How to Get a Job as a Graphic Designer
Graphic designers imagine and create digital images and art for all types of clients, ranging from a business who needs updated graphics on their website to a band who wants posters for their upcoming tour. Since many clients require designs on a temporary basis, a high proportion of graphic designers work as freelancers.
How to Get Hired as a Graphic Designer
18% of graphic designers are self-employed
- You don’t need an undergraduate degree to become a graphic designer
- Quality of work in your portfolio and the caliber of clients you’ve worked with will speak louder than your degree
- Four easy steps to building a great portfolio
- Choose your best work
- Find samples that best show your artistry, creativity, and skill
- Tell the story of each piece
- Design your website
- Get your work on social media
- Send your graphic design social media page to prospective employers
Graphic Designer Job Market
266,300 graphic designers were employed in the U.S. in 2016
Graphic Designer Interview Tips
To showcase your profile digitally, you also might consider bringing a flash drive with files of your work.
- Dress sharp
- Research the company
- Learn what you can about the company’s values, its future goals, and any recent news you can find about them.
Graphic Designer Hiring Process
There are two main avenues through which you’ll be hired as a graphic designer: full-time and freelance
- As a freelancer, you’ll typically stitch together an income through contracting with multiple clients
- You can find freelance graphic design positions through job search sites like Glassdoor, as well as on sites that connect freelancers like Upwork and Fiverr
- Submit your resume and portfolio to the companies listed in these job postings
- Before you send out freelance applications, make sure you know how much you’re comfortable with charging for your work
How Much Do Graphic Designers Make?
As of 2019, the national average salary for a Graphic Designer is $48,561 in the United States.
- In New York, however, graphic designers earn on average $55,242 per year, which is 14% above national average.