To become a graphic designer, you don’t necessarily need an undergraduate education. Often, the quality of work in your portfolio and the caliber of the clients you’ve worked with will speak louder than the degrees in graphic design you’ve received. However, many people do choose to obtain bachelor’s degrees in graphic design, or in related fields such as industrial design, animation, or fine arts. In fact, some graphic design jobs require a bachelor’s degree in order to apply. There are also associates degree programs focusing on graphic design.

Degrees Needed

<ul><li>Find the samples that best show your and skill as a graphic designer. </li><li>For each sample you chose to showcase, write some words on why you chose it, what it was created for, and the process of its creation. Mention if you worked on it with any other people.</li><li>Choose your website. Popular platforms include PortfolioBox, Adobe Portfolio, Cargo, and Behance. If you’re an avid web designer, you can also choose to design your own website.</li><li>Get your work on social – a great added component to a web portfolio is a social media account where you showcase your work as a graphic designer. </li></ul>

Graphic Design Portfolio

<ul><li>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.</li><li>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.</li></ul>

Graphic Designer Hiring Process

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.

Graphic Designer Job Market: The US

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:<ul><li>Bring a paper copy of your resume, and if you can, paper copies of some of your design material.</li><li>Consider bringing a flash drive with files of your work, as well as bringing a tablet or computer you can show your work on.</li><li>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.</li><li>Research the company – learn what you can about it.</li></ul>

Graphic Designer Interview Tips

Here’s everything you need to know about becoming a graphic designer and how to get hired as a graphic designer.

Stashed ideas

How to Get a Job as a Graphic Designer | Glassdoor

We have more open jobs more than unemployed people, what does that say about our hiring process?Studies show that 75% of those who've applied online don't hear back from the employer, and it isn't much different on the company level because about 46% of employees either get fired or quit within their first year.

Applying for jobs online

The resume is a piece of paper that describes our skills, roles we've had, languages we speak, but what it misses is that it doesn't show the potential that we might not have had the opportunity to do so in the past.With such a quickly changing economy, our resumes stay talking about what we've done in the past therefore we're not going to be able to match people to the jobs of the future because companies are looking for skills that aren't learned yet.

Focusing on the crux: the resume

Putting our trust into an algorithm in order to land us a job is pretty scary to think about but there is one thing that has been shown to be really predictive of someone's future success in a job, and it's called the multi-measure test.This test is a combination of assessments that measure cognitive abilities, personality traits, and values. With the ever-growing technology, we can apply the test to an algorithm that's measurable and scalable so that it can provide data to employers about what the traits are of someone who can be a good fit for the job.

How Algorithms Can Help Us Find Jobs

If we're building algorithms based on top performers, how can we make sure that we're not just perpetuating the biases that already exist?The thing with technology is that it poses the opportunity of being able to create algorithms that are more equitable and more fair.

Unbiased Algorithms

When we focus on the inherent characteristics that can make somebody fit for the job we can transcend racism, classism, sexism, ageism, and even good school-ism.

Finding a job used to start with submitting your résumé to a million listings and never hearing back from most of them. But more and more companies are using tech-forward methods to identify candidates. If AI is the future of hiring, what does that mean for you? 

Finding a job used to start with submitting your résumé to a million listings and never hearing back from most of them. But more and more companies are using tech-forward methods to identify candidates. If AI is the future of hiring, what does that mean for you? Technologist Priyanka Jain gives a look at this new hiring landscape. The Way We Work is a TED original video series where leaders and thinkers offer practical wisdom and insight into how we can adapt and thrive amid changing workplace conventions. (Made possible with the support of Dropbox) Visit https://go.ted.com/thewaywework for more!

How to make applying for jobs less painful | The Way We Work, a TED series

Take the time to ask yourself why you want a new job. If you try to explore the goal you have in mind, it will motivate you to find space for job hunting.  Defining your "why now?" will call you to action to take the first step.

Define your why — and why now

Find a moment to sit down and meditate. Then visualize the times when you were excited about a new job or the happy moments in your current one. Ask yourself, do you like the people you worked with or are working with? What about the kind of work? Do you have different feelings now? Finally, visualize how you'll feel when you find your dream job. Embrace the energy you're feeling — the excitement and the engagement you feel through your body. With this practice you can determine what's important to you and give you the necessary energy to power through.

