BEGIN
22
23 DE CI S I ON
21
24 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
G
R
A
PH
IC
D
I ES
G
N
VI S A I S S UE
PRE PARATI ON
IN TERVIEW
GET JOB
TAKE ACTION JOB HUNT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OF GRAPHIC DESIGN
This book is for the international student of graphic design who want to live and work in the United States.
TAKE ACTION JOB HUNT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OF GRAPHIC DESIGN NAME • EVA CHAN • 02884810 INSTRUCTOR • LIAN TYPE SYSTEM • SUMMER 2010 TEXT TYPE • HELVETICA NEUE • LIGHT • REGULAR TITLE TYPE • CLARENDON • ROMAN • LIGHT
CONTENTS
MAKE A D ECI SI O N TO W O R K I N TH E U . S . A
10–21
GOOD J OB C ON DITION S GRAP HIC D E SIGN IS IM PORTAN T TO TH E U.S.A
KNOW TH E FA CTS
22–33
L E G A L IS S U ES IL L E G A L IS S UES
FACE A TOU G H JO B H U N T
34–47
P OOR L ANG UAGE SK ILL & WITH OUT WORK EX P E RI E N CE I N TH E U. S . A S C A R E D T O FAIL TH E IN TERVIEW T HE C OMPAN Y DOESN ’T WAN T TO SPON SOR GRAP HIC D E SIGN M ARK ET IS SATURATED & WE AK E CON OM Y
PREPARE FO R Y O U R JO B H U N T
48–117
RE S E A R C H ON GRAPH IC DESIGN CAREER DO S E L F AS S ESSM EN T MA KE A F IT C RE AT E A P LAN
WHAT TO D O N EX T
118–139
E XPA ND YOUR SEARCH P RE PARE F O R IN TERVIEW DO INT E RV IEW
CONCLUSIO N
140–141
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OF GRAPHIC DESIGN Nowadays, more and more people from the other countries choose study in U.S.A for degrees, and some of them would like to work in there after they graduate. This book is writing for the international students who want to work in the U.S.A in future. This book would describe the hard job-hunting of the international students today, and then focus on the weakness of international them, looking for some solutions, giving some suggestions to them about how to prepare their job hunt before they graduate, and some important issues when they looking for job.
1
MAKE A DECISION TO WORK IN THE U.S.A
2 4 3
5
WHY CHOOSE TO WORK IN THE U.S.A The Untied State is one of the countries, which have the best graphic design schools, and multiple choices of graphic design career.
GOOD JO B CON DITIONS
MAKE A DECISION TO WORK IN THE U.S.A
GR AP HIC DE SI GN I S I M PO RTAN T TO T HE U.S. A
In addition, it also is a country that offers pretty good living conditions and plenty of high salary jobs. Therein, more and more international student would like to work in the Untied State after they graduate.
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MAKE A DECISION TO WORK IN THE U.S.A
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GOOD JOB CON DITIO N S
MAKE A DECISION TO WORK IN THE U.S.A
GRAPH I C DE S I GN I S I M PORTAN T TO TH E U. S . A
GOOD JOB CONDITIONS United States could be a great place to work and live. If you are motivated and willing to try hard, you can go along way and make your dreams come true in future. POSSIBILITIES Unlited possibilities in most industries. HIGH SALARY POTENTIAL You can make it big. Some of the largest companies in the world are located in United States. ENTREPRENEURIAL Starting your own business is easy. IT’S A BIG COUNTRY New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Miami, and Honolulu (Hawaii!) are only some of the places that you could work and live. FREEDOM You can easily find and change jobs in most states with often only two weeks notice. WORK AND STUDY Many companies pay for education (Masters, PhDs etc). WORK FROM HOME Some companies allow you to work from home a few times every week. FLEXIBLE Many companies allow their employees to have flexible schedules. As long as you complete your assignments and deadlines, you could create your own schedule. MULTICULTURAL People from all around the world work in U.S.A. A great mix of people and culture!
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• The U.S.A health insurance program is a nationally recognized model that offers you choice and flexibility along with a substantial employer contribution to premiums. And you can pay your share of premiums as well as your out-of-pocket costs with pre-tax dollars. • The U.S.A leave policy provides ample time off to take care of your personal, your recreational and your health care needs. In addition to 10 paid holidays every year, you will accumulate 13 days of sick leave each year along with from 13 to 26 vacation days, depending on your years of employment. • To help you manage responsibilities outside of your jobs and enhance your peace of mind while you are at work, Federal agencies offer a range of family friendly flexibilities including flexible work schedules, telework; child care and elder care resources; BENEFITS OF WORKING IN THE
adoption information and incentives
U.S.A Pay is only part of the com-
programs; child support programs,
pensation you will earn working for
including subsidies and dependent
the Federal Government. The U.S.A
care flexible spending accounts;
offer a broad array of benefits pro-
and employee assistance programs.
grams and family friendly flexibilities
In addition to these programs that
to meet the needs of you and your
we know will be of interest to you
family. Here are some highlights.
right now, the Federal Government
Look for additional information along
recognizes the need for income the
with links to pages that spell out the
replacement and income support
details below.
benefits down the road.
GOOD JOB CON DITIO N S
MAKE A DECISION TO WORK IN THE U.S.A
GRAPH I C DE S I GN I S I M PORTAN T TO TH E U. S . A
GRAPHIC DESIGN IS IMPORTANT TO THE U.S.A Graphic designing is one of the flourishing career options in the U.S.A with a great many of job opportunities. Graphic designing is understood to be an associate product development of the Information Technology industry. It is essential in almost every development, especially when precision and beauty are the important preconditions for success of any product or service. One may wonder as to how a graphic product is useful in services. T he successful marketing interventions or meetings are done after planning and visualizing the physical environment at which these are done,and to typify this graphic product is developed. Requirement for graphic design jobs in the U.S.A.
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MAKE A DECISION TO WORK IN THE U.S.A
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Graphic design plays the role of visual communication such as a poster, business logo, magazine advertisement and album cover. Graphic designers work with images that are painted, drawn or designed. Almost all the IT industries offer graphic design jobs in the U.S.A. Graphic designers also have opportunities in the film industry, advertising industries, and textile industry. The textile industry requires graphic designers for designing effective color shades in the clothes. Professional jewelers also require graphic designers. Generally, all e-learning companies and online game companies have huge requirement for graphic design jobs. Creating street maps is also a part of job responsibility of a graphic designer. Apart from that, flash developing and web designing are an important function of a graphic designer. There are positions like Web Designer, Visualiser, CreativeDirector and SEO Expert, which are available in this field plays Cabinets, Google and CDI limited. Almost all the IT industries offer graphic design jobs in the U.S.A Graphic designers also have opportunities in the film industry, advertising industries, textile industries and other industries. The textile industry requires graphic designers fordesigning effetive color shades in the clothes. Profesional jewelers also require graphic designers. Generally, all e-learning companies and online game companies have huge requirement for graphic design jobs. Creating street maps is also a part of job responsibility of a graphic designer. Apart from that, flash developing and web designing are an important function of a graphic designer. There are positions like Web Designer, Visualiser, Creative Director and SEO Expert, which are available in this field. Some of the companies that offer graphic design jobs in the U.S.A, such as ARC Worldwide, Master BrandCabinets, Google and CDI limited. Various elearning companies like Aptara and WBT Systems also require many graphic designers.
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DECIDE TO WORK IN U.S.A
20 / 21
1
4
2
3
KNOW THE FACTS
5
CITIZENSHI P
KNOW THE F
N ATI ONAL ORIGI N A N U NSO LVED DIL E MM A
ILLEGAL ISS UE
TE M POR A RY WORK E R VISA S
E
CHECK THE INFORMATION Check with International Education Services for the most current information on applying for practical training (either Optional Practical Training-OPT or Curricular Practical Training-CPT). Talk with a counselor, take notes, and ask questions. Make certain that information you have is accurate before sharing it with an employer.
