Graphic designers come equipped with various essential skills that startups need to stand out. Good products and services are fantastic, but if you don’t have a distinct brand identity or if your user experience is lacking, your target audience might seek other options.

However, graphic designers can be hard roles to hire if you don’t have insight into what makes a great graphic designer. It can also be time-consuming to find designers, even if you have the know-how since you have to dive into their portfolios to find the best of the best. That’s where a contract design recruiter can help.

Here are essential tips for selecting the right graphic design recruiter:

• Experience with Current Graphic Design Tools and Techniques - Graphic design recruiters should have a solid understanding of design software, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma and Sketch. Look for a recruiter who is familiar with these tools and can assess candidates’ proficiency in each, ensuring they meet the technical requirements of your roles.

• Understanding of Branding and Visual Aesthetics - Since graphic design heavily influences brand perception, choose a recruiter who understands branding principles and visual aesthetics. They should be capable of identifying designers with an eye for detail and an understanding of your brand’s unique style, whether it’s modern, minimalist, bold, zany or anything in between.

• Ability to Assess Portfolios - Since graphic design is a creative field, resumes don’t always show the scope of someone’s ability. Graphic designers typically submit portfolios of their work to show their creativity and skills. A graphic design recruiter should know how to assess these portfolios and find the best candidates to fit your needs based on what they see. 

• Ability to Assess Creativity and Creative Thought Processes - Graphic design recruiters should also be able to speak about the creative process and ask questions to determine if a candidate’s processes would work for your business.

How to write an effective job post

A well-crafted job post will attract experienced graphic design recruiters who understand your creative needs. Here’s how to create a post that brings in the right candidates.

• Mention Skills and Design Tool Proficiency Requirements - Outline any specific software or design tools you need your graphic designers to use, such as Adobe Photoshop, Figma or Illustrator. You should also specify the skills you need for your team, like branding, digital design or UX/UI.

• Defined Project Needs and Style Preferences - List the types of design roles you need to fill, such as “Brand Designer” or “UI Designer,” and mention any style preferences, such as minimalism or brand-centric design. This can help the recruiter align with your brand identity.

• Project Scope and Duration - Indicate whether this is a short-term hiring project or an ongoing role for a growing team. This helps recruiters assess whether they have the bandwidth to join.

• Insights into Company Brand and Visual Aesthetic - Graphic design roles require alignment with your company’s brand style and aesthetic. Share insights into your brand’s identity and creative philosophy to attract recruiters who can accurately represent your brand vision when speaking to potential candidates.

With these tips in mind, your job listing for a graphic design recruiter might look like this:

Example Job Post

• We are seeking a contract recruiter experienced in sourcing graphic design talent, specifically Brand Designers, UX/UI Designers and Digital Illustrators.

• Preference will be given to recruiters familiar with tools like Figma, Photoshop and Illustrator.

• Our company is a subscription-based fitness app, and we need to create a minimalist yet inviting brand identity. Our app also needs a user-friendly design that makes users want to make the app part of their normal workout routine. We’re seeking a recruiter who can find creative talent aligned with our aesthetic and design philosophy.

• The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successful placements in design-focused roles. We offer a competitive commission structure and the flexibility to work remotely.