The Career Search

[Kiroshimatsu]

Who else is having a really hard time during this Economic Crisis?

I graduated with a B.A. in Graphic Design back in June 08 and have not even been able to get a real career related interview with anyone! The only one I've gotten was for a "parking services representative" which basically means a parking attendant.

I suppose I can't complain too much, seeing as I DO have a part time job... The whole thing makes me a little emo.

 

[rossatdi]

Sneaked into my job about 10 months ago before things got grim. I'm not particularly well paid but I think that goes up at the 12 month line.

Currently working in political lobbying after getting a MA in Politics and Social and Economic History. Earning £24,000 a year.

 

[scarbunny]

Sneaked into my job about 10 months ago before things got grim. I'm not particularly well paid but I think that goes up at the 12 month line.

Currently working in political lobbying after getting a MA in Politics and Social and Economic History. Earning £24,000 a year.

Personaly I would say £24k is a good salary, but then again I'm only on £16K, and only get around £100 to my self a month after bills and rent. Thats taking in to account of the 10% tax rate, if it was higher I wouldn't be able to live.

I was lucky to get a trainee position in the industry I want to work in, Architecture, I did however turn down a £28k job working as a purchasing assitant but that would have driven me crazy and in the long term I'll be better off.

I'm currently very lucky to live in a job market with twice as many jobs as unemployed to fill them, and most of the unemployed as either dont want to work or cant work.

 

[JayCro]

So, probably a bad time to quit my job ey.

 

[Graustein]

I'm having a horrendous time getting a job.
I have applied at various places, using sites like Seek.com to check daily for job offers.
I started late last November, in that time I have had two interviews, neither of which led to anything.

 

[Gitsnik]

Personaly I would say £24k is a good salary, but then again I'm only on £16K, and only get around £100 to my self a month after bills and rent. Thats taking in to account of the 10% tax rate, if it was higher I wouldn't be able to live.

That's a decent salary, a small business Australian IT Administrator should make about that.

I figured something out about my job a long time ago. No matter what I'm doing, I'm getting paid for it when ~3% of the population aren't able to work properly/at all.

Graphic designers are the new "IT guys" at least out here, you get them a dime a dozen. You need to get some broader skills - offer yourself as a freebie on weekends or maybe once a week, you might not be getting paid for it but experience is just as important when you go looking for a bigger job. Not only that, but you start to get a good feel for the right companies. About 4 months ago now I quit my previous job and started working contract for another company (www.leetgeek.com.au for a shameless plug) - I picked a specialised company who was, incidentally, in the same area as the job I previously held - indeed we contract to companies that were previously rivals. The point is that I took a significant pay cut to get the job with the previous company, but I got experience in this state (which is important if you've just moved), and I got a good set of contacts to work with within the field of my choice.

I can't really offer advice, just point out what I've done and the conclusions I've drawn from that, YMMV.

Edit:

I'm having a horrendous time getting a job.
I have applied at various places, using sites like Seek.com to check daily for job offers.
I started late last November, in that time I have had two interviews, neither of which led to anything.

Whatever you do don't apply for a job within the first 6 hours of it being on seek - it just looks like you're desperate and (at least in the number of places I've worked) it doesn't sit well with the recruitment people.

 

[WeedWorm]

All I know is my future is down the shitter. The only compnay in Ireland I wanted to apply to (Dell, dont judge me, its the only choice I had) is leaving the country for Poland. Ohh, theyre also leaving 1900 of 4300 people unemployed between April of this year and January 2010. After that, the rest of the company will follow suit. While this might not seem like a big problem to some people, Dell is Ireland's second-largest employer and its biggest exporter. Not to mention the fact that some people predict that for each job lost at Dell, another 3 - 5 will also be lost. So basicly, my entire country is getting fucked over by this one company who are leaving to decrease production costs. Bastards.

