Archive for March, 2010

Alright, so I’ve been doing the job search thing for a bit now….to call it frustrating is a HUGE understatement.  But I’m starting to see a pretty big issue here.  For one, there are almost no design job, secondly, the jobs that are out there want you to be able to do a dozen different things.  So instead of a well written, insightful post, today, I’m going to asking you a question.  (it’s not like any of these are well written anyway, notice my misuse of commas?)

So, the question, what do you think are acceptable skills sets for an employer to ask you for.  Assuming that this is a graphic designer job, is it ok for them to want you to be able to do the following?

Copywriting

Proof Reading

Programming

Event Planning

Marketing

Photography

Is there something I’ve left out?  Let me know.

As you may know, I’m on the job hunt.  For the past year or so, I’ve been looking for a full time gig somewhere.  Needless to say it’s a bit frustrating.  Just the other day, I found a post for a job where they wanted someone who can design, update the website, write marketing material, photograph at events, and do the social media and SEO for their website.  Oh, also, they wanted you to have a Masters….all for the low low price of $38,000 a year!  Pretty disgusting.

So I ask you a question.  What are some things you’ve done to beat this decline in our industry, and why is our industry particularly susceptible to this drought in the economy verses other industries?

Do you think that websites like 99 designs and other competition based websites are part of the reason for the constant “lowering of the bar” for our freelance industry? Are we cannibalizing ourselves by allowing sites like this to exist or is this just survival of the fittest? I want to know what you think.