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Job question: Should I give it my all?

#21
I am an employer and here's the deal. Like many others here have said. Give it your all or none at all. Here's why. These days your work history is a simple click away for future potential employers. You can't outrun a negative review of your work ethic. It's too bad too. When I was coming along in the 60's and 70's I burned some serious bridges that would have closed a lot of doors for me in this Information Age. Always give your best performance if you want the best employment opportunities in your future.
 
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#22
I've been a professional graphic designer for 28 years.

First of all, if you want to be a graphic designer, get an internship at a graphic design firm where you can learn from really good designers. Not an IT company. If you're working for free, work for free for the right people.

Second, missing deadlines as a designer is never acceptable. Ever. Pull all nighters, work weekends, miss meals. Whatever it takes. NEVER miss a deadline.

Third, there are a million things you need to learn to be a successful designer that only come from experience. What you have going for you at this stage in your career is eagerness and energy. How it works is that senior designers will give you the crappy grunt work that no one else wants to do and share their experience with you. Slowly they'll give you more responsibility as you show that you're learning. Every single great design came up that way. That's why it's important to work under really good designers in the beginning. Just be happy there aren't stat cameras, typesetting machines or pasteup boards anymore.
 
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#23
BboogieXVII said:
Kick ass while being an intern, just really try to impress. Get a paying gig and still kick ass. Mind you, this may not get you promoted, what gets you promoted is 85% up to how much the boss happens to like you in a general sort of way. Sad, but it seems to be true.

So, finding the right boss that appreciates you is probably a good long term goal instead of putting undue pressure on yourself by sticking around at the wrong place for way too long. (like I have done):dead:
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Fair or not, you'll do better if the boss likes you. Then again, the reason I liked most of our employees is because they did a good job.
 
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#26
That is the problem with today's generation, always believe they are owed something. If you get an opportunity, job, etc. you give it your all or step down and let someone that would appreciate having that opportunity to give it their all.

Take Nita Straus whom plays now for Alice Cooper. Do you know what she said? I will paraphrase, but she basically said that she plays every show no matter how small or big with everything she has. She also said you never know who will be watching which is exactly what happened and between that, some phone calls, and a few audition tapes she now has the gig.

So whether it's IT, cashier at the food store, etc. give it your all. You never ever know where it might lead. Anything else I say quit and let someone that would appreciate it get the opportunity.
 
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#28
I gave it my all, I really did. For 35 years. Left me in good shape financially, but also left me angry, demoralized, completely burned out, disillusioned, and cynical. I should not have given so much for so long.

Choose wisely.
 
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#31
You always give it your all. You never know when you are speaking with someone who will hold the key to your future. There is nothing better than being known as the "go to" guy.

I got my first job as an attorney because I agreed to play on the Bar Association softball team. Remember, you are always on stage.
 
#32
This perspective from a retired ad agency exec:

If you have any desire to be paid you should give forth the effort that warrants payment for your skills. However, an internship without pay isn't a job in my opinion. It's an apprenticeship at best. Work hard, show a high level of work ethic, and if it doesn't payoff with a paying position within an acceptable time frame, then be prepared to move on and offer your skills to a company that values them enough to pay you. There are a ton of graphic designers out there pounding the pavement for jobs...a ton...just like guitar players they are a dime a dozen in this age of the computerized workplace. The creative artists within that population will find jobs and the ones who don't bring artistic creativity with the computer skills will not. Get creative and give it your best, every day, every project. And if you haven't done so, find the artist inside you and let him loose.
 
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#37
I have never wanted to be the sloppy guy who needs some coaching and multiple tries to get it right, but doesn't have as much work and expectations.
Being the neat and tidy guy who does the job right the first time will at times increase my workload, but that's fine by me.
That other reputation would make it hard for me to sleep at night.

-Mike
 
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#39
pedroims said:
Give it all. When working, when playing bass, when making love, when spending time with your kids, every freaking second of your life, be the man with the attitude!
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Hehe, sounds like me 35 years back - oh, to be so young and idealistic again! Just you wait! :roflmao: And get off my lawn!
 
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#40
sears said:
you oughtta know being in San Diego. My dad wasn't military but I agree. I assumed you belonged to the group of people poisonously cynical about non-defense public service and I apologize.
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I'm not poisonously cynical, but regular cynical. I've had to deal with bureaucrats and public agencies for 35 years of my career. That's not to say there aren't any good hard-working folks in the public sector. I've actually had good experiences with even the DMV, VA and Social Security. Whenever I get good service at an agency, I thank the individual profusely and try to let their supervisors know.
 
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