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#1 2009-10-21 6:05 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
- •^-•-

- From: Central Indiana
- Registered: 2001-06-24
- Posts: 875
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Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
After seeing all the great advice gd received on his girl issues I decided to pose my dilemma on MacLife Unplugged. 
I've been unemployed for a while now (just under half of my unemployment benefits remaining). For the past 6 years I have worked for 3 different companies as a courier or delivery driver. I no longer want to drive for a living. I've been looking for something in the 'green'/sustainable/technology/energy sector in an entry level capacity.
Get a call from my best friend telling me that a mutual friends brother possibly needs some help at his sign shop. I haven't done much with my graphic design skills since about the end of 2000. So obviously any software I knew (which wasn't much honestly) has dramatically changed. Only thing I considered myself an expert in was Pagemaker 6.5 (beginner in Freehand, Illustrator, and Photoshop).
Go and talk to the owner in a very nice new 'motorsports' complex that is mainly focused around NHRA drag racing. The entire shop is Windows/Dell based with what looks like very good accessory machinery (Roland main printer/cutter). I have managed to avoid Windows based machines since graduating from college in 1993! Call me spoiled and happy, if you will?
I'll try to get to the point and you can ask additional questions for clarification. He wants me to become his "right hand man" to help lighten the load on himself. Says he will give me a couple months to gradually learn the systems. The commute will be a little less than an hour! We still have not seriously talked money (only briefly in the initial casual meeting/interview). I would be the only other full-time person. He has three part timers/contractors. I'm concerned my 'style' will not mesh well with the drag racing 'style'. Maybe that is why he wants me? To get a fresh perspective?
I'm not desperate yet but also don't want to pass up a good opportunity. I need to call him back and let him know if I am interested. Help me decide either way, please.
Thanks. 
15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, OS X 10.6, connected via 56K modem. iMac DV SE, 400MHz PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 13GB HD, OS 9.2. iPhone 16GB, 1st gen. iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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#2 2009-10-21 6:06 pm
- Tallgeese
- Sternly Advising
- From: Pool Party
- Registered: 2000-10-17
- Posts: 34007
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
Ask him to touch your penis?
I still believe in liberalism today as much as I ever did, but, oh, there was a happy time when I believed in liberals.
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#3 2009-10-21 6:16 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
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- From: Central Indiana
- Registered: 2001-06-24
- Posts: 875
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Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
Hey, gd might have fell for that but I'm not going to! Nice try though. 
15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, OS X 10.6, connected via 56K modem. iMac DV SE, 400MHz PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 13GB HD, OS 9.2. iPhone 16GB, 1st gen. iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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#4 2009-10-21 6:33 pm
- Graphic Autist
- Scumdog of the Universe

- From: Antarctica
- Registered: 2003-06-08
- Posts: 1042
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Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
I say go for it.
But that commute sounds like a bitch.
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#5 2009-10-21 6:49 pm
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
It beats waiting in line.
WhirlinGraphics wrote:
I'm concerned my 'style' will not mesh well with the drag racing 'style'. Maybe that is why he wants me? To get a fresh perspective?
I've had to deal with the same problem. I'm currently paid to create spreadsheets and VBA macro for my employer, and there are times where my aesthetic just doesn't fall in line with what they want. When you are trying to market your own skills, you first have to show that you are flexible enough to do things the way they want them. When they get comfortable with you, that's when you start finding some freedom with your own designs and perhaps gain some notoriety as a creative designer. That's when you show up with a MBP 
Seriously, don't turn down a job offer just because you're nervous about what it will be like. Go find out what it is like, and if you don't like it, then it will suffice until you can find something better.
There's what you love to do, and then there's what you get paid to do. Those two things are often different.
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#6 2009-10-21 8:29 pm
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
Talk about the money and then decide.
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#7 2009-10-21 8:48 pm
- sturner
- Royal High Poobah
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- From: Carrollton, TX USA
- Registered: 2000-01-31
- Posts: 13767
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
And don't forget to talk about what he expects, how he operates, how he expects you to fit in with his processes. Talk about his processes, find out how the business works, what you will do in it, specifics, specifics, specifics. Making assumptions now will bite you in the butt later.
I'm not dead yet.
There are 3 types of people, those who can count and those who can't.
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#8 2009-10-21 9:26 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
- •^-•-

