Hey everyone, well I am pretty new here to Kirupa but I must say I spend a lot more time reading here then actually posting. But I thought I’d just share my situation with you guys to see if you may have advice or sympathy…hahahha well not really. I am just bored outta my mind.
I recently graduated from Internet Graphic Design 4 months ago and since then I have had two jobs. Which is really good considering me and only one other guy are the only two in the class employed yet.
My first job (web design & CD Rom building) I love. But because since I am only a contract worker with them there are times when there will be several weeks of no work. So because of that and a enourmous $14 000 student loan I had to find full time permanent work.
I landed a full time “graphic design” position. This jobs pay sucked huge. And I really did no graphic design…go figure???
But after only 1 month of work I was laid off… this place got so slow I mean like go insane slow…
So here I am now, unemployed, my car is dead… going broke and unsure what to do. I sometimes wonder is there much work in web design? do I have to be self employed, should I have just gone to university or something like that??? etc…
Well I am not complaining afterall I do live very close to Toronto which has loads of web jobs but then it all comes down to experience… I know these things take time and patience. But what if you don’t have patience…lol
Well I guess the point to this story is “Do you feel there is work in Web Design?” And what has and hasn’t worked for you???
Maybe I am just frustrated…but oh well…
thanx for reading about some total strangers story…
Design (of all kinds, but especially web) is quite hard-going at the moment. as you say, there are lots and lots of new designers and students entering the fray and nowhere near enough jobs for them to fill. tis a hard life. tbh, Im pretty worried about the whole ‘life’ thing too… i’m hopefully going to uni next year… but I’ve got a really hard resit to pass… and I’m not sure I’ll manage it… I have somewhere else to go too… but it’s **** in comparison… god, how depressing :-\
Just… get yourself out there. Even if you aren’t doing permanent jobs yet, go and do one-offs and individual web design jobs. get as much experience as possible, and when the time comes, you’ll get noticed for your hard work. just a case of sticking with it.
Yeah I hear ya too…lol… I guess everyone starts somewhere. Maybe someday when we are all 100 years old we’ll look back and be like “that is what I was worried about??”
So what you thinking of going to university for?? Web design??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… Um ok I’m done
nah, I do web design stuff in my spare time mostly (done a couple of one-off jobs though). I’m hoping to go and do Computer Animation and Visualisation at Bournemouth (UK) - it’s one of the best courses in Europe for computer animation. Tough to get on. but I have a conditional place (based on my exam result :-).
Whatever happens, whatever course I do (bound to be computer/graphic design related), it’ll always have some relevance to whatever I choose to do after my course. If ya get what I mean
I know exactly how you feel, I’ve been through similar situations. One thing I learned is that you must maintain a constant look out for job openings and opportunites no matter if it’s big or small.
I know it’s easier said than done, but you can do 2 things, you can either sit and complain or continue looking.
You already know that there’s jobs in Toronto so there’s a start for you. Go out and physically visit these places, call them if you have to as well and just straight out ask them if they have any positions open. Carry your portfolio with you at all times when you visit these places.
I know that experience is a factor at some of these places, but if you show up with a portfolio in your hand and if its solid then your portfolio will speak for itself. Also the way you present yourself is critical as well.
Web design is very competitive, you’ll have to go through great lengths sometimes to land a client, but that’s how it is.
There was a period when I didn’t have any work at all and what I did was go around small businesses around my area and actually solicit my services. I probably spent about 20 hours per week doing that and it landed me a few jobs. At first they’re just small jobs like designing flyers and setting up small sites, but from word of mouth, I gained more clients.
Networking is very important and when I say networking, I don’t mean like cables and wires of that sort. What I mean is communicating with people, maintaining constant contact with people because it will get you connected to other potential clients as well.
All that jibberish is from personal experience and I hope it helps, good luck. =)
It seems like I keep getting the same advice outside of here to. I guess it really comes down to how motivated you are. I do believe people can get whatever they want in life, but it isn’t easy. I guess it all takes work… OK I am keeping this short before I sound corney…
I sort of missed the boat on this thread but what electron said is very true. I was seriously depressed when I first tried to go out and tackle huge projects with not many completed ones under my belt. I actually did a a personal site for a local non-profit just to get another URL.
Word or mouth is your greatest asset when starting out. do a good job and complete it quickly. Even take a hit on your pricetage to land the job.
Make a list of what you want , where you want to be in say a few years etc… (you dont have to make a physicall list)… if you dont know what you want, try things, and see what you like…
Be presistant and Determined. Always go for what you want, even if you dont think you can get it, maybe you can and just dont know it.
apply for every job you want etc, even the higher stuff. SOmetimes if you dont have expierence but you have the want-to and the determination, they’ll hire you and invest time in you to make you a valualble employee. Rememer too if you dont apply, you have 0% chance =)
Never let anyone tell you you cant get something you want. That should serve as a motivation to get “your way”.
Thats enough of my lecturing, hehe but seriously it works. =)
thanx for reading about some total strangers story…
