Dont know what to do with my job

scamalert

As title says im a bit lost,i have been working in retail, shop assistant for over 5years now,im 26y old male,still living at home,and for the last couple years im just scraping money to get from one week to another,as im getting 2-3 days at most every week,there are weeks where i would get more days when covering others while they on holidays and so on.But in perspective it costs me more every week to do couple days work,as i have to pay bills,insurance,petrol cost,food and at best im able to put aside 50-100 e a week,as i cut all the going out/club stuff and only spend money to cover my essentials.
Now the biggest problem for me is i dont have any degree in anything,and current job that i have is miserable as its mind numbing experience,no thinking required just packing items away and doing same routine,from year to year every day when im working,basically it became grinding.And to say the least i have no interest in retail anymore,haven't left the place just because dont want to lose last income i have.
What im interested is graphics design-Basically in Photoshop,im self thought and have just above average skills,can create stuff like business cards brochures,simple design,photo editing.Only advantage i have that i am a fast learner when it comes to software,i was doing quite alright couple years back with 3d design,but them skills are almost gone as software progressed so far that eventually i gave up modeling.
So my question is would i be mad to try to get apprentice work or even apply for unpaid positions as a trainee/assistant to get my way into design,and where it would be best to find such position.As in couple years time if i continue i wont be able to do anything besides manual unskilled labor work.
As at this point im seriously considering just leaving the place,i know economy is completely scarce at this time,and many would love to have some sort of job,but after 6 years doing same routine work,with 0 benefits and increasing workload,id be happy to do something i like,for little to no money with some possibility to get skill set in the field i would love to work in.Any advice is welcome.

Tom_Cruise

Try to get into college as a mature student. All of your fees will be paid and you will get BTEA every week (188 euro currently). Of course you have to be on to the dole for so long before you can be eligible for this. I know many friends who have been in good well paid jobs that they just didn't like so they just quit and went back to education and have never looked back.

Just be smart about it, do your research and hopefully things will work out for you.

scamalert

thx Tom,i did some low level courses in design and photography over the years,just to add im not a fan of dole had couple chances to go on it,but i rather stayed and worked for couple E i got.As once you hit the wall and sit on it for a while you lose a lot of interest in doing anything.That said being mature student was always on my mind,but these days degree is something that means little to nothing to employers when it comes to real life experience even if you dont have any paper to back you up,as I know so many people that have bachelors,masters in fields of psychology,science,accounting,law.but when it comes to finding jobs everyone is looking for someone with real life experience instead of a college paper,might sound pessimistic but that's reality in this economy nowadays.

Lux23

Before making the leap though, try and get a day a week working with a local graphic design agency just in case it turns out to be something you aren't interested in.

KeithTS

scamalert wrote: »

these days degree is something that means little to nothing to employers when it comes to real life experience even if you dont have any paper to back you up

Dunno where you read that but its bo**ocks.
A degree is only a way of getting our foot in the door perhaps but how else do you plan on getting that opportunity?

I was in a very similar situation as you a few years ago, at 26 I was working a dead end job which I kinda fell into and hated, was unfulfilled etc.

My job came to an end so I went on the dole for 9 months and applied to a load of courses I was interested in.
I was very lucky and got my first choice and now I'm going into final year in September. Best decision I ever made, however, it has been a tough slog all the same.

If you leave your job I think you have to be unemployed - and signing on - for 9 months in order to be entitled to back to education allowance. At least it was 9 months when I was going through the process.

Tombo2001

Where do you live OP?

theidiots

scamalert wrote: »

That said being mature student was always on my mind,but these days degree is something that means little to nothing to employers when it comes to real life experience even if you dont have any paper to back you up,as I know so many people that have bachelors,masters in fields of psychology,science,accounting,law.but when it comes to finding jobs everyone is looking for someone with real life experience instead of a college paper,might sound pessimistic but that's reality in this economy nowadays.

Complete and utter bull.

I think they would take a graduate with any degree if they were interested in graphic design over you to be honest. And where is 99% of graphic design these days? Its in Web development so unless you have background in this you have very little hope.

And these people that are all working in the areas you said are more than likely gaurunteed to have a degree. Where do you think graduates get their roles from? Sitting on their holes all day for three or four years without a degree hoping someone might take them on. Plenty of graduate roles out their if you look hard enough and put the effort into your degree. And you say they want life experience? You'll only get that life experience with a degree.

You don't get anything in life handed to you, you have to earn it.

BostonB

The only way to get into design is with a kick ass portfolio. See whats up on http://www.coroflot.com/. Degrees and qualifications help, but not as much as other industries. Portfolio and experience is everything. Lots of people want to get into design so getting into it is hard. I don't think it pays that well unless you're really good. You might have to spend a long time in low pay and low hours before you get anywhere.

Theres no reason why you can't keep your job, and build a portfolio in the evening and the weekend. If your portfolio doesn't get you in anywhere, you have to make it better, or otherwise, you have to accept you'll never make a living at it.

BostonB

scamalert wrote: »

...everyone is looking for someone with real life experience instead of a college paper,might sound pessimistic but that's reality in this economy nowadays.

If you have a 1:1 from an international regarded design college its going to open doors. If you have a mega portfolio and never went to college it will open doors.

scamalert

theidiots wrote: »

Complete and utter bull.

I think they would take a graduate with any degree if they were interested in graphic design over you to be honest. And where is 99% of graphic design these days? Its in Web development so unless you have background in this you have very little hope.

And these people that are all working in the areas you said are more than likely gaurunteed to have a degree. Where do you think graduates get their roles from? Sitting on their holes all day for three or four years without a degree hoping someone might take them on. Plenty of graduate roles out their if you look hard enough and put the effort into your degree. And you say they want life experience? You'll only get that life experience with a degree.

You don't get anything in life handed to you, you have to earn it.

Now i didnt want to sound like college is a waste of time or anything,if more then yes many qualifications will require degree first before they will look any further into your application.
and to make it clear im not looking to land job in big company straight into design sector,as theres more skilled qualified people with degrees and talents to choose from and competition is big over the globe.
I should of stated that im looking for something like small printing/design company where low level stuff is being done printed,just to get the feet into ins and outs involved in such type business,not straight concept art design studio work.

BostonB

The low level stuff is much like your current job.

KeithTS

I still think a qualification would be important.
Unfortunately it's an employers market, I know a few qualified graphic designers with good degrees/masters and experience and they've been stuck working as assistants the last number of years.
That's the way things are these days. It's your call what you want to do but I wouldn't be naive thinking you can get anywhere worthwhile working from the bottom up these days coz the people running for coffee in a lot of places are a lot more experienced and qualified than you or I

Oregano_State

scamalert wrote: »

Now i didnt want to sound like college is a waste of time or anything,if more then yes many qualifications will require degree first before they will look any further into your application.
and to make it clear im not looking to land job in big company straight into design sector,as theres more skilled qualified people with degrees and talents to choose from and competition is big over the globe.
I should of stated that im looking for something like small printing/design company where low level stuff is being done printed,just to get the feet into ins and outs involved in such type business,not straight concept art design studio work.

Aim higher, dude. Go to college and work on a portfolio. Work on the portfolio while your collecting dole for the 9 months it will take to be eligible for back to education benefits.

If you're going to do something, go at it full throttle.

BostonB

The colleges churn out loads of graduates in areas there's no work, or at least no well paid work in.

Even if you have the best qualification. Your portfolio will be 80% maybe of getting in the door in design. IMO.