enhancement Note: While ZenTrades is a SaaS company primarily focused on field service management, this role is within their marketing department. The operations aspect here is the support provided to marketing operations through visual content creation, ensuring brand consistency and aiding in campaign execution. The focus is on supporting broader GTM (Go-To-Market) efforts through design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and create compelling visual content for diverse digital platforms, including social media posts, digital advertisements, website banners, and email marketing campaigns.
• Assist in the production and refinement of marketing collateral, such as brochures, presentations, infographics, and internal documents, ensuring high-quality output.
• Collaborate closely with the marketing team to conceptualize and execute creative design ideas that align with ZenTrades' brand identity and marketing objectives.
• Contribute actively to brainstorming sessions, offering innovative and fresh design perspectives to enhance marketing materials and campaigns.
• Rigorously ensure that all created designs adhere strictly to established brand guidelines, maintaining visual consistency and brand integrity across all touchpoints.
• Provide ad-hoc design support to the broader marketing and design teams, assisting with various tasks as required to meet project deadlines and team needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are geared towards supporting the marketing team's operational output. The emphasis on "assisting" and "contributing" highlights the intern's role in a support capacity, rather than leading design strategy. The focus is on execution and adherence to brand guidelines, which is crucial for maintaining a consistent GTM message.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Currently pursuing or a recent graduate with a degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Digital Media, or a closely related field. This academic background provides the necessary theoretical understanding of design principles and practices.

Experience:

• Entry-level position, requiring little to no formal professional experience. However, prior internships, volunteer work, or significant academic projects demonstrating design capabilities are highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Software Proficiency: Demonstrated mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for creating and editing digital graphics and layouts.
• Portfolio of Work: A strong, well-curated portfolio showcasing a range of design projects, highlighting creativity, technical skill, and problem-solving abilities. This is the primary indicator of capability.
• Design Principles Knowledge: A solid understanding of fundamental design principles, including layout, composition, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy, essential for creating effective and aesthetically pleasing designs.
• Brand Consistency: Ability to understand and apply brand guidelines consistently across various design outputs to maintain a cohesive brand image.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous focus on details to ensure accuracy, polish, and adherence to project specifications in all design work.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively within a team environment, contributing positively to group projects and discussions.
• Communication Skills: Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills, enabling participation in team meetings and understanding project briefs.

Preferred Skills:

• Digital Marketing Awareness: Familiarity with the design needs of digital marketing channels such as social media, email campaigns, and online advertising.
• Basic Motion Graphics: Familiarity with tools like Adobe After Effects for simple animation or motion graphics.
• UI/UX Fundamentals: Basic understanding of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) principles, which can inform design decisions for digital assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" are standard for an entry-level graphic design role. The "Preferred Skills" add value by indicating a candidate's potential to contribute more broadly to digital marketing efforts, aligning with the GTM focus. The portfolio is critically important for evaluating practical design skills at this level.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Project Diversity: Showcase a variety of design projects, including examples for social media, digital ads, presentations, and marketing collateral.
• Brand Application: Include at least one project demonstrating the ability to adhere to specific brand guidelines or adapt a design to different brand contexts.
• Creative Process: For 1-2 key projects, briefly outline the design process, from brief to final output, highlighting problem-solving and decision-making.
• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrate proficiency in required software (Adobe Creative Suite) through the quality and complexity of the work presented.

Process Documentation:

• While formal process documentation is not expected from an intern, the ability to articulate one's design process and workflow is crucial. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they approach a design brief, manage feedback, and iterate on designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an intern role, the "portfolio" is the primary form of "process and systems" demonstration. The emphasis is on showcasing practical application of design skills and understanding of brand consistency, rather than formal process documentation. The ability to articulate their design workflow is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• As this is an internship position, compensation is typically structured as a stipend or hourly wage. For Pune, India, a typical intern graphic designer stipend can range from ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 per month, depending on the company, duration, and specific responsibilities. ZenTrades is likely to offer a competitive stipend within this range.

Benefits:

• Mentorship: Opportunity to learn from experienced designers and marketing professionals.
• Skill Development: Hands-on experience and potential for skill enhancement in graphic design and digital marketing.
• Networking: Build professional connections within the tech industry.
• Portfolio Enhancement: Gain valuable projects to add to a professional portfolio.
• Potential for Future Employment: Strong performance may lead to opportunities for full-time roles or further internships.

