Me I wanted to be a Model and Air Hostess. When I just begun HRT I looked horrible and people would hurl me with insults, but now as the hormones altered my face slightly and I'm more or less passable, whenever I walk on the streets, I am frequently called 'Model' by flirty men. There are people who I don't know and I meet in random places and tell me that I should be a model but I explain to them I can't cos I'm trans and no Agency would accept me as I am no matter how beautiful I may be. I also wanted to be an Air Hostess but it's IMPOSSIBLE! LIFE IS SO UNFAIR! :embarrassed:
What about you, what's your dream job you wanted to do but can't cos of Discrimination?
I thought there were (I know there are) trans models.
Quote from: tekla on January 08, 2011, 05:38:47 PM
I thought there were (I know there are) trans models.
I'm not from the Western World, I'm from an Indian background and we face HEAVY discrimination here.
There isn't a job I want that I can't have because of discrimination.
Discrimination would never stop me getting the job.
I love my current job in a jewelery repair shop, but this week is my last there. I'm quitting because of several reasons, but one is that I know I would not be comfortable transitioning there. There are only three of us who work there, and the other two are older, traditionally Catholic women. My boss is also not a huge fan of men as a whole and actually told me when I was hired that she was so glad I'm not a guy (If only she knew ::) ). I am pretty much supported by my parents still and have just been working there for fun, so it's not a big issue. I am a bit sad to leave, though.
Thus far I'd like to be a mechanical engineer but apparently no one wants to hire me...
The job I want is to become a member of the lower house, but even with Vexing's tenacity I think it'd be near impossible.
Quote from: caitlin_adams on January 08, 2011, 09:09:27 PM
The job I want is to become a member of the lower house, but even with Vexing's tenacity I think it'd be near impossible.
It's been done:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgina_Beyer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgina_Beyer)
I'm seriously considering running for Prime Minister of New Zealand sometime after I hit 45.
Quote from: Vexing on January 08, 2011, 09:59:09 PM
It's been done:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgina_Beyer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgina_Beyer)
I'm seriously considering running for Prime Minister of New Zealand sometime after I hit 45.
Without trying to sound weird (and this is meant entirely in a complimentary fashion), you have a really good politician face; the smile is very natural, but it still looks professional.
Quote from: Rebekah with a K-A-H on January 09, 2011, 01:12:58 AM
Without trying to sound weird (and this is meant entirely in a complimentary fashion), you have a really good politician face; the smile is very natural, but it still looks professional.
Yeah I've noticed that too. She looks like the 'intellectual sisters', the formal 'office-type' of women.
Quote from: Rebekah with a K-A-H on January 09, 2011, 01:12:58 AM
Without trying to sound weird (and this is meant entirely in a complimentary fashion), you have a really good politician face; the smile is very natural, but it still looks professional.
Yay! Thanks, that's quite a compliment :D
I just hope that if I ever become Prime Minister that I never have to meet Sarah Palin, because I was slap her stupid(er).
Oddly enough, all of my dream jobs happen to be fairly trans-friendly. I'd love to be a full-time novelist making enough money to live comfortably. I'm working on that, now, but I don't know if I'll ever make the full-time part. But if I don't, being trans won't be the reason.
Also, I agree about Vexing's politician face. :) If you end up going for it, good luck!
Quote from: Sad Girl on January 08, 2011, 05:44:55 PM
I'm not from the Western World, I'm from an Indian background and we face HEAVY discrimination here.
So try and be the first - actually I read about a trans TV presenter from India with her own show, so I don't see why you shouldn't succeed even there IF you have enough talent and determination.
As far as western world goes we had April Ashley, in the 1960's, Tula (AKA Caroline Cossey) in the 1970's, and if you believe the widespread story Amanda lear in the 1980's
Currently we have Leah T who is fronting for vogue. ( so hardly low profile there! )
My own partner Alison was offered a contract by Debenhams (a big Uk chain store) when she was younger to model hosiery.
All these trans models have been highly successful - so it is possible if you really are good enough.
Quote from: Vexing on January 08, 2011, 09:59:09 PM
I'm seriously considering running for Prime Minister of New Zealand sometime after I hit 45.
When you do, you should declare war on France...just for the hell of it.
Quote from: Helena on January 09, 2011, 04:58:28 AM
When you do, you should declare war on France...just for the hell of it.
We do hate the French; there's the whole Rainbow Warrior incident that sours kiwis towards the frogs.
