20 Ways to Prepare for a Career in Graphic Design

Many design students have a hard time transitioning from student to employee simply because of a lack of preparation. Since the graphic design industry is so competitive, it’s important to stand out from your competitors. Graphic design is a fast growing industry that requires many skills from employees. Many students struggle with a real graphic design job because they don’t know what to expect and feel overwhelmed. No matter what stage you are at in your career progress, we have compiled a list to help you better prepare for your career.

1. Go to school

There are very few young graphic designers who have such a good combination of skills and awareness to succeed from the start. Having a graphic design degree is a huge accomplishment, and many employers will place more importance on your having a certificate than someone else. You still need a strong portfolio, but having a graphic design degree under your belt will be impressive.

2. Work hard

Landing your first job from graphic design school will be hard work. There is a lot of work out there, but you have to be proactive about your future and look for it. If you do the right research and connect with the right people in the industry, you will have an easier time pursuing the people who will be in a position to offer you a graphic design job.

3. Find out your specialization

There are many faucets for graphic design: logo design, business card design, brochure design, identity and branding, magazine and book design, and advertising. Find out which channel you enjoy the most and work best on. Having a major will help you stand out when you’re preparing for your career as a graphic designer.

4. Plan your courses

Plan your courses for what best suits your schedule and lifestyle. If you want to start working sooner, work with school counselors to speed up your graphic design program so you can start working sooner. If you want more classes to expand your design knowledge (which never hurt anyone), you can include this in your program as well.

5. Be nice

Being nice will get you far in the industry. As you prepare for your career as a graphic designer, remember that many employers are very busy. When calling, emailing, and interviewing with potential employers, remember to be courteous because they are taking time out of their day to talk to you. Treat people with respect and you are more likely to get the same in return.

6.Network

Networking is one of the most important things you can do as a graphic design student and the earlier you start the better. #5 and #6 are connected: If you’re nice to people, they’re more likely to recommend someone for a job. Keep in touch with your network of contacts and be genuinely friendly.

7. Master your software

Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are tools that you should be familiar with and comfortable with. Most employers will expect you to know these tools after you graduate.

8. Take advantage of resources

Many of these types of services are not taken advantage of at the university. Services exist for a reason: to help you. If you’re looking for a job, help with a resume, interview skills, etc. they will be more than happy to help you.

9. Do side projects or freelance

The best way to gain experience when you are young is to create your own personal projects or work as a freelancer. This is also a great way for students to earn some extra money while attending graphic design school. Side projects are a great way to add work to your portfolio that is entirely your own. Being a freelancer is a great way to work on real world design projects with real clients. Use these experiences as a way to refine and improve your skills.

10. Look for reviews

Nobody’s designs are perfect. That’s why looking to other people to look for your mistakes is a good way to develop your skills. It can be difficult to get feedback at first because it can feel like your work is being personally attacked. Remember to differentiate yourself from your work and use it to improve.

11. Find Graphic Design Internships/Placements

Experience is one of the best ways to stand out. Experience is what will put you at the top of the resume pile at graphic design agencies. Email or call the graphic design agencies you’d like to get the best experience from. Many agencies accept interns with no advertising for them (and may even pay you).

12. Read

Reading is one of the best skills you can inherit when preparing for your career as a graphic designer. Many elements of the design industry change so quickly that you’ll need to be able to keep up with the latest standards. Professionally speaking, reading books and internet articles will make you a smarter designer.

13. Learn Business

Having knowledge in general business terms will prove valuable later in your career. If you ever want to be freelance full-time, you’ll need to know how to run a business. Taking classes like economics, marketing, advertising, and business communication will prove beneficial to you.

14. Be original

You need to have a personal style. Without you, you can get a lot out of the hundreds of graphic design students who could apply for the same jobs as you! A good way to differentiate yourself is to brand yourself. Bookmark your portfolio, your emails, your resume and cover letter, and your social media presence. Be consistent on all of them.

15. Have a bag

Not having a portfolio will not get you very far in the graphic design industry. Portfolios are a way to promote your brand and services. If you don’t have a lot of portfolio pieces, create side projects for yourself, work for friends and family, or freelance with real clients.

16. Have a resume and cover letter

Although some say that the resume is now dead in the design industry, it’s still nice to have one. If a graphic design job exceeds a number of applications, they won’t have time to look at your design portfolio. Rather, they will just look at your resume to see if you have the minimum qualifications for the position. In your cover letter remember to include who you are, why you are contacting so-and-so, and why you want to work on that graphic design.

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17. Follow the people who inspire you

Following people you admire is important because it can be a constant source of inspiration. Twitter is a great community for graphic designers because you can easily follow all the “leaders” in the graphic design industry.

18. Make a list of places/people you want to work for

If one of your goals is to work for a specific agency, do your research before you graduate. Are you looking for designers? How big is your company? How many employees do you have? What kind of work do they normally produce and is it your style? Is the company environment a place where you can see yourself fitting in?

19. Attend events

Being active online is great, but meeting other people and attending events offline is a great way to connect with the community. Although many of these conferences are quite expensive for graphic design students, if you can attend one, take advantage of it.

20. Research the job requirements

Job requirements for graphic designers will vary slightly from company to company. This is a good way to prepare for your career because it lets you know what to expect on the job. If you don’t know what your employers will require of you, the transition from student to employee can be a stressful experience.

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