If you’re interested in being a graphic designer but have yet to have your first graphic design job, the prospect of having someone pay you for your work at this point might seem a bit intimidating. With the number of great graphic designers out there, why would someone be interested in working with you? But luckily, you can find all kinds of jobs or other career opportunities even with just a little education and experience.
To help you see how this can be possible, here are three tips for getting your first graphic design job.
Start With Something Small
While you might have dreams of designing entire print catalogs or other big projects, for your first graphic design job, you should probably start with something smaller.
If you’re wanting to get a job that’s more consistent, you should look to apply for entry-level positions where little to not experience is required. At this type of job, you’ll be able to gain a lot of design experience as you learn from the more experienced designers who you’ll be working with. But if you’re just wanting to get some kind of paid experience to add to your resume, consider reaching out to people you know who might need design help. You could help with web design, creating a business logo, designing a greeting card, or other small tasks to help get your confidence up.
Recognize That Everything Represents You
As you start seeking out people or businesses that might want to hire a graphic designer, you need to keep in mind that everything about you represents you to prospective clients. This being said, you’ll want to make sure that everything that you give to clients or show them represents you well.
When creating your portfolio, make sure to include only your best work so that people can really see what you’re capable of and the quality of work that they can expect from you. And when you send in a resume or CV, make sure it’s impeccably designed as well, even though it’s a more formal document.
Have The Equipment You Need
Graphic designers will need to use some pretty unique and specific software to help them design their projects. And while this software and these tools can be expensive, if someone is going to hire you to design something for them, especially on a freelance basis, you’re going to need to have access to all the tools and software you’ll need. So if you don’t already have a creative suite or a way to access images, texts, and colors for your designs, make sure you get this all figured out before you start soliciting work.
If you’re about to break out as a new graphic designer, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you land your first paid gig.
