I NEED ADVICE!!! I'M DESPERATE.

Suzanne,

You need to follow your passion and stick with design. At least they aren't dumping you and giving you no options. Take the position and continue looking for a new design position like you mentioned. The main reason to take the position is you stated it's a sales position which will help you create a network and important contacts to advertisers which might be in need of a Graphic Designer.

Use the position to get your foot in another door and make the needed contacts to make the move into what you want.

In the meantime, increase the freelance effort you might be surprised how busy you may become.

Keep Creating

Hi OneGirlCreative,

I spent over four years managing a creative staff at a newspaper and certainly feel your pain. During that experience one thing became very clear... combining graphic design ability with sales was a killer combination.

Most sales people can only talk with a customer about one thing... how much it costs to run a given ad in a set number of papers. From my experience customers who needed creative advice really responded well when a designer was included in the sales call. They became consumed with 'designing' the ad with the artist and forgot about the cost. It wasn't a matter of if they were going to buy but how much they were going to spend. Because they had a hand in the creation and were treated unlike any other sales call they spent money more freely.

Maybe it's time to be creative... you would have a distinctive advantage in sales because you can discuss with a client how best to design an ad to communicate their message.

Would you have any ability to get them to 'combine' the two positions? Just make sure to there is a base salary and commission aspect to your package.

Read the following post I made for a better overall understanding. Could be an opportunity to make lemonade.

http://creativebits.org/potential_employer_stealing_ideas#comment-33434

Suzanne, honey, I'm sorry to hear about this turn of events. Any chance you could get back to the boss with a more creative idea? Like how about adding to the sales gig a deal whereby you can offer to work with the client one-on-one to design their ad for them? Yeah, I know, they probably kept somebody on staff to do that for free, and yeah you wouldn't get any extra money that way, but it would give you an edge over any competing salespeople (from the same or another publication) and allow you to still talk design. If the paper will allow it -- and you must negotiate this -- you can also talk to these potential advertisers about their other design needs, letting them know it's okay with your newspaper for you to make that kind of pitch. If that isn't possible, at least get a deal with them that reduces the waiting time they impose for non-competition, so if you quit the job in favor of something else, you can pretty quickly go back to places where you thought you felt some good vibes, and see if you can enroll them as clients.

Remember, it's always easier to get a job if you already have one.

good luck.

I don't want to get all doom and gloom on you - but what is your experience with sales, and why would the newspaper put a graphic artist in a sales position - period?

To me it sounds like they're trying to squirm out of having to give you a severance package. They shove you into a sales position instead, put high expectations on you that you likely wouldn't be able to achieve then let you go because you're not performing your job (and thus wouldn't be eligible for a severance package).

You have a couple options

#1 - Find out what your severance package would be and if you think you can survive on that long enough to find alternative work

#2 - Take the sales job as a "filler" job and in the meantime actively search out new work

#3 - Or do as some of the others have suggested above and try to get the company to play around with the job description/expectations some more so it's something sustainable and still enjoyable for you.

That would be horrors for me - I am NOT a sales person. I probably couldn't even give away FREE air conditioners with no strings attached to people living in the middle of the desert.

Good luck to you - and I think overall, your best bet is to start considering alternative employment. This might mean having to drive farther distances - but at least you'll be doing a job you know you enjoy instead of being miserable stuck in a position you despise.

All of your comments are amazingly helpful. Really.

However, I must clear up a few misconceptions about my current position, as well as this other position that they've created for me.

My position now is only part time. There are two full time designers (creative director & art director), as well as a full time production manager. Technically, my position was titled advertising assistant. But since day one (8 months ago), I have been doing design work—not administrative work, which the title implies. I hated the position title, and the pay was pathetic. But because it was flexible and I enjoyed the people, I stuck it out. I think I honestly could have made more money rolling burritos at Taco Bell. No joke.

Secondly, ever since I started, because the sales reps love my work so much, they have come to ME to design their ads, spec ads, flyers, cover designs, mailers, ticket designs, etc. for them. The other two designers are mediocre, at best. But because they have been there for 5 & 9 years, they obviously have devotion to them. Rightfully so.

So getting rid of me, would not get rid of their design department to begin with, it would only force the sales reps to utilize them, instead of me (because I would be gone).

