Well, rack up another failed attempt by mwah

[D-Frag]

I think ive finally come to the point to where I am slowly realizing I will NEVER get a job that I deserve/want. You would think with 7 years of pro design expierence I would have very little trouble finding someone who will pay me what I deserve, and work in an environment that is friendly to designers....but no...not me.

Im on my 3rd job since closing the doors to my company, I just wanted to put a gun to my head and pull the trigger today....soooo many financial problems I just want to die so I don't have to deal with it. Oh yeah, sidenote, don't go into graphic design if you have problems with depression. Im just fed up, with people mainly. Im sick of doing worthless designs too, im soooooooooooooooooooo sick of people who have no design history telling me how to do my job (cleints...yeah, your always right...bah).

Im sick of feeling like my designs are just crap, I hate not having what I want mainly.

I visited a design firm/ad agency a couple years ago while visiting my father up in MInnesota. He set me up with an interview at this REALLY COOL trendy agency, mainly so they could critique my portfolio. This place was EXACTLY where I wanted to work, I mean to the tee. First off, when you walk in, everything is retro...from the furniture to the lighting, its very modern and laid back low-light atmosphere. Then I get a full tour of the facility, its absolutely amazing, every designer has their own 8x8 room (painted and decorated to their liking) Everyone is in laid back clothes, jeans and t-shirt, some people where jamming out pretty loudly in their rooms with music...others just enjoying the quite, oh yeah, and they each had a window....very important in my eyes.

So thats what I want, something like that, I have done some contract work for a firm in downtown PHX that was similar, but they won't hire me on full time.

Im at a loss, my buddy is a firefighter, and told me he could help me pass all the tests if I choose to try out, problem is we have 3500 people trying out for 800 positions, but its a rewarding job. Ive already started an intense workout program as I am in serious need of toning and muscle building (I used to be in good shape till i got a desk job) So im thinking I might stick with that as a back up plan and try out in December for the PFD.

Ive had it with design, if I don't land my "dream" job, which I don't think is asking for to much by December, then im done with design permantly. Ill still never leave this forum as I have friends on here that I want to stay in touch with, but I foresee my future in design as ending faster then I had originally expected. And the worse part is, I still owe over $10K in school loans...

Whoa is me, boohooo, im a whiney little bitch...time to go get foobared and forget that this day...or my so called career even existed.

[Kool]

Don't know what to say man except I hear ya. Don't blame you a bit for wanting to bag this industry. :mad:

[D-Zine]

I'm sorry that your having such a hard time D-Frag :(
I would hate to see you change careers, but at the same time I see where you are coming from too. Its rough. Finding work almost seems impossible and I completely hear you on being tired of doing crap designs. You know I know how that is - I do car ads all day practically. Most days lately I feel like if I see another one I will go postal on someone. I'm looking for "that" job too. Just today I was thinking about how you either have TOO much experience to get a job or NOT ENOUGH....pretty fkd up.

I think we should all move into one location and start a business. I mean when you have the best of the best then you're golden ;)

Anyways...I hope that things turn around for you and something outta the blue and awesome happens for you. Until then, if you need to yak - you know how to find me.

[D-Frag]

I hear ya Kool, and D, and I can't believe you put up with car industry stuff, ive seen those jobs posted and I don't even send a resume. Its just a relentless cycle of un-happiness in this industry, maybe im just dreaming big and not actually doing what I need to do to get their, I don't even know if my stuff is that good to actually land the job I want. I'm just frustrated, and financially un-stable, ive tried to find some part time jobs at nite, which I think ive gotten, but I still just crave the 9-5, benefits, and religious pay.

Anyways, hopefully things will pick up, on a good note, Phoenix is BOOMING right now, we are growing faster then the city can handle, so we have more jobs here then ever, problem is alot of them are asking the world, and paying 16,000-29,000 a year, which isn't very much here. Ill keep looking, im still thinking of ways to do a mass mailing to everyone in the industry, I just don't have the funds to afford mailing out 300 postcards right now. Thanks for the kind words

[Patrick Shannon]

I am in the exact same position as you, D-Frag. I know all about the depression part too, it's gotten to the point that I've had to down a few swigs of vodka before work just to get that "buzz" going to make me feel somewhat happier on the job. Lately I've been becoming a more dark/moodier person, and I'm not really like that. It's been on my mind so much lately that I had another dream last night that I had a new job, but this time I was a schoolteacher, heh.

