Job Search in a Tough Market
There's no doubt that it's a tough job market at present. That being said, you must stand out with great leave behind materials and follow-up. Follow-up is critical to getting hired. You may be thinking that everyone is focused on your potential job, but the reality is that the interview you were just on is a very small part of an art director's day. In the current graphic design job market, you may expect to follow-up two to three times before getting a response. That does not mean making a call every other day. Be creative. Send something you hand crafted or maybe just a made-up magazine layout. Show the progression of your work. It's best to have a "just keeping in touch attitude". In the long term, you'll fair much better than if you were constantly asking for a job.
While you're considering a career in graphic design, it's best to know what you're in for and the associated rewards and burdens that go along with it. Graphic designers generate the visual presentation and marketing of goods, including websites, candy, hang tags, beer labels, and the list can go on and on. Designers must be able to work under extreme time constraints and very defined financial and design limits to produce the required result. 
A recent study came to the conclusion that in-house design departments are on the rise. There are more practicing in-house designers than agency and design firm designers, and the segment is continuing to grow. The design community is just getting around to the fact that in-house "design firms" are having more issues in gaining respect. The key issue for in-house designers is to gain the respect of peers in their organization and the business community around them. 
One of the best ways to show that you're interested in a position, is to ask questions. It not only shows you're curious to learn more, but you're also weighing your options. It doesn't make you seem as desperate and you're more in control — or at least that's what you want the employer to think. We're not saying overplay your hand here, but in the end it will come down to money and you need to be worth in. Some obvious questions might be "What are the top three skills you are looking for in a designer?" Guess what? They are going to tip you off to everything YOU need to know. Then, you can address their needs by playing up your experiences. If you don't have much experience to date, try to link specific projects you've worked on; even if it's in school. Remember, the person interviewing is most likely the owner or a partner of the design firm so this is a business to them. If it's a corporate setting, think more in terms of them needing someone that shows up on time, etc. Also see