Now, this new sales position is not technically all sales. It's still called advertising assistant with goals. I would have to sell a certain amount of ads, in addition to being the f'ing assistant to the sales staff. So I apologize if I wasn't clear in this description, but I was typing it from work (immediately after I heard the lovely news) and I was rushing.

They only created this position for me because it's a position that could possibly generate revenue. Unfortunately, I am also not a salesperson. Never have been, never will be. That's my thing. I don't like to "pitch" people, I like to design and create. And I would be their gopher. This is not why I went to college in the first place. I went to college and struggled to get my degree so I wouldn't have to deal with this crap in the first place. And now it seems I'm right back where I started before the piece of paper that cost me over $30K.

There is no such thing as a severance package at this company. Believe me, and if there were, I assure you, my position wouldn't qualify.

My husband and I have talked in depth since hearing this afternoon, and we both agree that I will be turning them down, therefore, terminating my employment effective Dec. 28.

Any other advice, however, is definitely welcomed. That's why I turned to CreativeBits in the first place. I feel like you guys are my family. Corny, huh? =P

suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer :: www.onegirlcreative.com

It sucks being 'repositioned' like this, but I'd see it as an opportunity to get to know all the folks you can in your region. Might make the job search a heck of a lot easier too! Though you obviously don't want to undermine your company in doing so.

You'll basically get paid to market yourself, especially if there's any travelling involved. Face to face rules the day.

Take it as an opportunity. At least they aren't firing you with 0 days notice as most companies are wont to do these days. :)

We're with you on this!

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Powerpoint is not a design application

There won't be any traveling involved. It isn't an outside sales rep position, the few sales that I will be doing will be inside (on the phone). So no, there won't be any opportunity to market myself when they can't see me eye-to-eye/face-to-face.

As I stated above, it will primarily be an administrative position with a few goals involved for sales. Oh, and if I don't meet 90% of my goals after 3 months, dismissal may be possible. That's what it says on the duties sheet they gave me for this upcoming position.

Feel my pain?

suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer :: www.onegirlcreative.com

Yep, it sucks, but you can still work it to your advantage. There's nothing that says you can't go out and get more sales (while looking for a new job). Or you could just do so badly they have to fire you and you get unemployment. :) Just kidding.

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Powerpoint is not a design application

Hmmm...I'm glad you mentioned that because it never crossed my mind. I have been there for 8 months. Something I will look into though.

Thanks for the advice, natobasso.

Isn't that why there is such a thing as unemployment? For situations like this? I have worked my whole adult life—since I was 17, actually. And I have only collected unemployment once—and that was when I was 19 years old. That's what it's there for. To help subsidize you financially while you're looking. Whch is what I intend to do 100%.

Copy their client list for yourself. Follow up with all of them to try to turn them into your clients -- especially the ones for whom you (not the paper's less-talented staff) designed ads. Immoral? I don't think so. It won't be possible to completely avoid these clients b/c it's a small market. You might even say so to your boss, and reassure him/her that you'll never mention them in any but the most flattering of terms -- then stick to that. You don't have to dump on the other designers there to enhance what your input actually was. Who knows? You might even win them more advertisers! (Tell your boss that one, too.)

Every year, my company prints out a publication/directory called the Book of Lists. It's quite prestigious in this area/market, and it lists all top companies in the area. I was going to bring one home and basically go through all the companies that could possibly have a need for an in-house designer and send them my resume as well as my ePortfolio on a disk.

I am also going to go through all of the good ads/spec ads that I have designed in the last 8 months (the length of my employment there) and copy them onto my portfolio. I am going to try and turn this into a positive and figure that being there for 8 months has given me 8 more months of experience in my field.

One of the clients that I designed a rodeo publication for there (from cover to layout), wants to contract me for some design work. I am going to speak with him and see if he'd want to hire me as a full time or part time designer. He's the kind of person that wouldn't feel right trying to "steal me away from this company." But since my job will be terminated in 2 weeks, I have nothing to lose.

I have always been a firm believer in fate. I always believe that things happen for a reason; or "blessing in disguise," if you will. I have been disappointed with my pay and how they treat my status there for the past few months, but had no intentions of leaving. Too comfortable, I imagine.

So perhaps this is fate's way of telling me there's something better out there. I am a good designer, so I have to believe somebody will recognize it.

I like that idea. Does your newspaper charge the advertising clients for design work, or does it just do it for "free" as part of their advertising contract with the paper?

