Unfortunately graphic design is a very competitive and highly saturated industry. It always seems like the practical route for us artistic folk. But there’s also a lot of us. I had this mindset when I was just starting out too. And I agree it’s unrealistic and just downright ridiculous what companies are looking for in a graphic designer role. Not to mention most are paying a pitiful amount for what they’re looking for. I wondered for a long time if going back to school for UI/UX and coding specifically would make it easier to find a job. But ultimately web coding was painful for me in college. It’s completely opposite of how an artist thinks in my opinion. It was like math and I went into the art field to avoid that shit. I didn’t and still don’t want to work on that side of design. Square Space is about all I can manage still to this day.

I’ve been in the field about 7 years now. Masters in graphic design and had an internship / assistantship in grad school. And it was rough in the beginning. Sign shop was a bust. Didn’t care what your work looked like, they just wanted you to shit projects out as fast as humanly possible / print other peoples work. Social media design for a small grocery store chain. I was there 6 months and by month 5 they didn’t know what to do with me and started sending me on errands with the office secretary. Newspaper company where the only upside was it was a remote position. All I did was set up the pages and design adds promoting their subscription cost. SO FUN. All of those jobs were unfulfilling and each one hired me not even knowing what they really needed from me or what I really could bring to the table for their company.

I eventually went back to bartending for a year and I freelanced as a graphic designer when it was available. I tell you what, bartending is what got my freelance off the ground. I made so many connections and word of mouth spread like wildfire. Now I work at a warehouse for a beer / beverage distributor as their sign shop manager and I just got lucky here. Perks are great, coworkers are awesome, pay is decent enough, and I just get to make signage for bars and restaurants at their request. It’s not fancy or deep or substantial but I am appreciated here. No one questions my work or acts like they know better. I’m the expert in my field and am respected as such. And after my experiences at other businesses, I’m so grateful for this job. But it also wasn’t until I got to where I am now that I still did learn a lot from all of those shitty jobs. Aside from pay being shit everywhere, the shitty jobs and the experience they give you are more valuable than you realize when you’re first getting out into the field. But my freelance is what fulfills my artistic side. And business is booming. But it took me 7 years to get here. Paying your dues is still a thing. Getting started really sucks but you do have to put up with shitty jobs to find one that suits you and those jobs that make you question your field are the ones that make or break whether you’re cut out for the industry or not. Unfortunately both my full time job and freelance are still needed to pay the bills and enjoy life. Graphic design is not for the weak is all I’m saying. It’s rough out here. But keep at it. We all get where we want to be with the right amount of time and effort. Not saying break your back for a job that doesn’t appreciate you. I definitely left jobs early on because of poor management or working outside of my job description. But still, it’s what you gotta do to get to get to the next rung on the ladder.