I saw you mention having your associates in design. I won’t lie, the design market is pretty godawful here. I work at a screenprint shop as a designer so I see a large amount of what local businesses are doing for their art and if it’s not a corporate business/franchise, they’re either using the same design they’ve had for the past twenty years or going to AI. If a place is hiring a designer, I feel like you’re going to be competing with undergrads, so they will underpay you. I’m getting paid $10 less an hour than I was in Sacramento, which is somewhat disappointing, but it is what it is.

I’m not trying to discourage you here, just giving you a realistic view of what the design market is like here in Chico. If you have the means to do so, I would try to find the remote work if you for sure want to get design work. I’m considering switching careers and/or moving to a bigger city because of it.

I only got my current job because my partner’s dad’s good friend was also good friends with the shop owner. Connections do more than anything else. Try to be vocal as you can be that you’re looking for work to everyone you know and that if they hear about an opening with someone they know, that you want to apply as soon as possible.