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Graphic designer job description: what you'll do and what to write on your resume

Applying for graphic designer at an agency, studio or in-house team? Copy the duties below into your resume, then read what the interview asks.

Duties to write on your resume

Start each line with what you did. Keep the ones you've really done.

• Designed logos, posters, social media graphics and brochures that matched each client's brand
• Created layouts in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, or Canva, from rough briefs
• Prepared print-ready files with correct sizes, bleeds and color modes
• Edited and retouched photos for ads, product pages and social media posts
• Revised designs after feedback from clients and team leads, within deadlines
• Built and followed brand guidelines for colors, fonts and logo use
• Worked with copywriters, marketers and photographers to finish campaign materials
• Organized design files and exported assets in the formats each platform needs

No work experience yet? Use the same lines for school projects, a friend's small business or practice pieces, and show them in a portfolio.

A resume objective you can adapt

Creative graphic design graduate looking for a graphic designer job, ready to turn client briefs into clean, on-brand designs and finish work on time.

Skills employers ask for

• Using Photoshop, Illustrator or Canva
• Layout, color and typography
• Understanding a client brief
• Taking feedback and revising quickly
• Managing time across several projects

What the interview asks

1. Can I see your portfolio? Pick your best pieces and explain the problem each one solved.
2. What design tools do you use? Name the ones you really use and say what you make with each.
3. How do you handle a client who dislikes your design? Listen, ask what's missing, then revise without taking it personally.
4. What would you do with three rush projects on the same day? Say you'd check deadlines, rank the work and tell your lead early.

The questions every interview asks, with sample answers

How to get hired

1. Most posts ask for a design, multimedia arts or related diploma or degree, though a strong portfolio can count for a lot.
2. Build an online portfolio with your best pieces and link it on your resume.
3. You can also take TESDA's Visual Graphic Design NC III, which has an online course.
4. Prepare a resume, valid ID, NBI clearance and your SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG and TIN numbers.
5. Apply on job sites or to agencies directly, and expect a portfolio review or a short design test.

Licence or certificate

• TESDA offers a national certificate for this work: Visual Graphic Design NC III. TESDA's online program has a course for it. Source

What the work is like

You sit at a computer for most of the day, and deadlines can pile up fast. The hard part is revising the same design many times when feedback keeps changing.

See open graphic designer jobs on DayShift

Read the full guide to getting started

Use the graphic designer resume template

Practice graphic designer interview questions with sample answers

Questions

Do I need a degree to work as a graphic designer?

Not always. Many employers care more about your portfolio, but some posts ask for a diploma or degree.

Can graphic design be done from home?

Yes, many designers work remotely or freelance. Some employers want you in the office for meetings.

What should I study to become a graphic designer?

Courses in multimedia arts, fine arts or graphic design help. You can also learn tools like Photoshop and Canva on your own.

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