Advice on re-entering the workforce after a loooong absence

In My Humble Opinion
1

WARNING: LONG-WINDED THREAD. IF YOU’RE EASILY BORED YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP THIS ONE

First, a little background.

After college I found out the hard way that an Artist (or "Artisté ") seldom ever makes enough money to survive, so I found myself working tons of jobs —everything from a machine operator in a plastics factory, to telemarketing, to polishing steel in a machine shop, to being a clerk in a convenience store— before stumbling into graphics. I learned to use a Mac and all of the industry-specific software (Pagemaker, Quark Xpress, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.), and began working in printing as a graphic designer/typesetter/pre-press technician. That’s where I stayed for over 15 years. I still did Fine Art on the side; gallery shows, outdoor art festivals, restaurant shows, private commissions and such, but it was always graphics for the print industry that kept the rent paid and food in my belly.

When my son was born, it was decided that my wife, a college professor, would keep her 9-to-5 job and I would stay at home and raise the boyo. I took in the occasional freelance graphics clients and still sold my Fine Art stuff, but it wasn’t a steady source of regular income. It was always understood that once our son started school I’d rejoin the workforce, on a part-time basis, if nothing else.

My son started kindergarten several weeks ago, so now the time has come. And here’s where the problem(s) begins.

In the almost 6 years that I’ve been gone, the field of graphics has moved on without me. I’m not up to speed on the new, or newest versions, of software. The pay a good, experienced graphic designer can command has plummeted, plus I’m competing with kids —some educated, many just home users; computer jockeys who learned the ropes on pirated software— who’ll work for half of what I’d ask. There’s also the fact that I just don’t have any real interest in working in a production graphics environment anymore. It was a mind-numbing, stress-filled, bullshit-filled field that I’m glad to be out of. I enjoy doing graphics from my own studio, where I have some degree of control over the output, but anywhere else…ehhhhhhhh.

I can’t expect a steady income from my Fine Art work or from painting murals, motorcycles, and furniture. That stuff makes a little green for us, but it’s in drips and drops; I might make $3,000. one month and nothing for the next 2-3 months. I need a consistant amount of money coming in.

I’ve always been attracted to the entrepreneurial route, but many of my ideas are just not that feasible under close scrutiny, and I don’t have much startup money to play with.

I’ve considered going back to school, but I can’t find anything that really grabs me. It would have to be an associates or a vocational program; I’m a bit old to go back for an additional degree (I’d be almost 50 before I finished a degree program). I could go back for my MFA, but that would be almost as useless as the degree I already have.

I’m at a loss. I only really need to bring in about $5-600.00 per month, so it’s not really necessary that I find a “career” per se, but I also don’t want a shit job that’s going to pile on the stress and suck out my soul bit by bit; I’ve had that, and don’t want to go back. I’m in a great position —one that I would have killed to be in back in my younger days— in that I don’t have to jump into something I don’t want or don’t like. I have all the time I need to figure out what to do next.

The positives:
I have a degree (granted, it’s a useless degree, but I do have one). I’m intelligent, friendly, creative, have a high degree of computer literacy (more than the average home user; less than a hardcore compugeek) and a reasonable amount of tech savvy. I enjoy building things and working with my hands. I like art, woodwork, machinery, reading, writing. I like helping people. I’m good with kids. I have a strong resumé, albeit with a 6-year long hole in it, and great references. I’m a helluva’ good cook and baker. I’m good with a camera, airbrush or paintbrush.

The negatives:
I have a problem with authority, and do my best work when I’m not being fucked with. I’m good with the public unless they are difficult; dealing with loud, confrontational or angry people is not my strong suit. My lungs are a mess, so I can’t work in most industrial settings with heat, airborne particles, wood dust, chemical fumes, etc. I have a weird schedule that has to be worked around my son. I have little to no patience. I’m terrible at any sort of calculation/mathematics.

I thought if anyone can offer up any tidbits of sage wisdom, profound advice, pointless masturbatory statements, vicious written abuse, or just a pat on the back and a hearty “…sucks to be you” it would be the Doper community. Help me out, brothers and sisters.

Any ideas about what I should be doing? What do YOU do? Do you like it? Are there any fields I could slip into without a ton of retraining? Are there any genuine ways to make money at home using my brains, talent and computer? Any CAD draftsmen around? Do you like that field?

2

Have you thought about starting an art camp for children or a non-profit along those lines? Do you live in an area with a lot of yuppies? They eat that stuff up. I’d suggest teaching art in public school but I suspect that would be a hard gig to get in this economy.

3

I’m in a moderately similar situation. I’m eating a 60% pay cut. Plus loss of all benefits.

4

You only need $150 a week? Did you misplace a decimal maybe? That’s below minimum wage.

5

Seems like that would rule out any of the structured help desk options on both of the first strikes.