I am considering leaving this career by the end of the year if I can't get some other job, but to be honest, I really don't want to because I know I belong "here". I don't think it'd be so fustrating if at least the interviews were there, because if the job goes to someone else, you know that there will be another opportunity around the corner. For me, good job interviews only come once a year.

On the other hand, have you tried to send samples and a resume to a studio that ISN'T hiring at the moment? It might seem like a waste of time, but I actually got a far more personal and enthusiastic response from them when I did so (it's easy to get noticed when there isn't a hundred other resumes). As mentioned, they weren't hiring, but they said they'd hold on to my stuff. That could be smoke up my ass, but then again, perhaps not. You'd be setting yourself up for later.

The plight of changing careers, I feel, is that you bother to go through school and then no one wants to hire you because you don't have experience, whereas one already has some sort of experience in the career you stick with. It's a big trap, though.

[morea]

don't go into graphic design if you have problems with depression.

I am the same way... I have been dealing with depression for several years, and it sure isn't easy.

I think that most "artistic" types go through these bouts, at least occasionally. Honestly, our work is such a reflection on ourselves that being overly restricted or otherwise deprived of ways to express ourselves creatively can really leave one feeling frustrated and off balance.

I am sure that there is a good job out there for you, D-Frag. You are a talented designer, and you deserve to be treated better than what you are getting. Just keep your eyes open, and maybe you will find yourself in the right place at the right time. Never underestimate the power of networking, either! ;)

I'm at a loss, my buddy is a firefighter, and told me he could help me pass all the tests if I choose to try out, problem is we have 3500 people trying out for 800 positions, but its a rewarding job.

Well, that might be something you would enjoy, and you could always freelance on the side and keep looking for a design position if you wanted to. But then, if you found that you really loved working as a firefighter, and that it was a rewarding job, it certainly is a noble career.

I feel for you, D-Frag. I am sorry you are having a hard time right now. And if you ever want to talk, you know we are here for you! {{{HUG}}}

[defjoe]

D I was in the same position you were in like 3 years ago. I was looking at alternative cause I just had it with this industry and then I got that "dream" job (well in this industry). It just came about. I deserve it and i tell everyone that comments on it. I worked hard to get where i'm at today. However I know that this is a one in a million job in or industry especially.

so I can see your point. A backup might not be a bad thing.

[Ulysses]

Hey D-Frag ... Patrick ... chin up guys. I had a project last week, and I let my attachment to it really wind me up. 2 days of thinking this is crap ... I could do better when I was 9, and all that kinda thing. When it came to the deadline, I just submitted it early knowing their lousy brief would require some alterations, and had went to sleep so as to avoid an anticipated 'what the **** have you sent us? what is this shit?" phone call.

Anyways, they loved it and I charge for all alterations, so I had got myself in a stump for 2 days for no god damn reason. Hell, taking criticism is easy ... but not from myself. I realised I'd always been doing work for the love of it, until recently, when I also had to do things 'they' wanted ... and I have only just realised that with those projects, I have got to shut off my emotion, and take it for what it is ... a god damn job. The only difference ... is that most of the time, I love it. So why the hell should the ocassional crappy project stuff my otherwise happy demenour. People working in McDonalds have it much tougher I'm sure, or those working down in the pits.

With 7 years behind you though, there is no doubt you've worked your god damn ass off, man, and proved you can do the god damn job. Rather than thinking you're in the wrong industry, why not approach it for what it really could be ... a circumstancial and/or geographical issue. Being fancy free and with no responsabilities, why the hell let geography decide your fate?

As for student loans ... damn, we all have those. Reminds me ... I gotta look at what my rates are at, at the moment.

[morea]

Also, on the subject of depression, it is certainly worth exploring different treatment options. While depression can be caused by stress and life events, we can also impose it on ourselves with our way of thinking and our outlook on life.

Two excellent books, that I think should be required reading for everyone, depressed or not:

Being Happy, by Andrew Matthews, and

The Bodacious Book of Succulence, by SARK

It really CAN get better. You may need to adjust your way of thinking about things, but you will be a lot more able to cope in the long run.

[Patrick Shannon]

Being fancy free and with no responsabilities, why the hell let geography decide your fate?

I don't know D-Frag's situation, but personally....I can't even afford my own place HERE, let alone another place elsewhere.

