NB: I’m not sure if I should be saying ‘in 2011′ or ‘the 21st century’ as a whole?
The lowdown
The Beginning
I’ve had a few jobs in my time. The first situation that I would call ‘a job’ was during my early High School years. I was paid a one-off $20 note to sketch up some ideas for my friends bands possible CD cover. Thank goodness there is no evidence of the hideousness that I created. It was horrible, but they were polite and still paid me. I had good illustration skills and conceptual skills and was familiar with Photoshop but for some reason the prospect of my work actually being of some use and seen by more than a few people… well that threw me off completely. Not to mention I was in my early teens and had my own life angst to deal with. Funnily enough that same person who asked me to do that work is now a bassist in a quite popular band: Oh Mercy. No chance they will be trusting me with any work!
Following that situation I didn’t get another job during high-school apart from when friends/classmates would randomly ask to buy my sketches or wanted me to write their names ‘all cool like’ (unwitting type-nerd in the making). As I said, I had a rough time in HS with my family life and I suffered migraines. Of course, there was the general hysterical madness one goes through when spending day after day in a conservative all-girl Catholic private college in a Melbourne bayside suburb. I’ll spare you further details.
Somewhere in the middle
When I turned 18 I started an unforgettable job. I went out into the night with a suitcase full of sparky lycra bikinis and costumes and sold them in strip clubs and brothels. You know, I’d go into the change rooms where there would be a rack (mind the pun) on which I would hang up the latest creations of the designer. It was the most difficult job I’ve ever had – and probably ever will have. The late nights, the heavy bag, the danger, the loud noise and – I’m sorry – the customers. While most of the girls I met were lovely (and I have close friendships with some) there were, as with any job, some absolutely horrific people. People who were drunk and high, people who would try to wield their sexuality like a battle-axe, people who looked down their nose at me, pushed me around and took advantage of me.
Fortunately, I also did some design work for that company. Thank goodness.
More recently
I did some freelance jobs for bands and artists and small organisations in the past 4 years. I also worked for Monash University while simultaneously studying there – I was the Assistant Marketing and Profiles Co-ordinator for the Faculty of Art & Design. When my superior moved jobs I became a freelance designer for the same faculty. Since then I’ve worked for Open Universities Australia as call centre kid. Following that I worked briefly for Park Avenue Foods doing licensed packaging design. Then, of course, I spent some time working for Salsa Digital – even doing some of the design for their rebranding and new website. I also started doing some content curating for Redux.com. Unfortunately, due to downsizing and a shocking economic market, I lost both those jobs. I lost the Salsa job the day before my birthday over a month ago and the later more recently. Since my first job I’ve also been overseas to Europe twice, moved out of home, finished a certificate and a degree. I also took up ukelele.
It’s been over a month of tenacious and well-considered applications, emails, folios, cv’s and introductions sent out to large companies, small companies, design studios and even Safeway, Coles and Maccas. I have had countless interviews but the job market is swamped with applicants and it appears if you aren’t the second coming of Christ then you won’t get a job. Is there no space for an intelligent, different, talented, ridiculously passionate and enthusiastic designer with a thirst for knowledge, a fair amount of experience and a wicked sense of humour…?
Paying half a mortgage, rent, bills and living costs is grating my tenacious can-do attitude down into a bloody, sad looking nub. Never mind, on to another job trial – let’s see how that goes.
What he said.