Working Hours:

• Standard business hours, likely Monday to Friday, approximately 9 AM to 6 PM IST, totaling around 40 hours per week. Some flexibility may be offered, but core hours will be expected for team collaboration and project work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific salary figures are not provided, so a range based on industry standards for interns in Pune, India, has been estimated. Benefits are focused on learning and career development, typical for internship roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software as a Service (SaaS), specifically Field Service Management. ZenTrades provides a platform designed to help businesses manage appointments, customer relationships, and field operations. Company Size: ZenTrades is a growing company, likely falling into the small to medium-sized business (SMB) category, with a dynamic and evolving internal structure. This means interns may experience more direct interaction with senior team members and have more visibility on their contributions. Founded: ZenTrades was founded in 2019. This indicates a relatively young company, likely with a modern, agile, and growth-oriented culture.

Team Structure:

• Marketing Department: The intern will be part of the marketing team, which likely includes marketing managers, content creators, social media specialists, and potentially other designers.
• Reporting: The intern will likely report to a Senior Graphic Designer or a Marketing Manager who oversees design and content production.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: While primarily within marketing, the role will involve interaction with other departments, such as product, sales, and customer success, to understand their visual needs and ensure brand alignment across the organization.

Methodology:

• Data-Informed Design: Marketing efforts are typically data-driven; design decisions may be influenced by performance metrics from digital campaigns.
• Agile Marketing: Expect a fast-paced environment where marketing initiatives can adapt quickly based on market feedback and performance data.
• Brand-Centric Approach: A strong emphasis on maintaining brand consistency and visual identity across all marketing materials and communications.

Company Website: https://www.zentrades.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and founding date suggest a fast-paced, modern tech environment. The "operations" aspect of the team structure is how marketing functions to support the overall business goals, with design being a key enabler of their GTM strategy.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level internship role, designed for individuals early in their graphic design career. It serves as a foundational experience, providing exposure to professional design practices within a business context. Reporting Structure: The intern will report to a designated mentor or manager within the marketing department, likely a Senior Graphic Designer or Marketing Manager. This direct line of reporting ensures guidance and feedback. Operations Impact: The graphic designer intern's work directly impacts ZenTrades' marketing operations by creating visual assets that enhance brand perception, support marketing campaigns, and contribute to lead generation and customer engagement efforts. High-quality visuals are crucial for effective GTM communication.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and design disciplines (digital graphics, marketing collateral).
• Industry Exposure: Gain insight into the SaaS industry and how design functions within a technology company's marketing strategy.
• Portfolio Building: Develop a professional portfolio with real-world projects, which is critical for future career advancement in design.
• Networking: Connect with professionals in design and marketing, potentially opening doors for future employment opportunities.
• Potential Full-Time Role: Exceptional interns may be considered for full-time positions upon completion of their studies or the internship period, particularly in roles like Junior Graphic Designer or Marketing Assistant.

📝 Enhancement Note: Growth for an intern is primarily focused on skill acquisition and portfolio development, with the potential for more formal career progression if performance is outstanding and business needs align. The "operations impact" is seen through the lens of supporting marketing's operational goals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The office is located in Pune, India, at a tech park, suggesting a professional, modern office environment. Office Location(s): A-302, Nyati Tech Park, New Kalyani Nagar, Wadgaon Sheri, Pune-411014, Maharashtra, India. This location is within a business hub, likely offering good accessibility and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Atmosphere: Expect a work environment that encourages collaboration, especially within the marketing team, fostering idea sharing and teamwork.
• Technology Access: Access to necessary design software and hardware (computers, monitors) required for graphic design tasks.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities to interact with designers, marketers, and potentially other team members, providing exposure to different professional perspectives and work styles.

