Guide to Graphic Design Jobs

Get your graphic design career off to a great start
By Shannon Tani

With a graphic design career, you do not have to die in order for others to appreciate your artistic work. In fact, many people make a very nice living with graphic design employment.

With the right set of skills, you can go far. Most companies will need the services of graphic designer eventually, and while these graphic design jobs may be temporary, there is usually enough work to keep you busy.

If you want to get off to a great start with careers in graphic design:

1. Get as much experience as you can. When you apply for a graphic design job opening, employers want to know that you have successfully worked on campaigns for other companies. Even if you need to volunteer your services, the experience is important.

2. Stay up to date on the newest graphic design programs. Many companies create new programs or updates on a regular basis and if you have a graphic design career, it's important that you know about the latest advancements in the industry.

3. Encourage previous clients to recommend you to their friends. Word of mouth advertising is often the best.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search for graphic design job opportunities One of the best ways to look for jobs in any industry is through the Internet. This makes the job search easy by allowing you to search for jobs in all areas.

I recommend: AIGA is a professional design association that lists graphic designer job information and listings on its website. Krop is another well-respected site that lists design jobs.

Use a graphic design employment agency to find the best position for you If you're sick of sending out resumes and not getting a response, then it's time to let someone else take the time to do that. A good recruiter will send your resume to available positions that you qualify for and act as a go-between with you and the potential employer.

I recommend: Artisan specializes in matching design professionals with the companies that need them. They have graphic design jobs for both print and the web. The Art Squad also places creative types into a job that's right for them.

Go out on your own with freelance graphic design careers Whether the town you live in simply doesn't have many graphic design job openings available or whether you prefer to work from home, there are many great benefits to becoming a freelance graphic designer. With a bit of hard work, you can find enough jobs to keep you busy and pay for all your expenses.

I recommend: Create an online portfolio at Coroflot so that you can share your designs with others. You can also network with others in the industry through this site. The Freelance Switch is a community of freelancers and they list jobs available on a short term, freelance basis.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

Your portfolio is very important when you apply for graphic designer jobs. Make sure that it is in great shape and reflects the type of image that you want to present to potential employers or clients.