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zerroeffect · Oct 10, 2006, 03:14 PM

This is a call for help in finding my way. Any constructive advice would be appreciated. I have a feeling everyone here is intelligent and will respond accordingly.

I have a dilemma. I am 30 years old and have been going to college off and on for 6 years. Before that, I was in the Navy for four years as a lithographer (which I hated). I have been using my GI Bill money to get by every month and borrowing money to pay for each term. That is about to run out in a few months.

I have had a few short-term jobs in office work, doing data entry and analysis (once as a temp at Nike World Headquarters for a year) and some other places doing warehouse work. I prefer to not be around people if I have to, so no retail work. I am not a confident person and am actually much happier working on my own. I have a hard time focusing on my work when I am around others, especially after I get to know them. IMPORTANT: I also get extremely bored unless I am being creative or challenged.

I excelled in graphic design and art in school but was put off the prospective career choice after seeing the limiting influence a client can have on a great design. Example: I could make a great design and lesser work to present to a client and, since it's their logo or whatever, they could choose the lesser work, which would frustrate me. Perhaps I'm being petty in that regard, but I digress...

I did not follow this path in school and am actually almost done with my bachelors degree in General Studies: Arts and Letters. I have also heavily focused on film analysis classes because I have a high interest in that area. I also really love music and sound work, but have not touched that in any regard. Same with computers - I get bored by programming; I'm a visual person by nature. I have quite a bit of computer experience (taking them apart, tweaking, low level repairing, diagnosing, and maintaining). I am by no means an expert in pretty much any area, but I seem to have a knack when it comes to using and working with computers. I have also been told I am good at explaining and teaching daily use tasks and such. I am patient and thorough, not holding back why or how things work. I have used Photoshop on a low level and can usually use it to get the results I want.

I have a small portfolio of artwork, but all the pieces are very old (10 years or more). I am thinking I should make things up to put in there so I can build it with recent stuff, but I'm not sure where to start.

So, after all that, I would like to ask for anyone's suggestion on what or where to start and possible ways to go with what I have. Has anyone been in the same or similar situation?

Dark Helmet · Oct 10, 2006, 03:17 PM

If you are going to apply for any graphic design positions you need an online portfolio so you might as well start with that.

zerroeffect · Oct 10, 2006, 03:36 PM

By online portfolio, do you mean website design or digital design in general?

Thanks for the reply/advice.

Dark Helmet · Oct 10, 2006, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by zerroeffect

By online portfolio, do you mean website design or digital design in general?

Thanks for the reply/advice.

Pretty much your work on a website so when you send out your resume they can instantly look up your previous work and see if they want to call you in for an interview.

Zeeb · Oct 10, 2006, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by zerroeffect

This is a call for help in finding my way. Any constructive advice would be appreciated. I have a feeling everyone here is intelligent and will respond accordingly.

I have a dilemma. I am 30 years old and have been going to college off and on for 6 years. Before that, I was in the Navy for four years as a lithographer (which I hated). I have been using my GI Bill money to get by every month and borrowing money to pay for each term. That is about to run out in a few months.

I have had a few short-term jobs in office work, doing data entry and analysis (once as a temp at Nike World Headquarters for a year) and some other places doing warehouse work. I prefer to not be around people if I have to, so no retail work. I am not a confident person and am actually much happier working on my own. I have a hard time focusing on my work when I am around others, especially after I get to know them. IMPORTANT: I also get extremely bored unless I am being creative or challenged.

I excelled in graphic design and art in school but was put off the prospective career choice after seeing the limiting influence a client can have on a great design. Example: I could make a great design and lesser work to present to a client and, since it's their logo or whatever, they could choose the lesser work, which would frustrate me. Perhaps I'm being petty in that regard, but I digress...

I did not follow this path in school and am actually almost done with my bachelors degree in General Studies: Arts and Letters. I have also heavily focused on film analysis classes because I have a high interest in that area. I also really love music and sound work, but have not touched that in any regard. Same with computers - I get bored by programming; I'm a visual person by nature. I have quite a bit of computer experience (taking them apart, tweaking, low level repairing, diagnosing, and maintaining). I am by no means an expert in pretty much any area, but I seem to have a knack when it comes to using and working with computers. I have also been told I am good at explaining and teaching daily use tasks and such. I am patient and thorough, not holding back why or how things work. I have used Photoshop on a low level and can usually use it to get the results I want.

I have a small portfolio of artwork, but all the pieces are very old (10 years or more). I am thinking I should make things up to put in there so I can build it with recent stuff, but I'm not sure where to start.

So, after all that, I would like to ask for anyone's suggestion on what or where to start and possible ways to go with what I have. Has anyone been in the same or similar situation?

