10 Things to Know When Hiring a Graphic Designer Online
Your company needs a graphic designer.
You have been tasked with hiring one.
If you are not familiar with graphic designers or the process itself, these ten tips will help you understand what you need to know when hiring a graphic designer online.
Table of Contents
Knowledge
Be sure you know exactly what a graphic designer is supposed to do.
There are many different kinds of designers out there, and the job titles and responsibilities can be confusing if you are not aware of exactly what a graphic designer does.
A graphic designer creates visuals.
These images can be used for websites, ads, logos, press kits, etc.
A graphic designer does not necessarily build or code web pages.
That falls under another job category.
You want someone that will be willing to work for you and your company and will be open to new ideas.
A graphic designer that is not willing to adapt to changes will not be useful to you or your company.
Make sure you know what you want before you start the hiring process.
If you want a graphic designer that will just design one image for you that will be different than hiring someone to work for your company for a year or longer.
Be aware of the different online sites you can use to hire a graphic designer and what their requirements and fees are.
Make sure the site you are looking at is serving the demographic you are looking for.
Trust
There is a level of trust that you must become comfortable with when hiring online.
You need to understand that you will probably never meet this person in real life, and you have to be comfortable with that.
Most online hires will agree to skyping and other ways you can see them and talk with them.
You want to be able to trust the person you are hiring.
While their credentials will help you may also just have to take a leap of faith if you find someone you think will work well with your company.
Educate yourself on what a graphic designer does and what constitutes a good or excellent graphic designer.
The more you communicate with someone and the more questions you ask, the better you will get to know them and trust them.
Ask for and contact their references to make sure they are legitimate.
A good reference can put you at ease.
Job description
Be sure to be as accurate as you can when describing the job opening.
You do not want to describe one aspect of the job only and then ask them to do other elements.
That will cause friction with you and your hire, and that can lead to job loss and other potential calamities.
Tell them exactly what you want them to be in charge of and how long this project will last.
If you only need them to develop one image for you, like a company logo, be sure that is included in the description.
A graphic designer looking for a long time of work will probably not want to waste their time or yours on a logo.
However, a graphic designer that has some extra time will be interested in a one-off job.
You need to be sure your boundaries are described in the job description, so you have qualified candidates for the job you are offering.
Resumes
Ask for resumes from your potential graphic designer online.
You will be looking for someone who will fit into your company and work well with others.
If you are not sure what a graphic designer does or what education or other work would be appropriate for the job you are advertising you can check out some online resume samples.
These samples can show you what you are looking for in a graphic designer resume and help establish the best candidate for the position you are offering.
Flexibility
You want a graphic designer who is flexible in their schedule, time, and work.
You want them to fit into your company, not the other way around.
A good graphic designer will be able to meet your requirements on time and design what you are looking for.
Someone with excellent communication skills and time adaptability is a must for this position.
If they cannot meet deadlines, they will hold up other aspects of the project.
This will end up costing your company money and time.
Ask for samples
Getting samples from the graphic designer will give you an idea of what they have already done for other people and companies.
Their examples will help you determine if they have what it takes to get the job done for you or if they are not ready yet.
You can tell how advanced a designer is from the samples they provide.
You can also see if they are a diverse designer or if they tend to repeat a design.
You can use the examples to find a graphic designer that will suit your company's needs.
Experience
Does the graphic designer you are looking at have the experience they need to complete the job you want them to do?
You need to find a graphic designer that has experience doing what is required for your company.
If someone has only done quick one time jobs and you are looking to hire a full-time graphic designer, you may need to consider a different candidate.
Make sure their experience is suited to the task.
You do not want to hire someone with skills that will not be useful or relevant to the position.
If they can work within your parameters and have the experience to develop a design for you, then you can feel confident that they are a viable candidate for the position.
Online sites
There are many different sites where you can advertise for a graphic designer online.
Make sure the sites are appropriate for your needs.
If you are looking for someone to develop a design over time, you can try sites like Linkedin.
If you are looking for someone for a one time design or short term – such as a month or so you can check out other sites that cater to what you need.
Make sure you are aware of any fees the online site will charge.
These fees are usually nominal, but you must read the fine print to make sure you are getting your money's worth from the online site.
Negotiating
Once you have found a graphic designer online that you like you can start the payment negotiation process.
Some companies offer a flat rate fee per design while others provide an hourly wage or salary.
If you want to pay half upfront and half upon completion, you need to discuss this with the graphic designer.
Be ready to be flexible.
If the graphic designer is willing to compromise, you should be too.
With skilful negotiations, you will find common ground that you can agree upon.
Warning signs
If a graphic designer does not want to give you a resume or samples you should take that as a warning.
Most reputable graphic designers will have samples and a resume readily available and will get them to you in a timely fashion.
If they are consistently late or missing deadlines for submissions, you may want to reconsider hiring them.
If the deadline for the resume or samples does not concern them, then the period for your project will not, either.
Make sure they are timely and reliable before considering them as a viable option.
Contract
Make sure you have a valid understood contract ready for your graphic designer to agree to.
The terms and conditions of this contract will determine what you expect from your newly hired graphic designer online.
Go over the contract and make sure there are no loopholes.
You want it to be firmly binding and reasonable.
The contract will determine what you expect from the graphic designer and what you are offering them in return.
If you want rights to what they design, you must put that in the contract.
Do not assume anything.
For something to be legally binding it must be written into the contract.
Hiring a graphic designer online can be tricky.
With the right skills, tools, and education you will hire the best graphic designer online for your needs.
Make sure they are legitimate by checking out their websites and customer reviews.
Be sure they send you things on time and are original.
Set up a skype interview so you can see who you are working with.
Make sure the graphic designer you are hiring has the experience congruent with the job you are offering.
Offer them a reasonable wage and be ready to negotiate.
Finally, pull all of your resources together and hire a designer that will work well with others and deliver your products on time.
