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So How Does A Graphic Designer With No Experience But A Fancy Degree Really Get Started?

So How Does A Graphic Designer With No Experience But A Fancy Degree Really Get Started?

So do you happen to know anybody that’s recently graduated from a respectable graphic  design school lately? The only reason I ask, is because typically, in order to get a semi  decent associates degree worth having, you’re probably looking at an investment that ranges  anywhere from $38,000 – $45,000 dollars.

And if you go for the four year enchilada, your total cost (from) a fairly respectable school is  about $85,000 dollars, once you tally up all of your cost!

However, once you’ve officially graduated, that’s when the truly fun stuff actually starts!  Because now you’ve got to compete (not just with) the men and women within your  particular country! That not only have an education just like you do!

But some of them went to even more prestigious graphic designing schools than you did!

There’s also the ever increasing outsourcing competition! That is, there are men & women in other parts of the world, that will gladly accept full employment for a base salary of just $12,000 -$25,000 dollars per year! And maybe little or no benefits to boot! Ouch!

Because in their particular part of the world that type of salary range, basically allows them to live a comfortable middle to upper middle class lifestyle!

Where as for the typical United States college graduate with some type of advanced graphic design degree, there is simply no way they could even begin to repay their outrageously high student debt, on that type of money!Right?

So “what” if anything, could a recent college graduate (from a fairly reputable school),with a degree in graphic design, possibly do, in order to (hopefully) do more than merely make ends meet?

And not whined up sleeping at home in Mom & dads spare bedroom, while they at least try and find some type of part time work at the local bookstore and waiter or waitress, at a popular local diner!

 So How Does A Graphic Designer With No Experience But A Fancy Degree Really Get Started?

First of all, do keep in mine, this extremely bright (and very ambitious), recent graphic design graduate student has already gone the (so called) conventional/traditional job market route!

With (to date) little or no results! That is, they’ve tried posting their resume on all the so called (traditional/conventional) job posting sites and they’ve also sent a gazillion cover letters and resumes all over creation and they’ve been on a thousand and one local job interviews too!

And to date, the only calls they’ve had thus far, is for a job offer from a popular local diner that could use an enthusiastic, attractive part time waitress and the local bookstore, that could also use a college graduate to work 24-29 hours per week! Plus one weekend shift every other week!

And of course, no talk “whatsoever” of any type of benefits!

And while neither of those two-rather bleak- options are necessarily appealing! In the next six months, their monthly student loan repayment schedule of X dollars per month, automatically kicks in!

And they’re expected to start meeting that obligation, on top of their monthly car insurance payment, whether they’ve actually secured a job in their chosen career field or not!

A Little Creativity Never Hurt Anybody! (Don’t You Agree?)

Plus, it doesn’t help that at 26 years of age, they’ve got to get the occasional ear full from Mom & dad (about) A.) the occasional late hours they’re keeping and B.) that brand new piece of work, they’re referring to as a boy friend! 😕

So needless to say, they need to start to make something reliable happen pretty fast! Enter, a little “think outside the box” marketing creativity! They start noticing, (whenever they’re surfing the web using their smart phone) that an awful lot of more established Mom & Pop local businesses, of all shapes and sizes, don’t have mobile responsive WordPress websites and or blogs!

Which gets her (or him) to thinking! Hmm? “What” if they offer to build some state of the art (mobile responsive) WordPress websites/blogs for a few of these more high profile local businesses, on the cheap!

Just to (fairly quickly) build a portfolio of work, to show future potential customers and or clients! So they quickly refer to some of “what” they recall, in the half a semester of basic marketing 101, that they partially slept through, during their senior year of undergraduate school.

Showcase Your Skills By Helping Others And Start Building Your Brand!

So in order to raise a few bucks, in order to test some of their less than totally sophisticated Harvard Business school type of marketing strategies! They sell off a few no longer needed items on both ebay and at a few local weekend flea market events!In order to quickly raise some much needed cash in order to launch (inexpensively test) out, some of their marketing theories!

And here’s “what” she initially comes up with!

She will run a few relatively inexpensive test ads, in a few of the local throwaway pennysaver type publications in their immediate area. The first will be the old tried and true.

“Free Drawing!” Win a free state of the art (mobile responsive) WordPress blog, built to customized specifications for your specific business, service and or charity! This offer also includes basic SEO capabilities and social media marketing assistance as well!