FACTS
LE GAL IS SU E
TN V ISA
E B-5 EB -4
EB-3 E B-2 EB- 1
Find out as much as you can about the H1 visa—what it is, fees involved, length of validity, application process, etc. As an international student seeking post graduation employment in the United States, you will have to deal with a few special issues. This brochure is intended to provide information about visa requirements, the job search, and interviewing. It should be used for informational purposes only; it is NOT a substitute for professional legal advice.
2
K N O W T H E FA C T
24 / 25
KNOW THE FACTS TEM PORARY WORK ER VISAS
EB- 1
EB- 2
EB- 3
EB- 4
TN VI S AS
EB- 5
LEGAL ISSUES For more information on the various kinds of visas, the criteria for eligibility, and the application process, you can go to www.foreignborn.com or the U.S.A Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) website www.ins.usdoj.gov (which contains electronic versions of many of the forms you might need), call the national INS toll-free information service at 1-800-375-5283, or consult an immigration attorney. After graduation, your student visa (“F� visa) gives you the option of taking a practical training extension, which will allow you to remain in the United States for up to one year. To qualify for this extension, you must take a job that is related to your field of study.
2
K N O W T H E FA C T
26 / 27
VISA ISSUE TEMPORARY WORKER VISAS
specific course of higher education.
A temporary worker visa is a nonim-
It requires a labor attestation issued
migrant visa for a person who wishes
by the secretary of labor.
to work temporarily in the United States. There are several categories of temporary worker visas, but the most frequently used one is the H-1B visa. This visa applies to persons in a specialty occupation that requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge requiring completion of a
TN VISAS The TN visa is a nonimmigrant visa for professionals who are eligible under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). You are eligible for this visa if you are a citizen of Mexico or Canada who works in a professional occupation and you meet the following criteria:
• your profession is on the NAFTA
be eligible, you must fall into one of
list, • you possess the specific
several categories:
criteria for that profession, • the
EB-1: Priority workers
prospective position requires
(first preference)
someone in that professional capac-
EB-2: Professionals with advanced
ity, and you are going to work for a
degrees or persons with exceptional
U.S. employer. Be aware that the
ability (second preference)
aplication requirements for Canadi-
EB-3: Skilled or professional workers
ans and Mexicans are not the same.
(third preference)
It is possible to become a perma-
EB-4: Special immigrants
nent resident based on the fact that
(fourth preference)
you have a permanent employment
EB-5: Immigrant investors, entrepre-
opportunity in the United States. To
neurs (fifth preference)
2
K N O W T H E FA C T
28 / 29
A N UNS OLVE D DILEM M A
ATION AL ORIGIN
CITIZEN S H I P
KNOW THE FACTS ILL E G A L IS S U E
ILLEGAL ISSUES The governmental regulations that forbid discrimination on the basis of national origin and citizenship are somewhat more complicated than the regulations concerning such characteristics as race, sex, and age. Before you go into an interview, and even before you apply for a job, you should know what kinds of information you can provide.
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K N O W T H E FA C T
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NATIONAL ORIGIN A company is required by law to hire only “authorized aliens,” or those foreign citizens eligible to work legally in the U.S.A According to the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. CITIZENSHIP IRCA also prohibits discriminating against a U.S.A citizen or intending citizen because of citizenship status. Intending citizens include lawful permanent residents, temporary residents under the legalization provision for pre 1982 entrants, special agricultural workers, refugees, and those granted asylum something like that. AN UNSOLVED DILEMMA There is no government endorsed way for employers to distinguish applicants who are authorized for a limited time or a specific employer. Some employers may approach this question in the following way, which is probably legal even though it has not been officially endorsed. The employer may ask, “Are you a U.S.A citizen, permanent resident, temporary resident, asylee, or refugee?” If the answer is yes, employer should not inquire further. If no, the employer may ask if the applicant has a legal right to work in the U.S.A. If the answer is yes, the employer may ask the applicant to explain and can then inquire into the duration and basis of their authorization; However, an employer who uses this approach runs the risk of inquiring about citizenship or national origin.
2
K N O W T H E FA C T
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1
2 4
3
5
FACE A TOUGH JOB HUNT
GRAPHIC DESIGN MARKET IS SATURATED
THE COMPANY DOESN’T WANT TO SPONSOR
OUTLOOK Graduates seeking jobs in Northampton may
as it released the results of its summer survey,
need to leave university with more than just
which revealed competition for graduate jobs
a top degree as a survey reveals this year’s
is soaring, with employer estimating almost a
graduates face their toughest challenge yet to
seven percent drop in graduate vacancies.
secure a job.
In addition, based on the weak economy, the
Around 78 percent of employers will now ask
unemployment of the U.S.A has grown to a high
for a minimum of a 2.1 degree. The Association
level. Due to the recession of 2008 and which
of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) said yesterday
continues into 2009 the U.S.A unemployment
OBJECTIVE
SCARED TO FAIL THE INTERVIEW
WEAK ECONOMY
POOR LANGUAGE SKILL & WITHOUT WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE U.S.A
SUBJECIVE
rate is quite high. As of January 24, 2009, the
cheaper labor as they search for any job that
U.S.A unemployment rate is listed as 9.3%,
will help them meet their monthly expenses. It is
which is going to possibly increase towards ten
possible that as the U.S.A unemployment rate
percent unemployment. The U.S.A has many
rises those who came to U.S.A through Mexico
challenges in lowering the unemployment rate.
may find their way back home if jobs formerly
In the U.S.A, there are many more people who
done by these persons are now filled by citizens
seek employment. Add to this the difficulty in be-
of U.S.A willing to work for less pay.
ing bordered by Mexico, residents of the U.S.A who are unemployed must now compete with
3
FA C E A T O U G H J O B H U N T
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2 LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
3 2
LEVEL 1:
POOR LANGUAGE SKILL & WITHOUT WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE U.S.A Good spoken and written English skills are generally required to secure decent employment in the United States. Among international students from non-English-speaking countries, those with good English skills tend to find a job relatively easily. However, it is rare for international students to speak and write fluent English. But that doesn’t mean you should give up. Since international students face several restrictions on employment, many students do not have much work experience when they graduate.
2
3 2
LEVAL 2:
SCARED TO FAIL THE INTERVIEW Many international students are turned down after they are interviewed. There are many reasons for this, including missing qualifications, lack of work experience, lack of knowledge of the business, cultural differences, the language barrier, and so on. Keep in mind that getting turned down is not unique to international students! It is understood that most interviews do not lead to a job. It is usually necessary to make many, many attempts before you finally get hired. Many people feel that looking for a job is much harder work than having a job. But the last place you try will be the one that hires you.
THE COMPANY DOESN’T WANT TO SPONSOR Many employers have the misunderstanding that employing a non-U.S.A resident is difficult. In reality, it is quite simple. Due to the nature of our business, we at iStudentCity.com employ quite a few F-1 students, and we have yet to find the hiring process to be much more complicated than hiring U.S.A residents. But like it or not, most employers will think that hiring international students is complicated, if not illegal. Therefore, it is your job to educate your potential employers about how easy it is to hire an F-1 student.
3
LEVEL 3:
GRAPHIC DESIGN MARKET IS SATURATED & WEAK ECONOMY Many people say there are too many graphic / web designers, but the truth is there are few good ones and this goes for all job sectors that are being cut. The hardest thing is finding an entry level job. Currently Graphic Design has become a very common career. Some people have never gone to school for Graphic Design, but manage to learn all the programs needed. This makes getting a job for a real Graphic Designer more difficult. These days, one does not really need a degree to be a Graphic Designer. As long as you have an incredible portfolio and know all the programs, you are in. Also, the people who never went to school for Graphic Design charge much less than someone who has gone through to the
proper schooling. Lorenda
students’ job search has shortened
Schrader, director of International
from 12 months to three months.
