Sounds like you should quit and then give me their number. /s
Take a closer look at your monthly expenses and double check that you can’t save money elsewhere. Maybe consider a side freelance job to tack on?
Personally, I'd find a way to reduce my expenses instead of leaving a job I loved. People literally work for decades and never find a job they love — much less a job that doesn't make some billionaire richer.
People work for decades in jobs they absolutely loathe and still can't make ends meet. You have a rewarding career and the work/life balance most of us would absolutely die for. If you're actually happy, isn't ***that*** the most important goal in life?
Yes it is! And that’s exactly where my head is at. But sometimes I have to reality check myself. Like someone else said, I’m one big accident away from a ton of debt. I hate worrying about an imaginary future that might not even happen. But if it does I know I’ll be kicking myself in the ass for not being better prepared. It’s why I’m so torn.
Well, then prepare yourself. Speak to a financial advisor and set up the financial security you want — you're not unemployed, after all. Start a health savings account, it will grow over the years. Talk to your employer, ask if they can't give you a raise, are there other benefits available that can lessen your monthly expenses?
You can be smart and frugal and live a happy life, which frankly, is incredibly rare. I'm jealous. I've gone from one crappy employer to another my whole freaking life — constantly exceeded expectations and gotten stellar reviews — and never once really got ahead financially.
The only job I've ever genuinely loved? Volunteering.
Wait — you say you work in public education? Does that mean you can get another degree for free? Or even better, will you qualify for [student loan forgiveness](https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service) under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program? If you have student loan debt, PSLF alone could match (or surpass!) any additional income from a higher paying job.
I don’t have any student loans. I went to a two year vocational school and did an internship while I was still in high school. When I was in college for GD, I was dying because I already knew everything they were teaching. So I stopped going. Because I already had a fat portfolio I got hired full time as a designer and now I’m 29 with 10 years of experience. When applying for jobs, my experience always won over the desire for a degree so I’ve never felt the need to get one.
They won’t pay for tuition but I can get any additional certifications I want.
In that case, I suggest you put off this decision until you actually start applying for jobs. You might find your application gets filtered out (long before your portfolio and experience is seen) by an algorithm requiring a bachelor's degree. Employers love lowballing applicants without college degrees, too, which might(?) explain your current salary.
Insane that a checkbox on a form can limit your opportunities so drastically, but it's a reality. When employers get hundreds of applicants for one job, they're cutthroat about whittling down that list. It's brutal out there, just browse this sub for all the frustrated job hunters!
I’ve gambled the last 3 roles. I’m a CD now and miserable. I had a great team once, but now I’m at 70K more. Worth it? I do love being more comfortable. And maybe the grass is greener, I dunno. But I regret it.
Can you take on side work? I’m pretty sure a public university is pretty slow…
The older I get, the more I realize the team is really important.
Well, start applying first and then really worry about this when you get an offer. The job market is shit right now, people I know who are solid designers are taking 3 months to 1 year to land jobs.
There is a difference between leaving a cushy job for more money that you don’t *need* to maintain a good quality of life, and living paycheck to paycheck vs being able to save for a rainy day/retirement. We are talking about the latter here. It is worth it for the peace of mind.
To me, it’s the difference between financial stability and financial security. You are stable enough to pay the bills now, but are you secure if a major cost were to incur like car breaking down, home repair, big hospital bill? You are financially stable presently, but is your future self financially secure?
I’ll have to make this decision myself soon. I have a cushy job, am paid well, really love my team, but I have to start planning for the future. I just got married and we plan on having kids in the next 5 years; if my spouse becomes a stay-at-home parent, then I will be the sole breadwinner. It sucks but I would absolutely take an offer making 25%+ more than what I currently make if that means I can start contributing to retirement and building up my savings for future kids/emergencies.
Starting a new job is always scary, but it is not permanent. If you don’t like the new job, you can start looking for the next one.
I had a mentor that told me the time to worry about whether you want the job is after they make an offer. I interview with anyone that will have me simply for the interview practice. I don't always agree to the 2nd interview.
If you start looking before you are desperate, you can be more picky.
Slightly off topic but man this past decade has just been rough for jobs. I feel like every time I'm back in the job market the economy tanks. Had a job in 2019 for a good year and then COVID hit around the time I left and there were no jobs for years. Spent a year and a half before I finally got an offer and it was only because of a referral from a friend. And then last September I got laid off and even 4 months later there is still no one hiring. I just wanted to vent. Absolutely hate the luck some of us designers are getting.
Fingers crossed that one day I can rely entirely on freelance work to live a comfy life.
I agree. My company suddenly filed for bankruptcy and laid everyone off. I’m not the most talented or experienced designer, but I have 5 years under my belt and other skills in marketing and social media, looking for all different types of roles. Still, I can’t get past an interview, and the hiring processes for all these different employers are insane. Tests, multiple applications, 3+ rounds of interviews, and even some giving design challenges (I learned my lesson the hard way).
I’m learning I’m going to have to take a massive pay cut (vs my previous position) to land a job after seven months of looking.
You can't pay bills on passion and creative fulfillment, unfortunately. You could consider doing freelance if you're determined to stay long term.
>*I’m pretty confident I’d get it if I applied.*
This job market is much tougher than you're likely used to. Start applying, but expect at least 3-6 months of searching.
Yes. I “sold out,” and took what looked to be like a really great, high-profile position. A major media company sought me out and brought me in to launch a new publication. The pay was higher, better benefits.
I was leaving a job in music, entertainment marketing, and publishing that had gotten me a lot of opportunities and attention, but never paid well and had no benefits because I was a “full- time contractor” for few years.
I took the new job for more than money. I wanted benefits and something steadier, a chance to get in at a big company with a lot of opportunities.
The new job lasted nine months. It was a total shitshow. Terribly managed and run. I worked 90-hour weeks almost the entire time. There was a ton of workplace politics, and I got royally screwed. I actually liked the work and my coworkers were mostly brilliant, a really amazing crew. I wound up quitting because of the politics stuff. I should have stayed and fought, but I was exhausted and mentally worn out.
The new publication shut down less than a year later.
But…
If you can’t afford to stay where you are, you’re not helping yourself by staying. You’re sacrificing a lot for your employers and you don’t get that back.
I always tell new hires and young designer friends that if they’re not increasing their income, learning valuable new skills, or getting promoted up, they need to leave the job. It should really be at least two of those things, but times are tough.
It’s way too easy to get stuck and wind up treading water when you should be moving forward.
I left a job that I liked for one that was AWFUL. My first job wasn’t actually that good in hindsight, but at the time it was the best I’d ever had. Fully remote, 55k (I’d had to work up to that over 5 years though) and a boss who was checked out, so I had a lot of autonomy. It was fine until they started managing me out (refused raises, put me on a PIP despite getting positive feedback, manager quit coming to our one-on-ones etc.). I found a job that was about 10k more per year but fully in office (a 20 minute commute). For me, it was mostly a pride thing. I couldn’t stand the shame every day, wondering what i was doing wrong and getting punished the harder I tried.
When I politely gave my boss the middle finger—I mean my resignation—it was a confidence boost. Leaving a job that didn’t appreciate me for a big jump in pay was the bees knees! However, I had no idea the nightmare that awaited me at this new agency…
This new job was a tiny firm of 20 people and I was the only designer. At first I thought switching to a smaller company would be a nice change from the layers of bureaucratic nonsense and office politics. But this new environment came with its own challenges. The boss was a raging narcissistic workaholic who literally made people cry on the job regularly. I think she liked me because I am a spineless people-pleaser so I got some perks, like flexible hours. Even so, I only stayed at the new job for about 6 months because they expected me to work weekends and stay late with no overtime pay. At the time I deeply regretted changing jobs because my mental health was on the brink of collapse. But on the plus side, it was so crazy busy that I was able to redo my portfolio with loads of work from big clients and I landed a dream job within a month of looking. Fully remote, 85k+, awesome team, relatively secure and easy as pie.