Getting Started Doesn’t Mean You Have To Initially Have All Of The Answers!

This is a $697  ( or X) dollar value! (She also remembers that she’s gotta consistently price test!) This time sensitive offer ends (and you simply add the date)! Serious inquire-es only! call Cindy blank now for complete details!

(And her cell number, that automatically goes directly to her market tested voice mail message,when she’s busy working at either the bookstore and or local diner! 8-))

Here’s the other thing: she also vividly recalls from her undergraduate (basic marketing 101 classes), and that is, all successful enterprises, must have some type of reliable (and ever growing) back end income generating component (and or) to their business! In order to truly be sustainable and successful!

It Doesn’t Take A Creative Genius To Start!

So she immediately registers to become an affiliate for a reputable web hosting company! That way, when she really starts to consistently generate some serous inquirers, she can say that she currently has two extremely popular payment plans!

A.) First: as long the customers agree to get their paid web hosting through her affiliate link, she can build their state of the art (mobile responsive) WordPress blog for just $497 (or X!) Because she’ll definitely be price testing like crazy!

B.) Second: And when they supply her with (either) a video and or audio testimonial for her work, she’ll do their first site for just $297 (or X!) And all packages include the first 60 days of free trouble shooting!

After that, as long as they remain active users of at least 50% of her affiliate products and or services, like her paid email service provider and her paid web hosting company etc.

And they gave her some type of testimonial, (with video being her first preference), then she’ll only charge them, $97 dollars a month (or X), instead of her customary $250 a month (or X) flat maintenance/trouble shooting/consultant fee!

Now obviously, she probably won’t blast off like a rocket initially, but hopefully you can see “how” this type of “think outside the box” marketing approach, will help her effectively utilize her graphic design school education, without having to stand in line, waiting for potential opportunities, instead of learning “how to” create them! Agreed?

Just Because You’re New In Business Doesn’t Automatically Mean You Have To Act Like A Newbie!

In part two, we’ll head even further inland! But for now…Now as is customary during this part of our show.

Please share your extremely valuable comments (in the comments section below) that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less!

As always, if you got any value out of this post, please share this on your favorite social media sites or tweet this.Thanks!

And if you’re currently registered on Linkedin or twitter,and you’re serious about about doing some type of power networking.Let’s get connected asap!

Extremely important note:And if by chance, you happen to know any of the lesser known podcasters,who also target,small business owners,service providers or aspiring startups entrepreneurs etc.

And they’re pro-actively looking for potential guest speakers.Please don’t hesitate to-either- pass their name and contact information directly
to me or vice versa!Thanks!

And be sure you grab your explosive free 22 step small business marketing idea kit series, because it will help you increase your profits by as much as 25% in the next 90 days or less.

And help you master your effective communication in marketing skills.(No matter what your particular niche market is.)It’s a $97 dollar value and it’s free!

15 Responses to So How Does A Graphic Designer With No Experience But A Fancy Degree Really Get Started?
  1. Hello,Beautiful stuff. There is huge need for graphic designer for marketing now days.Graphic designer plays vital role for a company. Because of graphic designer company can target wide audience.
    Thanks
    CATRINA ELLIOTT recently posted…Waterproofing Coatings – Adding More Years to Your Structures!My Profile

  2. Mark, you reminded me my initial struggling days when I was actually looking out for work. As time passed, I did realize that doing a day job as a graphic designer is ok but some other things must be done side by side. That’s when I came to know about WordPress and other GD stuff.

    Time really teaches us all, now I have my own successful blogs.

    Thanks for this inspiring post 🙂

    Pankaj
    Pankaj Chauhan recently posted…38 Invoice Templates PSD DOCX INDD – Free DownloadMy Profile

  3. Hi Mark,

    Wonderful post about a situation almost all of us have found ourselves in at one time or the other. You have given direction to many such new graduates to start with an online presence. The internet may have made it easier to find and apply to jobs but it is still quite difficult to get desired responses and the desired jobs!

    You have certainly provided a way out for many of those talented newbies! Buts it’s more important that you be able to reach out to them with this info!

    Have a great day!
    Nisha Pandey from Tech News recently posted…Acer Chromebook 15 – Your Performance LaptopMy Profile

  4. Hey Mark,

    I was in a similar situation right after I graduated from college. I had a degree in CIS (Computer Information Systems) and could not land a decent job with decent pay. So what did I do?

