• Freelance: As a freelancer, you’ll typically stitch together an income through contracting with multiple clients. Before you send out freelance applications, make sure you know how much you’re comfortable with charging for your work, so you have a metric to enter negotiations with.
• Full-Time: Many companies and independent design firms are constantly hiring full-time in-house graphic designers. Typically you’ll submit a resume, your portfolio, and in some cases, a cover letter. After that, you may be invited back for an in-person interview, and you may have to showcase your skills.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 266,300 graphic designers employed in the United States in 2016. The rate of employment growth for graphic designers until 2026 is 4 percent.

However, these statistics account only for the United States market, and because graphic designers can complete assignments from their computers, freelance employment opportunities are often open to graphic designers across borders.

If you’re invited to an in-person interview, it’s important to prepare all your materials ahead of time.

Here are a few tips to nail your graphic design interview:

• Bring a paper copy of your resume, and if you can, paper copies of some of your design material.
• Consider bringing a flash drive with files of your work, as well as bringing a tablet or computer you can show your work on.
• Dress sharp: Your clothes can project the vibe you wish to give off as a future employee, such as edgy, laid-back, or put-together, depending on what you wear.
• Research the company – learn what you can about it.