Taking a Little Time to Smell the Roses (job related)

[Drorain]

Hey Guys, I've been a little distant lately for many particular reasons, I've been in touch with a couple people offline, but some of you know I was still interviewing for some jobs. In particular a magazine job, a small ad agency job, and some other print jobs. In these interviews I've found some interesting things to make note of, and I aim to now sit back, bide my time and learn a little more. In particular I think I'm just missing some things, I landed the second interviews several times, and at that point they go for someone with either more experience or something.

I got the call from one place close to home yesterday, fine small publishing company, with really 2 main clients, and a variety of small ones. They told me they were going to go with another canidate, but said I could freelance with them. I talked to him a little longer to solidify this hope, with a promise to talk in the future.

So I am now finding myself back to square one. I work for one of the largest online print company. I do mostly design, but have half hopped to sales in order to make some more money. I have left my retail job, I have 500 postcards to use, and a few books to read. I want to freelance...more than that... I want to work for myself, ala Jeff Fisher, 3Howards, EC, I want to be able to do this on my own. . .why am I having so much trouble. So many people say they love my work, I have a great book, blah blah blah. I question their judgement and my design skill. I know, love, and understand the industry. I need to learn from some heavy-weights, people that grew up on paste-up.

I have a vacation coming up. . .second week of July. I need to look over some work then, and bring out the jumper cables to my portfolio, because I am landing the second interviews, but something is not making these people WOWWED!

I dont know, maybe I need just another year under my belt, maybe I need to stay with this place a little more.

Well who knows why i posted this, i just wanted to give an update on where i am, and what i'm doing, hope your not all bored. This isnt a rant, I'm not even writing this angry, I just am trying to do some analysis on my place in the industry..

[Vikia]

I can totally relate. I enjoy working for myself and it is working out fine. But every now and again I see a position with a company I would like to try for and I always make it to the 2nd and sometimes 3rd interviews. Even with 25 years experience, I can't tell you how many times I come in 2nd.

I have identified the culprit though. It starts when they ask for my salary history. If I don't give them one, they aren't happy. But if I do, they make assumptions that cause them to not select me. Unfortunately in my past employment for corporations, I was very well compensated. They do not believe that I will accept an offer from them or that I will not stay if another higher position comes along.

The last position I tried for, I was very clear that I did not want to give them a salary history and why. But in the end...it still was a problem.

I don't know how to get past this - I know that not all companies are going to have Fortune 500 payscales. But for some reason, they do not believe I will come down.

So I continue to work for myself. I am lucky that my husband's job allows me the flexibility to do this as our benefits etc. are with his company.

[EC]

Maybe this will make you feel better, worth a shot. You know, I've conducted dozens of interviews in my day, and I can't tell you how many times I hired the wrong person and regretted not choosing "#2" ... you can't really really know if that person is the right fit for the company until you've hired them and see them in action. Thus the reason for the "probationary period" I suppose. I have good instincts about people, but then again -- there are some exceptionally talented interviewers out there. Make sure you're confident going in, don't let these discouragements effect the way you carry yourself. My motto used to be, "I can train them to do the work, but I can't train them to have the right attitude." So chin up!! :)

I am sure you are doing a lot right to make it to that second interview, so don't get too discouraged just yet. Remember that the interviewing process is a game of numbers too. I too have gone on many second and even third interviews and come in at #2. There can be 50 "nos" but it only takes ONE "yes"!!

[Patrick Shannon]

Sounds like the "Middle Child" syndrome I wrote about a few months ago. Either the employers want to hire someone uber-cheap and/or inexperienced (so they'll work uber-cheap), or someone who has fifty years of experience (and once you get fifty years and come back, they'll be wanting seventy years). Middle child is just as capable/experienced as the older brother, but always gets looked over.

It's really hard to pinpoint exactly what an employer is looking for. Yes, the portfolio is absolutely everything and you need to show them something they haven't seen before. On the other hand, other employers couldn't care less about how unique the portfolio is (usually these would be employers either looking strictly for prepress or uber-cheap help).

I think most of all (other than an impressive portfolio), attitude plays a great part of it. Talk about what you can do for them, not what you have done for themselves, and show them something they haven't seen before (hence, your desire for WOW!). But ultimately, a little luck comes into play too.