 

[Gitsnik]

All I know is my future is down the shitter. The only compnay in Ireland I wanted to apply to (Dell, dont judge me, its the only choice I had) is leaving the country for Poland. Ohh, theyre also leaving 1900 of 4300 people unemployed between April of this year and January 2010. After that, the rest of the company will follow suit. While this might not seem like a big problem to some people, Dell is Ireland's second-largest employer and its biggest exporter. Not to mention the fact that some people predict that for each job lost at Dell, another 3 - 5 will also be lost. So basicly, my entire country is getting fucked over by this one company who are leaving to decrease production costs. Bastards.

Fill the gap? Do Dell only do hardware production in Ireland? Could you do some online courss or get a personal loan to do some personal development? I only got my second qualification (Apple Certified Support Professional) two days ago - so I've spent the last 3 years as an admin on a single one-year qualification in networking (which cost me $1,500 AU to get + text books which I could have just torrented) and a whole bunch of self development. Not to poke at your lifestyle but if you're on a gaming forum you probably game - is the money you're sinking into gaming able to be put into personal training?

Some of my friends are "suffering" under this economic crisis but smoke 2 or 3 packs a day, drive supremely hotted up cars and have huge TV's and stuff like that (one friend just bought a high end sedan because it looked better than his perfectly serviceable car).

And just for the record - Dell is probably letting that number of people go so that the majority can maintain their job. Yes outsourcing is a big problem, but there are larger ramifications to consider quite often (this might not be the case here, I'm just speculating).

 

[Valandar]

I'm a freelancer... and funny enough, my job is booming.

I make content for the 3D programs Poser and DAZ Studio, meaning that I model, map, and rig 3D figures (usually clothing items or critters, sometimes other things) that hobbyists use to make pictures, webcomics, or whatever they want to do with it. I broker these at a website, and get roughly half the money from every sale.

As the economy drops, more people seem to prefer to spend on this content, perhaps as opposed to a night on the town or the latest and greatest game or something. Maybe I'm just getting better at the craft, and more people are interested.

However... I doubt it will last forever. The best thing I can get from this is a nice portfolio for when it's time to try and get a "REAL" job. Eventually Poser or DAZ Studio will simply not be popular (relatively speaking) anymore, and there won't be enough of a user base to support third-party content creation. When that day comes, I'll be somewhere in my forties (I'm 39), possibly even my 50's, trying to start a 'new career'.

I can honestly say I am NOT looking forward to that day.

 

[WeedWorm]

All I know is my future is down the shitter. The only compnay in Ireland I wanted to apply to (Dell, dont judge me, its the only choice I had) is leaving the country for Poland. Ohh, theyre also leaving 1900 of 4300 people unemployed between April of this year and January 2010. After that, the rest of the company will follow suit. While this might not seem like a big problem to some people, Dell is Ireland's second-largest employer and its biggest exporter. Not to mention the fact that some people predict that for each job lost at Dell, another 3 - 5 will also be lost. So basicly, my entire country is getting fucked over by this one company who are leaving to decrease production costs. Bastards.

Fill the gap? Do Dell only do hardware production in Ireland? Could you do some online courss or get a personal loan to do some personal development? I only got my second qualification (Apple Certified Support Professional) two days ago - so I've spent the last 3 years as an admin on a single one-year qualification in networking (which cost me $1,500 AU to get + text books which I could have just torrented) and a whole bunch of self development. Not to poke at your lifestyle but if you're on a gaming forum you probably game - is the money you're sinking into gaming able to be put into personal training?

Some of my friends are "suffering" under this economic crisis but smoke 2 or 3 packs a day, drive supremely hotted up cars and have huge TV's and stuff like that (one friend just bought a high end sedan because it looked better than his perfectly serviceable car).

And just for the record - Dell is probably letting that number of people go so that the majority can maintain their job. Yes outsourcing is a big problem, but there are larger ramifications to consider quite often (this might not be the case here, I'm just speculating).

