3 answers
Garrett
Student
Deltona, Florida
1
Question
Updated
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What are specific actions and/or skills to acquire that could make getting a job as a graphic designer easier post college graduation?
I am currently a 17 year old high school senior whom is about to graduate by the end of May. I am very passionate about Graphic Design and want to continue with it after high school, however I am concerned whether I will stand out enough to employers to find a job after college. I have been certified in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere Pro and have been a part of my school's video production team for the last 2 years as well as communications club for all 4 years.
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3 answers
Julie Lazarus
Customer Experience
1
Answer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Julie’s Answer
To make landing a job as a graphic designer easier after college, here are some steps you can take:
Garrett, choose a brand you admire but feel could use a fresh look. Study their competitors to see what they are doing. Then, come up with creative branding, product packaging, and even signage ideas that stand out. Check out AIGA annuals to see how other designers have approached similar projects. Create four outstanding separate branding projects and share them with a professional designer to get valuable feedback. This will help you grow and improve your skills and have something to show at your interviews. But mainly create connections. Ask for a coffee meeting. Send a hand written note to stand out.
Garrett, choose a brand you admire but feel could use a fresh look. Study their competitors to see what they are doing. Then, come up with creative branding, product packaging, and even signage ideas that stand out. Check out AIGA annuals to see how other designers have approached similar projects. Create four outstanding separate branding projects and share them with a professional designer to get valuable feedback. This will help you grow and improve your skills and have something to show at your interviews. But mainly create connections. Ask for a coffee meeting. Send a hand written note to stand out.
Sam C
Graphic Designer
2
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Sam’s Answer
Hi Garrett,
I encourage you to start building your website and share what you've created so far. From my experience, having a website and showcasing my artwork before graduation helped me land my first internship. Even if your first internship isn't your dream job, it’s a great opportunity to learn a lot.
It seems like you have skills in video production as well as graphic design. The creative field is vast, and it's important to decide which area you want to explore. Whether you choose to be a generalist or a specialist is up to you. I hope you find what suits you best and pursue it with passion.
I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck!
I encourage you to start building your website and share what you've created so far. From my experience, having a website and showcasing my artwork before graduation helped me land my first internship. Even if your first internship isn't your dream job, it’s a great opportunity to learn a lot.
It seems like you have skills in video production as well as graphic design. The creative field is vast, and it's important to decide which area you want to explore. Whether you choose to be a generalist or a specialist is up to you. I hope you find what suits you best and pursue it with passion.
I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck!
Natalie DeFruscio
Chandler/student
1
Answer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Natalie’s Answer
You're personality and personal design style will most definitely make you stand out. Through my college career as an artist, I watched my own style change and develop. Having skills within the Adobe Creative Cloud is definitely a plus! Creating a portfolio and/or a portfolio website will help you create the overall style and vibe you want to advertise yourself as.