Student and Scholar.
“The pressure of the three-month em-
Advising at Indiana University, said
ployment deadline in today’s economy
she is seeing more foreign students
is not helping them,” Schrader said.
leave the country after they gradu-
“Many foreign students made sacrifices
ate this year. In the past, about 50
to come here, and they are frustrated
percent of foreign students would
that it’s not paying off.”
stay on to look for a job after earning their degrees.“It is always easierfor companies to hire American students. To hire foreign students, there are extra steps involved, such as filing for work permits. Foreign students always have to persevere to nail down that job interview to convince their potential employers,” Schrader said. “Some of them are not even trying now. Those who said they will try are not so hopeful of landing a job.” Schrader thinks the foreign students’pessimism is primarily due to the economy, although the recent change in regulations governing what’s called Optional Practical Training makes job hunting more difficult for them. The term refers to the form of work authorization for foreign students when they complete studies. In the past, a student who applied for such “training” had 12 months to look for a job. With the regulatory changes made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in April last year, the time frame for foreign
3
FA C E 2 A TOUGH JOB HUNT
44 / 4513 / 14
2 0 09 1998
2 008
2007
9 , 200,000
12000
5,600,000 7700 2 00 6 6000
7800
8400
6,000,000
2 005
6,400,000
80%
2 0 03
100%
2002 60% 90%
2004
70%
ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES 1999
GN PC96 GDPPOT UN EM PLOYE D ASSETS OF US B AN K BUDGET DE FI CT
2000
10%
20% 30%
50%
2001
40%
1
2
3
4
5
PREPARE FOR YOUR JOB HUNT
WHERE TO WORK
PREPARE JOB HUNT Part of building a meaningful and productive creative career is looking toward the future. If you’re an art student researching on your interests, or an existing artist or career changer exploring your professional options, investigating your career’s outlook is a very smart idea. Whether you want to freelance, enter a business-oriented industry, or take a job in an art-related field at a set company, your professional outlook will fluctuate based on economic field-related factors.
WRITE A LIST OF SKILLS YOU HAVE ACQUIRED
JOB REQUIREMENTS
FIND A PERFECT MATCH
GRAPHIC DESIGN CAREER
EMPLOYMENT
JOB REQUIREMENTS EARNINGS
JOB OUTLOOK
Start making the right moves now to ensure you’ll be where you want to be in the coming year. Artist employment is projected to grow faster than average. Competition for jobs is expected to be keen for both salaried and freelance jobs in all specialties because the number of people with creative ability and an interest in this career is expected to continue to exceed the number of available openings. Despite the competition, employers and individual clients are always on the lookout for talented and the creative artists.
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JOB RE Q UI RE M E N TS
GRAPH I C DE S I GN CARE E R
EM PLOYM EN T
PREPARE YOUR JOB HUNT J OB OUTLOOK
EARN IN GS
can about graphic design
RESEARCH ON GRAPHIC DESIGN CAREER
careers—how much does
2. Write to professional
it pay, what are the work-
organizations requesting
ing conditions, etc.
more information on the
1. Learn as much as you
profession and potential contact names. 3. For each career that interests you, prepare and conduct an information interview with a person already employed in that
4. Other methods to research potential careers include job shadowing, volunteering, contract employment, work-study programs and summer employment.
occupation.
4
2
P R E PA R E Y O U R J O B H U N T
52 / 53
JOB REQUIREMENTS A bachelor’s degree in graphic design is usually required. Creativity, communication, and problem-solving skills are important, as is familiarity with computer graphics and design software. EDUCATION AND TRAINING A bachelor’s degree in graphic design is usually required for most entrylevel and advanced graphic design positions. Bachelor degree programs in fine arts or graphic design are offered at many colleges, universities, and private design schools. Most curriculums include studio art, principles of design, and computerized design, commercial graphics production, printing techniques, and website design. In addition to design courses, a liberal arts education that includes courses in art history, writing, psychology, sociology, the foreign languages and cultural studies, marketing, and business are useful in helping designers work effectively. Associate degrees and certificates in graphic design also are available from two year and three year professional schools, and graduates of these programs normally qualify as assistants to graphic designers or for positions requiring technical skills only.
Creative individuals who wish to pursue a career in graphic design—and who already possess a bachelor’s degree in another field—can complete a 2 year or 3 year program in graphic design to learn the technical requirement. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits about 300 postsecondary institutions with programs in art and design. Most of these schools award a degree in graphic design. Many schools do not allow formal entry into a bachelor’s degree program until a student has successfully finished a year of basic art and design courses, which can be completed in high school. Applicants may be required to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability. Graphic designers must keep up with new and updated the computer graphics and design software, either on their own or through formal software training programs and something like this. OTHER QUALIFICATIONS In addition to postsecondary training in the graphic design, creativity, communication, and problem-solving skills are crucial. Graphic designers must be creative and able to communicate their ideas visually, verbally, and in writing. They also must have an eye for details. Designers show employers these traits by putting together a portfolio—a collection of examples of a person’s best work. A good portfolio often is the deciding factor in getting a job. Because consumer tastes can change fairly quickly, designers also need to be well read, open to new ideas and influences, and quick to react to changing trends. The abilities to work independently and under pressure are equally important traits. People in this field need self-discipline to start projects on their own, to budget their time, and to meet deadlines and production schedules. Good business sense and sales ability are also important, especially for those who freelance or run for their own firms. ADVANCEMENT At beginning, graphic designers usually need one to three years of working experience before they could advance to higher positions. Experienced graphic designers in large firms may advance to chief designer, art or creative director, or other supervisory positions. Some designers leave the occupation to become teachers in design schools or in colleges and universities. Many faculty members continue to consult privately or operate small design studios to complement their classroom activities. Some experienced designers open their own firms or choose to specialize in one area of the graphic design. As a graphic design student, before you’re planning your first career, you need to figure out your career goal, what kind of job you want to have.
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GRAPHIC DESIGN CAREERS A career in graphic design can open doors to a number of different job opportunities. Although it mayseem limiting, graphic designers are qualified for a number of different positions in the field. Here are some
graphic design jobs that could be a potential option for you in your future career. ADVERTISING DESIGNERS work on visual and print ideas for advertising and marketing campaigns. They specialize in figuring out how to best communicate messages to consum-
also need to consider the function. ANIMATORS draw storyboards and create models. They work out the timing of movements of characters, and design an animated backgrounds, sets, and objects. Desktop Publishers arrange and combine text, photos, numerical data, charts, and every other visual graphic element to create publishable material. DESKTOP PUBLISHERS arrange and combine text, photos, numerical data, charts, and every other visual graphic element to create publishable material. ILLUSTRATORS create artwork and work with others to ensure the quality of the final product. ART DIRECTORS are responsible for making sure the finished product is high in quality for the client. They supervise the artistic design of advertisements, filming of television commercials, and print materials. PRODUCTION ARTISTS work on multiple projects, study and confirm ers and help increase demand
layout specifications, and coordinate
for their products, and in order to
with art directors, account execu-
increase their revenue.
tives, graphic designers, and writers.
COMMERCIAL DESIGNERS create
WEB DESIGNERS are responsible
and design graphic material for use
for creating the look and feel of
as ornamentation, illustration, adver-
the web pages for a client’s Web
tising, or cosmetic on manufactured
site. They usually take part in the
materials and packaging. This job
initial planning of the website.