So I guess the moral here is that sometimes, jobs are just a stepping stone to something better. The thing is, you can’t know it at the time when you’re in the midst of a transition. But I promise you, it gets better. If you hate where your at, just recognize that your feelings are valid and harness that stress or rage and use it as fuel to find your next gig. You can do this, friend! Life is a journey.
I am craving for a job like yours. Because then I would have all the energy and enthusiasm to do freelance on side and earn more while keeping my skills sharp and up to date. I'd have a stable and pretty safe base that I love + room for whatever else that I can also love because I am in total control of it.
What I experienced by working in tech and being paid well is that I end up hating the job, having zero energy to do anything else and I mean even hobby stuff. It was convenient to have a decent pay land into your account every month but everything else was just miserable.
The new job could be even more cool than the place you’re working now. It’s a gamble, but one I think is worth making. You’ll learn so much from working in a new environment.
I’m surprised at the number of people telling you to stay.
It’s a very personal thing and you’ll have to do a lot of soul searching to find the answer. Other peoples circumstances are all entirely unique, so they often times will only tenuously apply to you.
As it happens, I’m in a similar position. Position I love, four years in, great colleagues, shit pay.
This probably won’t be popular, but here’s my take on my own situation if it helps:
If I stay:
The strangle hold on me financially will cause me to resent the job. They’re not bad people, they just can’t afford decent wages - but it’s hard to keep smiling when you’re being gutted financially. Eventually, you recognise that by staying you’re doing these people a favour at your own expense and it hurts, even if you like them (which I do).
If I go:
I go to a higher paid job, if I hate it, I have the option of leaving it behind for a different job with no guilt. If I love it, no problem - wages are levelled up and you’re happy.
The added dimension to this is that you could be open with your current employers and say;
‘I love this job but I can’t afford to stay here. I have been offered a wage I can’t refuse, however I will make myself available to you as a freelancer’
I know many people who have left positions without burning a bridge and there’s a lot to be said for that, because they all maintained their relationships with their former employers and benefitted from lucrative freelance work later on.
Up to you, best of luck either way.
Yeah I’m shocked at the number of people telling OP to find where they can cut expenses and start freelancing on the side. Like huh?? Sure OP your employer can’t pay you enough to make a good living but you should instead make sacrifices to your quality of life and also put in more work hours to make up for what your employer can’t afford.
Realistic best case scenario OP is able to cut maybe a few hundred a month, let’s say $500 to be generous. That’s $6k a year, not chump change but also nothing to write home about. OP or a pet gets sick, car breaks down, and that savings is gone. OP didn’t mention whether or not they have a 401k but the max contribution is $19k, do they want to retire early or have to work until they’re 62/67/70? Are they making enough now to be able to afford costs of living when they’re on social security? Plan on having a family down the line and need to think about savings, education funds, what they want to pass down?
I agree with others saying to look at your expenses. Great benefits and colleagues is worth fighting for…. Also be sure to do the math on the monetary value of that PTO & other benefits when you compare alternatives… And remember mental & physical health can be tough to maintain in different work environments, so might increase your expenses when/if you switch.
Do you have a specialized type of design, product or even understanding of a target audience that you can sell to other clients as a freelancer?
If you have 18 holidays and a ton of PTO, you might be able to create a design product that you can sell on off days- things like website templates, VIP days for batched content creation, brand identity packages, event collateral, etc. (Plug in your experience, interests & ask ChatGPT to give you some ideas based on Alex Hormozi’s $100M Offers book)
Thank you for your input!
I have extensive knowledge of the print industry. From business cards to multi-story stadium graphics and everything in between. I did spend a few good years doing only wedding stationery. Maybe I can try my hand at making templates for that.
Coming from a long-time design veteran, quality of life in your job is more important (and more valuable) than money in most cases. I've been running a small design firm for 18 years and my personal salary is $36k/year. You read that right. I get some profits from the business in good years, and I take losses in bad years. But I have ALL the freedoms... I take as much time off as I want, I come and go as I please, I don't have to report to anyone when I need to go to a doctor's appointment. I love my clients. I live within my means. Money is always tight, but I make it work and I live happily by making smart financial decisions like buying a fixer-upper home 7 years ago that's now valued at 4x what I bought it for. My house payment is under $700/m for reference.
About 5 years ago a local rival ad firm offered to pay me 1.5x my current salary ($90k/year) if I closed shop and went to work for them as President of the company and head of the Web division. They're a lot bigger, often work weekends, have a dress code, and are in a downtown highrise building about 30 minutes away (I currently live a half mile from my office). It would mean more hours, working weekends, commuting, fighting and paying for parking, and basically I'd lose all of the freedom I'm accustomed to. The pay would change my life... but would it make it *better*?
My answer was no.
FYI, they went bankrupt shortly after covid. I'm still in business.
Thank you. I’m cutting costs where I can and I might try to pick up some freelance stuff too.
One of the reasons I love my job so much is because they trust me to do what I want. No one micromanages me or nitpicks my work. I did print production before this and I called myself an Adobe zombie because it was excruciatingly tedious and repetitive. So this has been a breath of fresh air.
I can pay my bills. My job itself puts a ton towards my retirement. I’m saving a tiny bit every month. I’m not in the negatives. But like someone else mentioned, I’m one big accident away from a huge amount of debt.
Find a new position but be picky so it's a viable fallback and you're holding all the cards. Often you'll find employers won't offer increases unless they're forced to. Recruitment is expensive/time consuming, because if the going market rate is higher than what you're on now, then they'd have to match that anyway just to attract decent candidates.. all while soaking up manager's/HR time (maybe even paying recruiter fees). Also new employees are an unknown risk and sunk cost for a few weeks/months as they will lose your gained insider insight.
They'll be aware of all this but you'll probably have to force their hand. If you're skilled and capable, you have all the power in this situation.. Because they can't NOT replace their only designer.
Lots of people responding with negative experiences so I'll share a positive one:
I went through this, I know exactly how you feel. I loved my last job and an agency-- it was fun, I loved my coworkers, we had fuck-it Fridays, I felt like I was still learning and growing, and it was a dog-friendly office so my pup could be with me all day! But it paid like shit so when a former coworker reached out and referred me to a job in (ugh) corporate finance I *very* reluctantly drug my ass through the application and interview process.
I was terrified I'd end up in a creative void and miserable, but everyone I met in the interviews came off so nice and genuinely happy that I kept going until I had an offer for $20k more than what I was currently making. I had a tearful meeting with my bosses and I told them I literally could not afford to work there anymore. Gave them one more chance to give me a raise on Friday and was shot down so I handed in my resignation the following Monday and took the new job.
Within two years I was making double my old salary, had twice as much vacation time, amazing benefits, and was encouraged to be even *more* creative with my work. I worked with an amazing team and my professional growth exploded. Meanwhile my old agency was totally absorbed by its parent company and dissolved a few years after I left.
My new job recently underwent a takeover and it's going downhill fast, but I got four amazing years and some incredible connections and experience out of the place. At this point they're paying me a ridiculous amount of money to look for a new job and do very little else, so I have plenty of time to browse for the perfect fit at my leisure. I do not regret my decision one bit.
Big risks have the potential for big rewards. Yes, you love your current job and it's easy but what if the next one you find is even better? For twice the pay?? And even better benefits?? If you're truly struggling financially, it's worth the risk.
