A lot of young designers think that it’s a bit hard to make a living by doing something they love and don’t realize there are lots of graphic design jobs out there.
Finding the right first graphic design job, regardless of whether it’s an internship, or a summer job, is not only an important job when you’re launching your career, it’s also an exploration of the field you love, and a continuation of your learning process towards becoming a good designer.
Even the most skilled ones will find finding their first jobs in graphic design are stressful to find.
There are a few things, however, that you can do in order to reduce that stress when you’re looking at design jobs, regardless of what types of graphic design jobs you’re looking into, such as remote graphic design jobs, freelance graphic design jobs, or even part time graphic design jobs.
Now, even before you begin looking for graphic design jobs, there are a few things you’ll need to understand. First, you will need to understand yourself, your strengths, weaknesses and motivations. Then, you’ll need to understand the nature, variety and style of your work. And, finally, you’ll need a good understanding of the job market.
Are graphic design jobs in demand? Where to find graphic design jobs? Understand the design offices, corporations, and the plethora of other businesses that may employ a graphic designer. Only then, can you prepare to present yourself, as well as your work, in a portfolio, and start looking for entry level graphic design jobs.
Create a portfolio
When you’re looking into how to get a graphic design job, know that a portfolio is very important, and should only consist of the work you’re proud of, as well as willing to discuss. This is especially important for online graphic design jobs, where you only have your CV and portfolio when applying.
People will remember best what is either first or last in a certain sequence, and you should bind together the sketches that display your ability to sketch, think and brainstorm. You should also be prepared to discuss your weaknesses and strengths in an interview.
If you’re at a school or university that gives you courses on how to assemble a portfolio and market yourself, attend them. Show your teachers your portfolio, and attend, if possible, portfolio reviews that are organized by professional design organizations.
The feedback you get from them will be more than valuable. And, make sure that your prospective employer knows that you’re aware that the learning process will continue throughout your career. In fact, that learning curve is actually pretty steep for the first two or three years once you’re done with school.
You should be harnessing your creativity, because, any agency that’s looking for talent has seen hundreds of resumes, and they are cold, white and boring most of the time. If you’re a graphic designer, make it as visual as you can.
If you’re an illustrator, get a pen and paper, and turn it into something that will represent your style. If you’re skilled in motion graphics, make a showreel resume that will both outline your skills and your visual experience.
Resume
Anyone looking at how to get graphic design jobs, or any other job, should have a resume. However, a design applicant should pay specific attention to this. Your resume should reflect your type ability and skill with the careful typographic design. Make sure to include all facts that an employer might want to know, as well as a reliable phone number and address.
Printing business cards is also important, as they give you another shot at making an individual design statement. Any designer that’s interviewing you will appreciate it. And, designing for yourself is actually worse than representing a client, as it might feel like having an identity crisis.
Where do you want to work?
Next, identify the corporation or individuals you’d like to interview with. The job leads at school placement offices usually have real value, and you can also make use of trade magazines as well as design annuals in your school library.
However, if you’re after a job in a particular geographic location, make sure you’re looking for listings based there. You could take a look at your school’s alumni lists for recent graduates you could call up and discuss your interests with. Alumni will know people in design, and might be able to help recent graduates in meeting them.
Getting an interview
A prospective employer will most likely prefer to get a resume and brief letter prior to the interview. If possible, use it to establish your interest for a particular job opening, or for the specific organization’s specialty. You should give whoever’s reading your letter a good sense of who you are.
Make a telephone call to arrange your appointment. Whoever you’re contacting might be a busy person, but don’t get discouraged. Instead, be politely persistent. Sometimes someone who doesn’t have job openings, but is willing to meet you, will give you an interview. This is a great practice, and he or she might help you with making other connections.
In the interview
The first interview is always the most stressful one, so mock interviews with friends can result in good practice and feedback. At the real one, try to be relaxed, and breathe. Ask about the organization, the projects, and be interested in them. Then, explain how you can help. Don’t drone on about yourself, keep track of the interviewer’s body language and responses.
An interview is actually a dialogue between people who are finding common ground, when it works. After any interview, stop, and record your impressions. A thank you note as a follow up is a courtesy, and will help interviewers remember you.
As far as clothing goes, you should be yourself. Present well, but don’t overdo it. A lot of agencies won’t expect you to wear a suit, but it is an interview afterall, and you shouldn’t be wearing your ripped jeans and battered trainers. Look the best you can, and try to keep a hint of your personality.
Prepare some decent material as well. The interviewer will have most likely seen your portfolio, and agencies often want to give you a brief to work on before the actual interview. If this isn’t the case, do something nice, but do something you can leave with them. If you can also relate it to the agency’s brand, and have it show off your skills, you’ve got yourself a winner.
So, you got a job offer
You might be taken by surprise, and neglect negotiating. Don’t just say “yes”, an employer will expect, and respect, you taking time to consider the conditions. This is the right opportunity for you to establish your market value. See what it takes to live reasonably, and take care of any educational loans.
See what an entry level design job pays, and balance all that information against your personal strengths. There are other negotiable things in addition to money, such as paid vacations, unpaid leave days, health benefits, flexible hours etc. You could be sacrificing some of these things in order to get others that are more important.
Be clear, ask questions, and take a bit of time to consider everything. Whatever is not satisfactory, try to adjust it now. Starting off the relationship with trust and clarity is important. Once you accept your position, celebrate, but don’t throw out your contacts, and send them a note that announces your new position instead.
