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Competition for design jobs can be fierce these days. People have been laid off in droves from companies that depend on advertising, and hiring is only slowly picking up, though not necessarily at publishing companies or agencies. That bachelor’s degree you hold along with a portfolio of your work isn’t necessarily enough anymore – after all, you’re likely one among thousands who share the same level of experience. The trick to getting hired as a graphic designer in this environment is to not necessarily be the best but rather to stand out among your peers – offer something a little different. Here are some tips.

Resume. As a graphic designer, your resume should be stunning – not necessarily flashy but it should at least have an attractive and easy-to-follow layout.

While there’s a lot to be said for a traditional order to your resume, the fact is that job seekers often have gaps in their employment history these days, owing to layoffs. A trend I’ve noticed among resumes is to list your skills above experience and flesh it out beyond a list of Adobe programs. After all, noting the last handful of publishing companies or agencies you’ve worked for in the past few years and repeating yourself doesn’t necessarily show off your strengths. And what if you’ve also freelanced during that time? Instead, after your contact information and objective, launch into your skills, mentioning how you’ve used software, not just which software, and include interesting accomplishments such as tackling a website redesign or winning a logo design contest.

Portfolio. Your resume is a summary of what you’re capable of, but your portfolio is where you can spotlight the variety of your work. Portfolios have come a long way since the days of carrying around hard copies of your work in oversize folders interview to interview. Or – shudder – snail-mailing copies to prospective employers.

Nowadays there are several options for portfolios, a main one not even involving printing. For practically everyone, at minimum you should have an online portfolio so you can send a link to a company in a jiffy. On a website you don’t have to concern yourself with printing, storage or shipping, and you can swap out work examples as your skills evolve.

In a portfolio, include a broad array of your work – everything from seemingly boring letterhead to a wildly creative logo. You want to showcase not just your technical skills but also your versatility and willingness to take on “boring” work as well as fun projects.

Network. Always carry business cards with you – I’m talking to the café, to the dog park and to business functions. You never know when you’re going to meet someone who is someone or who knows someone. Be friendly with your neighborhood establishments, because they might remember you when asked for a graphic design referral. In this competitive job environment, it pays to have people on your side.

You can also network online. Start a blog and follow other blogs, commenting where appropriate. Use Twitter and Facebook to link back to your blog. You’ll become search engine-friendly as well as create a dialogue with people you might never meet but can definitely do business with.

Interview. Prepare yourself for the interview. Research the company and make note of questions you have, if not about the job itself then at least about the business. This shows you’re interviewing for the company and what it stands for – not just for the paycheck.

Interviewing can be akin to public speaking for many people, rendering them nervous and practically mute. This is why you should practice interviewing, either before another person or in front of a video camera. Then review the tape – are you rushing through answers? Speaking in slang? Mumbling? What are your hands doing – are they giving away your nervousness? Practice slowing down and thinking before you speak.

Select a professional outfit for the in-person interview. It doesn’t matter if you’re interviewing at a dot-com or a stuffy agency – make sure your legs are covered and the appropriate buttons are buttoned. You want to be as formally dressed or more so than the interviewer. First impressions are vital.

Follow-up. Send a thank-you note to whomever you interviewed with. It’s just polite.

Jennifer Moline writes about graphic design, small business and technology, for the PsPrint Design & Printing Blog. Follow online printing company PsPrint on Twitter and Facebook.

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