5 Reasons You're Not Booking Graphic Design Jobs
If you clicked on this post, you’re probably struggling to book new clients. So before we really get into it, I want you to know one thing – that’s completely normal, and we’ve all been there.
I’ve been a professional designer for five years, working my way up from design school reject to the owner of a successful, six-figure graphic design agency. But that didn’t happen overnight. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, and I want you to learn from them!
To help understand why you’re not booking clients, I’ve put together a list of common mistakes you might be making in your design portfolio. In this industry, your portfolio is your resume, and it’s the number one reason why you will – or won’t – book jobs. Some of these things I’ve experienced firsthand, and others I’ve seen from my students, but each and every single one of them will significantly impact your portfolio and your likelihood of success.
Here are the top five reasons your portfolio isn’t booking graphic design jobs:
1. You don’t have a website.
If you’re sending your portfolio over in a PDF or a .zip file, there’s a high chance that it’s not even being viewed. That may sound harsh, but it’s the truth. You’re likely not the only person applying for the job, and if everyone else is sending links to their site while you’re asking the client to download a massive file, you’re already one step behind. Plus, websites have plenty of other benefits, like the option to include project descriptions, which brings me to reason #2...
*I highly recommend using Big Cat Creative Squarespace Templates to build your sites. They’re super easy to use, and you’ll get a video tutorial that shows you step-by-step how to set up and personalize your templates. The best part is that you don’t even have to have any experience using Squarespace and your portfolio is still going to look amazing!
2. You're not including project write-ups.
Let’s face it, most people don’t think like designers. So when you send over your work without providing any context, you’re leaving it open for interpretation. Instead, be sure to include project write-ups that detail your client’s goals and the project objectives. This is your chance to talk them through your design decisions and really show off your expertise!
3. You don't have any testimonials from past clients.
In addition to showcasing your skill set, your portfolio should also establish your credibility. If you have a great experience with a client, be sure to reach out to them and ask them to send you a couple of sentences about the project and their experience. Testimonials can go a long way in showing potential clients what it will be like to work with you!
4. You're showing ALL your work instead of just your best work.
I get it; you’ve worked hard to build your portfolio and you want to showcase your experience. But as a designer, how many times have you been asked to make edits to a design that you didn’t completely agree with? Sure, you made them, because at the end of the day you have to do what the client wants. But now that project doesn’t really showcase your full design abilities. When you’re putting together your portfolio, you should only include pieces that you’re completely proud of. Remember, 3-5 great projects is always better than 10-15 mediocre ones.
5. You don't have relevant work to the types of clients you're trying to attract.
This is one of the biggest and most common mistakes I see inexperienced designers make. You’ll have a portfolio full of projects, but none of them are relevant to the client you want to work with. Think about it: if a restaurant owner wants to hire you to design their menu, they’re going to want to see other menus you’ve designed or restaurants you’ve worked with. So what happens if you don’t have relevant work? You fake it ‘til you make it! I wrote a whole blog post on how to build a portfolio from scratch, including how to create faux projects for your portfolio.
Alright, I know this can be a lot to remember, so I’ve also put together a brand new resource to help you easily audit your design projects and determine whether or not you should include them in your portfolio. Click on the image below to download the Portfolio Checklist!
