| ng a job in the graphic design industry can be | | | | Once you have finished your schooling, more |
| challenging, because this industry is competitive. | | | | opportunities will be open to you, but you will need to |
| However, the job outlook for graphic design is above | | | | know how to find them. If you want to find a full-time |
| average, and the demand for graphic design services | | | | graphic design job, then you can search online at |
| is in high demand. | | | | national and local job sites. |
| According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, | | | | You also may want to search for opportunities in your |
| the number of people employed in the graphics | | | | neighborhood or city. Each locality usually has its own |
| industry will increase by 10 percent between 2009 and | | | | government job agency, and most of them offer job |
| 2016. The persons who gain experience in website | | | | search resources, free of charge to applicants. |
| design and Flash animation are likely to gain the most | | | | If you are located in a place where graphics design |
| experience in this field. | | | | skills are not in high demand, then you might consider |
| If website design and Flash animation interest you, then | | | | freelancing. As a freelance designer you can receive |
| you need to update your technological knowledge in | | | | jobs from all over the world. It will increase your |
| one or more of the following areas: Adobe Flash | | | | opportunity to earn money doing what you love to do, |
| software, along with HTML, CSS, and other website | | | | and you will not need to travel. Your assignments will |
| programming languages. Learning Photoshop and | | | | be sent back and forth via e-mail. |
| Illustrator are helpful as well. | | | | If you have not yet found the design job of your |
| In addition to learning the above-mentioned design | | | | dreams, just remember that you need patience and |
| software, you need to enhance your skills and | | | | persistence. Most designers start in low-paying |
| experience as a graphic designer. For example, you | | | | positions and then will work for a few years before |
| may want to learn how to design a variety of different | | | | obtaining higher-paying positions. |
| multimedia projects, such as video tutorials, cartoon | | | | While you wait for that huge job offer in this field, you |
| episodes, or advertising banners. | | | | can expect to find entry-level design jobs which pay a |
| You can find many opportunities to learn how to | | | | salary of $20,000 to $30,000 a year (or sometimes |
| create a different multimedia projects. Your | | | | less if you work only part-time). As you gain more |
| experience in multimedia design will include a | | | | experience, you will then start to earn up to $60,000 or |
| combination of on-the-job training and formal | | | | more. |
| classroom training. | | | | If you work in commercial advertising for a large |
| Your formal education might involve taking classes in | | | | company, you may earn a higher salary. However, you |
| professional photography, drawing, or painting. | | | | may need to take additional classes if you expect to |
| On-the-job training opportunities may require you to | | | | earn as much money as the average. |
| find entry-level positions working at a small print shop. | | | | Besides experience as a web designer, graphic |
| An additional option to gain experience in graphic | | | | designers become most successful if they also have |
| design is to create a portfolio of completed graphic | | | | excellent communication skills. Moreover, it help if you |
| design samples. You can include samples of projects | | | | are also familiar with various types of design and |
| that you completed for a class or internship, or even | | | | publishing software. |
| from a small volunteer job. | | | | If you have been working as a pro designer for |
| Posting your own finished designs (even if you had | | | | several years now, you might want to update your |
| designed them for free) can help you acquire | | | | education. Taking new classes related to the newest |
| freelance design jobs, even if you are still in college. | | | | design technology and software will help you land |
| This will give you a head start in the graphics industry | | | | different clients and help you gain new experiences. |
| once you graduate. | | | | |