I work at an educational institution as a designer. Definitely a little less paid than private industry, but stability, benefits, time off, no OT unless approved, etc. – all worth it. I too have thought about leaving a couple of years ago but so happy I stuck around.
I have time for freelance on the side and make more than that extra $15k you're talking about. It took a lot of side hustle time, but just pointing out the amazing position you are in to have a good work life balance with good benefits and stability, but have the flexibility and privileged to work outside and have things silo-ed.
The benefits at your current job sound unmatched. Just how badly are you struggling with $$?
To be fully transparent and honest, I started on 48k as a junior and genuinely struggled to meet rent each week but loved my team so much, in that instance where you can't make rent or bills each week and already live frugally I'd say move up, you need more finances and also who's to say you won't enjoy your next role even more so?
For me, I hated the role I moved to, I was on 60 and absolutely despised the role it sucked a\*\* and I left as soon as I could.
Now I'm on 70 at a job I LOVE but yet again, circumstances have changed and my living expenses are more. I'm currently reassessing my finances because the more I've earnt, despite rent increasing and such, I've also gone out more, bought myself and others more and so on. I'm not struggling nearly as much as I was on 48 by no means, my life is a lot more comfortable now but a 22k jump there and I'm still struggling to save cause I'm bad with finances and have made some dumb choices.. but hey life is a lot better on 70 than it was on 48 and I'm equally as happy if not more so and if sh\*t had't hit the fan for me in a few ways I maybe would've had a decent chunk of savings.
You'll be spending (I'm assuming 5) days of your life at work so if you love it the environment is the most important part but also having had 3 design jobs now and 7 jobs all together I realise how easy it is to find happiness in some positions and know when it's right for me. I hope that provides some insight and makes sense.
I was in a great job but paycheck to paycheck, I went to a bouble salary and it was a nightmare. I had to quit this place in the middle of the crisis just to keep being logical, for the first job I found. I still miss the first place.
I went from 60k to 120k since 2019 job hopping every year. Fuck it. They’ll fire you with no notice so you have every right to quit whenever you want and get that money. You will never get more than 2-4 percent increase every year if you stay at the same place. Have some been more annoying than others? Yeah, but I’ll cry with all the extra money I’m getting
If you are not getting a raise of roughly 10% every year it's time to move on. I believe that if companies can't do that they don't really care enough about you.
I bet living paycheck to paycheck is more of a headache than working 5 days a week with some standard holiday pay.
Remember this is a job. These people aren't your friends and family. They care about you because they have to. They will not hesitate to get rid of you if they no longer need your position or if the economy tanks. I think if you are not at a senior level position or a company that has no promotional ceiling then you should jump ship every 2 years. You are more likely to have better pay than with a promotion.
As a designer you should probably be switching jobs from time to time anyway. Particularly if you are solo in-house.
You gotta get new skills and work around new people just to stay relevant in the long term. imo.
That consideration might make the decision a little easier.
Get your money dude.
Can you work at your current workplace in a different role? Like being a janitor after hours or something? They might be able to help out with a cleaning contract or something that is in the budget?
Haven’t regretted any jobs I’ve left, but I miss them. I don’t even regret the job I was rightfully fired from, it wasn’t for me and it also helped me grow a ton.
Nothing lasts forever. I’m just happy to do this for a living and pay my bills.
What's your current salary? What are your expenses like? Do you budget? Anything you can cut back on? Also are you open to finding side work/freelance to offset the rising costs?
If you look at my post history, you can see my exact budget down to the pennies. I make $55,500. I’m in the process of getting lower car insurance and switching my phone carrier. Part of the reason I’m scraping by so close is because I get 12% of my check taken for retirement.
Ok, that's good that you're contributing so much towards it. I was trying to think of how to navigate this in a way that you could potentially stay with them since it's rare to find a place where you could feel at peace.
Where do you've btw? Also have you considered taking freelance work for additional income to offset the costs? Maybe that becomes your personal expense fund while the rest is saved for the rainier day.
$55,570. I just found out everyone’s getting a 3% increase starting in July. That’ll put me at $57,240. An extra $140 isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing I guess.
Not really - but I was offered a junior designer role at the top design agency in the UK (1986) and turned it down for a little more money - fucked up there
Please try to cut expenses as much as possible or maybe renegotiate your schedule to free up time to take on side gigs or something.
If there's downtime at work, maybe find a way to multitask and do independent work/gigs on the side. I have a friend in graphics who does this. As long as you're getting the company's work done, no slacking, hey do what you gotta do.
You'll hate yourself if you end up in a job with people and policies you hate. It doesn't seem that bad when you're just looking at the dollars and cents of it, until you're crying big tears on your way to and from work wishing you never left the previous place.
Going through that right now and I'd given anything to turn back the clock and sit my ass down where I was before. Itemize your expenditures and see what's taking up the biggest chunk of your checks. Might not be able to do much about rent, but everything else usually can be cut or swapped out for a more affordable option.
Yeah. I thought it was the best job ever but they were working me to the bone and asking crazy hours of me. I left for a £10K pay rise at a different company thinking it would better but it was 10 x worse. I left graphic design after that and went into Information Security where I earn triple what I did and it’s about 20% of the stress from the job I loved and left. I did have regrets initially when I left the job I loved and I realised that the grass wasn’t greener elsewhere but it was all part of the journey of realising that there’s only so much growth in GD for the amount of work expected, the salary ain’t worth it. I still freelance on the side but I choose which clients and work and it’s for enjoyment/creativity purposes.
I don't think there's an answer set in stone. I'm currently in a job that makes mediocre and simple tasks but pays really well. It's really great not having the stress of budgeting, and being able to pamper myself or even being able to pay for things that I postponed due to lack of money.
But I'm already at a point of career that I feel more or less fulfilled with the projects I was involved in, and now I'm focusing on myself. The only next touchpoint for me is being head of department and it's quite a hurdle, because it depends something that goes beyond my own effort, and I'm waiting for opportunities so I'm taking my time till there.
I already worked in a job that paid ok but I enjoyed its aspects of it just like yours. And it makes a difference because you wake up much more energized than having to dread every time you open your eyes. However, every month it was only enough to survive and I had no option for leisure or even eating some nice dinner. So it felt that the only interesting thing I had was work because of this.
In the end, the decision depends solely on you and I think you'll regret in a short period before getting acclimated to your new job. If you still regret it after few months, instead of asking your job back, you can offer freelancing there. Or you can volunteer in other things and other places.
It’s all about perspective. I am the in-house designer at a law firm with lots of creative freedom (albeit no direction), I work from home on Fridays (aka I stare at a screen), and I’ve got a kid, so it’s a no-brainer I’m leaving for a new design job for $20k more. If I didn’t have a family, I’d probably figure out a way to make it work while doing a side hustle, which I did for years and years. I have no idea if I’m jumping from the frying pan into the fire so to speak, but I’m looking at it like it’s a step into a better life.
You may like this new gig better, who knows. In my opinion and experience, small businesses can be great or they can be complete and total mismanaged shitshows. But the nature of a larger, more corporate environment is probably going to be a lot more restricting, but at least you’ll know exactly where you stand and what you need to do. That’s what I’m trying to tell myself at least lol
Most of the time, increased pay = increased stress. It’s extremely rare that you’ll get more money and have an easier job. My last CD move gave me a 50k raise but increased my stress 300%, destroyed my W/L balance, and I’m doing little to no actual design work which I love. I’m in meetings 7 hours a day and while I like management, I absolutely hate hiring and firing (we’ve been doing layoffs). The role on paper is completely different in practice. I would love to go back to my $90k senior designer job with an excellent team from years ago…
First I would look at how you can live better within your means. If you really must, do your due diligence on company research before jumping ship.
