Has anybody began with a extremely low paid job simply to get into the design business?
Is that how everybody begins out?
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Has anybody began with a extremely low paid job simply to get into the design business?
Is that how everybody begins out?
I did
Was a graduate, I did an unpaid internship, which was incredible and fantastic and really helped me in my work and confidence and network
And then my first job was minimum wage.
I was there for a year and a half before moving, and now I’m making damn decent money and freelance on the side if I need any extra
Everyone is different, opportunities come at different times, life isn’t like a movie, sometimes you do have to go for that lower paid job and start there and climb because that big break opportunity may not be for a few years. Some people get there’s straight out of uni, everyone’s path is different
Did it suck to be unpaid and minimum wage? Hell yeah, but it was what was available to me at that time, it was being unemployed Vs unpaid but I’m developing skills and doing something still related to design that could go on my CV
I never stopped working for paid work during this
And the minimum wage job, it was being unemployed Vs minimum wage but in the industry I wanted
Again I never stopped looking for a better job. Just because I took a minimum wage job didn’t mean I gave up and settled, I made fantastic contacts and friends and was with an incredible mentor, and when I was confident in myself and my skills I left for a job on a much much better salary
I dealt with similar situation before, instead of letting them hiring me full time with bad rate I decided to do it part time and a better rate, that was my way around to get into editorial design in a community newspaper. Definitely a compromise but it helped me advance and put it as a good title job for future references.
I also put a clause that allows me to be promoted to a CD within a year if I proved myself.
I volunteered (earned zero) to get my foot in the door, you gotta do what you gotta do to gain an edge!
I did. It sucked for a year but worked.
Yup
It was a case of being employed, working at Sainsbury’s on a night shift or some other job like that or minimum wage but in the industry I wanted to work in
Tbf that Sainsbury’s job was more money, but that minimum wage design job was what I wanted to do, what I was trained to work in and just took it as exp for CV and the first step on the design ladder
Other than a little bit more money, what would that Sainsbury’s job have done for my design career?
Sometimes it can’t be helped
Yes, perfectly okay, but you need to do something with that experience so you’re not stuck there. Use it as a tool to hone your skills and move up to the next position.
I remember speaking to my colleagues and even my boss about how most designers who passed through the company I worked at used their experience as leverage for agencies/corporate in-house positions. That’s also what I did. The pay and mental toll weren’t that worthwhile, but that may have just been the company I was at (the “we’re family here” type).
It sucks though, and if you’re able to get a job that isn’t low pay you should obviously go for it.
Only you can answer, but whether it’s worth it will likely be based on a few variables.
1) What are your other options?
2) In looking for a job, where you doing everything properly/well that was within your control? (Basically, is this really your best possible option or are there other things you could do better first?)
3) Is it a company/role likely to provide you the experience you actually need and will benefit you, or does it literally have no real value beyond your resume?
4) Define low pay.
My take would be that most entry-level design jobs will be “low,” or certainly “low” compared to what people often would like or even expect, but at the same time there is no excuse for any actual design or production role to be paying minimum wage or near it. It’s a skilled position so should be paying appropriately, meaning at least more than unskilled positions (ie., minimum wage roles).
It can also depend on if it’s simply low paying or you’re being exploited. If you’re hired as a lone designer out of college, they’re likely exploiting you. I suppose it’d be fine if they at least were paying you a typical junior salary, but in those cases it seems to never be the case. If you have at least one, actual, experienced designer who can mentor you, then great/avergae pay or not at least you have that going for you.
As long as you can live and support your financial needs with the pay rate. It’s a great way to get experience and a portfolio. Focus on building your portfolio and padding your resume. Wait at least 3 months to start shopping your resume to not look like you are jumping ship as immediately. If anyone asks why you’re leaving so soon, say you compromised your desired minimum salary in exchange for the experience. Keep on good terms with the employer. The experience and referral are more valuable than the pay.
