i looked through coroflot.com for all the agencies in my area that would be possibilities for myself, then i gathered a small portfolio and sent emails to each and every firm on my list.....now...after that didnt work, i went in person to an agency in my town and showed them some samples of my work..they really liked it, had some work for me to do, and they hired me.....i am lucky though, my area has tons of design firms around (im in Los Gatos, smack dab in the middle of Silicon Valley...)