Quote from: Sad Girl on January 08, 2011, 05:28:46 PM
I also wanted to be an Air Hostess ...
A transgirl I know here is an Air hostess and is constantly flying all over the place. There is always hope!
Quote from: jennajane on January 09, 2011, 09:19:31 AM
A transgirl I know here is an Air hostess and is constantly flying all over the place. There is always hope!
In my country we cannot have legal papers certifying we are officially and legally recognized as female by the law even if we do SRS, so it's impossible in my country and I don't know foreign Airlines who would accept me with my male documents unchanged, so I really dunno.
Quote from: Vexing on January 09, 2011, 09:00:55 AM
We do hate the French; there's the whole Rainbow Warrior incident that sours kiwis towards the frogs.
You know they'd surrender, just in case. :D
Quote from: Vexing on January 09, 2011, 02:22:54 AM
Yay! Thanks, that's quite a compliment :D
I just hope that if I ever become Prime Minister that I never have to meet Sarah Palin, because I was slap her stupid(er).
*Crosses her fingers and wishes ... *
Er ... I should write something on topic. :)
I don't think there's a job in the US you can't have because you are Trans per-se. There are area's of the country it would be difficult to get a job, though. Like I think Wyoming or North/South Dakota might be a challenge, but not impossible. And discrimination would be for all women and not just the TG folks. And technically, that sort of discrimination is illegal in the US, so if you proved it, you could sue and make some change that way. :P
My dream job is to be a full time musician and I can't honestly say there has been any discrimination against me in the originals side of things (I've been asked by a publicist to exploit it before, didn't want to though), just not really good enough at it. I am good enough to be working full time in the cover bands which make a lot more money but I've come across some pretty clear cut cases there, got a day job instead.
Quote from: Epigania on January 09, 2011, 12:09:05 PM
*Crosses her fingers and wishes ... *
Er ... I should write something on topic. :)
I don't think there's a job in the US you can't have because you are Trans per-se. There are area's of the country it would be difficult to get a job, though. Like I think Wyoming or North/South Dakota might be a challenge, but not impossible. And discrimination would be for all women and not just the TG folks. And technically, that sort of discrimination is illegal in the US, so if you proved it, you could sue and make some change that way. :P
Sorry, but it's not illegal to discriminate against trans people in the United States, and if you're discriminated against because you're a woman, they can just claim it was because you're trans instead and that's okay. :( I think there's only like 12 states that have laws against it, and some cities in other states, but that's it. The federal government was successfully sued by Diane Schroer for firing her, but I think that was a special case. Also, transsexuality is considered a mental illness by the military so we can't serve, regardless of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
As I recall, government workers are also protected.
I'm not so sure about that. My dad and brother work for the government, and after their required discrimination training, my brother noted that the only group it was legal to discriminate against was trans people. This was a few years ago, so things may have changed since then.
Edit: This is in Colorado.
I work in the NZ branch of a big American based IT firm and they specifically stipulate that you cannot discriminate against an employee based on their gender identity. I would hope that they're not the only company like this in the States.
I think the only federal protection transsexuals in the US have is against hate crimes. Which, well, I guess it's better than nothing, but it's kind of depressing.
I hope to have most of my paperwork changed and everything done before serious employment is necessary to support myself, but it is a scary thought that I could be fired at any time if I were to not disclose and someone figured it out.
Anything is possible given time and effort.
My understanding is Obama closed the TG loophole for federal employment discrimination. In fact I could swear a high ranking official is openly trans.
The company I work for has very explicit rules against discrimination too, Vexing. In fact most large companies do. Much of the west coast has state laws protecting us front it.
I always wanted to be a bull rider...when I tlkd to the university rodeo team coach, he laughed at me....until I said I was serious...his response: we don't let girls ride.
Quote from: LordKAT on January 10, 2011, 12:18:45 AM
As I recall, government workers are also protected.
Some government workers have explicit protections. All government workers have some form of the merit system, which makes for a very stuctured way of having to terminate someone. There may not be specific protections for transgendered employees, but it doesn't make it any easier to fire you. Besides even an employer with specific protections, or not, is going to find some other reason to terminate you (usually performance related) anyways.
Written policies make for good marketing and not much else.