Work Schedule: Typically a standard 5-day work week (Monday-Friday) during business hours (e.g., 9 AM to 6 PM IST). While some flexibility might be present, maintaining consistent availability for team collaboration and project deadlines is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is described based on the provided office location and general expectations for a tech company. The "operations" context here relates to the physical and collaborative setup that supports the design workflow.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of the application, resume, and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and design capabilities.
• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A more in-depth review of the candidate's portfolio, likely with a hiring manager or senior designer, focusing on design choices, process, and creativity.
• Technical/Skills Assessment: Potentially a small design exercise or a discussion about design principles and software usage to gauge practical skills.
• Behavioral/Cultural Fit Interview: Questions to assess teamwork, communication, problem-solving approach, and alignment with ZenTrades' company culture.
• Final Interview (Optional): May involve meeting with additional team members or department heads.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quality over Quantity: Present your best 5-8 projects that showcase a range of skills and creativity.
• Context is Key: For each project, briefly explain the objective, your role, the tools used, and the outcome.
• Visual Appeal: Ensure your portfolio itself is well-designed, easy to navigate, and visually engaging.
• Brand Awareness: Highlight projects that demonstrate an understanding of brand consistency and application.
• Digital Format: Prepare a digital version (PDF or online link) that is easily shareable and accessible.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design process in detail.
• Refresh your knowledge of design principles, typography, and color theory.
• Familiarize yourself with ZenTrades' brand and marketing materials to understand their visual style.
• Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to an intern applicant, focusing on the portfolio as the primary assessment tool and preparing for typical interview stages in a tech company.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency expected in Photoshop (image editing, digital graphics), Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, icons), and InDesign (layout, print/digital documents).
• Portfolio Platform: Candidates are expected to use platforms like Behance, Dribbble, or a personal website to showcase their portfolio.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, an understanding of how design impacts campaign performance (e.g., click-through rates on ads) is beneficial. Familiarity with basic analytics concepts or tools like Google Analytics would be a plus, though not expected.

CRM & Automation:

• No direct interaction with CRM or automation tools is expected for this role. The focus is purely on the design output that supports these functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This clearly outlines the technical tools relevant to the role, emphasizing the core Adobe Suite as the primary requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration: Emphasis on working together with the marketing team to achieve shared goals.
• Creativity & Innovation: Encouragement to bring fresh ideas and creative solutions to design challenges.
• Brand Integrity: Commitment to maintaining and upholding the company's visual identity and brand standards.
• Professionalism: Dedication to producing high-quality work, meeting deadlines, and demonstrating a strong work ethic.
• Continuous Learning: Openness to learning new design techniques, software features, and industry best practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Team-Oriented: Expect to work closely with marketing team members, participating in discussions and feedback sessions.
• Feedback Integration: A willingness to receive and incorporate feedback to refine designs and improve outcomes.
• Supportive Environment: The team likely fosters a supportive atmosphere where interns can learn and grow.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values are inferred based on typical tech company culture and the nature of a marketing/design internship. They highlight the expectations for an intern's attitude and contribution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Adapting to Brand Guidelines: Learning and consistently applying specific company brand standards can be challenging for new designers.
• Meeting Deadlines: Working in a fast-paced marketing environment may require efficient time management to meet project deadlines.
• Receiving Constructive Criticism: Learning to accept and act on feedback from team members is a crucial part of growth.
• Balancing Multiple Projects: Juggling various design tasks for different marketing initiatives requires strong organizational skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Practical Design Experience: Gaining real-world experience designing for a SaaS company.
• Industry Knowledge: Understanding how design supports marketing and sales operations in a technology sector.
• Software Proficiency: Enhancing skills in Adobe Creative Suite and potentially exploring new design tools.
• Mentorship: Direct guidance from experienced design and marketing professionals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed as learning opportunities, common for internship roles. Growth is focused on practical skill development and industry exposure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Can you walk me through a project in your portfolio that you are particularly proud of? What was the objective, and what was your process?" (Focus on demonstrating creative process and problem-solving.)
• "How do you ensure your designs align with specific brand guidelines?" (Assess understanding of brand consistency.)
• "Describe a time you received feedback on your design work. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Evaluate ability to take and implement feedback.)
• "What design trends are you currently following, and how might they be relevant to a company like ZenTrades?" (Gauge industry awareness and creative thinking.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about ZenTrades and the field service management industry?" (Assess research and interest.)
• "How do you think graphic design contributes to a SaaS company's marketing success?" (Understand their perspective on design's business impact.)
• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you approach collaboration." (Assess cultural fit and teamwork skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Explanations: For each portfolio piece, provide a brief, clear explanation of the context, your role, and the design decisions.
• Highlight Key Skills: Ensure the projects selected demonstrate your proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as well as your understanding of typography and color theory.
• Showcase Brand Adherence: If possible, include a project where you successfully applied brand guidelines.
• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your creative process, software usage, and design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: These questions and strategies are tailored for an intern applicant, emphasizing the portfolio and foundational design skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer (Intern) position at ZenTrades:

• Submit your application through the provided link on ZenTrades' Freshteam portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and clearly showcases projects relevant to digital marketing assets (social media, ads, web graphics). Select 5-8 of your strongest pieces.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your education in Graphic Design/Visual Arts, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, and any relevant projects or previous internships. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for specific portfolio projects. Be ready to discuss your understanding of design principles and brand consistency.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with ZenTrades, its services, and its current marketing efforts to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their business context.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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