Quit job or Not?
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- Copey
Well am stuck to what to do with my job as my boss is wreaking my head. He’s starting but in at the last minute when magazine/s are 98% done (i.e. at the printers or sometimes printed!) and it’s pissing my off big time. Like the magazine/s are done and he tells me to take out 16 page as it’s too big!, he want to proof it himself (takes him like 2 weeks to do it, when are proofer takes 2 days), change that page!, why is that article in there? Even though he wants nothing to do with it! And is not the editor.
I’ll give you a little background information. I’ve worked for a publishing firm for 5 years that publish fire and police related magazines since leaving college. I do all the design for 2 magazines that bi-monthly. As well as that there are about 20+ adverts from sales that I do daily too! Am the only designer there. Everyone else is admin or sales :-(.
The magazine income is solely from ad’s revenue. Recently the joint business partners (there was 2 directors that owned the company) has quit due to the other partners attitude towards staff, him and how he is a control freak. Now things are going down the pan as the other director where left with is a controlling arse, but in also control of the company finances too. So every thing has to go through him. It’s like a bad client day, every day. Trying to buy photos, printer ink, or anything related to my department to get the magazines and adverts looking good to be worth paying for or advertising in. Tried explaining that this to him that he might lose ad revenue due the cut backs and crap. But his does not listen and does not care. It is a right struggle since the other director left as he understood the design process of adverts and magazines.Am stuck to what to do as haven’t much projects or experience under my belt as I have only been under my own direction for them 5 years. The work I have done to me is not good enough that is worth showing a potential employer at interviews. So the 5 years that I have worked seem a waste and am scared that I might just be blended off totally in design type jobs.
So I want to quit but unsure whether I should due the financially mess the UK is in and the mind wreak that am not good enough. Looking for jobs is a minefield as I feel I need to take a big step back and start over again as art worker or junior designer . I live in Liverpool, UK so not many design companies as there mostly in Manchester.
Am unsure whether to send letter/cv directly to companies asking if they have any work as temp/per/freelance or try and go through recruitment agency. I think a recruitment agency might be ok, but need input on whether they are ok or no no!
Whats people views on my situation? Quit or just ride it out and see what happens? Direct contact or agencies?
Any other input would be of help too. Sorry for the long read too, just a little stuck where to head in this chapter of my life.
- MrDinky0
if you see a better opp jump but if not, just stay put. be glad that you have a job
ride it out, when the econ picks up, make the move
- CALLES0
maybe you should apply to the Cliff Notes
- kult0
So in 5 years your portfolio only consists of police/fire magazine layouts? :/ Sounds like you have some catching up to do. That said, there are a number of shops that art direct & design a large client-base of lower-end magazines. It's not exactly exciting work, but you've already been doing it for 5 years so you can slip right in.
- Copey0
MrDinky: Yes I have a job, but I may murder someone soon. :-P. Am going to stay put till there is something to move to. To keep me safe.
Calles: Cliff Notes? www.cliffsnotes.com oh no you saying am not good enough... :-P.... might do that tho like open uni or even try uni.
- mikotondria30
Sneak in your own adverts looking for a new employer...
- CALLES0
copey:nope... i was just not about to read all that! i need cliff notes on it =)
- Copey0
Kult: yes boring police.fire magazines... see my website in my profile for the work. The job was ok till it went tits up with the owners. got loads of caching up!, thats why I say about the artworker/junior designer to relearn it all again. Might have a look at small publishers too.
- Copey0
Calles: Sorry i know a long read! just move along if you wish... pretty boring anyway.. lol
- canuck0
Just start firing out resumes what do you have to lose see if you get any bites. Don't quit until you find a replacement gig. good luck.
- scarabin_net0
don't ever jump ship unless you've got something else lined up.
otherwise you're just fucking yourself.
- silentseven0
dont they have staffing in the UK, jump ship then get some little gigs thru them and look for a new joint at the same time...
- designdecay0
In the same boat but 10years and counting.
