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Thinking about a possibility of a major career change... - Page 2

post #16 of 28
10/16/09 at 1:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by axlpendergast View Post
see this current economy? at my university career expo you know how many businesses were recruiting for marketing/creative/fun positions? zilch. they were all looking for accounting, finance, supply chain, operations, EE/CS/MIS

look, unless you're about to slit your wrist the next time you're asked about EBITDA and cash flows...just deal.

You have to realize though, that most design programs are 5 years for BA, and quite a few will not allow enrollment mid year. The economy will be quite different in 6 years...I hope...
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post #17 of 28
10/16/09 at 1:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flambeur View Post
Current career has been derailed pretty badly. Not quite DOA, but close. Without a major catalyst it will be pretty hard to recover until the economy picks up.

Well, if you've gotten nothing to lose, go for it.
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post #18 of 28
10/16/09 at 1:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuuma View Post
Not to suggest something weird but is there a way to sorta mix the two? In other words to leverage your quant/financial skills and entrepreneurial spirit in the creative field of your choice. That way you'd be piling on instead of merely bifurcating. You seem like a pretty competitive fellow so I assume you like the finance aspect. Be warned that people in creative fields are generally meaner than Hitler and will fight you just because they didn't like their coffee.

Interesting. Why do you think this is? I mean, I know creative types who have their quirks (just I like know accountants with the same) but is it a rule rather than an exception in those fields?
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post #19 of 28
10/16/09 at 1:11pm
Flambeur have you thought about being a third-party promoter or IR guy? In regard to the idea of mixing the two, that's the only thing that comes to mind for me...
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post #20 of 28
10/16/09 at 1:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuuma View Post
Not to suggest something weird but is there a way to sorta mix the two? In other words to leverage your quant/financial skills and entrepreneurial spirit in the creative field of your choice. That way you'd be piling on instead of merely bifurcating. You seem like a pretty competitive fellow so I assume you like the finance aspect. Be warned that people in creative fields are generally meaner than Hitler and will fight you just because they didn't like their coffee.

Great point. But I feel that I need to go through the learning process first. I would definitely never completely leave the business world behind, and would leverage what I already have to the max. Plus I think I'm much wiser now when it comes to take advantage of opportunities, dealing with people, etc. Technically I can stay in business and try to do something on the creative side of it, but I really really want to get the hard skills that come with it because I think I'd be very good at applying them in whatever direction I choose to go in.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Biscotti View Post
You have to realize though, that most design programs are 5 years for BA, and quite a few will not allow enrollment mid year. The economy will be quite different in 6 years...I hope...

Midyear is tough, but there are plenty of design/creative and even architecture masters programs for people from unrelated backgrounds who already have a bachelors, and most are 2-3 years long.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Piobaire View Post
Well, if you've gotten nothing to lose, go for it.

Well, technically I can try now and come back to my old profession in a year if I think i've made a mistake. Also I can probably do stuff on the side, but it won't be on the professional level.

Quote:
Originally Posted by unjung View Post
Flambeur have you thought about being a third-party promoter or IR guy? In regard to the idea of mixing the two, that's the only thing that comes to mind for me...

Not my cup of tea at all, and I worked closely with people who did that.
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post #21 of 28
10/16/09 at 3:34pm
I've worked as an internet and print creative for 10 years, first as a simple designer, and then moving up to lead designer and art director for a couple small internet and print design firms. I haven't found that the people are mean, but be prepared to have your work criticized since there is no right and wrong... its all subjective.

Throughout this time, I have always fed my entrepreneurial bug by starting side businesses, using my skills as a designer to market and promote my products and services. I probably started about 4 different side businesses until my most recent one, which has really stuck. Having worked exclusively on my own business for 6 months or so before taking a dive into the corporate world of big brokerage Commercial real estate, I have to say that the time I spent working on my own business was the most enjoyable working experience. Not having to deal with personalities and being in charge of my self was very relaxing. Dealing with clients was very limited due to the choice of business I picked, so pushing sales was not the forefront.. I use a attraction rather than promotion/soft marketing approach.

For me, because of my entrepreneurial spirit and creative drive, I found it was the best match for me and still find that I have tons of ideas that I want to put on paper and get going - Maybe you'll find that it works for you.
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post #22 of 28
10/16/09 at 4:27pm
hey flambeur...maybe try to shoot for a consulting firm (IDEO) that focuses on creative solutions? judging from your other posts you seem to have pretty solid work experience.
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post #23 of 28
10/16/09 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by axlpendergast View Post
hey flambeur...maybe try to shoot for a consulting firm (IDEO) that focuses on creative solutions? judging from your other posts you seem to have pretty solid work experience.

Well at least I think working at a place like IDEO would be a great way to do an "apprenticeship" stage of your career and to learn the practical side of your trade. It obviously seems like such a cool place to work, but a job is a job I guess.
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post #24 of 28
10/17/09 at 2:08pm
Never heard of IDEO, are there other similarly sized companies that provide similar services? I would have guessed they would mostly be pretty small. I guess there's no real reason for that, there are big advertising/marketing firms...
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post #25 of 28
10/17/09 at 2:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by yerfdog View Post
Never heard of IDEO, are there other similarly sized companies that provide similar services? I would have guessed they would mostly be pretty small. I guess there's no real reason for that, there are big advertising/marketing firms...

There are maybe 5-10 pretty well-known international design firms like IDEO and I'd say the rest of the industry are mostly smaller design studios/groups. Some larger companies run very good in-house groups as well.
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post #26 of 28
10/17/09 at 3:09pm
That is starting to look like a really cool career to me.
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post #27 of 28
10/18/09 at 4:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by yerfdog View Post
That is starting to look like a really cool career to me.

Maybe, maybe not.
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post #28 of 28
10/18/09 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuuma View Post
Not to suggest something weird but is there a way to sorta mix the two? In other words to leverage your quant/financial skills and entrepreneurial spirit in the creative field of your choice. That way you'd be piling on instead of merely bifurcating. You seem like a pretty competitive fellow so I assume you like the finance aspect. Be warned that people in creative fields are generally meaner than Hitler and will fight you just because they didn't like their coffee.
So true. I took a years worth of Architecture and the 'critique' process was basically the guest architect (who is misinformed and thinks your a year or two ahead of where you are) insulting your project until you feel like quitting. Even with a 3.5+ average i had no interest in dealing with that sort of attitude.
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