[Unknown Target]

So, finally graduating from uni after 5 years, with a BFA in Industrial Design. No work yet. :\ How are you guys doing, job wise? Anyone know any place that's looking for a 3d modeler/artist/industrial designer?

[z64555]

Could try looking at consulting firms...

[General Battuta]

It's an extremely tough time for young workers right now, and with your employment history in the first few years of your career historically a huge predictor of your future income and success, it has a lot of people desperate. Fortunately that's a reasonably sensible skill set, so best of luck in the job hunt.

i myself have a pretty decent 401k and am headed into a fully paid 6 year phd program, from which i will hopefully emerge into a fat and happy economy 

[Scourge of Ages]

I was looking through jobs available with Amazon.com, and noticed a surprising number of openings in that sort of thing. Any chance you live near Seattle?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/jobs/146037/ref=j_sr_3_t?ie=UTF8&category=Product%20Design&keywords=3d%20model&location=*&page=1

Personally, my work isn't going so great, the place I work is hitting hard times and my hours are reduced. I'm going to look into getting an accounting degree and finding someplace stable.

[StarSlayer]

What firms did you intern during your college years?  Even if they don't have the openings to take you on if you did a good job they can probably help you network with other positions in the industry. 

[General Battuta]

What firms did you intern during your college years?  Even if they don't have the openings to take you on if you did a good job they can probably help you network with other positions in the industry. 

As the result of excellent internship decisions one of my friends in computer science is currently being squabbled over by Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Cray. It's pretty enviable

[Unknown Target]

Thanks Scourge, I'll apply there. Starslayer, I've asked a few of my contacts but they haven't been able to help. :\ I'll probably ask again if I don't have anything by mid/end of summer.

Battuta, I wouldn't put too many bets on a healthy economy in six years. :\ From all that I've been reading (admittedly most of it is ZeroHedge), it looks like it's going to get much worse before it gets better. My money is on the student loan bubble popping; I think that's what will finally do in the status quo.

[Mongoose]

I'm a Physics major who's been out of school for three years and still doesn't have a full-time job, so I don't think I can help you on that regard.

[General Battuta]

Thanks Scourge, I'll apply there. Starslayer, I've asked a few of my contacts but they haven't been able to help. :\ I'll probably ask again if I don't have anything by mid/end of summer.

Battuta, I wouldn't put too many bets on a healthy economy in six years. :\ From all that I've been reading (admittedly most of it is ZeroHedge), it looks like it's going to get much worse before it gets better. My money is on the student loan bubble popping; I think that's what will finally do in the status quo.

I've already had several years of employment and I have never failed to get a job within a couple days of looking for one. I'm not worried about my own prospects, but it would be nice for that index fund to keep going up instead of down 

[Unknown Target]

Index fund? I'm just waiting for the European student protests/riots to hit here. :\

[Mika]

To UT: Congratulations on your graduation!

I'm not familiar with US job markets, but generally your skill set is reasonable and should allow landing a job. Do you have courses on ergonomics as well? I'd go looking for local hand held device manufacturers (especially if ergonomics), possibly car manufacturers as well. R&D companies might find your skill set valuable. Freelancing is possible too, but requires connections to companies. Companies specializing in the medical side should have jobs for industrial designers too - whether it is just devices or plain ergonomics. From what I have been following, the hard thing for the newcomer is to convince mechanical engineers that you are a valuable addition from the end user's perspective. After that, the engineers might come and ask you to do the design with them next time! I see industrial design as a growing market, but it takes some time to sell yourself through to the conservative companies. Don't worry, just try again!

Is going international a possibility for you? Germany has a lack of educated engineers at the moment, and that might be worth considering as well. Australia could be a possibility too when sharing the common language, but my understanding is that their work markets are now mainly searching for mining related workforce and R&D is specializing in water treatment at this time. Other possibilities might open up too.

[Unknown Target]

I'm a Physics major who's been out of school for three years and still doesn't have a full-time job, so I don't think I can help you on that regard.

Have you learned anything else in the meantime? You could go into game programming or other such endeavors, or hit up any of the new space companies with those sorts of skills.

Mika, to be honest I'm surprised you and others know what industrial design is; I'm always having to explain it. I can move abroad, though I'd prefer to stay in the US, and yea we have courses on ergonomics. I'll look into some of what you suggested, those are good ideas.