Shitty job is better than no job. Try bang out as much kickass portfolio material stuff as possible so you can jump ship after a year. i did it early on in my career and next job was 50% raise. It snowballed a bit after that!
I did it for six months, I graduated in May of 2020 and finding any job was impossible. I worked 32 hours a week for $12 an hour. I hated the job and I cried everyday the last 3 months. I knew I could’ve made more at Target but the experience was a resume builder. It was hard and draining, but it got me noticed by another company and I ended up taking a job I loved.
If you can take the hit financially then learn as much as you can but keep an eye out for better opportunities.
Yes. That is what entry level positions are all about. Get experience but don’t stay too long. Leverage your experience to get a better-paying job.
If you can afford to ride it out, then it’s probably worth it. That way you have actual work experience on your resume when you start applying to other places.
Bad pay usually means bad projects and then a bad portfolio and bad resume. I regret all the jobs I felt hindered my growth.
That’s how most people get in. Lots of people get started as an unpaid internship. Then they get a job that pays less than retail. They might even be a contractor for less than retail, paying more in taxes, and getting no benefits. This industry is terrible to new people.
I started out working pro bono to build my portfolio and get projects as a freelance graphic designer. For one of those projects the client liked my work so much that they paid me $150. It was my first paycheck and needless to say boosted my confidence by quite a bit.
From there I began to charge for my services and establish my client base until I’m where I am today, doing this full time and earning enough to support my lifestyle.
Depends how low and what kind of company.
I took quite low, but nothing huge above the avarage pay for my first Agency job. But after a year my pay have almost doubled. With next payraise i should get to arround double with what i started. And i have worked there year and half.
And i love the company i joined.
But if the pay is really shit, the people/team won’t respect you and you see no sign of climbing the corporate ladder, then i would say no
Also in the start of my career is did a lot of cheap freelancing jobs, just to build a portfolio, but i don’t reccomend doing that for more than half a year-year and then massively start rising your prices or you will be stuck being “the cheap designer”.
I did. I don’t love that young designers get taken advantage of but sometimes it feels like the only way.
If you’re gonna do it, try to make it work to your advantage. Make sure it’s a place where you can either see yourself using it as a stepping stone or it gives you good experience or help to build your portfolio. The last thing you want is something that’s going to suck out your soul and give you nothing in return.
I’m currently working at a place that pays me pretty low. I took the job because I was still finishing up school and now I’m in the process of finding a new job. Personally I think it is worth it because I was able to gain experience earlier compared to other graduate friends who are still struggling to find a job.
Perfectly fine, take advantage of the company resources and learn as much as you can while learning how to operate in a company.
It will be frustrating, trust your skills, ignore the imposter syndrome.
Don’t get too comfortable, always be refining your skills and trying new features and tools.
You are worth it, show the company what you have to offer without breaking your back and spirit.
Make a S.M.A.R.T goal based around 5 years at the company. And review that plan x2 a year.
Fall in line at the office, play and have fun freelancing if your noncompete allows it.
Yes. But use your experience at your current job to always look for a higher paying job. Wait about 1 year and start looking for that better paid job.
My first job with no high school diploma or college degree(fuck college today go to a trade school) was $52,000 back in 2001 as a web designer with 1 year experience. Also, save your best design work and put in portfolio site.
Just don’t quit your job until you have another. Tip: companies are more likely to hire you if you’re currently employed with a real company. If you’re freelancing lookinforor in-house work, you will have a hard time getting that job.
Definitely, employers love experience regardless of how good your portfolio is. Soon as I finished uni , I was looking for internships , just anything to get experience for the cv. Doing this created a positive domino effect for me , I got a full time roll in a matter of months.
I started long time ago in NYC, at place required lot of skills. That minimal wage increased by 25 C after half a year. After year and a half — nothing more and no chances, as old workers told me. Than lay off, because boss didn’t want to subsidize my vacation. I was a fresh immigrant and these scoundrels took advantage.