20 ways to prepare for a career in graphic design

Many design students find it difficult to transition from student to employee simply due to lack of preparation. Since the graphic design industry is so competitive, it is important to differentiate yourself 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 are overwhelmed. No matter what stage you are at in your career progression, 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 conscience to be successful from the start. Having a degree in graphic design is a great achievement, and many employers will weigh more on the fact that you have a certificate than someone else. You still need a solid portfolio, but having a graphic design degree under your belt will be impressive.

2. Work hard

Getting your first job at 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 proper research and connect with the right people in the industry, it will be easier for you to pursue the people who will be in a position to offer you a graphic design job.

3. Discover your specialization

There are many taps 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 are preparing for your career as a graphic designer.

4. Plan your courses

Plan your courses according to what works best for your schedule and lifestyle. If you want to start work earlier, work with school counselors to accelerate your graphic design program so you can start work earlier. If you want more classes to expand your design knowledge (which never hurts anyone), you can incorporate this into 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 extremely busy. When you call, email, and interview potential employers, remember to be polite 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 sooner you start the better. The numbers 5 and 6 are connected: if you are nice to people, they are more likely to recommend someone for a job. Stay in touch with your network and be genuinely friendly.

7. Master your software

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

8. Take advantage of resources

Many of these types of services are not used in college. The services are there for a reason: to help you. If you are looking for work, help with a resume, interview skills, etc. they will be more than happy to help you.

9. Do parallel or autonomous projects

The best way to gain experience when you are young is by creating your own personal projects or as a freelancer. This is also a great way for students to earn extra money while attending graphic design school. Side projects are a great way to add work to your portfolio that is completely yours. Freelancing is a great way to work on real-world design projects with real clients. Use these experiences as a way to hone and sharpen your skills.

10. Look for criticism

Nobody’s designs are perfect. That’s why reaching out to other people to find your mistakes is a good way to develop your skills. It can be difficult to get feedback at first because it may seem like your work is under personal attack. Remember to differentiate yourself from your work and use it to improve.

11. Find graphic design internships / internships

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 without advertising (and may even pay you).

12. Read

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

13. Learn business

Being knowledgeable about general business terms will prove valuable later in your career. If you ever want to be a freelancer full time, you will have to know how to run a business. Taking classes like economics, marketing, advertising, and business communication will be beneficial to you.

14. Be original

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

15. Have a portfolio

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

16. Have a resume and cover letter

Even though 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 the number of applications, they won’t have time to look at your design portfolio. Rather, they will only look at your resume to see if you have the minimum requirements for the position. In your cover letter, remember to include who you are, why you are communicating with so and so, and why you want to work on that graphic design.

agency.

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 designer 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. Looking for designers? How big is your company? How many employees do they have? What kind of work do they normally do and is it your style? Is the company environment somewhere where you can see yourself fitting in?

19. Attend events

Being active online is great, but meeting others 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 on job requirements

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