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Hey guys.
Lately I have been keeping my feelers out, surveying the land for jobs and possible career advancements. Today I stumbled upon a vacancy at a local screenprinters for a designer. I am tempted to apply for this job because I have confidence in knowing that I'd at least get an interview for it.
However there are a few things stopping me. One of them is that I have only been in my current position since May of last year; it'd look pretty bad on my resume if I left a job only 9 months in. The reason why I am even looking at other possible career prospects is because my current workplace has become so toxic that I dread getting out of bed in the morning (for reasons that are genuine but I don't want to get all 'Bold & The Beautiful' by explaining them).
On top of that, if I did go for this job and get it, I'd only have the position for a year, max before I left town with Mrs. jld.
Am I right in thinking that I should just grin and bear it for another year with my current position for the sake of my resume?
Sorry if I sound a little bit whiny. My partner is usually the sound board for this sort of stuff but she's out of town without internet connectivity.
doctorfoz
02-08-2012, 09:33 AM
I see nothing wrong with only having done a job for 9 months - as long as it's explainable in a positive way. I have one myself on my Cv and I use 'career progression' as my excuse (and, if the interview is going well, I also tell them that the new job paid nearly 3 times the salary).
If it were me, I'd go for the new job and I'd throw in some 'padding' about my love of screen printing, avoiding any mention of how your current situation is unpleasant.
But that's just me. Good luck.
PrintDriver
02-08-2012, 11:26 AM
Quite honestly, lately all you have to do is show you've been continuously employed. That right there says something in these economic times. The more worrisome part for me is going into the interview knowing you'd be leaving in a year or less.
Toxic environments are not good though.
I'd go for the interview and see what's up. Maybe they are only looking for short term.
firebuffgal
02-08-2012, 01:53 PM
PrintDriver said something that sparked a thought: continuously employed... Be sure that any new job would allow for that. It'd be awful to leave one job, start another and then get laid off. Make sure they are in good financial position and find out what other types of jobs they are hiring (i.e. directors means they have money to spend) to show they are growing and not downsizing.
hank_scorpio
02-08-2012, 02:04 PM
If they ask why you are leaving your current position after a short time don't mention the toxic environment.
Make it about the company and the position on offer and how you wanted a position and role like that for a long time and felt it would be great match with your qualifications and the role on offer.
If a woman can create a beautiful baby in nine months, you can create a beautiful reason to move on. Especially if you're moving on from toxicity.
Think of it as a 'rebirth'.
Hey guys.
Thanks a bunch for your responses, they've allowed me to way up my options. The deadline for applying for this position closes tomorrow. I still may apply, but for now I don't think I will as I believe a solid 2 year stretch at this place will look more enticing on my CV than 2 short stints at 2 different places.
I do love screenprinting (I have a small, hand made set in my garage), and I'm always looking for ways to increase my skill-set.
Virgo Nightingale
02-08-2012, 07:49 PM
Can't hurt to try. You have nothing to lose except the opportunity for a better job.
Trouble is, if I apply, I have to be sure I'd see it through.
The place is in close ties with my current work (working relationship). And as soon as they'd see my name, they'd ring my boss and ask "WTF is going on here".
The truth is in the details. If you're sure that's going to happen, is there anyway to take a chance on going directly to the client/possible-new-employer and asking then NOT to go to your current boss? You know, professional courtesy request? Explain the awkwardness, don't badmouth the current boss, just mention you're exploring future opportunities... that sort of thing. If they can't respect that... would you really want to work there?
The truth is in the details. If you're sure that's going to happen, is there anyway to take a chance on going directly to the client/possible-new-employer and asking then NOT to go to your current boss? You know, professional courtesy request? Explain the awkwardness, don't badmouth the current boss, just mention you're exploring future opportunities... that sort of thing. If they can't respect that... would you really want to work there?
Good point. However this town is so fricken tiny, it might be hard for them to not say anything.
I know now that this town is so small, that my name has a few ticks beside it with the local Graphic Design reps. I got a phone call a couple weeks ago, offering me a job at another local agency, just out of the blue.
Audentia
02-08-2012, 08:33 PM
^ Why didn't you take the agency job?
(you'd be surprised how often companies don't call their buddies, if they think a resume/person is good then they'll be happy to 'steal' them away. I had this fear twice in applying for new jobs last year and each time they never even sniffed around at my current position)
Go for it. Life is too short to work in that toxic environment. If the other company are professional, they would not call up your boss and ask them what was going on.
In any industry, it's likely that applicants would be known to the interviewer. You just don't go around ringing up their current bosses about it. If they want you, they would interview you first before telling on you. Or give you a chance to resign.
dubaiwebdesign
02-08-2012, 08:44 PM
yes you are go for it
^ Why didn't you take the agency job?
(you'd be surprised how often companies don't call their buddies, if they think a resume/person is good then they'll be happy to 'steal' them away. I had this fear twice in applying for new jobs last year and each time they never even sniffed around at my current position)
I knew nothing about them at the time, and my want for a better work environment has come to a head in the past week.
Go for it. Life is too short to work in that toxic environment. If the other company are professional, they would not call up your boss and ask them what was going on.