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GRAPHIC DESIGN JOBS CLASSIFICATION
ADVERTI S I N G DE S I GN E RS
25%
AN IM ATO RS
5%
DESK TOP PUB LI S H E RS
3%
PRODUC TI ON ARTI S TS
2%
ILLUSTRATORS
10%
ART DIRE CTORS
5%
WEB DESI GN E RS
25%
COM M ER CI AL DE S I GN E RS
10%
OTH ER
15%
EMPLOYMENT This section reports the number of jobs that the occupation provided in 2008, the key industries in which those jobs were found, and, if significant, the number or proportion of self-employed workers in the occupation. The source of estimated employment in a particular occupation in the Handbook is the Bureau’s National Employment Matrix, which presents current and projected employment for 276 industries and 750 occupations over the 2008 – 2018 period. Data in the matrix come primarily from the establishment-based Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey, which reports employment of wage and salary workers for each occupation in every industry except agriculture and private households. The householdbased Current Population Survey (CPS) provides input for matrix data on the number of self-employed and unpaid family workers in each occupation. The matrix also incorporates CPS data on total employment—wage and salary, self-employed, and unpaid family workers—in the agriculture and private household industries. The estimate of total employment in each Handbook occupation thus combines data from several different sources. Furthermore, some Handbook occupations combine several matrix occupations. For these reasons, employment numbers cited in the Handbook may differ from employment data provided by OES, CPS, and other employment surveys.
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105
GRAPHIC DESIGN JOB OFFER
3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 08
1. 1.
24
k
3k
20
1
1.
2009
22 k 1. 2k
1.1 1.1
1 .0 6 k 1.07 k
2k k
1k
0
3 3 31 3 8
28 29 4 30 6 31 5 30 6
22 2 8 2 39 2 54 4 4
200
17 1 8 77
11 9 12 7 139
15 1 6 38
219
7 3 45 4 3
37
6 9 00 38 5 4 39 1 40
6 41 1 4 22 7 4 4 43 0 45 460
474 480 490 499 502
500
540 556 563 573 579 586 602
600
635 64 6 4 31
66 67 8 5 68 9 70 71 7 3
70
0
78 6
79 80
4
SAN FRANCISCO
5 80
LOS ANGELES
0
NEW YORK
9 8 89 1 8 98 8
WASHINGTON D.C BOSTON
900
SACRAMENTO CHICAGO SAN JOSE
EARNINGS In addition to presenting earnings data from the OES survey, some statements contain additional earnings data from non-BLS sources. Starting and average salaries of Federal workers are based on 2009 data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The National Association of Colleges and Employers supplies information on average salary offers in 2009 for students graduating with a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degree in degree in certain fields. A few statements contain additional earnings information from other sources, such as unions, professional associations, and private companies. These data sources are cited in the text. Benefits account for a significant portion of total compensation costs to employers. Benefits such as paid vacation, health insurance, and sick leave might not be mentioned, because they are widespread. In some occupational statements, the absence of these traditional benefits is pointed out. Although not as common as traditional benefits, flexible hours and profit-sharing plans may be offered to attract and retain highly qualified workers. Less common benefits also include child care, tuition for dependents, housing assistance, summers off, and free or discounted merchandise or services. For certain occupations, the percentage of workers affiliated with a union is listed. These data come from the CPS survey.
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GRAPHIC DESIGN SALARY
SAN FRANCISCO LOS ANGELES 4 3
10
NEW YORK
BOSTON
14
20
SACRAMENTO CHICAGO
30
SAN JOSE
2
2
6
WASHINGTON D.C
7
17
15
25
40
44 50
60
70
16 0k 15 0k 140
120k
130k
k
2 3
28
26 43
13 32
56
8
50
60 k
60
21
36
16
14
11
6
18
6
7
4
75
65
55
45
35
25
15
5
20k
30k
21
40k
k
7
0
k
80
k
90
k
100
k
110k
JOB OUTLOOK Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average. Keen competition for jobs is expected; individuals with Web site design and animation experience will have the best opportunities. JOB PROSPECTS Graphic designers are expected to face keen competition for available positions. Many talented individuals are attracted to careers a graphic designers. Individual with Web site design and animation experience will have the best opportunities. Graphic designers with a broad liberal arts education and experience in marketing and business management will be best suited for positions in developing the communication strategies. EMPLOYMENT CHANGE Employment of graphic designers is expected to grow 13 percent, as fast as the average for all occupations from 2008 to 2018, as demand for graphic design continues to increase from advertisers and computer design firms. Moreover, graphicdesigners with Web site design and animation experience will especially beneeded as demand increases for design projects for interactive media—Web sites, mobile phones, and other technology. Demand for graphic desigers also will increase as advertising firms create print, web marketing and promotional materials for a growing number of products and services. Growth in Internet advertising, in particular, is expected to increase the number of designers; However, growth may be tempered by reduced demand in the print publishing, where many graphic designers are employed.
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PROJECTIONS DATA
EM PLOYM EN T, 2008
286 , 1 0 0
IN C R E AS E IN JOB S
36,900 P E RCEN T IN CREASE
13
PROJECTED EM PLOYM E N T, 2 0 1 8
323,100
WH AT DO GRAPH IC DESIGN ER NE E D TO H AVE BASICALLY
WRI TE A LI S T OF SK I LLS YOU H AVE ACQ UI RE D
PREPARE YOUR JOB HUNT
DO SELF ASSESSMENT Your skills, interests, personality, and values play an important role in your career choice. Find out what effect they have and learn about the various self assessment tools, also called career assessment tools, that help with the career planning process. A self assessment should be the first step you take when choosing an occupation. Learning about yourself helps you figure out what career to pursue. Find out what a self assessment should look at. In addition to determining what you’re good at, a skills assessment also helps you figure out what you enjoy doing. The skills you use in your career should combine both characteristics. You can use the results of the skills assessment to make some changes by acquiring the skills you need for a particular career.
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WHAT DO GRAPHIC DESIGNER NEED TO HAVE BASICALLY Graphic designers—or graphic artists—plan, analyze, and create visual solutions to communications problems. They find the most effective way to get messages across in print and electronic media using color, type, illustration, photography, animation, and various print and layout techniques. Graphic designers develop the overall layout and production design of magazines, newspapers, journals, corporate reports, and other publications. They also produce promotional displays, packaging, and marketing brochures for products and services, design distinctive logos for products and businesses, and develop signs and signage systems—called environmental graphics—for business and government. An increasing number of graphic designers also develop material for Internet Web pages, interactive media, and multimedia projects. Graphic designers also may produce the credits that appear before and after television programs and movies.
Developing a new design is to determine the needs of the client, the message the design should portray, and its appeal to customers or users. Graphic designers need to consider cognitive, cultural, physical, and social factors in planning and executing designs for the target audience. Designers gather relevant information by meeting with clients, creative or art directors, and by performing their own research. Identifying the needs of consumers is becoming increasingly important for graphic designers as they continue to develop corporate communication strategies in addition to creating designs and layouts. Graphic designers may create graphs and charts from data for use in publications, and they often consult with copywriters on any text that accompanies the design. Designers then present the completed design to their clients, art, or creative director for approval. In printing and publishing firms, graphic designers also may assist the printers by selecting the type of paper and ink for the publication and reviewing the mock-up design for errors before final publication.
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SIGNIFICANT POINTS • Employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average with many new jobs associated with interactive media. • A bachelor’s degree in graphic design career is usually required. • Job seekers are expected to face keen competition; individuals with website design and animation experience will have the best opportunities for getting your job.