I think it will take awhile to get an art or graphic design gig going so that is something perhaps you can work on while you do something else. Though if you do become a graphic designer you're gonna have to get over the client making changes to your work I'm afraid.

The items I set in bold in your post seem to conflict with one another. On one hand you prefer not to work with people but on the other you seem to enjoy teaching people things and have been told you're good at it. Perhaps you could look into being a software trainer of some kind?

rickey939 · Oct 10, 2006, 03:49 PM

You should design a new 'NN Forums skin.

Dakar · Oct 10, 2006, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by rickey939

You should design a new 'NN Forums skin.

Our rickey, such a dreamer!

rickey939 · Oct 10, 2006, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar

Our rickey, such a dreamer!

<pinch>

Oh, I'm back...what the hell happened?

ort888 · Oct 10, 2006, 04:12 PM

You sound pretty picky. Not to bust your bubble, but the world is a hard place. you are going to have to put up with a lot of BS before you get to the point where you have a great job. It's just a fact of life.

zerroeffect · Oct 10, 2006, 04:28 PM

Thanks for the replies.

The items I set in bold in your post seem to conflict with one another. On one hand you prefer not to work with people but on the other you seem to enjoy teaching people things and have been told you're good at it. Perhaps you could look into being a software trainer of some kind?

As far as the conflict in my original post goes, I should explain that I am not comfortable working directly with someone unless I have known them for some time. I eventually warm up to a person or people, but prefer to work on my own. For training, I am focusing mainly on the computer and dictating my firm knowledge of something the trainee might not know quite so much about. It raises my confidence level, I guess. Perhaps that is the real issue.

You sound pretty picky. Not to bust your bubble, but the world is a hard place. you are going to have to put up with a lot of BS before you get to the point where you have a great job. It's just a fact of life.

You would be correct. I know what you are talking about (I did mention I was in the Navy and I have had experience with various jobs, school, and a relationship). I don't expect to get into the perfect job right off, but I am fishing for a direction that plays to my skills. Perhaps something I haven't thought about.

turtle777 · Oct 10, 2006, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

You sound pretty picky. Not to bust your bubble, but the world is a hard place.

For sure he hasn't been living in a bubble during his Navy time.
If he survived the BS and bad leadership in the Navy, he can make it anywhere.

-t

macroy · Oct 10, 2006, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by zerroeffect

Thanks for the replies.

... I should explain that I am not comfortable working directly with someone unless I have known them for some time. I eventually warm up to a person or people, but prefer to work on my own. For training, I am focusing mainly on the computer and dictating my firm knowledge of something the trainee might not know quite so much about. It raises my confidence level, I guess. Perhaps that is the real issue.

I think putting yourself in uncomfortable situations is a fact of life - well.. maybe not "putting yourself there..."... but expecting it and being able to overcome it. I used to be fairly shy person, so I would feel awkward in situations like office parties and friends get togethers. After awhile, I realized that I was missing out.... and often was perceived as standoffish.

Bottom line, I started to force myself to talk to people, introduce myself etc... After awhile, it just stopped bothering me. And things (as in opportunities) started to open up.

Being uncomfortable around strangers is common... but can also be limiting. Take your question for example; not that folks can't help here - but if you can overcome your "shyness", you may be able to solve your issue much faster by networking.

I'm not saying just show up at a bar and start talking to people... but face to face communications is such a vital part of life... you are really closing yourself to opportunities by not "overcoming" it.

Sorry if this sounds like a lecture - not intended to be.

El Gato · Oct 10, 2006, 06:30 PM

Go to grad school.

rozwado1 · Oct 10, 2006, 06:49 PM

Take the Myers-Briggs to get some ideas.

turtle777 · Oct 10, 2006, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by rozwado1

Take the Myers-Briggs to get some ideas.

-t

itai195 · Oct 10, 2006, 07:41 PM

Dealing with annoying customers/clients is a fact of life in many professions, unfortunately. You should pursue what you enjoy doing despite such caveats.

Zeeb · Oct 10, 2006, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by itai195

Dealing with annoying customers/clients is a fact of life in many professions, unfortunately. You should pursue what you enjoy doing despite such caveats.

Very true, and its good to remember we're all annoying customers/clients at one point or another from someone else's point of view. Whenever I deal with a difficult and frustrated person at work I try to remember when I've been the one who was frustrated and angry.

zerroeffect · Oct 11, 2006, 06:37 AM

Thanks for the advice, macroy (and others). I think... no, I know this a problem that I have been slowly overcoming (I used to be much more reserved). Perhaps it is time to kick it into high gear. My gf and I have been talking about me taking an improve class at school just to improve eye contact and speaking voice. A friend of mine suggested we take it together, so it probably wouldn't be so bad.

I guess I'll meet with a counselor for job ideas.