What about politics? if you don’t have the stomach for the constant BS of political life, government funded jobs are one of the main growth sectors in this employment market.

6

That is not bad at all! See, now that’s the kinda’ stuff I’m looking for! Many thanks, Cowboy.

Nope, no misplaced decimal. Just need a few hundred-odd extra bucks a month. Yeah, it would be less than minimum wage if I were looking for a full time gig.

Financially speaking, we’re doing alright; the bills get paid, there’s food in the pantry, the kid’s college fund gets added to, and there’s usually a little something left over. We’d just rather have a little more left over.

7

One of my friends, who is an excellent graphic artist, missed a lot of the web technology that seems to drive much of graphic design these days. Also, he wasn’t young anymore, either. So, he branched out into marketing, and went to work for a country club where he could design membership campaigns, and all the associated materials, create presentations, and shmooze to bring in new members. He loves it. He gets to be creative, be involved with a constantly evolving campaign, instead of just piece-work, and basically is allowed the freedom to do what he wants, as long as the marketing he comes up with is successful.

8

You could do sub work at schools. It can be pretty decent pay and works around your son’s hours. Your degree will get you in the door. The more you make your face familiar in the school the more excellent chances you have of being hired FT. If you decide you like it enough, you can take it further.

Possibly being an art teacher or a computer geek teacher, which are always needed in schools as so many teachers ( read: women) seem to be technologically challenged.

Pro’s: Work 9-3ish. No weekends. No summers. Great health care. Great union. Get tenure and become virtually unfireable. Possibly off when your child is off ( depending on the district you are in.) Interact with your other co-workers as little or as often as necessary.

Con’s: Must be organized. Parents can be a pain in the ass. Communication skills and patience must be A++++++. There will be a mandatory two-three kids per class that have squirrels in the pants ( hyper) and the parents are not exactly helpful. Lots of rules. Paperwork. Your immune system will take a hit because kids are walking petri dishes. Dealing with the Union ( any union) can be a PITA. Male teachers end up moving anything heavier than a pencil for the female teachers, so I am told by two male teacher friends of mine.

What exactly is your problem with authority? Is there any one or two things that push you over the edge? Or is it general " The Man Is Keeping Me Down, Dude" kinda f’you to the Boss thing?

** Blah blah blah, not mandatory reading ** I’ve been out of the work force for 11 years raising kids and have no degree, even an artsy fartsy one, to fall back on, so* I am VERY ENVIOUS of you and your degree*. It is a bitter pill to go back to the workforce so highly motivated and find that all you can get is minimum wage and grunt jobs. It’s like, “Look, I can do shit. Anything you throw at me, I can do it.” But they want the 30K degree that will say that I CAN DO IT. It's really frustrating. I find a steady paycheck keeps me from hating my boss ( I actually really like two of my three bosses. The third is warming to me and I her.) and my job is to make the boss happy. It's taken me 40 years to either become *One Of The Walking Dead *or *Grow The Hell Up and Do What Needs To Be Done To Bring Home The Bacon*. What I ended up doing is changing my internal dialoge to positive thoughts. Instead of going, " I'm too smart for this @%^ job!" I think, " What needs to be done now and how can I do this better?" It’s not “me Time.” it’s “Company Time” if that makes any sense. ( I’m pretty sure that if my husband were reading over my shoulder he would piss himself silly because that is his brain thoughts 24/7.) His germaness is contagious. Damn Germans!

Talk to us. Maybe we can help.

BTW, Good on you for staying home and spending time with your child! I have never met a SAHM or SAHD who regretted staying at home for (x) years, but I have met alot of parents who wish they could have the luxury to leave their jobs to devote more time with the family. Financially, it is very hard. It is a luxury and it is a honor.

9

If working retail, stocking shelves or fast food are on your list of things you could do for a little while, get out there sooner rather than later. You ought to be able to find a job in the next month which will get you through Christmas, at which time you may or may not be offered a longer term job with a sharp cut in your hours come January.

It’s not really a step towards bigger and better things, but showing someone will hire you and hopefully vouch for you come January that you showed up, and got along with others can’t hurt.

10

Along this line, my nieces go to private day care. In addition to the arts and crafts that they do with the regular teachers, they have a special art program that is conducted by a visiting teacher who comes to the classroom a few times a month. (There are also special traveling teachers for computer skills, sports, dance etc - the parents pay a bit extra for each program that they want their child to participate in). I assume that the special art teacher brings the same program to different daycare providers in the area. The kids love it.

11

Where I live, both the local parks department and the YWCA offer adult education classes in all sorts of art-related topics. According to a quilting teacher I once took a class with, she basically approached the YWCA and offered her services. They take a cut of what she charges. You might consider doing that.

12

Yeah, I was thinking of that with kids’ classes at the YMCA, and/or a community center.