Its not what you know

Yesterdays post has me thinking and wanted to make sure I put the writing on the wall. It's not what you know. I've learned that lesson for sure. Think that 4.0 you worked your tail off for is going to help you? Not likely as a designer. In four years and more interviews I have NEVER been asked to see my college transcript or what my GPA was, and I worked for one of the top firms in the nation (at that time...sadly today that's no longer the case). Think because your good at sections and details your a shoe in for a job? Or that photoshop I harped on lastnight? You would have to get someone to actually spend enough time to read your resume or interview you for them to notice those things. The reality is that in today's market employers are getting hundreds of resumes a week, the likelihood that they get to yours isn't good. So if its not WHAT you know, what is it? In most cases...It's WHO you know. Based on my own experiences I can list a minimum of six instances where knowing someone either helped me get work or helped a friend get work. Making connections and networking is probably one of the most important aspects of being a working professional. So while I'm still a laid off designer with a not so wonderful streak of luck I can look back and learn some valuable lessons from it all. I'm thankful for the connections I have and am looking forward to the connections I'll make in the future.

Use what you have...

For some reason today I got to thinking about my college education as a designer. Even now as I sit and think about the projects we did in studio they held very little relevance to what I actually encountered in the workplace. The things we spent a lot of our time on aren't the things I really needed and the things we spent little time on were the things I did need. It just cracks me up. I was fortunate enough to have a mentor in my first firm that saw the areas I was weak and set me up to learn those things. For instance, we did very little rendering in college, so I had very little Photoshop knowledge. I was taught Photoshop and SketchUp at my first firm and am very thankful for it because I have had an edge everywhere else I've been. I was surprised to find that few others knew those programs either and was always one of the few that was asked to do rendering work because I was one of the few that could. I am by no means a great renderer (is that a word?) I have a long way to go there and a lot to learn, but I am competent and am great at learning as I go. I think this is something else that gives me an edge. Now here's the question...an edge at what? I'm still a laid off designer! I realize that. Today was one of those days where the reality of that prospect was becoming a heavy load to carry. I have faith, I am confident that things will work out as they should, and that we will be provided for. But I also have fear--as much as I'd like to be, I am not immune to that. But I'm noticing that every time I start to lean in to that fear something happens to remind me that things will be fine. I had the privilege of spending the time talking to a past boss/mentor/friend this afternoon regarding a possible future opportunity. Key words here: possible...future... The reality is that in our industry if the work isn't there, it just isn't, and you don't have the control to make big decisions until work is there. She is working on a new venture and can't add staff until they have a certain amount of work (oh my haven't we heard that all before?? Fortunately this is the one person I have complete faith in and no there is no b.s. with) but once they have the work I very well may have the opportunity to work with her again. The ducks are in a row for both of us, we just need them to jump in the water and start swimming. It was refreshing to hear her views on things and to tell me that my priorities were not only appropriate but acceptable. It was also nice to hear her enthusiasm regarding possibly working together again. Its easy to start to doubt yourself when your laid off. Its easy to get caught up in the hurt and fear, but hearing someone you respect (And this is someone I REALLY respect) tell you how much they enjoyed working with you and that they would look forward to an opportunity to working together again is AMAZING, refreshing, energizing, and exactly what I needed today. She had great advice on the temporary and lots of hope for a future endeavor together. It may never work out, I'm not as naive as I once was about these things, but it is hope and hope is something I can latch on to for a while. Because within minutes of hanging up the phone she was calling me back...a job she'd been waiting for news on had hit and they are ready to move. The ducks have their toes in the water...they may be swimming soon!! Now for something fun. Remember all that Photoshop I told you about? Now my caveat here is that I'm not a graphic designer...but use what you have... Here is an invitation to special little man's birthday party. It only took me a few minutes and they loved it. Of course I've now made the info generic for safety reasons :)