    I started from the bottom. I did get a job doing phone support just to get some experience in troubleshooting dial up problems (Yes remember dial up connections with the 56k modem? )… I was getting paid a measly $8.50/hour but the knowledge I gain was worth it.

    Later I actually started a computer repair business, but had no clue of how to market it LOL… I had a couple of gigs here and there, but it just wasn’t enough. But as time went on I got better paying jobs and more experience.

    But yes, a lot of college students will find it rough to land that perfect job at first. You’ve shown a creative way of how they can get their careers going, especially for those that graduated in graphics design. There’s a lot of jobs and way more opportunities more so now with all the changes!

    Thanks for sharing Mark! Have a great rest of the week!
    Sherman Smith recently posted…Why Writer’s Block Is A Myth To Seasoned BloggersMy Profile

    • Awesome comments Sherman!

      Thanks! And I love your approach, you went after the hand on experience first!
      And as you pointed out,the gradual increases in pay came over time.

      It’s really a shame you didn’t start your computer repair business, knowing what
      you know about “how to’ effectively market now!LOL!

      if fact, now you could pretty much be the brains (administrator) behind the scenes and
      let the local college geeks do most of the repairs!

      And you would have focused on getting bodies with various computer problems
      through the doors!

      Sadly, most formally trained university types are not typically very entrepreneurial
      and or “think outside the box” self starters!

      Instead they rely 100% on conventional opportunities becoming available! Thanks for sharing
      you real world insights Sherman!

      There always welcome and greatly appreciated!
      Mark Newsome recently posted…So How Does A Graphic Design With No Experience But A Fancy Degree Really Get Started?Part TwoMy Profile

  5. Hi Mark,

    Actually my step daughter has a degree in graphic design. She was one of the lucky ones. As a freelancer, she had many jobs with the NBA and other prestigious companies. But now, as a stay at home mom, and moving cross country from her contacts, she needs to set up her own business.

    Plans are in the works, after her second child is school age. She knows that she needs to get online and create something. She is a bit busy right now focusing on her children, but does ask us questions sometimes to see what we are doing online. I’m sure with the help of us and her husband who is very technical. she will be starting her own business.

    It is amazing what we can all do these days in order to get our business online.

    -Donna
    Donna Merrill recently posted…Your Silent Inner VoiceMy Profile

  6. Impressive as always Mark but as I’m reading through the well thought out steps it occurred to me that the average person would benefit from having someone hold their hand through this process. If you aren’t already there, I hope you’re considering coaching because between your knowledge and motivational communication style you’re a natural!
    Marquita Herald recently posted…Are Feelings of Unworthiness Sabotaging Your Confidence?My Profile

    • That comment coming from you M, I just gotta take it as a compliment!LOL!

      So you think even though they’ve got fancy degree in hand and virtually no real world
      experience just yet!LOL!

      And a ton of pending student debt, just waiting to devour a good portion
      of their paycheck, (one they actually get a job!)

      Their gonna need one on one guidance with this one?LOL! Yea Probably!LOL!

      Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts M!

      And I do so hope you’ll do me the favor of commenting on part two as well! Thanks!
      Mark Newsome recently posted…So How Does A Graphic Designer With No Experience But A Fancy Degree Really Get Started?My Profile

  7. These are great ideas when thinking outside of the box. I never went to college for design or fixing websites. I did however, teach myself to do both of those things. Now I am not able to charge $700 for a design. But I am now to the point I can charge $75 an hour to fix someone’s website. I only mention this because over time it is possible to work your way up. The advantage you have is your schooling you have to back you up! When I went to college if learning about how to do websites was offered, or I knew that is what I wanted to do, I definitely would have taken it. Thank you for the great post!

    • Thanks so much Becky!

      Somehow I initially overlooked your extremely kind words!

      But I’m so glad I found them!LOL!

      Personally, between you & I,self taught entrepreneurs such as yourself,
      just seem to have way more desire and dogged “take no prisoners” type of determination
      going for them!

      So I’d much prefer to be Coached by someone such as yourself than merely a book smart individual!

      Because I bet you know your subject matter inside & out! In any event, please forgive my extremely late reply!

      And thank you again for your extremely kind words of encouragement! They are greatly appreciated!
      Mark Newsome recently posted…Three All Too Common Internet Marketing Mistakes Far Too Many Entrepreneurs Make!Part ThreeMy Profile


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