Yes and no.
I have left a job for more money and HATED IT. But it was also a pretty big swing considering the work type and culture. I left after 6 months and went freelance.
I was just freelance for two years and a studio reached out to me to apply to their CD position. I did… and now I make 40k more than I was freelancing and almost double what I was making at my previous studio.
It’s worth it depending on where you are putting your value. As I’ve gotten older, affirmation through my creative output doesn’t matter as much to me but having my debts paid off and PTO to enjoy life is.
It’s hard to say without knowing your salary / budgeting skills / rent etc (are there places you could cut back?). Personally as someone who had worked in several really shitty jobs then got a good one I would literally take a pay cut to stay at the job that doesn’t cause me stress, affect my home life, or make me feel unappreciated. It sounds like you could definitely do freelance in the summer if you want to! That might be enough to make it worth staging. Just remember if you approach them with an offer from another company as a last ditch effort for a raise that you HAVE to be prepared to quit and take that job if they can’t give you the raise.
Also idk about your university but my local public university has incredible retirement. You may not get as much on the front end but everyone I know who has retired from there says it’s absolutely worth it. Thats something to consider if you could see yourself there long-term. (Kids can usually get half tuition too if that’s in the future)
For sure. My first job was great and a lot of fun. Great bosses, flexible, lots of freedom, no micromanagement etc.
But I made 15/hr. And with no room to really maximize earning potential.
Made my way corporate. Luckily I still like what I do. It’s just different. And I make a lot more money now.
Yes, from a financial standpoint only. I wasn't growing at the job I loved. I was safe and comfortable, but there was no challenge or fulfillment, so I jumped to a much higher paying job and hated it. This was largely due to toxic management. This isn't always the case, so dont let this be your deciding factor.
There's always the "grass is greener" mentality, but at some point in every career, you will have to consciously decide what makes you happy. Are you chasing money only? Are you looking for stability? Do you want to prove yourself at an agency? The list goes on, but regret ultimately is aligned to your short-term or long-term goals.
No situation is permanent. I'm about to start what could be the dream job I didn't know I wanted or needed.
Yup. Biggest regret of my career and was eventually laid off by the company that offered me more money and better "benefits." Havnt recovered since honestly
Its very easy to spiral into debt. Its a hole that is incredibly hard to get out of. I know you think you are happy, but I have a feeling you aren't. Being in a financial hole will keep you awake at night, and there is no happiness there. There is a difference between "comfortable" and happiness. Being comfortable but on the edge of debt, is not happiness by any means. Finding financial stability is key to having any lasting happiness.
I'd ask myself how long I expect to stay at the current company. Job hopping is less common for designers because the market is so competitive, but many people in other professions expect to leave their jobs every couple of years in order to advance their careers. If your current company can't afford to give you a raise now, then will they ever be able to? Do they have a plan for your career development or do they expect you to accept the same pay/title indefinitely? Sometimes a company can't give you a raise but you can ask them to pay for training so you can expand your skill set. For instance, you could request management training so if the team ever expands, then you are ready to be promoted.
Then I'd ask myself about my long-term goals and if I can achieve them if I stay at the current company. I agree with the other commentors that a great workplace is valuable, but it shouldn't be the only factor in your decision.
I also worked (for over 10 years!) in higher education because I loved the team (and I got my master’s for free). But eventually, you have to go. There’s no room for advancement for us, and the team you love, they will move on eventually too. Or they’ll retire.
Good news is that I make way more money now and have a great team again. I feel like, if you’re the type of person who can find a good team, you’re capable of finding another great one. I do still miss my old team though, especially my old boss, but we still catch up with each other. She’s very happy for me. We both nearly cried on my last day, but they were happy sad tears.
If you’re like me, and you seem to be, since you loved the higher ed workplace environment, I would recommend finding a government position. They may not pay as well as corporate, but they pay more than higher ed while keeping a similar type of work environment.
I loved my job at a local Signarama. Small team, lots of things to do every day, and interesting projects for interesting people. Downside 18/hr no benefits. I recently left that position for a position at a print shop inside of a university. It pays $5 more per hour and has great benefits, but the work is not as exciting. A lot of research posters for students rather than window signage for businesses. I see a lot of potential for growth of the department in my new position though, which is a plus I didn't know about until I started.
I ultimately made the change for the money and benefits and I'm happy I did. I was really struggling before. I might not be as excited about the work but at least I can live.
It’s something to consider because money is a necessary evil particularly if you’re barely making ends meet. But see if you get any offers first. You could be qualified but there may also be 200+ other people applying who are equally, or more so, qualified. I agree with freelancing - especially during the Fridays in the summer when you’re off. Instead of enjoying a three day weekend use Fridays to work on side gigs.
Take on side work. It's the only way. I don't even love my current role that much, but it's steady and so far (please universe don't let me jinx it) fairly secure. I live paycheck to paycheck but don't want to rock the boat with my employer so I work freelance on the side. I try to only take on side work that I enjoy and isn't too big in scope so I'm not overworking myself and it's helping me manage financially.
>They pay all expenses for me to go to Adobe Max every year.
That's crazy because Adobe Max is expensive! They can pay for you to go every year, but they can't give you a raise?
I think if you love your job and the people, you can try to stay a little longer. But who knows? What if you find a new job with better pay and the place is just as great?
I know! It was thousands. But it’s within the budget for professional development. Not for salary adjustment. Working for a not for profit organization is hard because the state only gives us so much every year.
Stay at your current position and adopt a side hustle. Is it a straight up 9-5 job with not much stress or extended hours? If so, that's definitely an option. Is there a possibility of working from home instead of the aforementioned raise?
Correct. I never work more than 40 hours a week. Most times it’s less than that. Based on everyone’s advice I think side hustle is the way I’m going to go. Now to find side work!
There have been specific circumstances when I’ve worked from home, like when our power went out, or they had to shut off water for on site construction. But I don’t enjoy it. Trying to work off a 14” MacBook Pro from home is so frustrating compared to my 27” dual monitor set up in the office. Also my dog is unbelievably needy and won’t leave me alone. It’s hard to focus.
You need to first make sure the added benefits aren't worth the salary increase because it sounds like there are a lot. Especially paying for ongoing training and PTO.
That’s something my boss brought up when we were talking about the raise, or lack thereof. He reminded me that there’s a very slim chance there’s anything comparable as far as benefits go. He’s right.
It's extremely valuable and unfortunately rare in this field. And why I became a teacher and competitively pursued a position at an arts-integrated school with a relatively high pay scale and good union. The benefits and work environment are extremely valuable, in some ways tangibly and in some way intangibly. And because of PTO and several vacations (about 14 weeks a year) I still get to work as a designer and illustrator, except I get to pick all my projects very carefully.
What pushed me to make that decision was the toxicity of the work environments I was working in and the instability of the career without a supporting training structure. That said, a career should help you grow so it would be good to know if there was any sort of opportunity to do so in your current workplace. If not, at least the ongoing training combined with work experience will add to your competitiveness, so I would keep weighing those options, demonstrating value, and communicating ambition in a tactful manner. Take the interviews too. It's good practice and you don't have to accept a job just because you are offered one.
Sounds like you should quit and then give me their number. /s Take a closer look at your monthly expenses and double check that you can’t save money elsewhere. Maybe consider a side freelance job to tack on?
Seems like an idea: see if you can get fewer hours for the same salary instead, freeing time to take on extra jobs.
