Being in college can feel like a safe environment where you experiment and learn without having to worry about any real world issues. But once graduation day rolls around, you start to think about your career in graphic design. What can you expect as a recent graphic design college graduate? How can you get started in this increasingly busy and competitive field? Here is a brief primer that can get you started in the exciting and sometime turbulent world of graphic design.
1) Remember: getting a good job in graphic design requires time and patience
A design studio or ad agency might hire you right away after graduation; but the more likely scenario is that you will need to search for the perfect graphic design jobs. Getting a job usually takes time, and getting a job you really love takes a lot of time. The important thing is to get started in the search. When you enter the graphic design job market, you will see certain opportunities present themselves to you.
2) Give yourself the time to search
Make it easy on yourself by making pragmatic and realistic approaches to your graphic design job search. Tell yourself that it may take months, even a year, to find a good job. But remind yourself that searching for a job is not a waste of time. As you search for a graphic design job, you will meet many professionals in the field. Make an effort to connect with professionals in the industry, improve your interviewing skills and your job searching techniques, and ask for feedback on your portfolio.
3) Get ready to start at the bottom
As a recent graduate, you may find that you will start at the bottom when a company first hires you. The bottom is the best place to start off as a fledgling graphic designer. You have less pressure, where you have the greatest freedom to experiment, and where you can hone many important and fundamental design skills. Your first job will be well within your abilities, and you will have a supervisor who can answer your questions. In many cases, these kinds of bottom jobs are an extension to your formal education.
4) Where can you get started looking after graduation?
The best thing you can do is to start looking before you graduate from school. In your final year of study, start looking around for jobs and opportunities in the graphic design field. One of your greatest resources is a friend. Most people prefer working with people they know, or someone who has been referred to them by a friend. Ask relatives, friends and neighbors about any opportunities they may know about. Give them copies of your resume, and put your portfolio online so that prospective clients can easily view it. If you are a student, take advantage of your school s career placement and counseling. Start scanning the classified ads to see what s out there, and take advantage of clubs and organizations that are affiliated with graphic design or the arts in your area. Another great untapped resource may be the faculty at your school. Speak to professors about your concern and see if they can offer you any assistance in making connections with prospective employers.
Author Resource:
Visit Brian Scott's website, http://www.FastCashDesign.com and learn about freelance graphic design and how to make money as a graphic designer.
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