Susan Kirkland (bio)

Your views of the world of work will change as you get older.  Wisdom comes with age, but all that means is some of the mystery and puzzlement over the course of your career will be clarified through personal experience. Separate yourself from the flood of resumes designed into oblivion; they are hard to read and difficult to decipher; will your work be the same?  Those rockin' hot typefaces you used (all 10 of them) will fade with time and become dated, sorta like shoulder pads and platform shoes.  Don't worry, if fashion is any indicator, they will cycle back in about 30 years and you'll be right on top of things again. But it won't be easy for you to get a good design job. Keep your resume simple, easy to read and pertinent. 

The trouble with job interviews is that so many people stretch the truth about their skills, nobody knows what to believe.  The assistant with her degree from the Art Institute who felt her beauty, grace and appearance were enough to keep her employed was fired.  The assistant who said he had a degree in advertising but really had majored in journalism was fired. Human beings are complex, emotional and pretty prejudiced about certain things when forced to make quick judgments about strangers they must hire.  You can maximize your chances of being hired for the right job in a very competitive field by following a few simple rules. Bear in mind that the right job may not be the job you want or think you deserve.  It should be one that matches your skills and abilities at the time. 

My previous post on  "Portfolio What's Yours is Not Theirs"  has generated more comments than any other post.  In an effort to clarify the issues involved, and rise to meet some challenges offered by readers, the questions and my resulting answers are posted below: The answers were sent to the individuals, except for one who gave a bad address.

I was just released from my full time staff position of senior photographer I held for 7 years.  In those 7 years, I never had a contract or a non-compete about imagery and it's usage.  My former employer insists that I have ZERO rights to use any of the images to build a website and promote myself as an independent photographer.  On my last day he pushed an agreement in front of me stating, don't call clients, don't say anything bad about him, and he is offering me 8 images to take as my own. If I don't sign, he' s not going to give me my final check.  I had to sign just to get my money and get out of the building or I might have done something illegal to his physical being.  So 7 years have passed and I have to tell potential employers that I've been under a rock for 7 years. Or try to explain, "I really am a spectacular photographer you just need to trust me.  No I don't have any work to show you, but really, I'm great."