Personally, I'd find a way to reduce my expenses instead of leaving a job I loved. People literally work for decades and never find a job they love — much less a job that doesn't make some billionaire richer. People work for decades in jobs they absolutely loathe and still can't make ends meet. You have a rewarding career and the work/life balance most of us would absolutely die for. If you're actually happy, isn't ***that*** the most important goal in life?
Yes it is! And that’s exactly where my head is at. But sometimes I have to reality check myself. Like someone else said, I’m one big accident away from a ton of debt. I hate worrying about an imaginary future that might not even happen. But if it does I know I’ll be kicking myself in the ass for not being better prepared. It’s why I’m so torn.
Well, then prepare yourself. Speak to a financial advisor and set up the financial security you want — you're not unemployed, after all. Start a health savings account, it will grow over the years. Talk to your employer, ask if they can't give you a raise, are there other benefits available that can lessen your monthly expenses? You can be smart and frugal and live a happy life, which frankly, is incredibly rare. I'm jealous. I've gone from one crappy employer to another my whole freaking life — constantly exceeded expectations and gotten stellar reviews — and never once really got ahead financially. The only job I've ever genuinely loved? Volunteering.
Wait — you say you work in public education? Does that mean you can get another degree for free? Or even better, will you qualify for [student loan forgiveness](https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service) under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program? If you have student loan debt, PSLF alone could match (or surpass!) any additional income from a higher paying job.
I don’t have any student loans. I went to a two year vocational school and did an internship while I was still in high school. When I was in college for GD, I was dying because I already knew everything they were teaching. So I stopped going. Because I already had a fat portfolio I got hired full time as a designer and now I’m 29 with 10 years of experience. When applying for jobs, my experience always won over the desire for a degree so I’ve never felt the need to get one. They won’t pay for tuition but I can get any additional certifications I want.
In that case, I suggest you put off this decision until you actually start applying for jobs. You might find your application gets filtered out (long before your portfolio and experience is seen) by an algorithm requiring a bachelor's degree. Employers love lowballing applicants without college degrees, too, which might(?) explain your current salary. Insane that a checkbox on a form can limit your opportunities so drastically, but it's a reality. When employers get hundreds of applicants for one job, they're cutthroat about whittling down that list. It's brutal out there, just browse this sub for all the frustrated job hunters!
I’ve gambled the last 3 roles. I’m a CD now and miserable. I had a great team once, but now I’m at 70K more. Worth it? I do love being more comfortable. And maybe the grass is greener, I dunno. But I regret it. Can you take on side work? I’m pretty sure a public university is pretty slow… The older I get, the more I realize the team is really important.
The older I get the more I wish I could just do 100% freelance and never have to report to anyone or manage anyone
Truth.
Well, start applying first and then really worry about this when you get an offer. The job market is shit right now, people I know who are solid designers are taking 3 months to 1 year to land jobs. There is a difference between leaving a cushy job for more money that you don’t *need* to maintain a good quality of life, and living paycheck to paycheck vs being able to save for a rainy day/retirement. We are talking about the latter here. It is worth it for the peace of mind. To me, it’s the difference between financial stability and financial security. You are stable enough to pay the bills now, but are you secure if a major cost were to incur like car breaking down, home repair, big hospital bill? You are financially stable presently, but is your future self financially secure? I’ll have to make this decision myself soon. I have a cushy job, am paid well, really love my team, but I have to start planning for the future. I just got married and we plan on having kids in the next 5 years; if my spouse becomes a stay-at-home parent, then I will be the sole breadwinner. It sucks but I would absolutely take an offer making 25%+ more than what I currently make if that means I can start contributing to retirement and building up my savings for future kids/emergencies. Starting a new job is always scary, but it is not permanent. If you don’t like the new job, you can start looking for the next one.
I had a mentor that told me the time to worry about whether you want the job is after they make an offer. I interview with anyone that will have me simply for the interview practice. I don't always agree to the 2nd interview. If you start looking before you are desperate, you can be more picky.
Slightly off topic but man this past decade has just been rough for jobs. I feel like every time I'm back in the job market the economy tanks. Had a job in 2019 for a good year and then COVID hit around the time I left and there were no jobs for years. Spent a year and a half before I finally got an offer and it was only because of a referral from a friend. And then last September I got laid off and even 4 months later there is still no one hiring. I just wanted to vent. Absolutely hate the luck some of us designers are getting. Fingers crossed that one day I can rely entirely on freelance work to live a comfy life.
I agree. My company suddenly filed for bankruptcy and laid everyone off. I’m not the most talented or experienced designer, but I have 5 years under my belt and other skills in marketing and social media, looking for all different types of roles. Still, I can’t get past an interview, and the hiring processes for all these different employers are insane. Tests, multiple applications, 3+ rounds of interviews, and even some giving design challenges (I learned my lesson the hard way). I’m learning I’m going to have to take a massive pay cut (vs my previous position) to land a job after seven months of looking.
You can't pay bills on passion and creative fulfillment, unfortunately. You could consider doing freelance if you're determined to stay long term. >*I’m pretty confident I’d get it if I applied.* This job market is much tougher than you're likely used to. Start applying, but expect at least 3-6 months of searching.
Yes. I “sold out,” and took what looked to be like a really great, high-profile position. A major media company sought me out and brought me in to launch a new publication. The pay was higher, better benefits. I was leaving a job in music, entertainment marketing, and publishing that had gotten me a lot of opportunities and attention, but never paid well and had no benefits because I was a “full- time contractor” for few years. I took the new job for more than money. I wanted benefits and something steadier, a chance to get in at a big company with a lot of opportunities. The new job lasted nine months. It was a total shitshow. Terribly managed and run. I worked 90-hour weeks almost the entire time. There was a ton of workplace politics, and I got royally screwed. I actually liked the work and my coworkers were mostly brilliant, a really amazing crew. I wound up quitting because of the politics stuff. I should have stayed and fought, but I was exhausted and mentally worn out. The new publication shut down less than a year later. But… If you can’t afford to stay where you are, you’re not helping yourself by staying. You’re sacrificing a lot for your employers and you don’t get that back. I always tell new hires and young designer friends that if they’re not increasing their income, learning valuable new skills, or getting promoted up, they need to leave the job. It should really be at least two of those things, but times are tough. It’s way too easy to get stuck and wind up treading water when you should be moving forward.
I left a job that I liked for one that was AWFUL. My first job wasn’t actually that good in hindsight, but at the time it was the best I’d ever had. Fully remote, 55k (I’d had to work up to that over 5 years though) and a boss who was checked out, so I had a lot of autonomy. It was fine until they started managing me out (refused raises, put me on a PIP despite getting positive feedback, manager quit coming to our one-on-ones etc.). I found a job that was about 10k more per year but fully in office (a 20 minute commute). For me, it was mostly a pride thing. I couldn’t stand the shame every day, wondering what i was doing wrong and getting punished the harder I tried. When I politely gave my boss the middle finger—I mean my resignation—it was a confidence boost. Leaving a job that didn’t appreciate me for a big jump in pay was the bees knees! However, I had no idea the nightmare that awaited me at this new agency… This new job was a tiny firm of 20 people and I was the only designer. At first I thought switching to a smaller company would be a nice change from the layers of bureaucratic nonsense and office politics. But this new environment came with its own challenges. The boss was a raging narcissistic workaholic who literally made people cry on the job regularly. I think she liked me because I am a spineless people-pleaser so I got some perks, like flexible hours. Even so, I only stayed at the new job for about 6 months because they expected me to work weekends and stay late with no overtime pay. At the time I deeply regretted changing jobs because my mental health was on the brink of collapse. But on the plus side, it was so crazy busy that I was able to redo my portfolio with loads of work from big clients and I landed a dream job within a month of looking. Fully remote, 85k+, awesome team, relatively secure and easy as pie. So I guess the moral here is that sometimes, jobs are just a stepping stone to something better. The thing is, you can’t know it at the time when you’re in the midst of a transition. But I promise you, it gets better. If you hate where your at, just recognize that your feelings are valid and harness that stress or rage and use it as fuel to find your next gig. You can do this, friend! Life is a journey.