Graphic designer may create graphs and charts from data for use in publications, and they often consult with copywriters on any text that accompanies the design. Designers then present the completed design to their clients or art or creative director for approval. In printing and publishing firms, graphic designers also may assist the printers by selecting the type of paper and ink for the publication and reviewing the mock-up design for errors before final publication. Graphic designers use specialized computer software packages to help them create layouts and design elements and to program animated graphics. Graphic designers sometimes supervise assistants who follow instructions to complete parts of the design process. Designers who run their own busnesses also may devote a considerable time to developing new business contacts, choosing equipment, and performing administrative tasks, such as reviewing catalogues and ordering samples. The need for up-to-date computer and communications equipment is an ongoing consideration for graphic designers. WORKING ENVIRONMENT Working conditions and places of employment vary. Graphic designers employed by large advertising, publishing, or design firms generally work regular hours in well-lighted and comfortable settings. Designers in smaller design consulting firms and those who freelance generally work on a contract, or job, basis. They frequently adjust their workday to suit their clients’ schedules anddeadlines. Consultants and self-employed designers tend to work longer hours and in smaller, more congested, environments. Designers may work in their own offices or studios or in clients’ offices Designers who are paid by the assignment are under pressure to please existing clients and to find new ones to maintain a steady income. All designers sometimes face frustration when their designs are rejected or when their work is not as creative as they wish. Graphic designers may work evenings or weekends to meet production schedules, especially in the printing and publishing industries where deadlines are shorter and more frequent. Graphic designers must be familiar with computer graphics and design software.
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WRITE A LIST OF SKILLS YOU HAVE ACQUIRED BASIC SKILLS such as reading, writing, speaking, listening and communication skill; SOCIAL SKILLS such as teaching, negotiation, persuasion; TECHNICAL SKILLS such as analysis, trouble-shooting, decision making.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER BASIC
WEB DESIGN Having a clear
SKILL In order to become a perfect
understanding of web development
rounded Graphic Designer, there are
is more essential than ever in an
a variety of skills that are essential to
age where online advertising, and
handling a clients or employers tasks
web presence are essential to every
proficiently. Below you’ll find some
marketing campaign.
of the most essential skills that a Graphic Designer will need to have as her advances in their career and reaches new heights. STYLE COMPARED TO NO STYLE Style can be acknowledged as a designer’s signature.
PHOTOGRAPHY If you wish to be perceived as a well-rounded graphic designer, sooner or later you will need to take a picture. NETWORKING To be successful in any career, the guidance and support of others is vital, for example,
PROJECT MANAGEMENT A lot of
your family, your friends and your
designers consider being organized
co-workers.
sufficient, but on larger projects it really helps to have a grasp of project management fundamentals. TYPOGRAPHY One of the more underrated design skills today is typography.
COMMUNICATION Realistically speaking this maybe the most important skill a designer will utilize throughout their career. SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING This skill is essential to any individual
CREATIVE THINKING One of the
needing to promote or brand them-
important asset skilled to a graphic
selves, their products or services in
design artist is their ability to take
today’s marketplace.
something that is deficient or incomplete and turn it into something that remarkable. PRINT DESIGN AND LAYOUT One of the most soughts after the skills employers seek in designers is an understanding of digital print production and some papers.
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T YPOGRAPH Y P ROJECT M AN AGEM EN T C REATIVE TH IN K IN G S TYLE COM PARED TO N O STYLE W EB DESIGN P RIN T DESIGN AN D LAYOUT C OM M UN ICATION P HOTOGRAPH Y S OCIAL M EDIA M ARK ETIN G NETWORK IN G
S KI LLS GR APH I C DESI GN ER SH OULD H AVE
SK I LLS YOU H AVE
SK I LLS YOU N EED TO I MPR OVE
WHE R E TO WORK
FIN D A PERFECT M ATCH
W RI TE A LI S T OF SK I LLS YOU H AVE ACQ UI RE D
PREPARE YOUR JOB HUNT
MAKE A FIT It’s now time to decide how to match your personal inventory with careers wthat require your strengths and skill sets. Examine what you learned about yourself when you completed the steps in your self-assessment. Review the occupations you have researched. Nowcompare your interests and skills with those occupations. Determine which career best matches your values, personality, skills and interests. In addition, we spend 8 or more hours a day, 40 or more hours a week, 48 weeks a year at work. Some of us see the people we work with more than our families. To spend any of this time unhappy is a truly horrifying prospect. Too many of us face the daily prospect of getting up for work to spend time with people we don’t like, doing things we don’t enjoy, earning less than we are worth, in a place that is depressing and just not right for us to grow and be happy. So, we should find a job that not only match our skill, but also a job that we enjoy doing.
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FIND A PERFECT MATCH THE BEST FIT Settling down with the right career can be as central to your happiness as choosing the right person to share your life with. But, as with any relationship, there are no right or wrong answers. Everyone is different, every situation is unique. What works for one person may not work for another. What feels absolutely perfect now will change and develop, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. The information you’re working with when making major decisions about career choice is woefully incomplete. The world of work offers no long-term certainties—new jobs appear, established ones disappear. Professions change their focus, some skills become obsolete, while others develop a rarity value. The best you can do is make a series of educated guesses based on your understanding of yourself and how it matches what’s out there now. INVESTIGATE YOURSELF Thinking about personal likes and dislikes is a good starting point. Do you want to spend your working life indoors / at sea / working at heights? Does the idea of giving a presentation fill you with excitement or dread? Would close contact with computers fulfil or frustrate you? Once you start asking and answering such questions you begin to eliminate the poor matches and start to focus on possibilities. If you can’t think of the questions for yourself it’s easy to get help. Interest Inventories, which do the job for you will be available at your local Careers Centre. A common one is Adult Directions. It’s a CD-based package that asks roughly 100 questions about your likes and dislikes, then compares your answers to those given by people working in a wide range of jobs. You can choose four levels of work for comparison, from unskilled to graduate occupations.
WHERE TO WORK Choosing a good city for graphic design jobs is much like choosing a good location for any job Graphic design jobs are now actually available all around the country, and what should persuade someone in choosing the best city for this job is just a matter of preference. Here are some suggestions that might help you in making your choice. Research on the Internet where graphic design jobs are in high demand. Though there may be graphic design jobs in every city in the country, surely there are a few exceptional ones, which may be most ideal for you. When you have researched a number of cities and have made your checklist, make a more detailed search by looking for graphic design companies in each individual city. Highlight the ones that you believe can offer good employment. Things to consider when searching for companies are: the size of the company, its location within the city, its clientele, employment policies and specific jobs available. Take note here that in the process of your search, you may find a company that is ideal for the software job you want, however, the city may not be a perfect place for you to live in.
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GRAPHIC DESIGN SALARY COMPARATION
78k
77k
70k 65k 62k 61k 56k
SAN FRANCISCO LOS ANGELES NEW YORK WASHINGTON D.C BOSTON SACRAMENTO CHICAGO SAN JOSE 62k IS THE AVERAGE IN THE U.S.A 1k=1000
P REPARE YOUR RÉSUM É
COLLE CT I N FORM ATI ON AN D ORGAN I Z E YOURS E LF
IMP R O V E EN GLISH C OMMUNI CATION SK ILL
DE VE LOP S K I LLS
BUILD A GRAPH I C DE S I GN PORTFOLI O
PREPARE YOUR JOB HUNT
CREATE A PLAN When you first start a serious, career-oriented job search, you may be confused by all the various components of your search—it can seem as if you are juggling a hundred balls at once! Let’s take a look at major facets of the job search, and by thinking about these in an organized fashion, you will see that things are simpler than you thought.
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COLLECT INFORMATION AND ORGANIZE YOURSELF Sometimes the hard part at the front end of the search is to NOT take action, but rather to step back long enough to put a solid working plan into place up front. This is an area in which career advisors have borrowed liberally from the Marketing disciplines to recommend a Job Search Marketing Plan to guide the process. It can be as simple as a fill-in-the-blank form that gets you organized or a more detailed and informed action plan that guides both job search strategy and execution. An effective Marketing Plan is the reference guide to the question,
“What do I do next?”