Visualize current state and target state

It's often scary to think about the uncertainty the future brings but if you create a plan and follow it to the bone, you'll glean with energy from accomplishing every step.  <ol><li>Determine how much time you're willing to dedicate to the job-hunting process and commit to that every day or every week</li><li>Create an activity schedule — like what will you do at this time? Prepare your resume? Update your LinkedIn profile? </li><li>Figure out who are the people who will support you with the job-hunting.</li></ol>

Make a plan 

Each company has their own style of recruiting process. Some have a maximum of four interviews while others, ten. However, this shouldn't get you down because that's something not within your control. If you focus on what you can control you'll increase your positive energy and build momentum. Instead here are some things you can control:<ul><li>Developing your resume and LinkedIn profile </li><li>Scheduling meet-and-greet opportunities with people from your field</li><li>Preparing for interviews</li><li>Reaching out to references and encouraging them to be enthusiastic in talking about you</li></ul>

Focus on what you can control

The job-hunting process is emotional and it sometimes can feel like a roller coaster ride. That's why mental preparation is just as important as preparing your resume.  We can be positive all we want but we still have to prepare for the time for when the possibility of being rejected happens to us. Prepare yourself on how you'll work through it and then move forward.

Breathe and Believe

Five strategies to help you muster up the energy.

How to Job Hunt (When You’re Already Exhausted)

Automation in business can significantly reduce delays in data processing and workflow because of human error. The business process automation (BPA) approach can result in cost reduction and simplified procedures. However, automation solutions can impact employees. Therefore, successful companies attempt to balance retaining employees and smart automation deployment that can boost efficiency, employee productivity, and customer satisfaction.

The business process automation (BPA) approach

<ul><li>Invoice processing can ensure properly carried out and tracked payment procedures.</li><li>Recruitment. Onboarding can be streamlined with e-signature, advanced employee data management, or automated benefits management.</li><li>Scheduling. Employees can be notified about the correct timetable and register their performance, presence, and absence.</li><li>Customer support. A 24-hour automated support system to ensure instant responses.</li><li>Sales management. CRM systems can benefit sales agents' daily operations.</li><li>Accounting data reconciliation can eliminate errors and reduce fraud.</li></ul>

Operations that can be automated

AI and ML deployment is not a substitute for a person in a business process. However, when working in tandem with humans, it can improve workflows. Automating specific processes allows staff to focus on the things that require human intervention. It is advisable to automate using a step-by-step implementation process. Try first to implement one process as a pilot project, then move to another.

Take the right direction

Use a proof of concept (PoC) strategy while looking for an innovative solution to enhance your company performance. This step could reveal the success or failure of the technology you are considering implementing.

Don't ignore a proof of concept

Employees may become frustrated with every change in the system management caused by automation, requiring them to disrupt their comfort zone. Guide your staff through the entire automation cycle, involving them in every stage, establishing roles, and ensuring team cohesion.

Get your staff involved

Any system could potentially go down, and your company needs to be prepared for it. A failover option can save the situation and ensure ongoing workflow performance. However, failover may require intervention by a tech specialist who can restore the system and data.

Prepare a backup plan

Automation is only one part. The other is the overall approach to business process management. Ensure to monitor automation performance early on to eliminate flaws and disrupting workflows. Make use of key performance indicators to assess the effectiveness of the automation solution.

Continuous process improvements

Business process automation implies a gradual deployment process. These practices will help you to take the right direction while implementing BPA solutions.

Best Practices in Business Process Automation

Try this kind of visualization practice anytime you’re preparing for a high-stakes situation. It could be a job interview, your first day of work, or even how you want to come across with new colleagues after being hired.&nbsp;Designing the way you want to show up, and not what prize you’ll get for doing so, will help clear away some of the head fog driven by your stress, and restore a sense of calm and clarity that allows your spark to shine through.

Visualize how you show up — not a specific outcome

To safeguard your wellbeing during any hard time, and keep your spark alive, you must learn to separate your emotions from your worries.When something is pulling at your mind (such as your employment situation), schedule that heavy thought and visit it only once per day at a designated time. Tell yourself, “Each day at 9 a.m. I will give this subject five minutes of my complete focus.” Then, when the subject occurs to you at other times, as it will, remind yourself it’s already scheduled, and try to move on.

Make an appointment with worry

If you are under a great deal of financial pressure, accepting any job — and tabling your search for a job with a greater purpose — may be the right choice for you, at least right now. Do what you need to do to feed yourself or your loved ones. You can find a way to grow and contribute in almost any role.The pressure around a job search causes many people who do have other options (either desperately or excitedly) to say “yes” without a moment’s pause. It can cause people to apply to every job without considering whether they’d actually enjoy it. If you have the leeway to do so and won’t be putting yourself at risk, try to give yourself some time — both before applying to a role and when considering an offer.