1. Stay put
2. Apply everywhere
3. Get your skills up to date (work on design concepts if you don't have clients)
- mase0
Copey! dont sell your self short! Your portfolio looks like its got some decent work in there + 5 years experience on magazines is pretty good going!
Quit!!!!!! but not until you'e got something else
- _salisae_0
to quote an edited version of myself ..
Don't care about what you do and spend every second trying to remain OK. If you don’t care about design, keep on with it. Don't find what you love. You are doing a service to the business [of design], and you’re doing a service to yourself because trying things is hard and the design business RELIES on weak spirits to meet all of the client's demands. If you do care about it slightly, forget thinking about it at all. Don't take any feedback seriously, no matter who it is from. You can discount it right away. Never seek out feedback, never share you work, never look for people to tell you what you can improve. The key is to stop thinking.
- Tark0
I would try to learn something completely different like maybe real estate. Just as a back up then if you decide to quit you will have something completely new and fresh to look forward to. Otherwise if you aren't happy then don't stick around. At least talk to the new owner and tell him you have some new ideas on how to make things better and if he doesn't like that then he will either fire you or make your job even worse. Then you quit but at least you would have something new to look forward to instead of design.
- kerus0
QUIT YOUR JOB AND NEVER LOOK BACK
/* this message brought to you by the unofficial QBN freelance/contract workers' union */
- Nairn0
Don't burn any bridges.
Don't jump out of the plane.
Don't worry about the economic climate too much.
Do start finding freelance work.
Do start challenging yourself.
Do start your own projects.
Do start looking for a job.You're dying there - your portfolio, and by extension your art - is suffering because of it.
Think positive. Make that change. Who's the man in the mirror?
- Nairn - Jaline?Jnr_Madison
- lol, you slut.Nairn
- Which was that thread, I meant to check back...Nairn
- trooperbill0
im in something similar you spend 2 months creating an amazing website then at the 11th hour everyone decides they want to be involved which means another 2 months :( cant even turn around a business card without it getting cocked up due to last minute alts and the rush to meet the deadline grrr... ive stopped blaming myself now.
- Copey0
designdecay: Poor you mate unless you like it. 10 years! 5 is getting to me now. I will try and skills up to date, just time and am burnt out after a days work. Need to get back to the way I was in college where I loved doing it and was thinking about design and the projects all the time.
mase: cheers for the comment, but still it's poor design wise. Artwork are ok as people are amazed by them but that is going to make a living. That's why i went the graphic design route age ago!
_salisae_: *puts brain in the microwave and sets for 10min. Copy and pastes quote to quote pile!* Nice quote, but I do care about design, I love doing things creative and having that feeling of goodness in side that make is all worthwhile when things are printed, being used, etc things just got comfy and years past me by and now am waking up to the fact that I’ve learnt bugger all and done not that much in 5 years and need to move forward.
Nairn: Thanks someone telling me how it is!
Right then this week I'll sort out my CV, get a letter going, sort out my portfolio (update it a little not much to add though) and get my arse in gear. I just don't want to after say another 5 years and think dam where, what and why did I do that when I could have done something else. Like having projects that I have helped with or did in shops, exhibitions, etc and seeing it there and being proud of it. That’s what am missing these days is the pride in work and people commenting back (good or bad) about it. At the moment no one here gives a flying fu*k about the magazines or anything that is there product that’s what’s driving me out. If the people you work for don’t give a dam, then why should I? I do because it’s the only thing I can show after 5 years.
Oh well thanks for all the replies!
*goes and sorts me head and starts a to do list! Or should I stay up to night and box it all off...hhmmm*
- ornj0
I think a worsening economy is good for our business. Everyone needs to advertise their useless products more and harder to convince people to loosen their grip and spend their money. If anything we have too much work right now.
I say calm down a little, look at things and decide what you want to do. Grass is always greener... Don't quit your job before you have found something else. Better to look when you don't need it. If you do find something better be a gentleman about it. Give your current job a chance to match the offer if you'd consider staying if the situation changed or give them enough notice to plan for your departure. Never know who you may need help from in the future.