- From: Central Indiana
- Registered: 2001-06-24
- Posts: 875
- Website
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
Graphic Autist wrote:
I say go for it.
But that commute sounds like a bitch.
The commute will be a bitch (but will allow me to catch up on my podcast listening)! Although it won't be a permanent situation thankfully. Once I can replenish my money stockpile I will have the option of moving closer. I need to stay relatively close to my current town for family business reasons. Instead of living on the east side of town I could move north of it and possible cut 15-20 off of that commute.
sturner wrote:
And don't forget to talk about what he expects, how he operates, how he expects you to fit in with his processes. Talk about his processes, find out how the business works, what you will do in it, specifics, specifics, specifics. Making assumptions now will bite you in the butt later.
Thanks, so true. I've already started making a list of things I want to ask to take with me.
15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, OS X 10.6, connected via 56K modem. iMac DV SE, 400MHz PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 13GB HD, OS 9.2. iPhone 16GB, 1st gen. iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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#9 2009-10-21 9:38 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
- •^-•-

- From: Central Indiana
- Registered: 2001-06-24
- Posts: 875
- Website
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
Jokotai wrote:
When you are trying to market your own skills, you first have to show that you are flexible enough to do things the way they want them. When they get comfortable with you, that's when you start finding some freedom with your own designs and perhaps gain some notoriety as a creative designer. That's when you show up with a MBP
I'm just worried how long I can withstand diamond plate backgrounds and tribal flames before they have to check me into a psychiatric hospital? 


Perhaps I'm overreacting? 
15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, OS X 10.6, connected via 56K modem. iMac DV SE, 400MHz PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 13GB HD, OS 9.2. iPhone 16GB, 1st gen. iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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#10 2009-10-21 9:55 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
- •^-•-

- From: Central Indiana
- Registered: 2001-06-24
- Posts: 875
- Website
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
Malkin wrote:
Talk about the money and then decide.
Yes, that is a very important issue. It's on my list and the numbers are in my head! I'm hopeful that a four day work week might fit into the plans for several reasons.
15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, OS X 10.6, connected via 56K modem. iMac DV SE, 400MHz PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 13GB HD, OS 9.2. iPhone 16GB, 1st gen. iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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#11 2009-10-21 10:03 pm
- gd
- Honorary Member

- Registered: 2009-04-06
- Posts: 761
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
I think you are more likely to see backgrounds of cars doing burnouts.
By the way I did not fall for it. If you remember my reply to them was: "you sick bastards".
I have nothing more to say in this topic since I have only been employed once and have little experience.
Good Luck
Last edited by gd (2009-10-21 10:04 pm)
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#12 2009-10-21 10:10 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
- •^-•-

- From: Central Indiana
- Registered: 2001-06-24
- Posts: 875
- Website
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
gd wrote:
By the way I did not fall for it. If you remember my reply to them was: "you sick bastards".
Sorry, I know, just joking with you since that thread is still fresh in my mind.
15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, OS X 10.6, connected via 56K modem. iMac DV SE, 400MHz PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 13GB HD, OS 9.2. iPhone 16GB, 1st gen. iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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#13 2009-10-21 10:13 pm
- gd
- Honorary Member

- Registered: 2009-04-06
- Posts: 761
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
It is still going on apparently.
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#14 2009-10-21 11:28 pm
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
Getting paid to do creative work? That has something to do with motorsports? And the commute is only an hour in each direction? You'd be crazy not to take that job!
'Round these parts, hour-long commutes are very, very common. They shouldn't be, 'cause you cover very little ground during those hours, but what can I tell ya; congestion is a problem.
Heck, there are people in the SF Bay Area who live more than two hours away from their workplaces, just so they can afford to own a home. Imagine spending four hours per day, five days a week, in rush-hour, bumper-to-bumper traffic, so you can get to and from a job you hate. That ought to put things in perspective for you.
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#15 2009-10-22 9:14 am
- Daddyo
- hoochie coochie man