Give yourself a minute to think

Three strategies to help you slow down and perform at your best.

Finding a Job is Stressful. Here’s How to Get Through it.

Every recruiter worth their salt will ask about your salary expectations when you first start interviewing. Do not give them a number. What to do instead: Ask for the range they’re budgeted for the role.How to say it: “Can you tell me the salary band for this level? Happy to let you know if it’s within my range, and we can discuss specific numbers later when I’ve met the team.”

Negotiation starts earlier than you think

Go into the interview ready not just to answer questions but to ask some of your own. You will use this to negotiate later. Here are a few examples of what you should ask:<ul><li>What’s the biggest priority for the team right now?</li><li>Why is this role open?</li><li>What’s the biggest challenge for someone stepping into this role?</li><li>How does the org structure on the teamwork?</li></ul>

Mine for intel during interviews

Once you’ve been offered the role, the recruiter’s job shifts from evaluating you to closing you. Most experienced recruiters will ask you again to put up a number for your salary. Clever recruiters may even tell you that they “will go to bat for you.”What recruiters say: “If you give me your number, I will make it happen for you.”What they mean: “I’ll get you something lower, but kinda close to what you asked for.”

Don’t give in to the pressure

At FAANG-size companies (i.e. over 5K employees), compensation is heavily formulaic. In fact, there is often a separate team — the “compensation committee” — who sets your salary. They take into account your background, interview performance, and level. They give the recruiter a number to go with. The recruiter then gives you the number, and every time you negotiate they have to go back to that committee to ask for a re-evaluation.

At FAANG, your recruiter may have no say at all

Your initial offer speaks volumes if you know how to interpret the data.

Read between the lines

You may be dealing with the founder directly. It’s very likely there is no range for the role, as smaller companies have much less access to salary data. The goal at the initial offer conversation is to understand three things:<ul><li>The current state of the company (financing, runway, profitability)</li><li>The plan for your role/function</li><li>The value of the equity, considering exit scenarios.</li></ul>

At a startup, the playbook is different 

It can be tempting to think you need to negotiate now that you have data. Nope, not yet. The next step, instead, is to upsell your worth before you come back with any kind of counteroffer. This is especially important if you’re going for a senior role.What to do next: Ask for follow-up meetings with decision-makers. If you’re a Director or higher, you can usually ask to meet with any VP and possibly C-level execs. VPs can often meet with the CEO and even board members. Take your time; this is important if you want your salary to reflect your value. If everyone wants you, you’ll be calling the shots later.

Your job is to win hearts and minds

Did you know that women make only 47 cents in equity for every dollar a man makes? A HUGE reason for that is that many women don’t fully evaluate their offer before negotiating. Ask yourself these questions: <ul><li>Is the offer competitive? </li><li>How does it work? (When do I vest; what is the stock worth?)</li><li>Is it all true? (Is the value of the equity over-inflated?)</li><li>Does it add up? (Consider taxes on bonuses and stock.)</li><li>If you have goaled comp, are the goals realistic?</li></ul>

OK, now get some good data

Getting paid more up-front doesn’t always mean you’ll make the most overall. Plan carefully.Not all offers are made equal — in fact, they are intentionally confusing. At Google, you may get a front-loaded vesting schedule on your stock; at Amazon, sizable cash bonuses the first two years. It seems obvious that you should look at the comp, but that’s not everything.

Comparing offers

It can be awkward to ask for more money, but trust me, everyone expects you to do it. On top of that, it doesn’t help that so much of the advice out there is conflicting.You absolutely do not need multiple offers. Just being able to say you’re speaking to other companies is sufficient — you can quote the expected salaries for other roles if needed.

Time to make an ask

Guest post by Niya Dragova, co-founder of Candor

The 10 commandments of salary negotiation

In addition to defining who you are and what you do, a personal brand determines how others—including future employers—will look at you. It’s a chance to put out your message so that when people hear your name or see your photo, your personal brand is the first thing that pops into their minds.

What Exactly Is a Personal Brand?

<ul><li>Develop Your Brand Story. The first step is getting clarity on why you are creating this story or what your long-term goal is—such as finding a new job or pivoting industries.</li><li>Build a Website. Once you have your brand story, you’ll need to create a place where you can share it with the world. </li><li>Promote Yourself. You want to get it in front of as many people as possible. There are plenty of ways both big and small to boost your personal brand, from engaging with others in your field to reposting relevant articles. </li><li>Track Your Progress. Instead of just sitting back and hoping for the best, you’ll want to gauge how your website is actually performing by looking at specific statistics and data. </li><li>Have Patience. When it comes to building your brand, it’s important to remember that it will evolve organically. </li></ul>

Build a Personal Brand

If you're looking to build a personal brand to boost your career, try these five essential tips.

