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AIBU?

Please can someone give me some advice about my life? I'm desperate!

29 replies

KateSpade · 05/08/2015 08:08

So, I know this is AIBU and I'm sorry for this not being a proper AIBU thread, but please I really need some help from an outsiders prospective.

I graduated with a degree in design 2 years ago, and I cannot get a job related to that field at all. I've just had a shitty email back from a recruiter saying I should do more work experience. I did a full years work experience in 2012, which was very successful.
I'm not getting anywhere at all, I cannot get a job in that industry at all.

I've just been fired from my most recent position - I don't know if you remember my thread, but I had a second interview for an admin role yesterday. I should here from that today. I know how lucky I am to have even got that far. But it's not what I want to do for the rest of my life.

I looked at retraining, but I'm not sure if get a tuition fee loan & even then I may have to go back and do some more relevant Alevels, (I looked at doing dentistry & radiography which would require Alevel science which I didn't do)

I have hardly any social life at all, me & DD still live with my parents which I'm happy with whilst I save up for a deposit.

I can't drive till January because of my epilepsy. This is the thing I'm most upset about but I realise I can do no more about it other than what I'm doing.

So I can't get a job in the field I want, I can't retrain and I'm not sure about the other job.

Please can anyone give me some advice? I really don't know what to do!

OP posts:

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KateSpade · 05/08/2015 08:09

If you were me, wwyd?

OP posts:

Meechimoo · 05/08/2015 08:11

Why were you fired from the recent position ?

annandale · 05/08/2015 08:13

Lots of positives. You've just had a second interview for a job, you have a DD, you have a good relationship with your parents, you have a year's work experience in the field you want to work in.

Some questions - a year's work experience?? was it paid, did you get a reference out of it?

What happened with the sacking?

mommy2ash · 05/08/2015 08:13

Can you get more experience in your field 2012 may be too long ago they want more recent experience perhaps

pinktrufflechoc · 05/08/2015 08:14

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2418173-To-be-so-embarrassed-about-going-back-to-work-thinking-of-resigning

Kates other thread is here.

I think take the admin job if it's offered to you and maybe look at career advice?

SoOverItNow · 05/08/2015 08:14

You have a degree and a years experience in that field? You have supportive parents and a daughter. Lots of positives there.

I'd take the admin job to tide me over and keep plugging away at design applications.

Is there a way of going freelance? You need a creative approach.

Why were you fired? Have you got good references from previous employers?

flimflamflarnfilth · 05/08/2015 08:16

Didn't want to read and run. Not really sure that I have any answers for you but some wiser and smarter MNetters will be along soon!
I am taking a degree while at home with the babies but hope to teach once qualified.
I have also confronted myself with the fact that I may not get the job I want after being out of work for so long and I may feel that I have made the wrong choice. I can empathise with what you must be battling with.

NewsreaderChic · 05/08/2015 08:17

What feedback have you had on your work? In the design world It's about talent and attitude, not just getting qualifications so you need a great portfolio as well as confidence. Why were you fired from you last job? Are you able to put in the hours? I worked in design until I had children and then I stopped because of the unpredictable hours, it just not a job were you can ever know what time you're going to leave. If you have a dd your going to need flexible childcare. What type of design?

annandale · 05/08/2015 08:17

What sort of firm is the new job in? Do they have any kind of design department?

GrumpyOldBiddy2 · 05/08/2015 08:18

You need more recent work experience. Three years is too long ago and it sounds like it was part of your course. Can you speak to your ex tutors for advice and maybe some contacts in the field?

annandale · 05/08/2015 08:18

Do you have a design blog of your own [disclaimer: I don't know anything about either design or blogs! I could imagine that you'd have to be careful with design blogs in terms of ensuring that any images are watermarked so if they are copied your name is all over them]

Mumteedum · 05/08/2015 08:19

Many design jobs would be freelance. I don't think getting a paye job in this sector is necessarily realistic (although without being specific it's hard to say).

Wwid? Get a job, any reasonable paid job but work on that portfolio. Get a behance profile, get your work seen and build up your own business freelance with a view to getting rid of day job eventually.

Not easy with a child but design isn't an easy area. Anything creative is highly competitive .You have to really want to do it.

Good luck !

LIZS · 05/08/2015 08:20

Is there anyway of building up a portfolio, offering your services to local voluntary groups or charities for example. Temp or contract work? If you are over 24 there are learning loans available but I'm not sure retraining is a solution, as you'd end up with no relevant experience and older than others seeking similar roles.

DoreenLethal · 05/08/2015 08:28

Hard to say.

What are your actual skills...what are you best at?

All the design students i know either earnt a pittance for years then left to start their own design agencies or left and went into other jobs. Some ended up famous artists and some are still cutting edge. A few are both.

Some did admin to supplement their artistic meanderings in their own time.

My business partner also teaches art in her other roles.

So it really is so hard to advise when we dont actually know you.

When you apply for these jobs, are you rewriting each application separately, meeting each essential and desireable skill/experience that they request?

Hedgehogsdontbite · 05/08/2015 08:31

In your position I'd look at volunteering in my chosen field for experience and to get a foot in the door. Maybe approach companies not currently hiring and volunteer a day or afternoon a week. Then you may find yourself first in line if a vacancy opens up.

