Graphic design is one of the industries that have recently been growing speedily. Similarly to programming, the number of people interested in becoming graphic designers increases year by year. And while the competition is exceptionally tight out there, it doesn’t mean that getting a career in graphic design is unattainable.
In fact, it’s pretty doable, mainly if you know what to do. Below, you will find six practical tips to help you land the best job in graphic design.
Learning at your own pace and getting a degree
Getting a relevant degree might be the most apparent tip to enter the graphic design field. But without self-paced learning, your college years may turn out to be utterly pointless. That’s why the best way to improve your knowledge is to educate yourself aside from studies, for example, by analyzing and customizing free designs templates. Not only will it help you strengthen your creative thinking, but you will also come up with unique visualizations you may later benefit from.
Volunteer
Volunteering may considerably tip the scales in favor of your application. And the sooner you start volunteering, the better. Such work is usually unpaid. Sometimes, it may demoralize you, making you think of giving up the job since you get nothing in return. But before you do that, remember that it is an experience that you gain, which will allow you to move further. Besides, this work will enable you to build an initial portfolio and boost your application.
Finally, don’t forget that you can–and are encouraged to–ask for a recommendation letter from the place you’ve volunteered. It can also give you plenty of credit, proving that you’re responsible, hardworking, and enthusiastic.
Serve an Internship
Doing an internship is a somewhat similar activity to the above one. But in the case of an internship, you usually have to work full-time and have a wider scope of work. Likewise, most internships are unpaid. Nonetheless, it is another chance to gain priceless experience, improve your CV, fill your portfolio, and get a substantial recommendation letter. The good thing about internships is that they often come from large corporations, and once they accept you, there is a chance they will offer you a position upon your internship completion.
Expand your social media presence
We live in the era of social media and spend hours surfing the net. However, social networks aren’t just about chatting with friends and resting after tough days. They also come in very handy when looking for a job. Take LinkedIn, for instance. Being a business media platform, LinkedIn is a fantastic place to find a job and network with others, so why not create a profile?
Besides LinkedIn, you can use other platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The latter might be your go-to, as it is where you can add your works and communicate with others. Either way, ask people around to work with them, offer your services, etc. At first, you may even offer to work for free until you gain the necessary experience and enrich your portfolio with new works.
Overall, try being present and active on social media; it will undoubtedly contribute to your career in graphic design.
Be on the lookout for various events and attend them
Attending different events related to design is another excellent way to start a successful career in the field. It will allow you to look at things from various angles and ultimately increase your value as a designer.
Indubitably, there is no need to attend each and every event and public lecture, for many are sometimes tedious. Instead, learn about the event beforehand, its host, and the agenda. Doing that will help you evaluate whether it’s worth attending.
Apart from events, you may also want to sign up for a designing boot camp and boost your expertise in the given area. Designing boot camps teach people how to put theory into practice by working with real-life customers. Not only that, you will learn how to work in a team, complete tasks, take additional ones, delegate them, etc.
Try freelancing
If you have already worked within the graphic design industry and know your way around, you can try working with people in a one-on-one format. Freelancing is viral these days, and that’s understandable. Working freelance, you aren’t confined in space and can work from anywhere, at any time. It is a great alternative for an office job, especially if you like traveling and being on the go.
Multiple platforms for graphic designers exist, so it’s up to you which one to choose. Just do your own research and select the one that suits you the best. And of course, remember to polish your profile to a shimmering brilliance, adding CV and portfolio.
The Bottom Line
It’s imperative to remember that one needs to have prior experience in graphic design to get a nice job in the branch. Provided tips focus primarily on gaining such an experience.
No matter which path you choose to follow (of course, you can incorporate them all), you will secure a well-paid, exciting, and meaningful job in the graphic design sector in the long run.