If the paper's not really "charging" for the DESIGN portion of the ads, then I would say you should be able to - with a clean conscious, no-less - offer freelance design to the advertisers who liked your work.

Win-win situation for all - the clients get the design work they love, you get paid to do it, and the newspaper doesn't have to hassle with figuring out the design work for the ads - you just provide them with PDF files and they just dump them into their page layouts.

That's assuming - again - the paper doesn't charge extra for design work, though.

You're right, though - in looking at it as a blessing in disguise. I think it could just be life's way of saying "hey - something better is coming your way, but you have to release yourself from this job, first."

Good luck to you!

I am trying to remain positive and work hard to pursue that design job out there. I have to believe there is something my way. I live in a small university town (130,000 population) and a lot of these graduating students are looking for jobs. Well, I have 5 years experience on them, plus two internships—both at two reputable agencies/magazines in town. I HAVE to believe that's worth something.

If there's an art or creative director out there who knows otherwise, PLEASE enlighten me as I don't want to be clouded in my pursuit.

In answer to your question, KellyR, no, the newspaper does NOT charge extra for designing their ads. It's part of the fees of placing them—which since it's only a bi-weekly newspaper, it's very expensive to advertise with them. But you're right, I know in my head who the advertisers were that I frequently designed ads for and liked my work. One of them just happens to be my husband's childhood friend (his best friend's brother, actually). Hey, it's all about nepotism and networking in this business, isn't it? =P

The approach you plan to use with companies you glean from the Book of Lists is called "shotgunning." Even if you tailor a cover letter to the listed contact person, you're still just some faceless person dumping a resume and CD on them, unbidden. It makes you look not smart, and possibly lazy. I strongly advise against it.

If I were you (and I often have been), I would use that list to schedule an itinerary for personal calls. Even if you don't get in to see the person you want to see, or even make an appointment with them, you then have an excuse to write them a HAND-WRITTEN note, thanking them for allowing you to drop by, and letting them know you will do so again on such-and-such a day with a resume and CD. You might mention the name of the receptionist or other person you dealt with; say you'll leave these things with that person, since they were so helpful and encouraging to you. If you really got a good vibe from the environment of the place, say so. Then do it. Then follow up with a phone call to schedule face time. And never let 'em see you sweat. Every time somebody gets you closer, send a nice HAND-WRITTEN note. (This includes one to the nice person you mention to the decision-maker -- you know, the one who helped and encouraged you? They'll be more likely to do so again.

I stress hand-written because usually the person doing the hiring will be impressed that you can write without looking like a twelve-year-old on drugs, and because it's distinctive. People remember hand-written notes long after they've blanked on a computerized letter, although they certainly have their place. Use really good quality writing paper, too; nothing gimmicky. If they're old enough to have learned all about the niceties of thank-you notes from their mothers, it will remind them to be nice to you back. If they never learned this, it will probably stick with them even more -- like wow, they saw Keira Knightly do that in a movie once ;-) If they think it's stupid, do you really want to work for someone that gauche?

I appreciate that advice. I need all the help I can get. It's been a while since I've had to do this, so I think your suggestions are not only distinctive, but genuine. I have nice personalized note cards with my name/initials on them. They were printed from Neiman Marcus, so they're good quality. I've had them for years.

I never once thought about handwriting a thank you note, I've always sent a typed, e-mailed thank you. Which as you've stated, is probably what everybody else and their mother does. No spell check (not that I need that anyway—LOL), and they can see that I know how to speak and write (and use proper grammar).

Perhaps these few little personal touches will enable my portfolio (as well as my resumé) to stand out from the rest of the herd. At least I hope so.

Thanks, Mara!

P.S. What did you mean by "deleting a dupe, sorry guys?"

Standing out from the crowd (in a GOOD way, of course!) is what it's all about, kiddo. I wish you good fortune.

I accidentally duplicated the post to which you responded. Since there's no way to delete such goofs, you can only edit the stuffings out of them, and beg pardon for what's left. "Dupe" as short for "duplicate" (both the noun and the verb) is something I picked up many years ago in television. Sorry I wasn't clear.

I just wanted to ensure that I wasn't missing anything. =P

Thanks for your advice. I greatly appreciate it! ALL OF YOU!

send a handwritten thank you note. you'd be surprised at how effective it is. far more personal than an email and shows you specifically took time to sit down and write out a note to them. it gives the impression that you care.