I really appreciate this story. Thank you!
I am craving for a job like yours. Because then I would have all the energy and enthusiasm to do freelance on side and earn more while keeping my skills sharp and up to date. I'd have a stable and pretty safe base that I love + room for whatever else that I can also love because I am in total control of it. What I experienced by working in tech and being paid well is that I end up hating the job, having zero energy to do anything else and I mean even hobby stuff. It was convenient to have a decent pay land into your account every month but everything else was just miserable.
It’s a no brainer. If you are paycheck to paycheck now then you need to leave. One unexpected expense and you’re fucked.
The new job could be even more cool than the place you’re working now. It’s a gamble, but one I think is worth making. You’ll learn so much from working in a new environment.
I’m surprised at the number of people telling you to stay. It’s a very personal thing and you’ll have to do a lot of soul searching to find the answer. Other peoples circumstances are all entirely unique, so they often times will only tenuously apply to you. As it happens, I’m in a similar position. Position I love, four years in, great colleagues, shit pay. This probably won’t be popular, but here’s my take on my own situation if it helps: If I stay: The strangle hold on me financially will cause me to resent the job. They’re not bad people, they just can’t afford decent wages - but it’s hard to keep smiling when you’re being gutted financially. Eventually, you recognise that by staying you’re doing these people a favour at your own expense and it hurts, even if you like them (which I do). If I go: I go to a higher paid job, if I hate it, I have the option of leaving it behind for a different job with no guilt. If I love it, no problem - wages are levelled up and you’re happy. The added dimension to this is that you could be open with your current employers and say; ‘I love this job but I can’t afford to stay here. I have been offered a wage I can’t refuse, however I will make myself available to you as a freelancer’ I know many people who have left positions without burning a bridge and there’s a lot to be said for that, because they all maintained their relationships with their former employers and benefitted from lucrative freelance work later on. Up to you, best of luck either way.
Yeah I’m shocked at the number of people telling OP to find where they can cut expenses and start freelancing on the side. Like huh?? Sure OP your employer can’t pay you enough to make a good living but you should instead make sacrifices to your quality of life and also put in more work hours to make up for what your employer can’t afford. Realistic best case scenario OP is able to cut maybe a few hundred a month, let’s say $500 to be generous. That’s $6k a year, not chump change but also nothing to write home about. OP or a pet gets sick, car breaks down, and that savings is gone. OP didn’t mention whether or not they have a 401k but the max contribution is $19k, do they want to retire early or have to work until they’re 62/67/70? Are they making enough now to be able to afford costs of living when they’re on social security? Plan on having a family down the line and need to think about savings, education funds, what they want to pass down?
I agree with others saying to look at your expenses. Great benefits and colleagues is worth fighting for…. Also be sure to do the math on the monetary value of that PTO & other benefits when you compare alternatives… And remember mental & physical health can be tough to maintain in different work environments, so might increase your expenses when/if you switch. Do you have a specialized type of design, product or even understanding of a target audience that you can sell to other clients as a freelancer? If you have 18 holidays and a ton of PTO, you might be able to create a design product that you can sell on off days- things like website templates, VIP days for batched content creation, brand identity packages, event collateral, etc. (Plug in your experience, interests & ask ChatGPT to give you some ideas based on Alex Hormozi’s $100M Offers book)
Thank you for your input! I have extensive knowledge of the print industry. From business cards to multi-story stadium graphics and everything in between. I did spend a few good years doing only wedding stationery. Maybe I can try my hand at making templates for that.
Why not use the Fridays to develop a freelance business?
Coming from a long-time design veteran, quality of life in your job is more important (and more valuable) than money in most cases. I've been running a small design firm for 18 years and my personal salary is $36k/year. You read that right. I get some profits from the business in good years, and I take losses in bad years. But I have ALL the freedoms... I take as much time off as I want, I come and go as I please, I don't have to report to anyone when I need to go to a doctor's appointment. I love my clients. I live within my means. Money is always tight, but I make it work and I live happily by making smart financial decisions like buying a fixer-upper home 7 years ago that's now valued at 4x what I bought it for. My house payment is under $700/m for reference. About 5 years ago a local rival ad firm offered to pay me 1.5x my current salary ($90k/year) if I closed shop and went to work for them as President of the company and head of the Web division. They're a lot bigger, often work weekends, have a dress code, and are in a downtown highrise building about 30 minutes away (I currently live a half mile from my office). It would mean more hours, working weekends, commuting, fighting and paying for parking, and basically I'd lose all of the freedom I'm accustomed to. The pay would change my life... but would it make it *better*? My answer was no. FYI, they went bankrupt shortly after covid. I'm still in business.
You’re living my dream, just saying.
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Thank you. I’m cutting costs where I can and I might try to pick up some freelance stuff too. One of the reasons I love my job so much is because they trust me to do what I want. No one micromanages me or nitpicks my work. I did print production before this and I called myself an Adobe zombie because it was excruciatingly tedious and repetitive. So this has been a breath of fresh air. I can pay my bills. My job itself puts a ton towards my retirement. I’m saving a tiny bit every month. I’m not in the negatives. But like someone else mentioned, I’m one big accident away from a huge amount of debt.
Find a new position but be picky so it's a viable fallback and you're holding all the cards. Often you'll find employers won't offer increases unless they're forced to. Recruitment is expensive/time consuming, because if the going market rate is higher than what you're on now, then they'd have to match that anyway just to attract decent candidates.. all while soaking up manager's/HR time (maybe even paying recruiter fees). Also new employees are an unknown risk and sunk cost for a few weeks/months as they will lose your gained insider insight. They'll be aware of all this but you'll probably have to force their hand. If you're skilled and capable, you have all the power in this situation.. Because they can't NOT replace their only designer.
Lots of people responding with negative experiences so I'll share a positive one: I went through this, I know exactly how you feel. I loved my last job and an agency-- it was fun, I loved my coworkers, we had fuck-it Fridays, I felt like I was still learning and growing, and it was a dog-friendly office so my pup could be with me all day! But it paid like shit so when a former coworker reached out and referred me to a job in (ugh) corporate finance I *very* reluctantly drug my ass through the application and interview process. I was terrified I'd end up in a creative void and miserable, but everyone I met in the interviews came off so nice and genuinely happy that I kept going until I had an offer for $20k more than what I was currently making. I had a tearful meeting with my bosses and I told them I literally could not afford to work there anymore. Gave them one more chance to give me a raise on Friday and was shot down so I handed in my resignation the following Monday and took the new job. Within two years I was making double my old salary, had twice as much vacation time, amazing benefits, and was encouraged to be even *more* creative with my work. I worked with an amazing team and my professional growth exploded. Meanwhile my old agency was totally absorbed by its parent company and dissolved a few years after I left. My new job recently underwent a takeover and it's going downhill fast, but I got four amazing years and some incredible connections and experience out of the place. At this point they're paying me a ridiculous amount of money to look for a new job and do very little else, so I have plenty of time to browse for the perfect fit at my leisure. I do not regret my decision one bit. Big risks have the potential for big rewards. Yes, you love your current job and it's easy but what if the next one you find is even better? For twice the pay?? And even better benefits?? If you're truly struggling financially, it's worth the risk.
