Should I switch jobs?

[creativegal5]

Okay,

I currently have a job as a graphic design assistant. I started this job right after I graduated, I've been there for about a year and three months. At this job I design booklets that are displayed in Dillards stores. I also create materials for our showroom in New York, design our national/regional ad and I make boring collection books. I'm only making $12.60/hr. While working here I learned a little about photography. So, I took on a side job where I photograph products for a bowling distributer.

It's dirty work but pays well. I make $700 for every 350 shots that I prepare for web. So about $700/wk. My problem is that I was offered a full time position at the warehouse (bowling ditributer) but, I don't want to loose my design skill by switching to product photography. Would this be a good move for now, just to pay off my loans. My current job does not have any advancements for me in the future and is not going to ever pay me much more.

What do you think? :(

[PrintDriver]

You are only getting $2 per photo.
I think that's a poor return not even considering how many hours you put into it.

The things you are doing as a junior GD (assuming you are doing and not just helping) is more experience than most people get in the first 5 years of their career. Put that to use and get yourself a better GD job.

[creativegal5]

Thanks for your reply

I'm spending about 15-20 hrs/wk on the photography job.

Also, my Graphic Design job allows me to have flex time. I leave early 3 times a week at 2:30 to go shoot at the other place-which is 5 minutes away. I really enjoy what I'm doing now-I'm just caught up on having my own office/studio. Which he is in the process of building-even though I haven't agreed to work full time for him. He started this a few months ago before I began shooting for him.

[Buda]

A year and 3 months isn't so long. If you don't feel like you are learning anything though, maybe it is time to move up and on.

[bejamshi]

What prompted me to start my own company and finally make some descent money was working for an idiot for 11 years making something 12hr. You get sucked into a black hole and next thing you know your life goes by and you get old. Then when your older who wants to hire a 50+ designer, nowadays companies want young junior or intermediate ones so that they can pay them 12hr. This is so true here around Toronto,Canada.

[creativegal5]

Thanks, it's nice to hear that I'm not the only one 12 something/hr. So how did you go about starting your business? Did your side work just keep growing?

[bejamshi]

well, lets say when a door closes another one opens. Our company was bought over and everyone was let go. So I decided to start my own, I would not go back to working for that kind of money while my boss made a fortune. It has been over a year but not bad, any business will startoff slow and then grow. While working for that company I did freelance work in the evenings and build my portfolio based on that. Hope this helps.

[JaCkinbOx]

I would suggest to move on to a job that offers better pay. From the sound of it, you have a pretty good platform to jump from for future graphic design jobs. Try to leave on a good note so you can get a good reference, though.

I'm frankly in envy of anyone who could get a graphic design job. It's not so much because I can't as it is that the accessible market's oversaturated right now. I've been trying for a couple of years now, and I still am working for myself. Sure, I get paid better, but I'm not managing to get work consistently enough right now. I take whatever part-time work I can get on the side, at the moment.

[jena4]

creativegal - I actually was in a similar position to this. I had a similar job with laying out retail catalogs, POP displays etc. I was not making very good money, but through promotion I ended up as an assistant photograher in the photo studio. The person who was in the photo studio position before I was, was promoted in the same fashion. When she decided that she did not want to do photography, she had several would-be employers tell her that they were not looking for a photographer. I didn't want to end up in the same position as she was so i left my job and took a large pay cut to enter back into design. If what you want to do in the end is design, I think it might be risky to take the photography position. While you don't make a lot at your current job, you are getting valuable experience that will lead you to a better-paying design job. Also, money is not always everything... if you are financially okay I'd pick the job that you enjoy more and that will get you to your end goal. Good luck!