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Becoming a wage slave.. 1515 Responses
Last post: 2 months, 3 weeks ago | Thread started: Aug 8, 08, 4:35 a.m.
- Mojo
..yes, it's another post regarding my move from Freelancing to employment in the Birmingham (UK) area.
It seems there are lots of places around, but I'm finding it hard to know exactly what I'll be bored doing.
I'm pretty well-rounded, print, identity, web, xhtml, css, w3c, flash etc .. but don't want to be stuck doing one thing.
I want to be part of team, but want to be part of a creative studio. I'll take less pay for the right job, even though there are some good ones going that I'll probably be bored.
Also, how does it work when you have an offer, but want to wait for other potential employers interviews and to hear back from them? If a company gave me an offer, how would I negotiate that I need some time to consider and wait for others? Thoughts?
- Aug 8, 08, 4:35 a.m. – Permalink
- Mojo
I mean, I do want to specialise in the web area, but don't wanna be stuck in dead-end company. I've seen a lot of companies, with nice pay - but amateurish looking design. I just wonder it'd be hard to change their style, and may get stuck there, unable to move onto the job I want..
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 4:36 a.m. – Permalink
- weave
Hmmm interesting site they have there, lovely gradient.
You never know if their design is crap they may be looking for someone to push it forward for them. If you don't get good feelings at the interview you don't have to take the job and it good practice for the job you do want.
You can normally tell a good creative agency right away though and I don't think they are it.
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 6 a.m. – Permalink
- PSYKHO
I did freelancing for a bit and hated it so much, mostly because people did not pay on time ect. So I moved from freelance to a company and I prefer that much more.
Working in a team is good, if the people you work with a good and creative. I have worked with some right dicks in the past and always had a problem working with a certain type of people and that is a down side to working in a team.
When freelancing you are your own boss and when you work under someone and they tell you want to do and sometimes if you have freelanced for a long time it could take a long time before you are used to that.
Also when you are freelancing and when you meet clients you can always try and get your input in a tell them what a site or a brochure should look like but when you have an art director that tells you what to do and if its not what they want they will show you and sometimes that too can be hard.
So good luck with your new job and remember if it does not work out you can always return to freelancing.
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 6:11 a.m. – Permalink
- designbot
I think you are right about "taking less pay for the right job" hopefully you don't have too, and of course never let them lowball you, but there is certainly more than just making money. If making alot of money is your only goal, you'll probably end up with a shit job you hate. Being happy in your job effects your whole life. I feel I kind of had to make this move about 6 mo's ago and I don't regret it at all. Took less pay but I like my job so much more, and I am much happier and less stressed out. Once you have decided you know you want to work somewhere because it's a good fit for you, set a salary that you would like to make and stick to it no matter what. You might say I want to work at place XYZ but I wouldn't do it for anything under ammount "X". Also you should set a higher salary figure for your "goal" and try to get in at that ammount. Then if you get an offer you can negoitiate salary on the spot, as you already know what yout want to make and know what you wouldn't.
Just my thoughts on this....
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 6:13 a.m. – Permalink
- Anees
I was in discussion for a UI role in Brum, this company had a client list as long as my arm, income from government projects worth many millions and 150 staff.
The problem was I could only see testimonials and no evidence of work, an office that didn't reflect their revenue and hardly any staff. On top of all that they talked to me twice and didn't ask me many questions on either occasion, and they were offering a lot of money.
My conclusion was that the owner was well-connected in government and basically sucked tax payers money with over-blown projects and delivered very little in reality.
I am so glad I didn't sell me soul to them.
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 6:16 a.m. – Permalink
- GiZounds
I have also recently become a wage slave and it has definite advantages.
- 1stly: I HATE anything to do with tax or numbers and having to organize a lot of that sucked.
- 2ndly: I don't have to go out looking for my next project or worry that I might not get one.
- 3rdly: I get money every month at the same time.
- 4thly: I don't spend whole weeks not talking to a single person. (My girlfriend would come home and I would find myself following her around the house just to be with another person.)
- 5thly: I spend less time lookin at porn.
- 6thly: If a project goes wrong somehow it's not all entirely on your head. One traumatic project comes to mind.
- 7thly: When I'm home, I'm home and can forget about my work. When I was freelance I ALWAYS felt like I should be working.There are also disadvantages of course like not being able to go outside on a sunny day. And working set hours and I'm sure people can think of others but I'm trying not to.
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 6:22 a.m. – Permalink
- GiZounds
Just be honest and tell them you're waiting to hear back from another company before you can give them your answer.
I remember telling a company "I'd definitely like to work for you but I've promised another company that I would wait for their offer before saying yes to another job." If they really want you they won't mind. Also it's good that they know you're a wanted person.
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 6:34 a.m. – Permalink
- chossy
ask them when they would like a resonse, I am considering going freelance at the moment, simply because every fucking company I have worked for is riddled with errors and I find I am constantly striving to fix problems which shouldn't have happened in the first place, one classic, they went and shot some nice images around a hospital but they shot them all purposefully out of focus!!!!, Therefore I cannot do anything with the shot but use it out of focus I cannot animate a blur on it and any grade will look strange. I CAN BLUR THE SHOT IN THE EDIT SUITE YOU FUCKING MORON!!!!
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 6:39 a.m. – Permalink
- 1pxsolid
HA!!! http://websynergidesign.co.uk/
That made me kak. The guy talking! haha
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 6:54 a.m. – Permalink
- Mojo
I've got a date with a company I'd really like to work for. Unfortunately it's at the end of the month, and I'm taking interviews starting next week.
So now, I'm in a position where I might be getting offers soon, but an interview for the real job I want a few weeks after.
Hmm.
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 7:18 a.m. – Permalink
- Mojo
One of the studios I do want to work at replied to one of my emails with:
"With regard to holding out/delaying other offers - I wouldn't if I were you. If you get an offer from someone else you should probably take it. I only say this because you're up against some tough competition and while you are a contender I wouldn't want you to jeopardise any offers you get."
He still wants a meeting with me, but how does that sound to you?
To me I think 'you're not good enough, but because of equal opps etc, I am saying you are a contender'
Not sure. Small studios do tend to be more 'real' but ... hmm, thoughts?
- Dog-earAug 8, 08, 8:59 a.m. – Permalink