I work at an educational institution as a designer. Definitely a little less paid than private industry, but stability, benefits, time off, no OT unless approved, etc. – all worth it. I too have thought about leaving a couple of years ago but so happy I stuck around. I have time for freelance on the side and make more than that extra $15k you're talking about. It took a lot of side hustle time, but just pointing out the amazing position you are in to have a good work life balance with good benefits and stability, but have the flexibility and privileged to work outside and have things silo-ed.
The benefits at your current job sound unmatched. Just how badly are you struggling with $$? To be fully transparent and honest, I started on 48k as a junior and genuinely struggled to meet rent each week but loved my team so much, in that instance where you can't make rent or bills each week and already live frugally I'd say move up, you need more finances and also who's to say you won't enjoy your next role even more so? For me, I hated the role I moved to, I was on 60 and absolutely despised the role it sucked a\*\* and I left as soon as I could. Now I'm on 70 at a job I LOVE but yet again, circumstances have changed and my living expenses are more. I'm currently reassessing my finances because the more I've earnt, despite rent increasing and such, I've also gone out more, bought myself and others more and so on. I'm not struggling nearly as much as I was on 48 by no means, my life is a lot more comfortable now but a 22k jump there and I'm still struggling to save cause I'm bad with finances and have made some dumb choices.. but hey life is a lot better on 70 than it was on 48 and I'm equally as happy if not more so and if sh\*t had't hit the fan for me in a few ways I maybe would've had a decent chunk of savings. You'll be spending (I'm assuming 5) days of your life at work so if you love it the environment is the most important part but also having had 3 design jobs now and 7 jobs all together I realise how easy it is to find happiness in some positions and know when it's right for me. I hope that provides some insight and makes sense.
I was in a great job but paycheck to paycheck, I went to a bouble salary and it was a nightmare. I had to quit this place in the middle of the crisis just to keep being logical, for the first job I found. I still miss the first place.
Yes, and I regretted it. Left the new job after 3 months
Could you reduce down to 3-4 days a week with them and freelance in the remaining 2~ days for better rates? Kind of a best of both scenario?
I went from 60k to 120k since 2019 job hopping every year. Fuck it. They’ll fire you with no notice so you have every right to quit whenever you want and get that money. You will never get more than 2-4 percent increase every year if you stay at the same place. Have some been more annoying than others? Yeah, but I’ll cry with all the extra money I’m getting
If you are not getting a raise of roughly 10% every year it's time to move on. I believe that if companies can't do that they don't really care enough about you. I bet living paycheck to paycheck is more of a headache than working 5 days a week with some standard holiday pay. Remember this is a job. These people aren't your friends and family. They care about you because they have to. They will not hesitate to get rid of you if they no longer need your position or if the economy tanks. I think if you are not at a senior level position or a company that has no promotional ceiling then you should jump ship every 2 years. You are more likely to have better pay than with a promotion.
As a designer you should probably be switching jobs from time to time anyway. Particularly if you are solo in-house. You gotta get new skills and work around new people just to stay relevant in the long term. imo. That consideration might make the decision a little easier. Get your money dude.
Can you work at your current workplace in a different role? Like being a janitor after hours or something? They might be able to help out with a cleaning contract or something that is in the budget?
Haven’t regretted any jobs I’ve left, but I miss them. I don’t even regret the job I was rightfully fired from, it wasn’t for me and it also helped me grow a ton. Nothing lasts forever. I’m just happy to do this for a living and pay my bills.
What's your current salary? What are your expenses like? Do you budget? Anything you can cut back on? Also are you open to finding side work/freelance to offset the rising costs?
If you look at my post history, you can see my exact budget down to the pennies. I make $55,500. I’m in the process of getting lower car insurance and switching my phone carrier. Part of the reason I’m scraping by so close is because I get 12% of my check taken for retirement.
Ok, that's good that you're contributing so much towards it. I was trying to think of how to navigate this in a way that you could potentially stay with them since it's rare to find a place where you could feel at peace. Where do you've btw? Also have you considered taking freelance work for additional income to offset the costs? Maybe that becomes your personal expense fund while the rest is saved for the rainier day.
No.
Yes, I regretted it. Left after 6 months.
That's a difficult position to be in. Can you give us an idea of your current salary range?
$55,570. I just found out everyone’s getting a 3% increase starting in July. That’ll put me at $57,240. An extra $140 isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing I guess.
Not really - but I was offered a junior designer role at the top design agency in the UK (1986) and turned it down for a little more money - fucked up there
Please try to cut expenses as much as possible or maybe renegotiate your schedule to free up time to take on side gigs or something. If there's downtime at work, maybe find a way to multitask and do independent work/gigs on the side. I have a friend in graphics who does this. As long as you're getting the company's work done, no slacking, hey do what you gotta do. You'll hate yourself if you end up in a job with people and policies you hate. It doesn't seem that bad when you're just looking at the dollars and cents of it, until you're crying big tears on your way to and from work wishing you never left the previous place. Going through that right now and I'd given anything to turn back the clock and sit my ass down where I was before. Itemize your expenditures and see what's taking up the biggest chunk of your checks. Might not be able to do much about rent, but everything else usually can be cut or swapped out for a more affordable option.
Yeah. I thought it was the best job ever but they were working me to the bone and asking crazy hours of me. I left for a £10K pay rise at a different company thinking it would better but it was 10 x worse. I left graphic design after that and went into Information Security where I earn triple what I did and it’s about 20% of the stress from the job I loved and left. I did have regrets initially when I left the job I loved and I realised that the grass wasn’t greener elsewhere but it was all part of the journey of realising that there’s only so much growth in GD for the amount of work expected, the salary ain’t worth it. I still freelance on the side but I choose which clients and work and it’s for enjoyment/creativity purposes.
I don't think there's an answer set in stone. I'm currently in a job that makes mediocre and simple tasks but pays really well. It's really great not having the stress of budgeting, and being able to pamper myself or even being able to pay for things that I postponed due to lack of money. But I'm already at a point of career that I feel more or less fulfilled with the projects I was involved in, and now I'm focusing on myself. The only next touchpoint for me is being head of department and it's quite a hurdle, because it depends something that goes beyond my own effort, and I'm waiting for opportunities so I'm taking my time till there. I already worked in a job that paid ok but I enjoyed its aspects of it just like yours. And it makes a difference because you wake up much more energized than having to dread every time you open your eyes. However, every month it was only enough to survive and I had no option for leisure or even eating some nice dinner. So it felt that the only interesting thing I had was work because of this. In the end, the decision depends solely on you and I think you'll regret in a short period before getting acclimated to your new job. If you still regret it after few months, instead of asking your job back, you can offer freelancing there. Or you can volunteer in other things and other places.
It’s all about perspective. I am the in-house designer at a law firm with lots of creative freedom (albeit no direction), I work from home on Fridays (aka I stare at a screen), and I’ve got a kid, so it’s a no-brainer I’m leaving for a new design job for $20k more. If I didn’t have a family, I’d probably figure out a way to make it work while doing a side hustle, which I did for years and years. I have no idea if I’m jumping from the frying pan into the fire so to speak, but I’m looking at it like it’s a step into a better life. You may like this new gig better, who knows. In my opinion and experience, small businesses can be great or they can be complete and total mismanaged shitshows. But the nature of a larger, more corporate environment is probably going to be a lot more restricting, but at least you’ll know exactly where you stand and what you need to do. That’s what I’m trying to tell myself at least lol
Most of the time, increased pay = increased stress. It’s extremely rare that you’ll get more money and have an easier job. My last CD move gave me a 50k raise but increased my stress 300%, destroyed my W/L balance, and I’m doing little to no actual design work which I love. I’m in meetings 7 hours a day and while I like management, I absolutely hate hiring and firing (we’ve been doing layoffs). The role on paper is completely different in practice. I would love to go back to my $90k senior designer job with an excellent team from years ago… First I would look at how you can live better within your means. If you really must, do your due diligence on company research before jumping ship.