In order to move, I need a better paying job to afford a place of my own. In order to get a better paying job, I need someone to hire me. In order for someone to hire me, they need to take the blinders off about looking for high profile studio experience and grant me an interview. The interview itself isn't the problem, it's getting one. I'm currently reworking my resume for the umteenth time, I'm changing the name of my current work (to the parent corporation name) to avoid discrimination. I'm also starting to become convinced that the candidates getting these jobs do a little fibbing in their credentials.

The only way I'm going to be able to move away is if a place hires me (before the move) with a salary that can pay for an apartment, and in that case I could probably sleep in my car until I get that first check and then get my own place.

[morea]

Patrick, one thing I can tell you from personal experience is that potential employers can sense any bitterness you are feeling, and often presume that the problem is the person, rather than the employer.

For four years I worked for the company from hell. This is the company that told me I needed to put off surgery for possible cancer because they didn't want me out for 2 days during our busy season. I got an ulcer working there. I couldn't sleep at night. I had horrible thoughts going through my head, for example, "well, if I drive into a tree I could spend the day in the hospital rather than at work" and it really seemed like a legitimate option.

I took a job with less pay and no design work (although it was still with a print shop)just to get out of there. It's not worth sacrificing your health and your mental well being for ANY job.

I can relate... you wonder why there is no "justice"... why you kill yourself to get a halfway decent job only to have the boss's nephew with no previous experience get it instead? You have to be able to get past that. It's not easy, but it is possible.

[Patrick Shannon]

Morea:

Good point about the bitterness detection, but the only thing is this: they can't detect anything from someone they have not met.

[morea]

sometimes it can even come across in your resume... if you like, I would be happy to take another look at it. Another set of eyes can make a big difference.

My career counselor always told me:

a) if you sending out resumes but getting few interviews, chances are that your resume / cover letter are not all that they could be.

b) if you are getting interviews and not getting job offers, you probably need to brush up on your interviewing skills and/or portfolio.

[morea]

also, only expect to hear back from one out of every twelve resumes you send out.

[morea]

same deal, DFrag - I'd be happy to have a look at the old res, if you like.

[D-Frag]

thx morea, my problem isn't really in my resume, the last 5 interviews I have gone on they wanted to hire me on the spot, only problem was, it wasn't what I was looking for.

well, you can take a look actually (and anyone else who is interested) its my cover letter, resume, and samples of work, I usually send along a link to my website too. Like I said earlier, phx is booming, and we have alot of design work, but its the same old entry level stuff im trying to get away from....

anyways, here is the link to my resume.. http://www.pillargraphicdesign.com/dfrag/KJ%20Package%20email.pdf

thanks alot everyone for the support, I know we all go through waves in our career, but I really think its getting to me, plus im my own worst critic.

[chalsema]

anyways, here is the link to my resume.. http://www.pillargraphicdesign.com/dfrag/KJ%20Package%20email.pdf

I just wanted to mention one thing about your cover letter. I'm not sure if you just send the same letter to everyone or if you tweak it each time, but it looks a little generic. If you can do just a little bit of research on the company, you can mention something you found out about them in your letter. It will make them feel like you really care. Also, try to find out who is in charge of hiring and address the letter, by name, to that person. I suppose if you're sending them out in large quantities this might be harder to do...

[wienerdog]

Hey Everyone,
It seems like being a designer in your 20s these days is a test to see if you can withstand the worst situations in the industry. I've always hoped it's a trial by fire that you come out of with 7-10 years experience as a tempered designer. Unfortunately, it seems you may more likely be a depressed, disappointed, and disenchanted.

I've been laid off twice in the 3 years experience I have, once for 'downsizing' and the 2nd time because I wasn't properly trained for the pre-press production job. Thankfully, I've gotten a pretty sweet gig as a full-time freelancer through a temp agency. As much as it sucks not getting benefits, tax breaks, etc, it beats unemployment, and my wife and I can pay bills now. We've got huge amounts of debt, and a house, so I can't take a position paying the $30-$35k salary anymore.

I've decided 9-5 corporate isn't something you have to go with, or rely on. I took my wife's advice (she seems really good with it) and try to market my work locally.

I may try the postcard thing, or try local paper ads for stuff like wedding programs/save the dates/etc. It's really towny, but all the free ones I'm doing for my wife's friends get rave reviews (not that they're designers, but it's still nice). Maybe word of mouth and some cheap advertising can earn me work.

I also even thought about painting/designing, and putting them up for auction on eBay. Has anyone given that a shot? Seems like a good way to earn extra money and do something you actually LIKE doing.