Join design organizations or volunteer at their events
While you’re a student, you have discounts when you want to join design organizations. You’ll find that the benefits of interacting with people who think alike, as well as networking, are actually very valuable.
When you’re participating in such organizations, you have a rich understanding of the field, as well as who is who in the industry, and you’ll also have a chance at speaking to inspiring people. There are truly tremendous opportunities for growth and learning, and soaking up that knowledge is important.
Do some work for charities
If you want to add some solid work for your portfolio and kick-start a network base, offer your design skills to some charities in your community – you’ll also be supporting a great cause.
This is something that might potentially lead to both for-profit paid work, as well as some non-for-profit work. Try approaching a local business or gallery, or an animal shelter, or any other cause that is close to your heart.
Get internship
An internship with a good studio can give you invaluable experience you can draw on throughout your entire career. You will get some experience in how such an organization is run, and have a better understanding about how things such as the client requests and work load work.
With a bit of luck, you can show your commitment and skills to the company, thus turning your internship into a full-time job. This lets you gain a lot of skills and start your own network.
Nurture your network of peers
This might be a bit obvious, but we commonly see our peers as competition, and not supporters. Instead, try to actively nurture your network of peers, it will undoubtedly pay off. If someone passes on a project due to a busy schedule, this can be a good fit for you, and a great thing to add to your portfolio. This, in turn, opens the doors to bigger opportunities.
LinkedIn is another great tool when used properly. However, bad, or unfinished content makes you look like an amateur. So, any useless work-in-progress should be cleared out.
Send out fan mail
Everyone likes getting a note from admirers, it will lift the spirits, and strengthen us up as an industry. So, why wouldn’t you tell your heroes that you respect them and the work they do?
When you’re sending a genuine short e-mail, such as a note, to someone you admire, this can lead to a lot of opportunities. You might be what they’re looking for, such as when they’re hiring, or need someone to commission for something that matches your skills.
Sure, this won’t happen always, but you shouldn’t get discouraged if you don’t get phone calls immediately. Sending a follow-up mail with your latest work is also another thing if you want to keep them interested, as well as reminded of your availability.
Create a presence on the Internet
Another obvious one, but if you have an online platform where you can express yourself, as well as maintain dialogue with people who are actually interested in your work, it helps a lot.
And, I don’t mean just a Facebook page or Twitter account. A prospective employer will want to see your own bespoke website or blog, or make us of something like Squarespace or Behance.
Making use of those websites, or others such as DeviantArt, Cargo Collective etc., is nothing if you don’t have anyone looking at it. Therefore, you should be matching your uploads with supporting posts on your blog or personal website as well.
Be as active as possible, and make use of any channel at your disposal to get your message out there. You can never know where your next job opportunity is coming from.
Exploit some of your other skills
If you also have photography or illustration skills you can add to your skillset, this is another thing that may led to significant work under some talented people’s art direction. Make a simple, yet elegant PDF of your best pieces, and prepare to mail it to the agencies you’re interested in.
Submit some of your work to awards schemes
A couple of accolades under your belt help you get a reputation, and get under the radar of editors and art directors. And, it might help a hesitant creative director choose between you, or another talented designer.
Start working on your own projects
You’re a creative person, and if you don’t have any doors opening, make your own projects. Split your day in a way so you have time to get your work out, as well as create some of your own projects. You can choose between postcards, free icon packs, e-books, CMS themes, or anything else you could think of. This might be a bit risky, but it’s absolutely worthwhile.
There is merit to creating your own opportunities, and you have tools to connect with like-minded people, colleagues and friends at your disposal. You’re free to explore your skills and creativity using them. Today’s online culture is changing the rules of the game, and getting on board and making it work for you is a great opportunity to use.
Look for openings, or try a recruitment agency
Scouring agency websites like the plague is something you’ll need to do when you’re looking for your first design job. This way, you’d be doing a couple of things. First, cutting out the middleman will mean you’re more likely to get an interview, and you’re saving the agency a load of money. Next, you’re actually going to the person responsible for you.
A recruitment agency goes through a screening process, and if they don’t like you, your details won’t be passed on. You’re coming across as proactive in looking for employment, and this shows how willing you are to be a part of the team. Last but not least, you can establish direct contact, which breaks down the walls of formality and lets them get to know you better.
However, everything said above doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider a recruitment agency. There are agencies, or even magazine sites that list some up-to-date agency jobs. If you can’t get to the employer directly, a recruitment agency is your next best shot.
Ending thoughts on graphic design jobs
Finding your first job is actually you matching your skills and creativity, with the real needs of an organization. And, it will also be a very valuable learning experience. You’ll be learning as you go, about the various ways of practicing design, and your next job search will be much easier, regardless of when it happens. You’ll have a clearer vision of the field, and your position within it.
It’s important to communicate, follow up, and be courteous. This takes away from the first stressful experience a lot of valuable information, let alone satisfaction and increased confidence. And, nobody’s approach is the same when we’re discussing potential employers. Therefore, when presenting, mix things up a bit, and step outside of your comfort zone.
If you liked this article about graphic design jobs, you should take a look at these as well:
- Graphic Design Interview Questions You Should Know Answers To
- Character Design: Tips On How To Design A Character
- Iron Man Logo Designs: The Official And Rejected Versions
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