1. Employment Profile: What exactly does a Graphic Designer do? |
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 What field is your job in?
Advertising
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What is your job title?
Graphic Designer
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Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for
(size and general description of what type of organization it is)
I work for a small design firm based out of San Diego, CA. Out of the 8 employees, on 4 are located at the home office. The other 4 work from their homes scattered across the country. We work on many large national accounts with our clients being heavily based in the financial and religious markets.
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How long have you been employed in this position?
5 years
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How many hours do you work a week on average?
40-50
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Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I have several accounts that I am responsible for taking care of. I work on all marketing materials for these account from the start to the end of a campaign.
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What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
45000
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What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
47000
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Please
list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation,
sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
Annual all expenses paid conference, 3 weeks vacation, Health costs fully reimbursed for both me and my husband, 2 weeks sicks leave, 401k
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Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
Well compensated
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2. Work environment! |
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Does
your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this
something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
Yes, I have to work with people on a daily basis, but only via email/phone/chat. I enjoy the people I work with, both fellow employees and clients.
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Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes
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Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
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Describe
your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what
you like/dislike about working in it
I work from a home office, sitting on my couch with a dog on my lap typically.
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Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
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2 Income
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3 Work Environment - co-workers
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4 Work Environment - supervisors
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5 Benefits
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8 Hours
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7 Level of responsibility
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1 The actual "work" you do at your job
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6 Job Title
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3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours? |
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If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
I would recommend that they skip college and find an entry level position at an ad agency or design house and start working on the field right away. In this industry a college degree means nothing while a strong portfolio and work experience mean everything. What you learn on the job is so much more valuable than anything college teaches you about the industry. Working with real designers in real life situations is a great way to move up and start building your portfolio.
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What
skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a
position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social
skills, organization skills, technical skills)
They need to be creative first and foremost. Just learning how to work the programs will only get you so far in this industry. You will also definitely need great social skills. Being able to interact with clients is key. You need to know how to get them to trust you so that it makes it easier for you to do your job.
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Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
You need to learn how to work the programs which you can teach yourself to do. Don't waste your money on college.
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What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
To check your ego at the door. There is a lot of ego in this industry and that only holds you back. Look at what your co-workers are doing. Ask lots of questions. Don't be afraid to experiment. Examine everything around you from menus to billboards to websites that you visit. Read about the industry constantly and stay up to date with current trends.
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