Graphic design is everywhere online, from websites and landing pages to online assets such as digital brochures. Professionals in this field seek to use art and aesthetic elements to effectively communicate with an audience. As such, graphic designing could be considered as essentially art and logic coming together to make something visually appealing and compelling. For a long time, graphic design was not considered a mainstream career path; however, today this reality has certainly changed.

WHY ARE GRAPHIC DESIGNERS IN DEMAND?

The demand for graphic designers has certainly risen dramatically, which makes this an ideal time for you to pursue a course in graphic designing. Let’s see why!

  • You will be better than AI (artificial intelligence). AI has become the talk of the town of late. However, there are some things that only a human mind is capable of, and creative thinking is one of them. Graphic design skills include uniquely human abilities, such as idea generation and creativity to produce a perfect visual, so by choosing a graphic design career, you don’t need to worry about your job being taken over by AI.
  • Design and branding are essential today. Product design and branding are essential elements that help products make their way into the homes and lives of customers. As graphic designers are the ones responsible for creating that visual impact, they end up being important pieces of the marketing puzzle for products and services.
  • You can design for yourself. The tools and technology necessary for graphic designing have become cheaper and more accessible than before. If you browse the internet, you can find several tips, advice and tutorials to teach yourself how to design. All you have to do is hone your graphic design skills and put them to use. You can start off by designing some cool artwork for yourself!
  • You have a large audience waiting, watching, and appreciating. Today, the internet has made almost everything accessible. You can use this in your favour and use the internet as a tool to market your work to a larger audience than ever before. While this also means that some criticism might come your way, there will be tonnes of appreciation too.
  • Your critical thinking skills can boost your creativity. Critical thinking pushes you to think out of the box, so you can come up with problem-solving techniques and ideas. Since creativity is an essential part of your job, employers are sure to see your critical thinking abilities as a plus.

HOW TO FIND A GRAPHIC DESIGNER JOB

With a rapid increase in popularity, the competition in graphic design careers is also on the rise. So how can you find a graphic designer job in such a competitive environment? Here are some steps that can help you up your game and grab the ideal job.

  • Step 1 – SEO Building: A survey by CareerBuilder states that most employers use search engines like Google to look for potential employees during the hiring process. This is where SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) can make a world of difference for you. As a graphic designer, it is crucial that you have a portfolio showcasing your work, and SEO can help you considerably increase your website’s visibility. There are SEO tips readily available online that can help you optimise your portfolio website.
  • Step 2 – Set up an online alert: If you are already in the job-hunting phase, you need to be active on job portals. However, looking through job portals day in and day out can be tiresome, so an easier way to make sure you don’t miss out on any new job listings in your area is to set an alert on your job portal app or website. This will ensure you will get a notification every time there is a job matching your skills.
  • Step 3 – Keep your LinkedIn up to date: LinkedIn is one of the most useful apps on the professional front today. You can connect with important people, share your views and look for jobs. In fact, you can also ask your colleagues to recommend you for job openings. It is always a good idea to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date.
  • Step 4 – Online Design Community: Networking can be beneficial in any line of work. Sign up for an online design community and start connecting with fellow designers – you never know when you might come across an open position.

THINGS TO REMEMBER BEFORE GOING FOR A DESIGNER INTERVIEW

Interviews are the next step – and the most important one – for landing a job, so preparing as much as you can is crucial. Check out a few tips that can help you ace a designer interview:

  • OPEN UP: Being expressive is always considered a positive quality in an interviewee. This does not apply only for the day of interview, however – connecting with peers is useful to improve your chances in the industry, so don’t be shy! Networking is a boon that you should take absolute advantage of.
  • MAKE JOB VACANCIES HAPPEN FOR YOU: Going through job openings in their field of choice is everyone’s first choice, but your future job won’t necessarily be an advertised job vacancy. Sometimes, even though there isn’t a vacancy, an organisation might see your potential and want to have you as part of their team, so don’t hesitate to send in your CV to companies you are interested in working for. If you are capable of adding clear value to the organisation, let them know!
  • STAY UP TO DATE: With each passing day, trends come and go. In order to perform well in the interview, you need to be familiar with everything new in your field of work. This will help you polish your skills and stay on the top of your act.
  • RESEARCH: Researching about the firm you are interviewing for is paramount. Knowing about the firm will not only give you a clear idea about the job opening but will also make the interviewer feel that you are serious about this opportunity.
  • DRESS SMART: In an interview, smart-casual always does the trick, especially if it is for the role of a graphic designer. It is likely that in interviews with graphic design companies, the interviewer will not require you to wear a suit – however, you can always double check with your contact within the organisation if there is a specific dress code you should mind when attending the interview.
  • CV AND PORTFOLIO: The interview is pointless if you don’t have your CV and portfolio at hand. It is advisable that you bring a presentable CV and a creative portfolio to support your job application and discuss during the interview.

HOW TO PREPARE A GRAPHIC DESIGNER CV

A graphic design resume needs a lot of creativity and smart designing to ace that first impression. Your graphic design resume should include:

  • Cover letter
  • CV
  • Portfolio of your work

Cover letter

You should ideally start your cover letter by stating the purpose of the application. Mention the job title you are applying for, your reason for wanting to work with the organisation and why you think you are perfect for the role. The cover letter is also a good chance to lay out your relevant work experience and education in the field and how it makes you suitable for the position.

The CV

Your CV is your first impression, so you need to make sure that you are presenting your skills and personality in the best possible way. Include your work experience, academic qualification and achievements – it’s all about presenting a confident but not arrogant image, highlighting your accomplishments, skills and qualities.

A portfolio of your work

If you are a graphic designer with prior work experience, make sure you include a detailed portfolio of your best work along with your CV and cover letter. Even the best graphic designers need to showcase their work for people to trust their abilities.

SOME COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

  1. What are the most essential graphic design skills?
  2. Why did you decide to pursue the graphic design career?
  3. What kind of design projects are you interested in?
  4. How would you describe your creative process in steps?
  5. Walk me through your portfolio. What is your best work to you and why?
  6. How well do you deliver under pressure? How do you deal with deadlines?
  7. Name a brand whose designing idea inspires you. Why?
  8. If you were asked to design a logo for our company, what would it look like?
  9. Are you comfortable being told what to design?
  10. Are you open to criticism?

If you are interested in pursuing a career in graphic design, you can take up a course at the London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA).

LCCA offers courses in HNC/HND Graphic Design, BA (Hons) Graphic Design and CPD Graphic Design.

This article was written by Meghdeep Patnaik and edited by Luna Campos.