- August - 2001: Office Administration Technology-Executive Secretary
- May - 2007: Computerized Graphic Design with Honors
How come, when (if you're lucky) you get called in for an interview, the interviewer does NOT know how to interview? It's like, they don't know what to ask and it's kind of uncomfortable when there's all this silence. When that happens, I try to ask as many questions as I can, but there's still that silence. Also, I've had interview's where I don't even get a chance to ask questions...LOL
Playing by the rules... Rules? What rules? From now on, I'm NOT playing by the rules! For example, you're not supposed to ask about salary. Forget that! I'm asking during the phone interview or by e-mail, "What is the salary range for this position?". That way, I won't waste their time or mine.
COLLEGE
At one point, I was looking for an office job, but no one would give me a chance because I'd never worked in an office. Before I actually went to college, while I was laid off from my seasonal job at a warehouse touching up frames, painting and drivning trucks, I started classes at the old high school that was across the street from my house. They had FREE Office Procedure classes so, I thought I would go ahead and take advantage of those classes. That's where they stated to everyone to look into getting a degree from the community college.
I started community college in 1994 while in my early/mid 30's. Right after high school, my parents could not afford to send me and my three brother's to college. Instead, I went straight to work in a factory once I turned 18 (I graduated high school at the age of 17. I didn't go to kindergarten. I went straight to first grade to a Catholic school and didn't go to public school till third grade). My parents got me the job in the factory where they worked.
The only reason I got to go to community college was that I qualified for financial aid (It pays to be poor somtimes...LOL). It took me a long time (13 years) to get my two Associate degrees because I was going part-time nights after work. And, at times, I had to re-take classes like business math (I'm not good in math. Finally passed it the third time), accounting (passed it the second time) and other classes here and there. Or, classes would get cancelled due to low enrollment. So, I would have to scramble to try and find something to fill in the blank...LOL. Otherwise, if I didn't have a certain amount of credits per semester, financial aid would not pay.
After I got my first Associates, I saw that core classes were good for 10 years. So, I decided to go for the second Associates and mainly, because the government kept giving me the money. I took advantage of it. I really busted my butt to get my degrees and where has it gotten me? UGH!! :-( There were a few time that I couldn't wait for it all to end. Now, I miss going to classes (except for the homework...LOL).
Besides working full-time (while going to school nights), there was tons of homework to get done, I was a single parent taking care of my son, there was a house to keep tidy, laundry to do, dishes to wash, sweeping, mopping, dusting, mowing the lawn, breakfast, lunch and dinner to make, errands to run, etc. To all those now in this situation, hang in there!
Hopefully, one day soon, everything will all have been worth it. It's great having a ton of education, but it sucks not having a great company where I can utilize my knowledge to the fullest! I plan to keep on learning to keep up with new stuff that comes out in my field. In today's world, you have to! They say, the more you know, the better job and salary you can get. Surrrrrrrrrrrrrrre!
INTERVIEW
For example, I had one company this year (2008) who really wanted me to work for them as a Graphic Designer/Marketing Assistant/Administrative Assistant. We (the guy and I) spoke quite a few times over the phone for a couple of months or so. He was working on getting a requisition approved (which took awhile to get approved). When the requisition was finally approved, I finally got to meet with the main boss (the guy was there too). The main boss asked me questions and near the end, the guy said the pay was $25,000. I said out loud "$25,000?", "$25,000 a year?" Thinking to myself "Do you see STUPID written on my forehead? I have four years of experience and a pretty good portfolio"...LOL I was feeling kind of angry because all this time that was the pay...LOL I said to them "No! I want to go forward, not backward". Well, maybe I was stupid for not asking up front what the pay for the position was.Seriously, what the heck is up with that? If I was a high school student who had just graduated, was still living at home and was interested in gaining experience in graphic design and marketing, I would have then said yes to $25,000 a year. I'm way past that range. And, with a mortgage to pay, after taxes and paying tolls to get to and from the job, I would hardly have anything left. I most likely would have been making some $6 or so an hour. Well, this guy (the one from the paragraph above), saw my resume and my portfolio. I'm not like the best designer out there, but I feel I do great work. Many months later, the guy saw my resume posted out there on a site and sent me an e-mail that he and his partner had moved with another company and they would still like to have me work for them. This time, the salary had gone up to $30,000. Sheesh! I wrote him back and said that each title alone (depending on experience) can earn at least a salary in the Mid 40's to Low 50's. Of course, I never heard from him again. So, that's why, from now on, as mentioned earlier, I'm asking up front "What's the pay range for this position?"...LOL
RECRUITERS
In my experience, it's really hard to find good recruiter's to work with. Many of them don't really care (in general) about you. They only care about making money for themselves. Although, I've had a recruiter or two who were great (but are no longer with the staffing firm) who really helped me out and always kept in touch with me.Even though I don't care too much for recruiter's I still apply for jobs through them. Working with recruiters is like gambling. There's a 50/50 chance that they may land you your next big, exciting position. You just don't know for sure. But, then again, I hate wasting my gas to get there and time I could be doing something else when they DON'T really do anything for you!
FINDING JOBS ON MY OWN
May of 2009, I will have five years of graphic design experience. How exciting!
I can't wait to get a job! I'm so glad when/if I'm able to find a job on my own and not through a recruiter. It seem like most design jobs are for web design. Even if they're looking for a graphic designer for print work, they want you to know some web design too. It used to be you were either a PRINT designer or a WEB designer. I guess I have to get myself on it and learn Dreamweaver and Flash.
One thing I want to do is go back to school and/or at least take a class on the basics of Dreamweaver and Flash. In the meantime, I look stuff up online and through my Dreamweaver book (I do have the Dreamweaver software). Now, I also just need to get the Flash software.
One other thing, I wish I could afford a new PC or, at least a bigger harddrive because, I can't fit anything else on my harddrive now. My PC is about some six years old now.Most company's want you to do it all for nothing! And, they boast about how much they make like, millions or billions and they don't want to pay their employee's? Yes! I know that it's always been like that, you have to wear many hats. Well, time's have changed! You want me to wear many hats? Gladly, just pay me what I'm worth!
I'm also trying to find freelance graphic design jobs to do on the side. But, when I do get someone that needs something whether a flier, ads, business cards, etc., and I give them a quote, they're like, "Oh, it's too much!"...Puleez!!
Anyways, If you're interested, you can view my online portfolio here:
