but I’ve been passed over once again for a design position and it’s been almost a year straight trying to land full time design work.
I haven’t been picky, nor have I been lazy but I just can’t seem to find work in my field.
I’ve do/have done all of the suggestions:
-cold calls
placement agencies
contacts
monster, workopolis
offered to work for student pay (even though I have 3years experience)
-met with people for friendly ‘industry’ advice,
-kept in touch and regulary follow up,
-did mailers with ‘teaser’ pages,
-made an online portfolio
knocked on doors
individualized coverletters and portfolio samplers
tried looking everything from super clean cut to “designer-y”.
re-worked my portfolio three times (everything from helvetica straight forward to techy modern)
-kept up my skills in Pro-E/Solidworks/Illustrator/photoshop as well as learned more skills
-volunteered at design events
…
Don’t give up. You’re in that weird period where you have experience but most likely can’t show any of your pro stuff in your portfolio, so you pretty much still look like some kid outta school. Just keep doing what you’re doing, it’s a cycle. You may go through your list 2 or 3 cycles before your name sticks in people’s head enough. Just keep working on your independant portfolio projects, focus on the strength of the ideas. Don’t get too flashy with the presentation of those ideas or you may get passed over for the wrong reasons, don’t want to be judged on your graphics. Good luck, I know it’s hard, don’t give up. It’ll feel that much better when you do make it. Keep following advice / feedback you get from your interviews to help guide your efforts.
“I don’t suck. I just can’t get a break.” That made me laugh. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case with many designers lately. There is certainly talent out there, but for some reason the stars and planets don’t seem to be lining up.
Sounds like you have done all of the right things during your search. Humorous that you changed even your appearance in order to look appropriate for certain positions, which actually is a pretty good idea. I’ve gone to interviews in a custom-tailored suit and the design manager was wearing a t-shirt and backwards baseball cap! I screwed myself when I walked in. Just goes to show you can never be prepared enough.
Are you searching in the US or just Canada? I figure that would limit your options but then again it keeps some serious complications out of the picture.
The job market certainly appears to have turned around, but I’m saying that while having a current position. It’s always harder on the other side of the fence.
To elaborate on what 6ix said, if you are indeed looking in the US, that could be the problem. From my interviewing experience over the last 6 months after getting laid off, employers are very reluctant to help with relocation at this point. They want someone local for the most part.
Thank you all for your advice and input it’s appreciated.
skinny: you describe my situation exactly, in fact I still have a lot of my school stuff in my portfolio. (I’ve been tempted to market myself as a new grad, but thought better of it)
6ix / nydesignguy: So far I’ve been concentrating on Canada, since in addition to relocation issues, I’d have to get my new employer to be willing to sponsor me if I were to move to the US.
ykh: I looked at them (actually they’re in Montreal) but I have been applying at local gaming and software companies here in Toronto
(Alias, Rockstar games, IBM etc)
One of my references contacted me today saying someone was checking up on me so something might be brewing
[quote=“imrie][design”]
Getting a job is about having sincere motivation and selling yourself. If you volunteer because it will help you get a job then you should not be in the biz. And if you are willing to “appear” as “clean cut” or “designerly” then you don’t know who you are so how can you sell that to people?
Ask yourself if you want to design things or “be a designer”?
and keep it real!
[/quote]
thanks for the input, but your words are easy to say if you
A: haven’t yet entered the workplace or
B: already got a job.
or…
C: live in an area where there is an abundance of design jobs deperate to be filled.
I’ve already done 5years of the starving artist thing (for real)
recently, I just wanted to design things, but was not able to get paid for it. Who knows what employers are looking for at the time and place that you apply to them. Being sincere and motivated only keep you busy but not neccesarily employed.
When I didn’t have the “who you know” to lean on and the " what you know" wasn’t enough I had to improvise and try other options.
I don’t see that as “selling out” but testing the waters and explanding my boundaries.
BTW I got that job! (with the “what I know” and a lot of luck)
…your name sounds familiar, did you go to Carleton? (work at Nortel?)