It looks like they added Gender Identity to the US Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Polices about a year ago:
http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/administration-adds-gender-identity-equal-employment-opportunity-policies (http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/administration-adds-gender-identity-equal-employment-opportunity-policies)
Now if we could just get ENDA out of limbo ...
:) Thanks for correcting me Epigania. I'm glad to hear it's changed.
Quote from: Lee on January 11, 2011, 08:15:06 PM
:) Thanks for correcting me Epigania. I'm glad to hear it's changed.
Sorry I wasn't trying to be contradictory or anything. There was just a line of posts from folks talking about it and I thought I'd post the link to an article about the policy change.
Title VII also prevents U.S. employers who have more than 15 employees from discriminating against people for failing to conform to gender stereotypes, and that protection has successfully included transexuals in several cases. Google Price Waterhouse line of cases and title vii.
Quote from: Epigania on January 11, 2011, 08:19:09 PM
Sorry I wasn't trying to be contradictory or anything. There was just a line of posts from folks talking about it and I thought I'd post the link to an article about the policy change.
I didn't mean to sound angry or anything. I'm genuinely glad to hear that. Sorry if it came across differently.
Quote from: glendagladwitch on January 11, 2011, 08:19:23 PM
Title VII also prevents U.S. employers who have more than 15 employees from discriminating against people for failing to conform to gender stereotypes, and that protection has successfully included transexuals in several cases. Google Price Waterhouse line of cases and title vii.
Too bad there are only three of us at my work. Oh well, this is my last week there anyways. On to bigger and better things. :)
Here's an article on the Titl VII extension to sex stereotyping cases, especially with regard to transitioners.
http://www.imakenews.com/employlaw/e_article001223710.cfm?x=bdsM2n3,b2jr3qF0,w (http://www.imakenews.com/employlaw/e_article001223710.cfm?x=bdsM2n3,b2jr3qF0,w)
I have my dream job and I'm the boss so the only one who can discriminate against me is myself. I don't think I discriminate but I have a staff full of lefties.
If you're at all creative, consider working for yourself.
I have read that some people find gender expression in their career choice by choosing historically male/female jobs. I thought that was interesting and a bit strange to me.
My dream job is a full time self-employed artist, so I would figure I'd not be discriminated against doing that. My realistic job is doing CG/character art for movies/games and as far as I know they only care if you can do the work well in that industry.
Quote from: Kitian on January 12, 2011, 12:42:39 AM
My dream job is a full time self-employed artist, so I would figure I'd not be discriminated against doing that. My realistic job is doing CG/character art for movies/games and as far as I know they only care if you can do the work well in that industry.
I've done work in games and features and I can assure you that no one gives a crap. It's all about the work. Creator or poser. A "boy's club" pays the bills though, a MTF trans person would definitely face discrimination at a certain level.
The only trouble with being self-employed in a creative field is that your business ability has to be on a par with your creative ability.
I want to work with kids but working with kids means working with parents. Before I was fully out at my former job (which did involve children) a mother complained and said their child was crying and scared of me because of my appearance. I think the kid was a year old...maybe a year and a half. I totally could have a job in childcare but I don't more so because of parents' attitudes as opposed to discrimination.
Racing International level. Made it to pro level sponsored and all- now that I'm transitioning.. that's that. I can get back in in 2 years after starting hrt because of the international policies.. but.. that's a long time to be out of the game, a real long time. Plus the whole fact of switching over to mens ... i donno how competitive i'll be, have to see what hrt does for me.
Quote from: Tad on January 13, 2011, 12:38:32 AM
i donno how competitive i'll be, have to see what hrt does for me.
I'm sure you'll kick ass :D
My dream is luckily in a field with very little discrimination - theatre. [Technical, not performance.]
My other dream [a secondary dream I suppose, but i do have my moments..] is to be some sort of crazy safari biologist type person who spends time in far out places exploring and experimenting and all that. Being trans is a relatively large deterrent for me fulfilling this dream because of what could happen. If I could be fully reconstructed down below it wouldn't be an issue for me though. I'm not sure 100% of my reasoning behind this, but something about it bothers me.
I'd also love to be a fighter, but my small stature and relative inexperience/I've not been desensitized to being punched in the face [though I am a black belt in tae kwon do I have very little actual fighting experience other than very controlled sparring]
I always wanted to be a Navy SEAL. Maybe it'll even be legal someday, but right now is the age when I would have to do it. I can't throw my career away when I'm 30 to join the military. Ah well...