In any industry, it's likely that applicants would be known to the interviewer. You just don't go around ringing up their current bosses about it. If they want you, they would interview you first before telling on you. Or give you a chance to resign.
Thanks Buda.
I may apply yet :).
Well.
I didn't end up applying because I found out the boss's son is shadowing at this place.
However, I have just finished applying for another position. Desktop Publisher/Graphic Designer at the local Health Board. I'm rather hopeful.
I can no longer work at my current place for $22K USD after tax while taking on the responsibilities of a senior and junior designer AND working in an environment where the boss and his wife argue like cat and dog.
The next few days will be spent updating my portfolio and handing that in along with my CV and cover letter that I've just sent in.
Fingers crossed!
doctorfoz
02-28-2012, 11:37 AM
Good luck, jld.
garricks
02-28-2012, 11:38 AM
What a terrible situation jld, good luck with the application.
KitchWitch
02-28-2012, 01:16 PM
Good luck. :)
Red Kittie Kat
02-28-2012, 03:22 PM
I wish you luck! Here's to bigger and better things for you :)
longboy
02-28-2012, 03:29 PM
Best of luck! I might find myself exploring my options soon enough as well. I feel I'm losing my spark here.
WARM CUDDLY FEELINGS.
Thanks for your kind words, guys!
I have a feeling I am up against some strong numbers. After only 24hrs of the ad being on a local job-site it had 250 views.
I'm confident I'll get an interview at least.
Longboy?
You're right!
(There. Somebody had to say it.)
Goodluck. Someone I know is/was looking for a designer but I don't think you want to shift to Ak? It's a cool design studio.
Goodluck. Someone I know is/was looking for a designer but I don't think you want to shift to Ak? It's a cool design studio.
If I was a bachelor I'd shift to Auckland in a heartbeat, actually, I'd probably already be there.
But alas, I am in Palmerston until I leave the country.
longboy
02-29-2012, 03:19 AM
Longboy?
Wha? :confused:
Rachel B
02-29-2012, 06:18 AM
Wha? :confused:
you're right!
Rachel B
02-29-2012, 06:20 AM
sorry JLD, the gang just didn't think you were right on that last one! Everyone said go. And glad you're moving on from that nutso toxic place
Heh, that's why I enjoy sticking around GDF! In hindsight it's worked out that I didn't apply for the previous position, I don't want to be working in a place that has a close connection to my current workplace, because it's my current workplace that I want to leave behind.
I'm hoping this job I have applied for pulls through. Not just because it will provide an escape from my current position, but because it's a position in the public sector, of which I have been in before and was treated very well.
Thanks for the support and words of wisdom :).
Update:
Unsuccessful in my application. Which without sounding like a sore loser, I find a little odd considering the description was brief and only asked for likened qualifications and experience with the Adobe Suite which I presented in spades.
I politely asked for some feedback so hopefully they can let me know why my application wasn't successful.
Damn it.
Hi
Thank you for your email.
We had 40 applicants for the position and we interviewed five.
Your portfolio and CV were excellent.
After considering the workload that the position required, we hired a more junior designer who had indesign skills in designing forms – not so much the large scale design work.
Then why advertise for an applicant who has design qualications and experience....
Sigh...
On with the hunt I suppose.
PrintDriver
03-19-2012, 10:09 PM
a more junior designer=less money.
a more junior designer=less money.
Yeah, after i've gotten over the initial sting of rejection I've realized they were wanting someone who was cheap considering it is a government funded sector.
However I'm currently being paid a juniors wage anyway... It would have been nice to be back in the public sector due to getting decent holidays, sick days and having a budget to support my position.
doctorfoz
03-19-2012, 10:30 PM
Sorry to hear you weren't successful. It's little consolation, I know, but it looks like you'd have been doing a really narrow range of work (designing forms) for junior money. Perhaps you've dodged a bullet?
Sorry to hear you weren't successful. It's little consolation, I know, but it looks like you'd have been doing a really narrow range of work (designing forms) for junior money. Perhaps you've dodged a bullet?
There is a silver lining to this, you're right.
I guess I have just gotten a little desperate to be free of my current position where I am doing the job of 2 designers and being paid a junior's wage. It's taking its toll on me. I'm a hard worker and am not afraid to do the hard yards but doing those hard yards in an environment where my every move is being watched and shortcuts are being taken on a daily basis has left me feeling incredibly....cheap...
doctorfoz
03-19-2012, 10:39 PM
Then I can completely understand the allure of a new job - especially one in the public sector. Hopefully you can take some comfort in the fact that you got about as close as you could get without issue and that, should another opportunity present itself, you'll be able to use some of that momentum in the next application.
And when you do get another interview, you could try giving it some spin and say "I interviewed for xxxxxxx but my mad skillz were too much for them" (or something like that!)
And when you do get another interview, you could try giving it some spin and say "I interviewed for xxxxxxx but my mad skillz were too much for them" (or something like that!)
Hah, cheers dude.
I usually interview pretty well. I've once interviewed for a position where I had 6 top-level execs breathing down my neck. However, back then I didn't have the experience but they still commended my performance.