Smudgeandpudge · 05/08/2015 08:33

Check out the website People Per Hour. The prices aren't high, but people are often looking for designers there so you could gain experience and, more importantly, recommendations. Good luck!

Whereisyourblankie · 05/08/2015 08:34

Hi OP,
I'm a senior designer, currently in-house but have done freelance too. Look for junior posts. Take everything along in your portfolio that you are proud of from that succesful work experience year. To update your folio offer your services for free, I'm not sure where you live but you could offer yourself to free village mags or local small businesses, for example, see if they would like a new logo, nothing serious, just an opportunity to showcase skills. Watch online tutorials to make sure you are up to date with the latest software. Rebrand a product in your own time, add it to your folio. Lots of ways to keep things fresh.

To answer your immediate worry, lots of positives there as pp have said. Do the admin job to tide you over. Good luck, op!

Patapouf · 05/08/2015 08:39

A years experience is brilliant, whereabouts are you based? Are you parents able to support you financially for you to do some unpaid internships?

Just FYI, you can't get tuition fee loans beyond your first degree.

LilyMayViolet · 05/08/2015 08:40

I think the idea of building up your portfolio is a good one. My brother works in design and so does a young friend. One got his job by doing work experience and the other by going to a recruitment fair. While they were looking they did things like design wedding invitations for friends and any other jobs pretty much for free that would add to their portfolio. Take the admin job in the meantime.

Good luck op, I'm glad you have a supportive family.

Ilovecrapcrafts · 05/08/2015 08:45

Where do you live? I think you will need to be in a large city, preferably London, at least at the start.

swisscheesetony · 05/08/2015 08:51

I'd go freelance. You'd get WTC and CTC off the bat and no more stupid meetings at the job centre. You could make around 5k profit before tax credits start being reduced and then at 11k you'd need to start paying income tax. And there's a LOT of "flexibility" within the realms of self-employment as to what your profits are.

What design skills do you have? Always happy to chat by PM as I have worked in the past as a mentor via job centre for new businesses.

UghMug · 05/08/2015 08:55

Slightly OT but how many of us can really afford to work for nothing? I find it sad and somewhat ridiculous that we expect people to work for nothing to get a name. I know I'm being old fashioned but the OP already has a degree and has proven herself with that, in the good ole days that plus on course work experience & graduate portfolio would be been enough. The soap a
Ready stated she has a daughter so to work an admin job and do free designs for businesses/friends unwilling to pay means less time to spend with her child. I know that's how things work nowadays but am I the only one who thinks it's wrong?

When I was building up a portfolio from out with the design industry I rebranded famous brands in my spare time. Out of youthful arrogance and a dash of naïveté I send the designs to one of the companies who offered me an interview & eventually got an in house job.

I found in design having a quirky self branding (cv/portfolio presentation) really stood out and did me well for a long time. I haven't worked in design for quite some time but I'm sure departments are still looking for the person who has original ideas and stands out. Be that person.

Good luck

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UghMug · 05/08/2015 08:56

*'damn autocorrect. I have no idea what soap a ready was meant to be, possibly OP already

ziggyziggy · 05/08/2015 09:04

i'm a designer, I moved into it sideways...

i did it slowly, started out with evening courses, and did it alongside my part time admin role, i freelanced wherever i could find the work (mostly through my admin companies I was working part time for to build up a portfolio, and some other freelance clients)

it took me ages to get a portfolio and experience together but I dropped the admin eventually and focussed on the design only, freelancing. it really took off when i did this.

I think it's who you know as much as what you know. I would go freelance and tell all your mates and old business contacts to get work, maybe supplement with a p/t job doing something else until you have more experience.

i now have a lot of experience and would probably be able to get a job in the field but I don't want to as i like freelancing, it is flexible and more interesting (although harder in other ways) and also easier to get more work if you want it, unlike a fixed job. there are more opportunities with it.

KateSpade · 05/08/2015 09:26

Wow. Thank you for all the responses, I've just taken DD to nursery and come back to this so thank you.

Thanks Pink for posting the thread, so you now know why i was fired.

I was thinking about going back to do a masters in pattern and textile design, now i know i could pay for that if i did it part time, over two years.

I've always wanted to do a masters, but would it help my career? do you think thats a good step forward?

SoOver I've got good references from all of my employers and I've had quite a lot of jobs over the years, I've always worked since i was 16. I worked in a high street store for 5 years whilst i was a student. I liked it, but it was hard work!

Good luck Flim its absolutely heartbreaking not being able to get a job, but i hope you get into teaching.

For those suggesting the different websites, I'm on all of them!

I think i will start looking for work experience, however most of the time, you don't get paid, and i won't get any help with nursery costs from CTC because its unpaid, so that would mean soley looking upon my parents who i know would do it - my mums retired and my father gets 1.5 days off per week.

God, it really is destroying me, it sounds cheesy but all I've ever wanted in life was to have a career, I've never been bothered about getting married or anything like that and now i just don't know what to do. If i can't get into this, i can't retrain either.

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