- From: the last juke joint
- Registered: 2004-01-24
- Posts: 1880
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
WhirlinGraphics wrote:
gd wrote:
By the way I did not fall for it. If you remember my reply to them was: "you sick bastards".
Sorry, I know, just joking with you since that thread is still fresh in my mind.
I told you they were perverts.
A million seconds is 12 days.
A billion seconds is 31 years.
A trillion seconds is 31,688 years.
Hope and change could be forever.
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#16 2009-10-22 9:34 am
- macnuke
- just a plano guy
- Moderator

- From: North Dallas 40
- Registered: 2004-05-16
- Posts: 7131
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
fyi.. any consistent job on your resume looks better than lotsa open unemployed time frames.
after a month of looking and collecting unemployment..... even flippin burgers at the local burger doodle shows more initiative than "just lookin"
the downside is sometimes unemployment comp pays more, so many would rather just collect with no worries other than looking for a job which leaves you explaining why you were out of the workforce so long.
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#17 2009-10-22 10:11 am
- dv
- Negusa Negest
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- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18078
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
gd wrote:
It is still going on apparently.
These things often take on a life of their own.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#18 2009-10-22 10:43 am
- radarman
- Member
- Registered: 2005-02-28
- Posts: 3585
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
macnuke wrote:
fyi.. any consistent job on your resume looks better than lotsa open unemployed time frames.
after a month of looking and collecting unemployment..... even flippin burgers at the local burger doodle shows more initiative than "just lookin"
the downside is sometimes unemployment comp pays more, so many would rather just collect with no worries other than looking for a job which leaves you explaining why you were out of the workforce so long.
That can backfire, depending on the industry; however. It all entirely depends on the circumstances.
In my case, unemployment was 1/4 of what my salary had been. I would have been homeless in a few months without additional income, so I would have had to risk it. Thankfully, that wasn't necessary.
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#19 2009-10-22 11:03 am
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with

- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 16016
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
What's the design software? A lot of sign shops use CorelDRAW. And that's if you are lucky (many small shops try to get by with whatever the plotter company offers).
"Right hand man" sounds to me like you'll end up doing pretty much everything in the shop...quoting jobs, getting art from clients, cutting AND sticking the graphics....a lot of motorsports shops work that way. I live in one of the primary motorsports areas and printed NASCAR graphics on my old job.
He may be looking for someone to take the pressure off him and also to cut down on hiring so many freelancers. The positive aspect of this is that he might feel that he has enough steady business coming in to pay for help full time.
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
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#20 2009-10-22 11:25 am
- dv
- Negusa Negest
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- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18078
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
Working is better than not working. Worst case scenario is you get fired. Then you're back where you started.
So don't stop sending out resumes for at least 90 days.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#21 2009-10-22 4:56 pm
- Pariah
- James Carville Fan..

- From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
- Registered: 2001-05-24
- Posts: 18394
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
See if you can get him to agree to "lay you off" if you don't mesh with the company so you can collect unemployment again.
"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
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#23 2009-10-23 12:10 am
- WhirlinGraphics
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- From: Central Indiana
- Registered: 2001-06-24
- Posts: 875
- Website
Re: Need advice on career decision. Sign shop or keep looking?
user wrote:
What's the design software? A lot of sign shops use CorelDRAW. And that's if you are lucky (many small shops try to get by with whatever the plotter company offers).
"Right hand man" sounds to me like you'll end up doing pretty much everything in the shop...quoting jobs, getting art from clients, cutting AND sticking the graphics....a lot of motorsports shops work that way. I live in one of the primary motorsports areas and printed NASCAR graphics on my old job.
He may be looking for someone to take the pressure off him and also to cut down on hiring so many freelancers. The positive aspect of this is that he might feel that he has enough steady business coming in to pay for help full time.
Yes, CorelDRAW is what they use, it looked fairly cut and dry from what I saw and definitely more "auto" than I expected. He does want me to learn all the aspects of the business but said that was more for my understanding of the processes/time involved? Got the impression that if I had to do something I would know how but would typically only be doing a portion of it? He only has one other part-time designer right now. The other part timer solely does customer websites. His independent contractor likes to travel and gets sent on 'out of town' installations.
15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, OS X 10.6, connected via 56K modem. iMac DV SE, 400MHz PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 13GB HD, OS 9.2. iPhone 16GB, 1st gen. iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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