5 Tips for Building a Personal Brand

That person I never met, never will, and have no investment in won a car on The Price is Right. &nbsp;

People judged me without asking me why

A ten-year-old girl, possessed with an old soul, belted out “Ave Maria” in an eerie angelic voice on America’s Got Talent. A crew of volunteers retrofits a home for ADA compliance to help accident…

I Didn’t Cry at My Dad’s Funeral

I know nothing ” to me, means that you might be an educated person, but still, you know nothing. You can learn from everything and everyone.

I Know Nothing

<ul><li>Struggle Is Good! Never say “I can’t take it anymore.” Say “Bring it on!” </li><li>Complaining is the biggest waste of time there is. Either do something about it and if you can’t, shut up about it. </li><li>Most people in life are only visitors.</li><li>Don’t start a relationship if you’re not in love.</li><li>Exercise daily. A healthy body is where you have to start everything in life.</li><li>Keep a Journal. It helps you to become a better thinker and writer.</li><li>Be grateful. Say ‘ thank you’to everyone and everything.</li></ul>

Things About Life I Wish I Had Known 10 Years Ago

Socrates was once named the wisest man on earth by the Oracle of Delphi. When he heard that the Oracle had made such a comment, he believed that the statement was wrong. He said: “one thing that I like better than learning from my mistakes is to learn from other people’s mistakes. If I had to learn these things all by myself, it would take me a lot longer.

Wisest Man On Earth

<ol><li>Don’t Care About What People Think. We all die in the end, do you really think it matters what people think of you?</li><li>Take More Risks Don’t be such a wimp.</li><li>Pick An Industry, Not A Job.</li><li>Lead The Way.</li><li>Be Nice.</li><li>Learn Every Day.</li><li>Rest Before You Are Tired.</li><li>Don’t Judge.</li><li>Think About Others.</li><li>Give Without Expecting Something In Return.</li><li>There’s No End Game.</li><li>Enjoy Small Things.</li><li>Don’t Take Yourself So Seriously.</li><li>Don’t Blame People.</li><li>Create Something.</li><li>Never Look Back Too Long.</li><li>Take Action.</li></ol>

Advice Worth Reading

Socrates, considered as one of the founders of Western philosophy, was once named the wisest man on earth by the Oracle of Delphi. When Socrates heard that the oracle had made such a comment, he…

25 Things About Life I Wish I Had Known 10 Years Ago

ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) is a pleasurable feeling or a sensation that people experience during a stimulating audio-visual activity, that is relaxing and deeply personal, or an activity that involves a simple, therapeutic role-play. It is a kind of art-form that is soothing and sleep-inducing.

ASMR 

Health

ASMR is a personal, individual experience, with very little science behind it. People enjoy a deeply relaxing whispering video or a role-play, which gives them a tingling sensation on the back of their head and spine. It may be a mundane, monotonous activity like tapping, stirring, or crinkling objects, but they kick in a pleasure sensation in many.The feeling varies and is somewhat similar to a sexual turn-on, in many cases.

ASMR: The tingling sensation

People get tingles through different kinds of sensory inputs.Some people find out at an early age that they feel a therapeutic high when they are touched or tickled and love the attention they are given.Others find that some simple activities or role-plays put them in a trance-like state.&nbsp;

Having ASMR

Thousands of creative videos can be found on YouTube for ASMR. They mostly involve soothing visuals and sounds, like someone whispering a story in the microphone, or using something seemingly dull like a hairdryer, or someone acting as a nurse or a beautician to help people relax.

ASMR Videos

ASMR is a growing creative outlet with millions of viewers and followers.Reddit has a subreddit on it with 130,000 subscribers. The New York Times, Washington Post, and BuzzFeed have covered it.

ASMR in the news

Similar to people liking cat videos or political debates on the internet, ASMR, which is a newly discovered 'likeness', makes people relax and at ease.&nbsp;Watching someone whispering to relax, is a need for some, which is now taken care of by the internet.

ASMR for relaxation

ASMR will most likely remain a niche for a number of people on the internet since not everybody experiences it.But there are some technological advancements that could greatly advance ASMR. Virtual reality, in particular, has a lot of ASMR video makers and viewers excited since it could bring a whole new level of immersion to the experience.

The Future of ASMR

Here’s what you need to know about the strange, tingly sensation that could help you relax.

Bradley Howe@bradhowe