| You've already completed your bachelor's degree, | | | | your certification program that demonstrate some of |
| perhaps years ago. Maybe you majored in computer | | | | your skills. Or, you might have lucked out by getting to |
| programming, or maybe you majored in anthropology. | | | | take a portfolio preparation class as part of the |
| Once out of school, you began at the entry level and | | | | certification process. In either case, carefully scrutinize |
| worked your way up. But now, you want something | | | | your portfolio before you begin applying for jobs. Make |
| different. You want to begin a career in graphic design. | | | | sure that each piece you decide to include is a piece |
| How do you make a 180-degree career change? | | | | of your very best work, and that it showcases your |
| Seek a certificate | | | | talents to the fullest. If you feel that your design |
| Many technical schools, community colleges, and even | | | | portfolio is lacking pieces that show off certain skills, |
| traditional four-year universities offer certifications in | | | | you can always add onto it after you've finished the |
| Web design or graphic arts. These programs, when | | | | design program. |
| combined with previous professional experience, such | | | | Keep practicing. You might not land a graphic or Web |
| as a bachelor's degree and several post-college years | | | | design job immediately out of school. In that case, you |
| in the workforce, can be powerful tools with which to | | | | need to work hard to make sure your skills stay sharp. |
| break into graphic design. | | | | Keep doing projects in your spare time, and read |
| The advantages of pursuing a certification over a | | | | design how-to books and industry periodicals. Or, |
| degree are time- and cost-savings. First, aspiring | | | | consider taking on freelance or contract projects to |
| graphic designers are saved the hassle of having to | | | | continue developing your skills and your portfolio. |
| take college general education requirements all over | | | | A great way to begin freelancing is to start as a photo |
| again. Some college classes, especially basic English, | | | | re-toucher. Many people do not know how to fix or |
| math, and science courses, might seem like they'd be a | | | | edit photos, or do not have the time. They rely on |
| breeze to re-take, but the hours of work they require | | | | skilled re-touchers to help make their family, wedding, |
| can be trying for adults with full-time careers. Just as | | | | or professional portraits look great. Other ways to |
| important, graphic and Web design certifications are | | | | break into freelance design include logo and branding |
| less expensive. The fewer credits you take to | | | | development, or Web page building for start-up |
| complete an educational program, the less money you | | | | companies. Start-ups typically have tight budgets, and |
| will spend, overall. By focusing just on design skills, | | | | many new companies cannot spend money on a |
| certificate programs allow adult students to forgo | | | | design professional with years of experience. If your |
| unrelated academic material. | | | | portfolio is good, and you can sell your skills, you can |
| To find the right program for your career needs, | | | | work your way up to a significant freelance client load. |
| consider the major factors: cost, time until certificate | | | | If at first you have difficulty landing interviews, or land |
| completion, and breadth of skills taught. If you want to | | | | them, but can't land the job, don't despair. It takes many |
| break into Web design, you will need to know how to | | | | people - some of whom wind up being quite |
| work with text and images - and will likely need to | | | | successful - a while to break into a career they really |
| understand how to use photo and graphic editing | | | | love. Perhaps your resume or cover letter is not |
| programs; Web design programs; file transfer protocol | | | | attracting a would-be interviewer's attention. If you |
| (FTP) clients; and probably, some Web scripting | | | | suspect this is the case, seek a professional to critique |
| languages, as well. Graphic designers might need to | | | | these items. Or, maybe you're not a confident |
| know most or all of these skills, as well - and, more | | | | interviewer. Grab a friend or relative and practice your |
| likely than not, will also need to understand typography | | | | presentation. Finally, it might be possible that the |
| and vector graphic creation. | | | | positions for which you've applied are not good fits: |
| Sell your design skill sets | | | | you're over-qualified, under-qualified, or are competing |
| Once you've learned skills directly applicable to | | | | against too many applicants. Keep trying, and in the |
| graphics fields, you need to sell yourself, and your | | | | meantime, keep your graphic and Web design skills |
| talents, to prospective employers. You will probably | | | | sharp. Soon, you'll land the position of your dreams. |
| have a collection of projects you completed during | | | | |