Landing the perfect position amid a sea of graphic design jobs is oftentimes a difficult and frustrating experience. To make matters worse, the global economic crisis has complicated the job-seeking experience especially for beginners who are aiming for large companies.
In some cases however, the reason for such frustration is that applicants are unaware of where they should start, and often think that merely going around online postings and dropping by offices is the first step.
In some cases however, the reason for such frustration is that applicants are unaware of where they should start, and often think that merely going around online postings and dropping by offices is the first step.
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Getting your feet on the right direction from the start makes this experience easier, more enjoyable and more fruitful. Preparation is the key to any personal endeavor we take, and here we equip you with proper prep-up tips for a rewarding design career.
• Become the best graphic artist there is
It’s all about sufficient education and experience. While a considerable number of designers are self-taught, it would be beneficial for you to take advantage of training curriculums that specialize in the said field. In some parts of the world where on-campus courses are not available, online programs prove to be very helpful.
Enrolling yourself in one ensures that you have an adequate, solid foundation for a long-term career. It will equip you with the basics, and train you on a variety of in-demand skills and technologies including Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for those aiming for a spot in print media, and HTML, CSS and Dreamweaver for those seeking web-based careers - skills that employers often check whenever an applicant comes knocking in.
Whenever you can, practice these at home. Recruiters would sometimes ask you to demonstrate your capabilities, and it’s wise to be prepared for battle.
• Create a wicked portfolio
After learning comes the application and necessary flaunting. For employers to notice you, creating a portfolio is essential. It is great for marketing and selling your experience, skills, resume and sample work to potential employers. Contact information maybe embedded on-site too.
This is much easier nowadays with tons of free websites available in the market where you can house your best work. Being a novice should not hold you back from coming up a sleek collection of your work. Practice the art, make hypothetical samples and flaunt them on your site for clients to see.
• Draft a great resume and cover letter
While a portfolio sells your skills through work samples, a resume summarizes your entire history, background work, experience and personal data in easily digestible words.
Be sure to keep it at around 2-3 pages of MS Word or PDF files, and focus only on your best skills, making sure that everything is clean and organized.
Also, remember to have a creative and succinct cover letter in hand all the time for easy uploading whenever applying for a company. Stay away from cover letters that are too generic- these tend to be neglected by clients.
• Take advantage of e-mail signatures and social media accounts
An additional promotional move is to list your skills and current position in your e-mail signatures and also integrate them in your Facebook, Google+ and Twitter accounts. This allows recruiters to have a clear, concise idea of what you offer prior to contacting you.
Now that you have everything set up, it’s time to go look for graphic design job!
These days, the Web is brimming with online employment boards where you can scout for the best positions and companies that fit your personal goals and qualifications. Do your research and try to filter your search according to your acquired skills and preferences. This should make searches easier for you rather than just clicking on random non-related employment searches.
