4 answers
Garrett
Student
Deltona, Florida
1
Question
Updated
818 views
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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4 answers
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!
Edie Egwuonwu-Ogunrinola (CPACC)
Learning and Development/Architect
12
Answers
Poinciana, Florida
Updated
Edie’s Answer
Hi Garrett,
I think an opportunity that's out there that a lot of your competition might miss is building a portfolio with REAL work through volunteering. Reach out to United Way (simply dial 211) and let them know you're interested in volunteering to help organizations with their graphic design needs. Here's why it would be advantageous for you:
1. Real-world portfolio work (before everyone else has it)
Nonprofits often need logos, flyers, social media graphics, event materials, and reports. This gives you real clients, real constraints, and real outcomes—not just class assignments. That instantly strengthens a portfolio compared to peers who only have school projects.
2. Experience designing for real audiences and impact
Nonprofit work teaches how design supports a message, a mission, and behavior change (donations, attendance, awareness). This builds strong design thinking, which hiring managers value more than just technical skill.
3. I cannot stress this enough. REAL audiences are not the same as projects for school or practice. Early client and stakeholder skills will be invaluable!
You’ll learn how to:
> interpret vague requests
> receive feedback (sometimes messy feedback)
> revise work under deadlines
These “soft” skills are often what separate good designers from hire-able designers.
4. Professional references and networking
Nonprofit leaders, coordinators, and board members typically are leaders in the "for profit" business world. Therefore, gaining exposure to them can be super helpful. They can become:
> strong references
> LinkedIn connections
> future recommenders for internships and college programs
This kind of network is hard to build later if you don’t start early.
5. Signals initiative, empathy, and leadership
Colleges, internships, and design firms love seeing designers who show:
>initiative (self-starting projects)
> empathy (designing for others, not just aesthetics)
> purpose
It tells a story: “I use design to solve problems, not just make things look cool.”
I think an opportunity that's out there that a lot of your competition might miss is building a portfolio with REAL work through volunteering. Reach out to United Way (simply dial 211) and let them know you're interested in volunteering to help organizations with their graphic design needs. Here's why it would be advantageous for you:
1. Real-world portfolio work (before everyone else has it)
Nonprofits often need logos, flyers, social media graphics, event materials, and reports. This gives you real clients, real constraints, and real outcomes—not just class assignments. That instantly strengthens a portfolio compared to peers who only have school projects.
2. Experience designing for real audiences and impact
Nonprofit work teaches how design supports a message, a mission, and behavior change (donations, attendance, awareness). This builds strong design thinking, which hiring managers value more than just technical skill.
3. I cannot stress this enough. REAL audiences are not the same as projects for school or practice. Early client and stakeholder skills will be invaluable!
You’ll learn how to:
> interpret vague requests
> receive feedback (sometimes messy feedback)
> revise work under deadlines
These “soft” skills are often what separate good designers from hire-able designers.
4. Professional references and networking
Nonprofit leaders, coordinators, and board members typically are leaders in the "for profit" business world. Therefore, gaining exposure to them can be super helpful. They can become:
> strong references
> LinkedIn connections
> future recommenders for internships and college programs
This kind of network is hard to build later if you don’t start early.
5. Signals initiative, empathy, and leadership
Colleges, internships, and design firms love seeing designers who show:
>initiative (self-starting projects)
> empathy (designing for others, not just aesthetics)
> purpose
It tells a story: “I use design to solve problems, not just make things look cool.”
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.
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.