[Sushi]

I was looking through jobs available with Amazon.com, and noticed a surprising number of openings in that sort of thing. Any chance you live near Seattle?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/jobs/146037/ref=j_sr_3_t?ie=UTF8&category=Product%20Design&keywords=3d%20model&location=*&page=1

Personally, my work isn't going so great, the place I work is hitting hard times and my hours are reduced. I'm going to look into getting an accounting degree and finding someplace stable.

I actually work for Amazon, as a software developer. I can't really speak to what non-software positions are like, but I enjoy my work and love living in the Seattle area. Feel free to PM me if you want more details about Amazon and/or Seattle.

[Mika]

Well, I work in the R&D field with an unusually broad field. I'm probably allowed to say at least that industrial designer has actually improved considerably the outlook of several of our prototypes, making it easier for our customers to market them to their customers.

Just a hint: try to get good contacts for 3D printing companies too, especially if you are basically free now. Trust me, that will benefit you.

EDIT: Oh, and possibly even furniture manufacturers might have positions open.
EDIT^2: How could I forget about the illuminaire design? Illuminaire design is as much about aesthetics as actually illuminating something!

[Nuke]

i just live off the government. my skills would be completely wasted if i actually had a job, and id rather not see that happen again. i can do more without a budget than most people can do with one.

[Mars]

College dropout, lapsed CNA licence that no one ever hired me for, looking at finally getting full time employment and a decent wage after working at a retail chain for a little over a year.

[Alan Bolte]

College dropout, not much in the way of marketable skills. Fixing this bug was about the limit of my programming ability. I've got a game testing job open for me if I were willing to move, but I doubt that'd pay enough or last long enough to be worth the trouble.

For the past 2+ years or so I've worked several multiple-month contracts in what is described as an "IT Helpdesk" position, but doesn't seem to match up with the requirements at any other IT position in a 50 mile radius. About 30% of what I do is monitor automated processes using proprietary tools, UltraVNC, command-line pings, and an IP scanner. The next 30% involves being responsible for 3-4 teams of computer/printer installation technicians whom I usually only work with for one or two days. I only communicate with them by phone, and depending on their level of competence I'll either just check them in and out, or have to tell them how to do their job while catching their mistakes. About 10% of the time I have to do some basic hardware troubleshooting or Google a solution. The remaining 10% is documenting my work in ticket systems, Microsoft Office products, and various proprietary web interfaces.

It pays pretty well per hour but I'm lucky to make it over the federal poverty level since I can't get enough hours and I can't seem to find jobs between contracts. I guess I just can't figure out how to find the jobs I'm qualified for.

[Bobboau]

took me 3 months to get my current job, I get 60k/year, all sorts of insurance, expenses paid, work with great people, they are going to pay my way through a masters program, I get roughly a month's worth of vacation a year and I get an annual weekend all expenses paid vacation to some tropical island.

just put yourself on monster and start looking for a job you would like to do. and remember they need you as much as you need them.

[Klaustrophobia]

i've observed recently that many companies seem to suddenly gain a lot of interest in people after they take jobs at a different company (or in my case the government).  getting the first job is always the hardest, and moving around from there seems to be much easier.  i would suggest that you don't need to find the "perfect" job right away, just something you can handle in the field you want to work in.  i've even heard this straight from the mouths of VERY high-level management in huge companies, that it's perfectly normal and acceptable to bounce around and stay in jobs for relatively short periods of time when just starting out.  HR might not understand this, but the people that matter do. 

as for the original question, i work for the government.  my starting salary isn't bad, but a good bit less than i would have liked and below the average for my field.  the nice thing is i'm on a guaranteed fast-tracked promotion schedule, so it won't stay that low for too long.  and if i stay on after i get qualified, i'll be making BANK with all the overtime i'll have to work.  right now my job is **** easy and mostly enjoyable, but that is going to change when i get qualified.  not sure how long i'm going to stick around after that.  i love living at the beach though, hopefully i can stay in the area, or find a job near a different one.

[Alex Heartnet]

I've heard horror stories about student loans and how college graduates can't get a job to pay off those loans.  The economy in the US is so bad that even a proper education does not guarantee a job.  And the economy has the potential to get far worse...