Quote from: GnomeKid on January 13, 2011, 02:01:51 PM
My dream is luckily in a field with very little discrimination - theatre. [Technical, not performance.]
Because there are so many out, GLB hollywood superstars....
Yeah, but like the rest of Hollywood, technical theater runs on the showbiz version of Einstein's Theory of Relativity in that you have to have a relative doing it to get that job in the first place. The huge IATSE locals (1 in NY, and 33 in LA) rarely take outsiders into the union. The only reason most of the people I know got into that union is that we did rock and roll and none of the old timers wanted to do it, or thought it would last, so we crept in under the margins - or they started out very small out in the boonies. I know that I would not have been let into the SF union had I not already been a union member in Iowa, and it was my college tech teacher who took me down to the hall and vouched for me and got me going. Hell, I finished college in only 4 years, but it took me close to 7 to finish up all the apprentice work to get my journeyman's card.
And, everyone I know who does this kind of work has been doing it pretty steadily since they were teenagers and also doing all the outside stuff (construction, commercial electrical, welding, sound work, lighting maintainer and design that they could fit in) around the theater schedule as simply doing theater tech work is not a full time job for a decade at least.
My 'dream job' has always been law enforcement or something associated with psychology/anthropology.
The latter, as far as I know, isn't particularly discriminatory. It might just be me, but the science and social science fields seem to be fairly welcoming - it's all about the work you produce.
As for the former - there's actually an MTF cop in my city who transitioned before joining the force, and every so often the police department holds campaigns focussed on recruiting members of the GLBT community. It's all about getting the minorities to be represented. I don't know about what it would be like on the job, though - there'd probably be some latent discrimination, but then again, I've heard that once you join, you're 'blue' before you're anything else...
(For the record, I live in Canada, which seems to be one of the better places to be trans :))
Quote from: tekla on January 14, 2011, 09:13:02 AM
Yeah, but like the rest of Hollywood, technical theater runs on the showbiz version of Einstein's Theory of Relativity in that you have to have a relative doing it to get that job in the first place. The huge IATSE locals (1 in NY, and 33 in LA) rarely take outsiders into the union. The only reason most of the people I know got into that union is that we did rock and roll and none of the old timers wanted to do it, or thought it would last, so we crept in under the margins - or they started out very small out in the boonies. I know that I would not have been let into the SF union had I not already been a union member in Iowa, and it was my college tech teacher who took me down to the hall and vouched for me and got me going. Hell, I finished college in only 4 years, but it took me close to 7 to finish up all the apprentice work to get my journeyman's card.
And, everyone I know who does this kind of work has been doing it pretty steadily since they were teenagers and also doing all the outside stuff (construction, commercial electrical, welding, sound work, lighting maintainer and design that they could fit in) around the theater schedule as simply doing theater tech work is not a full time job for a decade at least.
You assume that I haven't actually thought into my future at all it seems.
I'll take my chances, thank you for all your discouragement though. Its appreciated.
Just what every college kid needs in life... someone else telling them they'll never get a job.
::)
NASA Shuttle commander... or pilot :P
Commanders get one shot to land the 110 tn orbiter as it glides back to Earth. There's no 2nd chance as it brick like plummets in on a steep approach at over 300 mph several times uber-degrees steeper than that of a standard airliner!!
I'm too old now, and would've needed to be a femme ace pilot in the US militia.... during ma late 20/30s... which is about when i actually transitioned....lol
And then on passing the selection process then I'd have needed to invest time in loads of science based Msc/PhD stuff....
(which i ain't....as i'm more creatively talented by nature)..... damn and blast....
But one can dream.....
Eh call me off but I think I'v been facing more discrimination in the past years, then I will be getting after I look like a man. Cloth shops didn't want me, jewel shop discarded me and the list goes on, most probably because I didn't look girly at all. ( I didn't notice that either way I turned it, I present myself I just look and behave to masculin, places like that will welcome a guy thats a guy and a women thats a women, but not something they can't place ,like me)
I hated sending out photo's in general ,lol.
my parents tell me day after day that dreams don't exist, deep down inside I just want to draw for cash, or do 3D modeling.
Not like that will ever happen where I live anyway. Ho well, I am gone keep trying tho C: If I can find a nice job and do those things after work I'll be happy as well !!
Quote from: GnomeKid on January 14, 2011, 11:50:19 AM
You assume that I haven't actually thought into my future at all it seems.