One of the most important elements during job search is to design and implement a specific and organized action plan. Without a plan, you will find yourself taking action haphazardly and wasting valuable time. Do not try to apply all these approaches at once, but instead create a weekly job search schedule. Take your time to follow through on each activity instead of scattering your efforts with too many ideas. The Internet is a great tool to provide you with ideas and strategies, but unfortunately it is also a great tool to waste time without receiving the right orientation. Once you selected a good strategy, create your Action Plan based on that strategy and stick to it. Many people are constantly changing their strategy and ideas, which results in shooting in all directions losing time and money. One of the most important issues you should consider is Time Management. If you are looking for a new job and are currently employed, you will need to adjust your daily schedule in order to find some time during business hours(lunch brake, etc.), at night and particularly on weekends. This sounds obvious, but many times deficient time management is one of the biggest obstacles during job search. Job search scheduling and goal setting should be done daily and weekly. For example, block out the hours you’ve committed to the search and identify what you plan to accomplish. If you set 9 –11 a.m., Monday, for library research, your goal is able to identify ten new employers you that can pursue. And then, Tuesday’s goal could be contacting the ten new employers you identified Monday. Tuesday, 1– 3 p.m., may be scheduled for making direct telephone contacts. Be realistic, but challenge yourself.
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SCHEDULE
R O UT INE
E NT E RTAIN M EN T
STUDY
EX ERCISE
I M PORTAN T I S S UE
SUNDAY
8:00 — 9:00
9:00 — 10:00
10:00 — 11:00
11:00 — 12:00
12:00 — 13:00
13:00 — 14:00
15:00 — 16:00
16:00 — 17:00
17:00 — 18:00
19:00 — 20:00
20:00 — 21:00
21:00 — 22:00
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
DEVELOP SKILLS As a graphic design student, you need to grasp strong graphic design skills before you begin a job hunt, especially for the international student. This is an important point to make an employer hire you instead of a American citizen. In addition, Graphic artists not only need to have a creative vision and an ability to thing spatially, but also have solid business and communication skills. LISTEN First and foremost, graphic designers need to be able to listen. Listen to clients, the targeted audience, their boss and their subordinates. How else will the designer understand the message or the product without listening to what the client needs and wants. SOLVE PROBLEMS Most of the graphic design projects have obstacles, knowing how to overcome them is crucial. BE FLEXIBLE Graphic designers will get opportunities to work with various types of individuals and companies. An ability to cater to other people’s needs and skill levels is crucial to working in the fast paced world of graphic design. ATTEND TO DETAILS The graphic designer is the last line of defense before a project goes to print or is live online. Projects need to be free of minor flaws to increase the designer’s and the client’s integrity and credibility. MANAGE TIME EFFECTIVELY No graphic artist has unlimited amounts of time to create a project. Being able to stay organized and know how long it takes to finish tasks is a necessary skill to be able to produce quality designs with a looming deadline.
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TOP TEN SKILLS SOUGHT BY EMPLOYERS O RG A NIZ AT IONA L SK ILLS
C OMP U T E R S KILLS
ANA LY T IC A L S K ILLS
IN T E R P E RS O NAL S KILLS
MO T IVAT ION/INIT IATIVE
HONE S T Y /INT E GRITY
CO MMU NIC AT IO N S KILLS
S T R O NG WORK ETH IC
T E AMWO R K S KILLS
F L E XIB IL IT Y/ADAP TA BILITY
1 2 3
4 5
6 7
8
9 10
OBTAIN EXPERIENCE Your first job or internship in graphic design is an important start in your career as a graphic designer. The graphic design internship introduces you to the field first hand and is even more effective than just sitting in a class room learning about web design. Finding a graphic design internship is competitive but is getting easier as the years pass. By 2016, the need for graphic designers should increase by 10% because of the expansion of television, movies, video, and the internet. Still, be ready to face a lot of competition for these available positions.
One of the best places to look for a graphic design job or internship these days is on the internet. It is faster than going out to web design firms and inquiring if they offer internships or are looking for a new graphic designer. Everyone knows a college degree in web design is necessary when searching for a graphic design job. All employers wants to know where is you got your education and what field of interest you studied in college. Graphic design internships look great on your resume and can open doors faster for you by helping you land a job immediately after college. Internships help you to get your foot in the door early in your graphic design career. What internships at graphic design firms offer you in your time working there is experience, contacts with other people in graphic design, and a possible job at the same workplace immediately after college. With graphic design internships, you can develop new skills as a worker and learn things about yourself which you never knew you were capable of. The internship process is supposed to be a revolutionary way for you to test out your skills to the best of your ability and see if you are right for a graphic design career. Graphic design firms usually start out their interns by giving them basic tasks in a variety of fields in graphic design. Internships in graphic design allow you the opportunity to test the waters and diversify your skills. Because internships give students and prospective employees a chance to see everything that goes on in the graphic design firm, an intern gets to see the different types of things they can do in one particular workplace. By working as a graphic design intern, you get insight on all the doors your career choice can open for you.
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PART-TIME SEARCH JOB SUPPORT D
T
PA
TI
M
E
INT
ER
NA TI
ON
A
L
U ST
EN
RT
STEP 1 S TE P 3
JO
B O
E FF
EG R R
ISTR
AT I O N
STEP 6
JO
F B O
FER
IN
TR
O
DU C
TI
O
N
JE
CT
IO
N
M A
TC
H IN
G
C O M PA N I E
S
CO N
TE
I RV
EW
AN
D
SE
LE
CT
ION
)
RE
N
OR
(I
CE
CT
TA N
TA
ACCEP
S TE P 2 S TE P 4
STEP 5
BUILD A GRAPHIC DESIGN PORTFOLIO A portfolio is a graphic designer’s ticket to landing all the jobs he or she wants. A graphic design portfolio should display your work to the best of your ability. It should have examples of the essence of your artistic potential. It should be organized and display your best work in an orderly fashion. Do not be alarmed if your graphic design portfolio doesn’t look impressive at first. One of the best reasons to begin a graphic design internship is so that you will be able to build your portfolio. During your graphic design internship, be sure to save all your proudest work so that you would be able to include it in your portfolio. Building a website about yourself displaying your graphic designs is one of the best ideas to start your portfolio. A website is an excellent way to express your creativity in graphic designs and promote yourself. Because you are describing yourself, you will be highly motivated to make yourself look good. Your graphic design skills will be at an optimum performance.
Freelance graphic design work can definitely help you build your portfolio. Even though you are most likely not getting paid, it is an excellent chance to keep practicing your skills in graphic design and making your portfolio more impressive. Even if you made up a project and it displays your skills as a graphic designer at its peak, put it in your portfolio. INGREDIENT FOR A PERFECT PORTFOLIO LOGO An exclusive portfolio
BLOG We all know blog is always
helps us to promote our self as a
a casual and successful way of
brand, therefore it is important to
sharing your creative thoughts with
have a dependable logo. First thing
your visitors. It helps to promote you
a visitor checks on your portfolio is
and prevent your website from lying
a logo and it should be catchy to
static. It allows people to search you
tempt the user to check your com-
on different social networks and drop
plete portfolio.
comments about your portfolio.
TAGLINE Your tagline should well
ABOUT ME To cut the long story
define your services and creative
short, a portfolio is all “About Me�.
abilities. It should be short, snappy
Share your family background, edu-
and summarize about your goals.
cation and interests with people. The
Your tagline should be catch enough,
more details you give, the better a
to change an ordinary user into a
bond of trust is created between you
potential customer.
and your users.
SERVICES This feature of your portfolio should be detailed and well explained. This is the feature where you get to explain your area of expertise like web design, development, video, copywriting, branding, etc.
