Every time my life begins to stabilize and become routine, my employer loses a major client, towers in New York collapse or the economy tanks. It always results in the same thing—cutting the design department (and subsequently the entire company closes). Although I have not officially been laid off for a third time in 10 years, it’s coming. I’ve been warned. “You’re an outstanding graphic designer and a terrific employee,” they say, “but with the economy the way it is…” I would think marketing and graphics would beef up during a weak economy to gain market share, not be eliminated. Why not cut unnecessary positions, like the “Manager of Continuous Improvement”? Yes, that is an actual position at my current place of employment, though things haven’t continuously improved for me.

I’m taking the three lay-offs as a sign that I’m not meant to work for the man. I’m being pushed from the nest of comfort and benefits to spread my designer wings and find work as a freelance designer. If all goes well, I will not be living in a box with my family next to the Schuylkill River, killing squirrels for their meat. I’ve never been a hunter and I don’t want to start. Plus, I like squirrels.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 21st, 2009 at 4:19 pm and is filed under Freelance, Graphic Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.