I'll take my chances, thank you for all your discouragement though. Its appreciated.
Just what every college kid needs in life... someone else telling them they'll never get a job.
I never said that, I don't think Tekla did either. You made a broad statement, I pointed out that its not as true as you might believe (that there is no discrimination in theatre) just as much as full figured actors and actresses are underrepresented. Tekla, having experience in the field you expressed an interest in gave you sound career advice.
I was a great school librarian, before.
*sigh* i would love to be a journalist or a news anchor.
I honestly don't know what I want to do. I'm more than halfway to my bachelors degree, a B.S. in psychology which I am highly interested in, but I don't know what I want to do with it. Although I've thought about going into research with non-human subjects (I'm not a people person.) But I'm 20 and have been in school since I was 3 or something, and I just want out of the system (of course after I finish my B.S.).
At this point in my life, I'd take what I can get, so that I can pay off some of my loans. That and so that I don't have to rely on my parents all the time.
Quote from: Vexing on January 09, 2011, 02:22:54 AM
I just hope that if I ever become Prime Minister that I never have to meet Sarah Palin, because I was slap her stupid(er).
I now hope that you do become Prime Minister and that you do meet Sarah Palin >:-)
Quote from: GinaDouglas on January 15, 2011, 08:09:48 PM
I was a great school librarian, before
Hey! I'm a librarian / archivist too. I majored in education as an undergrad and then got my MLIS. I didn't do the education certification in addition to the MLIS because it's another 2 years of school, but I have a lot of respect for those who do.
Have you considered going into digital librarianship? It seems that is what is in highest demand these days, as you probably already know. I just got my MLIS 2 years ago, with a specialty in digital librarianship. I now work as a digital librarian at a publishing company and tutor kids from under-privleged backgrounds as a second job. In both jobs, I am protected against discrimination based on gender identity. My gender identity is not an issue; what matters is how hard I work and how much people like me, which is what should matter, IMHO. My point is that there are options. Don't give up hope!
(And pm me if you want to talk about librarianship.)
I didn't think I was discouraging you, I told you something that I bet your professors don't, which is how to get into that union through the back door.
And having a degree in the field - which few of us do interesting enough - is a beginning, a good one, but one (unless you are in some state-of-the-art program) is not going to have you graduate with the professional certifications you need to do the work in a commercial sense. Riggers have to attend and pass certification classes and demonstrations to get that paper. In California every head electrician has to be a licensed commercial electrician. That requires taking a huge test and passing it, and you can only qualify to take the test after you can prove you have worked over 10,000 (verified) hours* in the field under a licensed commercial electrician.
But do be aware, that even those of us in heavy demand in huge work areas still refer to it as 'the best part-time job you'll ever have.' We all either do other things in the biz (guitar tech, venue maintenance, studio work) or we do construction stuff, or have some other gig going on. I do contract research and write speeches/presentations and do power point presentations for business types. I also do a lot of venue maintenance including being a certified tech for Martin and Vari-Lite so I go into places every year or so and clean and maintain the lighting systems. My boss has a rail excursion company he runs, as well as an electrical contracting company that he owns.
I will have worked all of 3 days from December 20th to Jan 30, and I'm one of the people who worked a lot in that period. It's very seasonal stuff. It's also rarely long term. It's gig based. So you have to have something to fill in that time unless you can save, budget and plan to take a month and a half off a couple times a year.
P.S. Did you know that most Tech Directors for major venues are licensed C-10 (top commercial grade) contractors, because they have to be to do that work - the insurance companies insist.
* - that's five years, full (40 hours a week) time.
I'm not going to let discrimination keep me from getting my dream job. :) Besides, I'm already almost there. I'm currently interning in the new media department of EMI Music, one of the big 4 in the music industry, and they've been treating me with much respect and dignity and have been praising the work that I do for them, despite my being trans. (or I just pass much better than I believe I do. lol.)
tekla's got it right. My step-dad is part of one of the stage hand unions up here (worked a Taylor Swift concert when she came through, I stole his shirt from that) and he works, from what I can gather, about four jobs a month (pretty sure that's high for him). He's good at it and loves it but it's not so great for paying the bills.
Quote from: tekla on January 16, 2011, 04:53:59 PM
I didn't think I was discouraging you, I told you something that I bet your professors don't, which is how to get into that union through the back door.