I actually spend very little money/nothing on gaming. Most of my games are torrented or I got as presents. The last games I bought were AoE 1 & 2 for ?12 and Assassin's Creed, which I bought with a gift voucher. As for the rest of my lifestyle, I spend ?10 a week, at most, on tobacco and skins and I live at home. Almost everything I spend is on food. Fuck, I havent even gotten drunk since New Years. Doesnt sound like much, but I'm Irish, so thats a long time.
As for Dell, they have the European production center and a sales and support center. The production is leaving by 2010 but I'm not sure when theyre planning to move the rest of it so I could be ok for a while. Hell, they might decide to not move.

 

[Gitsnik]

I actually spend very little money/nothing on gaming. Most of my games are torrented or I got as presents. The last games I bought were AoE 1 & 2 for ?12 and Assassin's Creed, which I bought with a gift voucher. As for the rest of my lifestyle, I spend ?10 a week, at most, on tobacco and skins and I live at home. Almost everything I spend is on food. Fuck, I havent even gotten drunk since New Years. Doesnt sound like much, but I'm Irish, so thats a long time.

Ok so that doesn't cover you, I wasn't sure of your situation so I had to work with what I had. And fuck mate that's a long time without a drink for anyone!

As for Dell, they have the European production center and a sales and support center. The production is leaving by 2010 but I'm not sure when theyre planning to move the rest of it so I could be ok for a while. Hell, they might decide to not move.

The support centre, I would imagine, is a tech support centre. Helldesking isn't the best job in the world, but you can really improve it if you have the right tools (for example I always have a copy of Ghost, a sysprep'd image and a base OS X install ready on netboot - these are things I've learnt that I need). What I'm getting at is something that seems to be a big problem with my generation (I'm turn 22 in April) in that most of us expect to be managing with 10gazillion dollar salaries by the time we turn 10 - and a lot of people (again not saying this includes yourself) refuse to work the shit kicker jobs.

I'd rather be shovelling shit or stacking shelves than jobless - and screw anybody who mocks you for living at home, because I'm doing the out of home thing and I tell you that on your own it can be difficult as hell.

Anyway, that's just my $0.02 AU, I'm good at my work so finding more jobs isn't that difficult for me. See what everyone else has to say.

 

[smallharmlesskitten]

1 more year of school for me. And then jumping headfirst into the sea of hell that is the job market.

 

[WeedWorm]

I actually spend very little money/nothing on gaming. Most of my games are torrented or I got as presents. The last games I bought were AoE 1 & 2 for ?12 and Assassin's Creed, which I bought with a gift voucher. As for the rest of my lifestyle, I spend ?10 a week, at most, on tobacco and skins and I live at home. Almost everything I spend is on food. Fuck, I havent even gotten drunk since New Years. Doesnt sound like much, but I'm Irish, so thats a long time.

Ok so that doesn't cover you, I wasn't sure of your situation so I had to work with what I had. And fuck mate that's a long time without a drink for anyone!

As for Dell, they have the European production center and a sales and support center. The production is leaving by 2010 but I'm not sure when theyre planning to move the rest of it so I could be ok for a while. Hell, they might decide to not move.

The support centre, I would imagine, is a tech support centre. Helldesking isn't the best job in the world, but you can really improve it if you have the right tools (for example I always have a copy of Ghost, a sysprep'd image and a base OS X install ready on netboot - these are things I've learnt that I need). What I'm getting at is something that seems to be a big problem with my generation (I'm turn 22 in April) in that most of us expect to be managing with 10gazillion dollar salaries by the time we turn 10 - and a lot of people (again not saying this includes yourself) refuse to work the shit kicker jobs.

I'd rather be shovelling shit or stacking shelves than jobless - and screw anybody who mocks you for living at home, because I'm doing the out of home thing and I tell you that on your own it can be difficult as hell.

