need a Graphic Designer?

[BlueFox181]

I am looking to move to Destin/Santa Rosa/30-A area within the next few months. Does anyone know of any fulltime graphic jobs available?

Please let me know!

portfolios.com/LauraHay

[beachmouse]

Hate to say it, but it's not a great market for designers, and the pay tends to be pretty low. The people I know that make a living wage for the area tend to have civilian contract jobs on one of the military bases.

[BlueFox181]

Well, unfortunately- I was hoping to find someone with positive advice. I understand it’s not a great market, which is why I am posting on here. I know there are other jobs to be had in the area but that’s not what I am interested in. I have a great deal of experience in high-pressure deadlines and demanding clients and was hoping to benefit a company in Destin (or nearby) area that is struggling to keep up with current workloads. I figured I’d try this outlet before I turn to freelance work and wedding/party invitations…


please help!

[Smiling JOe]

Wish I could help, but most of the people in that biz, are freelancing. This is the beach, and high pressure deadline jobs are not as likely to be found around here. I have several friends in that biz around here, and most just pay the bills, even though they are very talented people. Good luck and keep your mind open, and maybe something will strike a chord with you.

[Geo]

I am going to need someone to do some freelance work on an as needed basis. I won't have a ton of work but still need someone. Lemme know if interested...

GW

[BlueFox181]

I am always here for those in need. Feel free to contact me at anytime.


I will be in town June 26-30, and hopefully will be able to set-up some interviews by then...

As far as high-pressure jobs- I currently work at a weekly newspaper and stress is unbelievable on press day. Are there any other newspapers, or is the Destin Log the only one? Is there an equivalent to say- a Creative Loafing in Atlanta? It's a weekly with all current events.

Thanks for all of the input!

[yippie]

I am always here for those in need. Feel free to contact me at anytime.


I will be in town June 26-30, and hopefully will be able to set-up some interviews by then...

As far as high-pressure jobs- I currently work at a weekly newspaper and stress is unbelievable on press day. Are there any other newspapers, or is the Destin Log the only one? Is there an equivalent to say- a Creative Loafing in Atlanta? It's a weekly with all current events.

Thanks for all of the input!

There is the Walton Sun and the Northwest Florida Daily News. The Daily paper is the Daily News. Destin Log only publishes twice a week and the Sun once a week.

They are all owned by Freedom Press. And the Panama City News Hearld is owned by them as well.

[beachmouse]

Unfortunately, unless things have really changed in the past two years, the Log pays its designers less than $10/hour.

[BlueFox181]

Unfortunately, unless things have really changed in the past two years, the Log pays its designers less than $10/hour.

So I have to wonder BeachMouse- are you a designer secretly trying to talk another one out of coming to the market?

You seem to be the only one with a negative spin down there!

...and you're right- $10 for a general production person isn't good.

[GoodWitch58]

that is unfair to Beachmouse. She/He is trying to give you the situation. There are very few jobs for this kind of work, and the ones that are here pay very little.
Your best option as BM said is to get a job with one of the military bases either at Eglin/Hurlburt or Tyndall in Panama City.
The resorts have some positions, but they are few and far between and the pay is not that great.
Go onto Monster.com and take a look for yourself.
I was in the PR Marketing business for my over 30 years, and often thought of moving to this area, only to find a total lack of jobs. Once I did relocate I changed careers completely.
So, it's not negative, it's simply the way things are here.

[beachmouse]

Me, nope. But in the interest of full disclosure, my husband teaches graphic design at the college level down here. He doesn't freelance much though, just a couple of military projects here and there. And I've heard many a rant from him about how people expect to pay fast food wages for designers down here.

The only exception really does tend to be the military down here. If you're able to get a security clearance, and are in the right place at the right time, I know people who make $50K in civilian jobs putting together in-house magazines for the Air Force, or taking pictures and doing presentations of Giant Things Blowing Up.

[BlueFox181]

Oh, I don't think I was being unfair- just was stating that it's only been negative advice from beachmouse, but that I had gotten help from others...

BUT I do agree that's it's hard to find jobs- the being the whole point of this post in the first place.

I might have to look into that military thing after all... thanks!

[beachmouse]

When you know people who would love to work in the field, but end up waiting tables because the money's so much better, it's hard to stay positive about it. I really wish it was a better market, but it's an area that's commonly massively cheaped out on down here.

[BlueFox181]

Which of course then I have to ask- do the servers make decent money down there? I hear most commute. That's no good.

[beachmouse]

If you time the move right, you can sometimes find reasonably affordable in Destin, which has a fair number of apartments, tonwhomes, and inland condos. Server pay varies, but in some restaurants, you can do very well. I can remember talking to one of the servers in McGuire's and she said she was making more money there thasn she would using her degree in elementary education. (She had a military spouse, so benefits didn't matter so much)

[BlueFox181]

when would you say is the right time to move down there? I might venture down jobless and just hope it all works out. I am just not a huge fan of serving tables and I hate seeing that $90k piece of paper go to waste...

[beachmouse]

I know how that goes. Since we've moved down here, in 1998, I've spent a total of nine months with a job in my degree field (which turned into the job from hell) and seven years in a job where I pretended to know something about IT for a paycheck anyone in a bigger city would have laughed at. I've just got the utterly wrong personality to work in the restuarant biz.

From a housing perspective, late July/early August might work out well. Whoever didn't get a tennant during the usual May/June post school year shuffle might be willing to cut a little bit of a deal on the rent at that point.

This really is a great place to live in so many ways, but the employment market here requires a fair amount of flexibility and creativity until you start making local connections and find your niche. There are good jobs here, but they often require some patience and networking to get to.

[BlueFox181]

I am plotting to move in March when my lease is up but maybe it'll be worth it to come down early.

I honestly don't have the best personality for serving either. Too many people don't know how to eat at a restaurant. Bad tips, people scamming for free things, I hated it. BUT it was great money.

At least in the meantime I shall be down every 2 months till I find a job ;)

June 26-30 this next time... I can't wait!

[beachmouse]

March is good in the sense it's pretty easy to find short term work then when businesses go into an 'I'm overrun with spring breakers' panic, and there might be design work to be had for realtors gearing up for the spring selling season.

[BlueFox181]

Yeah! I got an interview for my impending trip- and YES- it's in graphic design!

Persistence pays off...

[beachmouse]

Best of luck with it! And let us know how it goes.

[GoodWitch58]

Good luck, hope it's what you want!

[BlueFox181]

Thanks! I hope so too... but still trying to set-up other interviews for the week if anyone is interested ;)