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GRAPHIC DESIGN PORTFOLIO
ABOUT ME SERVIC ES
INGRE DIEN T F OR A P ERF EC T P ORT F OL IO
LOGO TAG L IN E
ON L IN E P ORF OLIO WE B SITE
P ORF OL IO
RÉSUMÉ Everyone looking for a job should have a résumé, but this document can be especially important to a design applicant. Your résumé deserves careful typographic design that reflects your type skill and ability. Your graphic design resume is going to be just as important as your portfolio, if not more important than your portfolio when it comes to job hunting. This is because most people will examine your resume before they open your portfolio book, meaning your resume is going to be your first impression! You have to remember that the people you will be sending your resume to go through tons of these every day so yours has to be immaculate and memorable, or they wont even bother looking at your portfolio. GRAPHIC DESIGN RESUME People always get caught up in the design and content of their resume and forget one of the most important parts! The paper you use for your graphic design resume can tell your potential employer a lot about you. Choosing paper for a design project is an important job for most designers and if you overlook this you will have one strike against you right away. If you do choose a good paper for your resume it will get you bonus points. It will show your employer you have thought about every detail, and you have done your research on papers.
You don’t want to use standard computer printing paper from an office supply store, so I would recommend looking at paper mills such as Neenah Paper, who offer some really great resume papers. I ended up buying two different versions of their Classic Crest line of papers for my resume. YOUR RESUME LAYOUT You are a graphic designer, so this is the chance to show what you can do in a tasteful manner. You probably don’t want to go overboard with a resume, because the information on the resume in the end is the most important part. With that being said you can still showcase your design skills, by adding visual elements, using a grid, playing with typography, color choices and so on. So don’t design your resume in Microsoft Word! GRAPHIC DESIGN TYPOGRAPHY This is another important aspect of your resume, so you need to be very careful with the fonts you choose! I would stay away from display fonts and free fonts and instead go with some classical fonts. Probably the most important font to avoid in a design resume would be Times New Roman! Though Helvetica can be frowned up sometimes, because its bee branded so much as the “designers font” that some people consider it overused (at least in resumes). Readability is very important so don’t make your type too small (No smaller then 10 –11 points). Remember the readers need to be able to quickly and easily scan your resume. I would also suggest using serifed fonts for body text since its easier to read and don’t use very light colors.
WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR RESUME
A super generic “objective” at the top of your resume.• Obscure interests that do not relate to design.• Potentially offensive material. I will leave this one up to you guys because I don’t want to get in the way of anyones beliefs or views, but be careful mentioning or including work related to politics, war, religion and so on. Its impossible to gauge how some one will react to sensitive topics, so sometimes its better to be safe then sorry.
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RÉSUM É
GRAPHIC DESIGN RÉSUMÉ N AM E AN D CON TACT INFO
PERSON AL STATEM EN T
YOUR EX PERIEN CE
EDUCATION
CAPABILITIES
SOFTWARE SK ILLS
AWARDS
ORGAN IZATION S
IN TERESTS
REFEREN CES
IMPROVE ENGLISH COMMUNICATION SKILL One of the important requirements for International students of graphic designers in job hunting is communication skills, for they always need to talk with the client and recognize what they need and what they want. Therefore, good communication skills not only help to make the employer understand you easier, but can also able to benefit your future graphic design career. IMPROVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS Talk and speak up in class, make presentations, make friends and talk with Americans to improve both your English language skills and learn more about American culture, take communications courses, attend workshops at the University Career Center to get used to the professional settings, join clubs, watch TV, and listen to the radio. DON’T BE DISCOURAGED
Looking for a professional position with a student visa may not be easy, but think of the many difficult things you have accomplished thus far in a new country. This is simply another step. Gain support from friends and UMCP staff. Many international students find jobs in the United States each year. With the hard work, patience and perseverance, you can be one of them.
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1. IMPROVE PRONUNCIATION AND DICTION There are a few tricks to making a vernacular accent more globally understandable. • Try making sure that ‘air’ comes out of your mouth when saying the letters, ‘T, P, K’ and the sound ‘Ch’. • Focus on elongating your vowel sounds. This will also automatically slow down your rate of speech. • Sing English songs out loud! • Watch news shows on channels THREE GOLDEN RULES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION You need to master oral skills for both in-person and over-the-ph one interactions. Similarly, important written communication includes: Writing professional e-mails (sans SMS slang). Putting together concise reports. Creating visually powerfulPowerpoint presentations.
like CNN and BBC. • The web site www.m-w.com is great for pronunciation help. • I would also suggest buying books on pronunciation and language that come with audio cassettes. A good book that I found really useful was Better English Pronunciation by J D O’Connor. It is part of the Cambridge series, and some of these books come with cassettes.
2. SPRUCE UP YOUR WRITTING SKILLS • Believe it or not, you may have to read more! • Well-written magazines, like The Economist and India Today, are great to read not only to improve language skills but also to learn more about the world. • In terms of books, read what interests you. The basic goal is to read as much as you can. There are a plethora of good authors who are popular today. Some good writers whose language is easy to follow include Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri, Paulo Coelho, J D Salinger, Albert Camus and Roald Dahl. • People tend to forget basic grammar when writing e-mails. An e-mail is nothing more than a letter which is sent electronically.
when attaching documents. For example, “Please find attached with this e-mail a report on...” This helps you sound professional. 3. FIVE EXERCISES TO PRACTICE EVERY DAY! • Pretend you are a newscaster and read out the newspaper to your mirror. • Do not read local newspapers. Focus on national newspapers. • While reading a book, underline all the words you do not know. Look them up in the dictionary. • Make a list of these words, and make sure you use at least five of them in a conversation during the day. • Most important, make an effort to speak in English to your friends and family.
Make sure salutations and content are professional. Use special phrases
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THREE GOLDEN RULES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
WELL-WRITTEN MAGAZINES
SPRUCE UP YOUR WRITING SKILLS
‘air’, ‘T, P, K’, ‘Ch’
ELONGATING VOWEL SOUNDS
NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS
FIVE EXERCISES TO PRACTISE EVERY DAY
BASIC GRAMMAR
PRETEND NEWSCASTER
BOOKS MAKE A LIST
READING
IMPROVE PRONUNCIATION AND DICTION
WWW.M-W.COM
ENGLISH SONGS
CNN AND BBC
SPEAK TO YOUR FRIENDS
INTERVIEW
BOOKS
1
2 4 3
5
WHAT TO DO NEXT
JOB SEARCH OVERVIEW Due to federal regulations and employer concerns, job searching can be challenging for international students wishing to work in the United States. As a result, international students must become familiar with the American job search process and current government policies. It is very important for international students to turn employers’ objections into positives. By virtue of living and studying away from home, international students demonstrate tenacity and resource fulness. It is important you to tell employers about the challenges you faced in studying away from home and how you succeeded. International students should be prepared to tell employers how hiring you offers them more advantages than disadvantages.
NEVER SAY “ SPONSOR”
AVOID M EN TIONING VISA STATU TOO EARLY T ALK WI TH CONFI DE NCE APPROAC H TH E Q UE S TI ON S
PRACTICE M AK ES PERFECT N E TWO RK
EXPAND YOUR SEARCH
PREPARE THE INTERVIEW
DO INTERVIEW
AVOID USIN G “ VISA JARGON”
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N E T WORK
EXPAND YOUR SEARCH
EXPAND YOUR SEARCH Consider smaller firms. They may be less “traditional� than larger firms that have so many applicants that the competition is too stiff and they are more likely to hire people who require less paperwork. Also, consider working in different areas in the U.S.A as well as international firms located in the U.S.A or U.S.A firms with branches abroad. Also, search for jobs that may not necessarily be in your major. As an international student seeking postgraduation employment in the U.S.A, you also have to deal with some special issues.