Anyway, that's just my $0.02 AU, I'm good at my work so finding more jobs isn't that difficult for me. See what everyone else has to say.

Id like to get a job myself but I have 0 free time for myself. I have to get up early every morning to get the bus to college then from 9 to 5 I'm actually in college and I dont get home 'til 6. Then I have stuff to do (projects, homework and study) so even if I do get one, I wouldn't get many hours. Plus the fact that its almost impossible to get a job 'cause there are none.

On another note, its also my birthday in April. =D

 

[rossatdi]

Sneaked into my job about 10 months ago before things got grim. I'm not particularly well paid but I think that goes up at the 12 month line.

Currently working in political lobbying after getting a MA in Politics and Social and Economic History. Earning £24,000 a year.

Personaly I would say £24k is a good salary, but then again I'm only on £16K, and only get around £100 to my self a month after bills and rent. Thats taking in to account of the 10% tax rate, if it was higher I wouldn't be able to live.

I was lucky to get a trainee position in the industry I want to work in, Architecture, I did however turn down a £28k job working as a purchasing assitant but that would have driven me crazy and in the long term I'll be better off.

I'm currently very lucky to live in a job market with twice as many jobs as unemployed to fill them, and most of the unemployed as either dont want to work or cant work.

I'm not overly upset with it, it's just less than I'm worth. We generate cash by working for clients at a fixed rate. Typically your salary is supposed to be a third of what you earn (at least at a low level). I bring in about 4 x my salary for my team so I should be getting more! Salaries get reviewed every 12 months so I'm hoping for a half decent jump but I do understand the limits of our time. Fortunately my team is doing okay.

On a Monday each week I earn 6 hours x £115 = £690. This is for a tailored media research brief for one of the UK's largest supermarkets. 4.2 weeks in a month = £2898 from the first day of the week! Admittedly my week is top heavy so it's roughly £5000 from the rest of the weekdays over the month, so we'll estimate £8,000 per month that I earn for my team.

My pre-tax monthly salary is £2,000
Should be nearer £2,650

Which would put me on £32,000 a year. But I'm aiming for a bump to £26,000. I am after all, only newish here.

 

[TwistedEllipses]

Who else is having a really hard time during this Economic Crisis?

I graduated with a B.A. in Graphic Design back in June 08 and have not even been able to get a real career related interview with anyone! The only one I've gotten was for a "parking services representative" which basically means a parking attendant.

I suppose I can't complain too much, seeing as I DO have a part time job... The whole thing makes me a little emo.

My sister got the same qualification at the same time and is in the exactly same position. She's currently working part time at Tesco and is just blitzing every design place out there and doing small commissions. I think that's all you can do in this economic climate...

 

[Kiroshimatsu]

Ah! So many different things are going on in so many different peoples lives!

Join the club Kiroshimatsu. I got my History B.A. back in summer 07 and the only job I have been able to get is working back in retail...

Same here, I've been in retail for about 5 years now and I'm really tired of getting yelled at for no reason by customers and occasionally my boss... and I KNOW the places I work at are in dire need of people who'll do their dirty work. Thanks for the tips also!

I'm a freelancer... and funny enough, my job is booming...

You're very lucky... I've considered doing freelance for quite awhile, but I don't feel quite comfortable with how unstable that can be. And seeing as my skills/portfolio is still that of a graduated n00b... yeah... I'm hoping to got freelance once I've worked in a real business someplace for awhile.

1 more year of school for me. And then jumping headfirst into the sea of hell that is the job market.

As the great commander of all the battlecruisers in Starcraft say, "Take is sloooow,"

My sister got the same qualification at the same time and is in the exactly same position. She's currently working part time at Tesco and is just blitzing every design place out there and doing small commissions. I think that's all you can do in this economic climate...

I'M DOING COMMISSIONS ALSO! (shameful commission availability post... if you'd like to see my work check me out at DeviantArt under Tatsuroshi-san) But only two people has every hired me for something *sad face*