How to hire a student graphic designer

How to hire a student graphic designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step student graphic designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a student graphic designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new student graphic designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The student graphic designer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A student graphic designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, student graphic designers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of student graphic designer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Student Graphic Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Student Graphic Designer	Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for various applications such as advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports.	$10-16
   Graphic Artist	A graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project... Show more	$16-40
   Designer	A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences... Show more	$21-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Graphic Design
   • Event Posters
   • GPA
   • Web Banners
   • Adobe Illustrator
   • Adobe Creative Suite
   • Adobe Indesign
   • Autocad
   • Photography
   • Promotional Materials
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • CAD
   • Solidworks
   • Print Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Research lead to sketch iteration, which lead to full scale prototypes.
   • Create and manage digital media content for department and resource center websites, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
   • Manage data migrations and SharePoint integration for corporate Intranet with external consultants.
   • Design closet units and formations in 2D and 3D using SolidEdge, AutoCAD, TeamCenter.
   • Create and maintain digital 3D and 2D design packages using Pro/E and AutoCAD design tools.
   • Create package design, branding, and doing photography for clients that are starting up small businesses.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your student graphic designer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A student graphic designer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, student graphic designers' average salary in south dakota is 50% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level student graphic designers earn 38% less than senior-level student graphic designers.
   • Certifications. A student graphic designer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a student graphic designer's salary.

   Average student graphic designer salary

   $13.14hourly

   $27,337 yearly

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   Entry-level student graphic designer salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a student graphic designer job description

   A student graphic designer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a student graphic designer job description:

   Student graphic designer job description example

   Junior Graphic Designer - Content creation
   For Pan-European Marketing Communications
   Location: Weybridge, UK
   
   We are seeking a Placement Student with a passion for graphic design to become our Junior Graphic Designer working closely with the marketing communication team to support with creation/recreation of various kinds of marketing communication assets. The design work will include infographics, banner creation, sizing adaption, and creating imagery for online assets.
   
   Throughout this 13-month paid placement, you will be given the opportunity to learn and immerse yourself in what it means to be a Graphic Design professional in a multicultural European organisation and to understand where your career could take you. Working within an established team, you will be offered expert mentorship alongside multiple development opportunities.
   
   Your profile:
   Studying an undergraduate degree which makes you eligible for a 13-month placement starting summer 2023. Preferred degree in Marketing, Graphic Design or similar.Fluency in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and IllustratorExcellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team Creative flair, good eye for detail and the ability to conceptualize new ideas Self-motivated and inquisitive individual who is not afraid to challenge and be challenged Proficient in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint) English language (written and spoken)
   
   Our recruitment process:
   
   The job posting will be open until 6th of November 2022. Afterwards, the selected candidates will be invited to perform a recorded video interview.
   
   In December, the best-performing candidates will be invited to an interview with the Pan-EU Marketing Communications team (in our office or virtually). We are aiming to finalise our recruitment process by the end of December.
   
   Life at Sony:
   
   We will make you a part of a large and diverse placement student network which will allow you to foster friendships and to build lifelong connections with like-minded students. We are passionate about your personal development and to help you get the most out of your Placement Year, there will be a number of Training Modules and a range of Learning & Development programs available to help you learn, grow and lay the building blockers for your career.
   
   We are positive a community who dream big together, respect each other, and enjoy a collaborative culture across Europe in all our modern and inspiring workspaces. We believe in a sustainable and engaged workforce and support work-life balance with 25 vacation days and working policies to encourage our students to achieve a healthy balance between success at work and personal commitments.
   
   We provide access to numerous wellbeing services and platforms to promote all aspects of health, including employee assistance programs and DE&I initiatives. We respect our people and listen to them through ongoing conversations and surveys. We value suggestions for improvements, and act to promote a better placement experience for everyone.
   
   We are Sony Europe.
   
   Our people collaborate in an environment of acceptance, integrity and open-mindedness. Diverse teams from all over Europe are the driving force for our business, and we embrace that each and every one of us is original and unique.
   
   Operating in 28 European countries, Sony Europe provides both Consumer & Professional products, as well as Semiconductor, Imaging & Sensing, Healthcare and Biotech solutions. We also have leading R&D Centers and Laboratories developing a new technologies and capabilities for Sony Group interests.
   
   Bring your passion and big ambitions to Sony Europe. Apply now, and let's move forward together.
   
   Your new office:
   
   Weybridge: Based at the Weybridge office, you will enjoy a modern working environment. We have an onsite canteen with a wide range of options available including vegan, and a barista style coffee. There is a well-provisioned onsite gym run by our own Sony Wellbeing Coordinator, with classes on set days in the mornings, times lunch and afternoons. We have a staff car park which includes electric charging points, or if you will use public transport we have a shuttle bus service that regularly between train station and the office at peak times.
   
   #LI-KZ1
   
   Bring your uniqueness to Sony
   
   We recognize that each and every one of us is original and different. Diversity and inclusion are in our DNA, they drive innovation. We empower our people to achieve one goal: to fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find student graphic designers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find student graphic designer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting student graphic designers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new student graphic designer

   Once you've selected the best student graphic designer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new student graphic designer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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