First position in design and what you were paid
By scorpiobabes
@scorpiobabes (7225)
United States
January 16, 2007 1:20pm CST
I saw an ad "Graphic Design at $10" and a link www.affordabledesigners.net. I live in NJ (near Philadelphia)and there are so few openings for anyone with 7 to 10 years experience and no degree (I'm trying to remedy that now). I started in 1997 at $32k/yr but was laid off...in 1998 I was hired at two different places for PT work, $8/hr. In 1999 I was hired FT for $10.75/hr and got a raise 5 months later to $11.70 an hour, where it remained until I was laid off Dec 2005. I worked briefly in a PT design position for $275/wkly under the table, I only worked 15 hours/wk. I am currently self-employed, not steadily:(, but I never earn less than $20/hr (not graphic design). Is the field so saturated that someone can't get a job paying a living wage anymore?
2 responses
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
2 Jul 08
I suppose it's tough all over when it comes
to finances. This discussion was posted one year
ago. Times are not any better now, money wise.
Gas is higher. Rent and food is higher.
So the living wage is not really doing the trick
anymore.
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
2 Jul 08
Same thing is true about being a paralegal.
When I was first studying to be a paralegal
in the 1990's, all one needed was a diploma
and then you could go to work as an intern
and learn on the job.
Now most big city law practices require at least
a bachelors and sometimes a law degree.
I don't have any of that.
It's the worst! How can employers
afford to be so picky!
@bluerubymoon53 (3286)
• United States
3 Jul 08
One thing that burns me up, too, is the fact that employers are looking for people who have anywhere from 2 to 5 years of experience. How in the heck are you supposed to get the experience if you can't get hired for that kind of work in the first place?
I, too, have noticed that many jobs are now requiring a minimum of bachelor's degrees.
I'm planning to go back to school this fall so that I can finish my Associate in General Studies degree and to work on a Web Design Certificate. That should take only a year.
I'm wanting to be able to do some extra work on the side while I'm working my current full time job and then continue it when I retire.
1 person likes this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
3 Jul 08
Yes, I have 8 years experience (I can't count the last two, since I've been unemployed), an associate's in photography and I'm about halfway through my bachelor's for graphic design. Sadly, I'm a dinosaur in the field, since I don't really know any web, flash or animation. What burned me up was I went back to school in July '05 and was laid off at the beginning of December that same year!
@bluerubymoon53 (3286)
• United States
3 Jul 08
I bet it can be discouraging what you have been going through in order to get to where you want to be. Just keep plugging away! You'll make it.