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NETWORK Not all jobs are posted in media such as newspapers or job postings online. In fact, most jobs are “hidden” and are usually filled through word of mouth. Therefore it is important to get in touch with, and stay in touch with, people in your field of interest or others who may know people in your field such as fellow students, professors, family, friends, neighbors, career advisors, etc. WHO TO INCLUDE IN YOUR CAREER NETWORK Your career network should include anyone who can assist you with a job search or career move. It can include past and present co-workers, bosses, friends with similar interests, colleagues from business associations, alumni from your university, or acquaintances you have met via online networking services. WHAT YOUR CAREER NETWORK Can do for you Over 80% of job seekers say that their network has helped with their job search. Networking contacts can help with more than job leads. They can provide referrals to or insider information about companies you might be interested in working for. KEEP IN TOUCH Work your network. Don’t just contact those who can help when you have just been laid-off from your job or decide you want to look for a new position. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR NETWORK Keep track of your personal career network somewhere. Whether it’s electronically or on paper, make sure you know who is who, where they work, and how to get in touch. ONLINE CAREER NETWORKING Online job searching networking does work. Sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and a variety of other online networking websites can help you get in touch with other networkers at specific companies, with college affiliations or in a certain geographic area. In addition, if you’re a college graduate, your institute may have an alumni career network you can access.
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NETWORK
N EVER SAY “ SPON SOR”
AVOID M EN TION IN G VISA S TATUS TOO EARLY
PREPARE THE INTERVIEW AVOID USIN G “ VISA JARG ON ”
PREPARE FOR INTERVIEW Some international students are initially uncomfortable with American-style job interviews. Cultural differences can lead to difficulties if you go into an interview without a good idea of what to expect and what will be expected of you. For example, American job interviews require you to sell yourself by discussing your career goals, qualifications, achievements, and expectations. Members of some cultures may find it difficult to talk about themselves in such detail when addressing a potential employer. The best way to prepare for a job interview is to get a lot of practice. Contact the Career Services Center to set up a practice interview with one of our counselors. This interview can be video-taped, allowing you to see for yourself how you look and act in an interview and how you could improve your interviewing technique.
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PR
O
TF
O
LI
O CE TI AC T PR FEC R E P
G SIN ID U N” AV O RGO A JA S I “V G IN ON Y L E AR M E D U OI AT AV ST SA VI I NT
M
MA
UN
IC
KE
I AT
S
ON
M CO LL I SK
AY RS VE R” NE SO N O “SP
AVOID USING “VISA JARGON”
work, the company can start the
Employers generally don’t under-
detail than this is apt to confuse
stand what “F-1” or “H-1” mean. They may also be suspicious or afraid of hiring someone who is living
application process for a different visa to extend your stay. Any more recruiters.
clearly that, though you are not cur-
NEVER SAY “SPONSOR”
rently a U.S.A citizen, you are eligible
Employers are often baffled by the
to work legally in the United States
question “Will you sponsor me?”The
with a student visa. Explain that you
word “sponsor” can imply several
can work under this arrangement
things up to and including provid-
for up to one year. Upon starting to
ing room and board for someone.
illegally in the U.S.A Tell the employer
Since most of the employers don’t
CareerCenter counselor about what
understand what “sponsor” means,
you plan to say. Write it down. Re-
take this term out of your job search
hearse it. If you feel nervous talking
vocabulary.
about it, consider tape recording your voice and listening to yourself.
AVOID MENTIONING VISA STATU TOO EARLY It is best not to advertise your visa status in a resume or cover letter unless specifically asked for. If you are using Careers 4 Terps, you have toinclude your status in your profile. It is also best not to bring up the
If you sound nervous, you need more practice. Schedule a practice interview with a University Career Center staff member or use the University Career Center’s Virtual Mock Interviewing tool to get useful feedback on improving your approach. Again, learn to talk about your visa status as easily as you discuss the courses you’ve the academic honors you’ve received.
subject with an employer during the first interview. Once you have made a good first impresion and been invited back for a second interview, you are often in a better position to discuss your visa with an employer.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT If you need to an important speech for a class, you would certainly practice for it. Your job search is important, as well. Talk with a University
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TYPES OF INTERVIEW
TALK W I TH CON FI DE N CE APPROACH TH E Q UE S TI ON
DO INTERVIEW
DO INTERVIEW The first interview is always the most stressful, so arrange mock interviews with friends to get practice and feedback. At the real interview, try to feel relaxd. Remember to breathe. If you don’t see any design work displayed, ask to see some. Ask questions about the organization and its projects. Be interested in them; then explain how you can help with their needs. Don’t drone on about yourself; be attuned to the interviewer’s verbal responses and body language. An interview, when it really works, is a dialogue between people who are sharing information and finding common ground. After any interview, always stop to record your impressions. A follow-up note of thanks will be appreciated as a courtesy and is a way to help interviewers remember you.
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HOW TO APPROACH THE QUESTIONS Think from the interviewer’s perspective! When preparing to answer a question, ask yourself why the interviewer chose that question so that you can provide an answer that he or she is really interested in. In general, when you’re asked about your personal or professional qualifications, don’t answer with dry a lists of your talents and skills. Instead, try to answer with “success stories” or anecdotes that illustrate those talents and skills. Many companies are now using an special interview technique called behavior alinterviewing. It is approach the assume that your past performance predicts your future work performance. You can usually tell a company is using a behavioral interviewing approach when you are asked questions about how you handled previous situations. The best way to answer behavioral interview questions and to provide enough detail is to use star technique.
TALK WITH CONFIDENCE Learn to talk about your visa comfortably and matter-of-factly. If employers sense that you are nervous about this issue, they could become nervous, too. Your visa status is a simple fact about you (like your degree or the color of your eyes). It is not a terrible secret that you must whisper about. Be confident about the visa issues and learn how to market yourself positively. Be prepared to tell employers how hiring you offers more advantages than disadvantages. advantages than disadvantages.
INTERVIEW STAGES
CONCLUSION Finding your first design job means matching your creativity and skill with an organization’s real needs. It is also a valuable learning experience. While you are looking, you are learning about the various ways design is practiced. Your next job search—whether it occurs soon or well down the road—will be easier; you will have gained a clearer vision of the field and how you want to position yourself within it. Remember to communicate, to follow up, and to be courteous. That way, you’ll take away from this first stressful experience some valuable information, increased confidence, and your satisfaction.
RESOURCE ECONIMICS OF THE UNITED STATES “US Economy in 2010.” Economics Help. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. Eric J. Fry. “Dow 10,300: Mimicking the Bounce After the Crash of ’29.” Daily Reckoning. Web. 29 Jan. 2010. GRAPHIC DESIGN JOBS “Graphic Design Job Market Overview.” Odin Job. Web. 23 Oct. 2009. Taylor, Loran. “Qualities of Good Graphic Design.” Suite 101. Web. 19 Jun. 2008. Alison, Doyle. “Job Search and Career Networking Tips.” Job Searching. Web. 3 Jun. 2009. GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENT “Graduate Designer – A Cool Way to Promote Yourself.” Graphic Design Blog. Web. 15 Jun. 2010. Allan, Chochinov. “All You Ever Needed to Know You Learned in...” Core 77. Web. 3 Jun. 2010.
“Advice For Design Students.” Just Creative Design. Web. 21 Jan. 2009. “The Outlook on Graphic Design Jobs.” Articles Base. Web. 17 Dec. 2009. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OF GRAPHIC DESIGN “Part-time job search support.” Fukuoka International Student Support Center. Web. 11 Aug. 2009. “Don’t Agonize - Organize!” Student City. Web. 7 Jun. 2010. “Get informed, and make a decision that’s best for you.” World Wide Learn. Web. 12 July. 2009. “Graphic Designers.” United States Department of Labor. Web. 17 May. 2010. “Designers.” World Wide Learn. Web. 12 July. 2009. “Occupational Employment and Wages.” United States Department of Labor. Web. 17 May. 2010.
1001 Pine Street, Apt. 905 San Francisco, CA 94109 First published in 2010Š Evagallion Eva Chan All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form of by any means, without the written permission of Eva Chan. Designed and written by Eva Chan Typeface: Helvetica and Clarendon Photography: Self, Flickr, Google Sponsored by Academy of Art University Typography 3 Instructor: Lian Ng Summer 2010