Reddit reviews How to Be a Graphic Designer, without Losing Your Soul

How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul is as close as you will get to a career manual for designers (freelance/in-house or who own their own studio)

How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul

Don't feel downhearted, a year is long enough to get together a convincing junior portfolio if you're motivated.

• Stop discarding old work and start putting it in your portfolio.
  You will always look back at previous projects and see the things you're unhappy with, this never goes away. The person viewing your portfolio is looking at things with independent, fresh eyes. Even if they do see room for improvement, hopefully they will also see potential in the work. In an entry level position you're not expected to have everything perfect.
  
  
• Do some free/cheap projects with real clients.
  You almost certainly have someone you know who would like a logo/website/leaflet made. The real client part of it is key, as when you do get a job in the industry, you'll be working with clients and this is a whole world of pain if you're not prepared for it. Keeping a client happy, figuring out their needs, not taking things personally, but still doing good work is a skill, so demonstrating some experience of it matters.
  
  
• Get feedback on your work from people who's opinion you respect.
  Get feedback on an old project and improve it, don't get too attached to your first good idea. Ask your tutors to give you a harsh critique of your portfolio, don't defend your work even if it's uncomfortable, try to take it on the chin. Improve.
  
  
• Present your work in an interesting way.
  Show employers you mean business. I read this recently, it's really inspiring: http://www.underconsideration.com/flaunt/
  
  
• Read this
  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Graphic-Designer-Without-Losing-Your/dp/1856694100
  
  
• The only thing Photoshop effect tutorials are good for is familiarising yourself with the program. They're pretty much 99% shit, don't get too caught up in what is currently trendy online.
  
  
• Read good blogs.
  Brand New and idsgn are a good start. If you find a logo, site, video, advertising campaign you like, try to find out who made it, have a look at their site. See their other work. Imitate aspects of the work you like.
  
  Hopefully something there will be useful to you