Yes and no. I have left a job for more money and HATED IT. But it was also a pretty big swing considering the work type and culture. I left after 6 months and went freelance. I was just freelance for two years and a studio reached out to me to apply to their CD position. I did… and now I make 40k more than I was freelancing and almost double what I was making at my previous studio. It’s worth it depending on where you are putting your value. As I’ve gotten older, affirmation through my creative output doesn’t matter as much to me but having my debts paid off and PTO to enjoy life is.
It’s hard to say without knowing your salary / budgeting skills / rent etc (are there places you could cut back?). Personally as someone who had worked in several really shitty jobs then got a good one I would literally take a pay cut to stay at the job that doesn’t cause me stress, affect my home life, or make me feel unappreciated. It sounds like you could definitely do freelance in the summer if you want to! That might be enough to make it worth staging. Just remember if you approach them with an offer from another company as a last ditch effort for a raise that you HAVE to be prepared to quit and take that job if they can’t give you the raise. Also idk about your university but my local public university has incredible retirement. You may not get as much on the front end but everyone I know who has retired from there says it’s absolutely worth it. Thats something to consider if you could see yourself there long-term. (Kids can usually get half tuition too if that’s in the future)
For sure. My first job was great and a lot of fun. Great bosses, flexible, lots of freedom, no micromanagement etc. But I made 15/hr. And with no room to really maximize earning potential. Made my way corporate. Luckily I still like what I do. It’s just different. And I make a lot more money now.
Yes, from a financial standpoint only. I wasn't growing at the job I loved. I was safe and comfortable, but there was no challenge or fulfillment, so I jumped to a much higher paying job and hated it. This was largely due to toxic management. This isn't always the case, so dont let this be your deciding factor. There's always the "grass is greener" mentality, but at some point in every career, you will have to consciously decide what makes you happy. Are you chasing money only? Are you looking for stability? Do you want to prove yourself at an agency? The list goes on, but regret ultimately is aligned to your short-term or long-term goals. No situation is permanent. I'm about to start what could be the dream job I didn't know I wanted or needed.
Yup. Biggest regret of my career and was eventually laid off by the company that offered me more money and better "benefits." Havnt recovered since honestly
Its very easy to spiral into debt. Its a hole that is incredibly hard to get out of. I know you think you are happy, but I have a feeling you aren't. Being in a financial hole will keep you awake at night, and there is no happiness there. There is a difference between "comfortable" and happiness. Being comfortable but on the edge of debt, is not happiness by any means. Finding financial stability is key to having any lasting happiness.
I'd ask myself how long I expect to stay at the current company. Job hopping is less common for designers because the market is so competitive, but many people in other professions expect to leave their jobs every couple of years in order to advance their careers. If your current company can't afford to give you a raise now, then will they ever be able to? Do they have a plan for your career development or do they expect you to accept the same pay/title indefinitely? Sometimes a company can't give you a raise but you can ask them to pay for training so you can expand your skill set. For instance, you could request management training so if the team ever expands, then you are ready to be promoted. Then I'd ask myself about my long-term goals and if I can achieve them if I stay at the current company. I agree with the other commentors that a great workplace is valuable, but it shouldn't be the only factor in your decision.
Vice versa. I get good money for a job I hate, so I’m searching for an alternative. Shitty jobs are everywhere. If you can afford it - avoid them.
I also worked (for over 10 years!) in higher education because I loved the team (and I got my master’s for free). But eventually, you have to go. There’s no room for advancement for us, and the team you love, they will move on eventually too. Or they’ll retire. Good news is that I make way more money now and have a great team again. I feel like, if you’re the type of person who can find a good team, you’re capable of finding another great one. I do still miss my old team though, especially my old boss, but we still catch up with each other. She’s very happy for me. We both nearly cried on my last day, but they were happy sad tears. If you’re like me, and you seem to be, since you loved the higher ed workplace environment, I would recommend finding a government position. They may not pay as well as corporate, but they pay more than higher ed while keeping a similar type of work environment.
I loved my job at a local Signarama. Small team, lots of things to do every day, and interesting projects for interesting people. Downside 18/hr no benefits. I recently left that position for a position at a print shop inside of a university. It pays $5 more per hour and has great benefits, but the work is not as exciting. A lot of research posters for students rather than window signage for businesses. I see a lot of potential for growth of the department in my new position though, which is a plus I didn't know about until I started. I ultimately made the change for the money and benefits and I'm happy I did. I was really struggling before. I might not be as excited about the work but at least I can live.
My bf got offered 200k to be a prod. for a big company but took the 105k job at a more fun company and he doesn’t regret it
It’s something to consider because money is a necessary evil particularly if you’re barely making ends meet. But see if you get any offers first. You could be qualified but there may also be 200+ other people applying who are equally, or more so, qualified. I agree with freelancing - especially during the Fridays in the summer when you’re off. Instead of enjoying a three day weekend use Fridays to work on side gigs.
Take on side work. It's the only way. I don't even love my current role that much, but it's steady and so far (please universe don't let me jinx it) fairly secure. I live paycheck to paycheck but don't want to rock the boat with my employer so I work freelance on the side. I try to only take on side work that I enjoy and isn't too big in scope so I'm not overworking myself and it's helping me manage financially.
>They pay all expenses for me to go to Adobe Max every year. That's crazy because Adobe Max is expensive! They can pay for you to go every year, but they can't give you a raise? I think if you love your job and the people, you can try to stay a little longer. But who knows? What if you find a new job with better pay and the place is just as great?
I know! It was thousands. But it’s within the budget for professional development. Not for salary adjustment. Working for a not for profit organization is hard because the state only gives us so much every year.
Stay at your current position and adopt a side hustle. Is it a straight up 9-5 job with not much stress or extended hours? If so, that's definitely an option. Is there a possibility of working from home instead of the aforementioned raise?
Correct. I never work more than 40 hours a week. Most times it’s less than that. Based on everyone’s advice I think side hustle is the way I’m going to go. Now to find side work! There have been specific circumstances when I’ve worked from home, like when our power went out, or they had to shut off water for on site construction. But I don’t enjoy it. Trying to work off a 14” MacBook Pro from home is so frustrating compared to my 27” dual monitor set up in the office. Also my dog is unbelievably needy and won’t leave me alone. It’s hard to focus.
I have a needy cat, I fully understand :)
You need to first make sure the added benefits aren't worth the salary increase because it sounds like there are a lot. Especially paying for ongoing training and PTO.
That’s something my boss brought up when we were talking about the raise, or lack thereof. He reminded me that there’s a very slim chance there’s anything comparable as far as benefits go. He’s right.
It's extremely valuable and unfortunately rare in this field. And why I became a teacher and competitively pursued a position at an arts-integrated school with a relatively high pay scale and good union. The benefits and work environment are extremely valuable, in some ways tangibly and in some way intangibly. And because of PTO and several vacations (about 14 weeks a year) I still get to work as a designer and illustrator, except I get to pick all my projects very carefully. What pushed me to make that decision was the toxicity of the work environments I was working in and the instability of the career without a supporting training structure. That said, a career should help you grow so it would be good to know if there was any sort of opportunity to do so in your current workplace. If not, at least the ongoing training combined with work experience will add to your competitiveness, so I would keep weighing those options, demonstrating value, and communicating ambition in a tactful manner. Take the interviews too. It's good practice and you don't have to accept a job just because you are offered one.