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