And having a degree in the field - which few of us do interesting enough - is a beginning, a good one, but one (unless you are in some state-of-the-art program) is not going to have you graduate with the professional certifications you need to do the work in a commercial sense. Riggers have to attend and pass certification classes and demonstrations to get that paper. In California every head electrician has to be a licensed commercial electrician. That requires taking a huge test and passing it, and you can only qualify to take the test after you can prove you have worked over 10,000 (verified) hours* in the field under a licensed commercial electrician.
But do be aware, that even those of us in heavy demand in huge work areas still refer to it as 'the best part-time job you'll ever have.' We all either do other things in the biz (guitar tech, venue maintenance, studio work) or we do construction stuff, or have some other gig going on. I do contract research and write speeches/presentations and do power point presentations for business types. I also do a lot of venue maintenance including being a certified tech for Martin and Vari-Lite so I go into places every year or so and clean and maintain the lighting systems. My boss has a rail excursion company he runs, as well as an electrical contracting company that he owns.
I will have worked all of 3 days from December 20th to Jan 30, and I'm one of the people who worked a lot in that period. It's very seasonal stuff. It's also rarely long term. It's gig based. So you have to have something to fill in that time unless you can save, budget and plan to take a month and a half off a couple times a year.
P.S. Did you know that most Tech Directors for major venues are licensed C-10 (top commercial grade) contractors, because they have to be to do that work - the insurance companies insist.
* - that's five years, full (40 hours a week) time.
I'm sorry that I mistook your comments in a much more negative light than you intended. I've got a semi-fragile state of mind concerning the whole situation as a 5th year senior going on 6th most likely next year. Especially since, like you said, even after this long in school I certainly do not have the certifications/experience needed for professional application. [Though hopefully after that it will be off to a graduate program/tech school]
I have considered over the past couple years that I'm most likely going to end up in some related field such as those that you mentioned, and I have no problems with that.
I'd love to talk to you more in depth about that sort of thing if you would be so inclined.
-----------
To the others who have commented:
While I do realize that this is a potentially difficult dream overall, I do doubt that being trans would prevent me from fulfilling this dream.
To Regan - the acting job market/world especially for "hollywood superstars" is very different than the tech side of things. [...and there are a lot of out hollywood stars nowadays anyhow..... at least it seems that way to me] but thank you for your reply. :)
and once again... Sorry for being so defensive off the bat. :-\
Quote from: MillieB on January 16, 2011, 12:21:42 AM
I now hope that you do become Prime Minister and that you do meet Sarah Palin >:-)
If she becomes Prime Minister, I hope she doesn't have any pressing political need to meet with Palin =).
Quote from: GnomeKid on January 16, 2011, 09:20:59 PM
I'm sorry that I mistook your comments in a much more negative light than you intended. I've got a semi-fragile state of mind concerning the whole situation as a 5th year senior going on 6th most likely next year. Especially since, like you said, even after this long in school I certainly do not have the certifications/experience needed for professional application. [Though hopefully after that it will be off to a graduate program/tech school]
Get as much education as you can, I would tell anyone that cis or not. There are plenty of jobs you don't need higher education for, but it certainly helps. Especially with the current economy, when two people apply for the same job, everything else being equal the person with more education is usually going to get the job (there are always exceptions, of course).
In the GLBT world there are enough uneducated people, unemployed people. Whether its true or not I've heard the trans unemployment rate is around 40%, the more you educate yourself the less likely you are to be part of that 40%. The sad fact is employers can afford not to hire someone becuase of their non-standard gender identity/expression when there are plenty of people for them to choose from, its alot harder for the employer to justify it when you're one a select group of people that can do the job.
Don't worry about the 5th/6th year senior thing, its not a race, it matters only that you finish.
Quote from: Aikotribs on January 15, 2011, 06:11:56 PM
my parents tell me day after day that dreams don't exist, deep down inside I just want to draw for cash, or do 3D modeling.
Your parents are wrong. I had similar parents and I proved them wrong.
I work in a related field. With the Internet it doesn't really matter where you live. You just have to do it for like 6 hours every day until you rock so hard that people want to hire you. Creative jobs seldom have on the job training. You have to build your reel / portfolio in school or on your own to get in. Once you're in you're in.
I took a feature film job last summer and have had three since then just from word of mouth. I live in the US Midwest. I come from a very poor family (like outhouse poor), no college degree (took may community college classes), but now make a good creative living, have stayed in the nicest hotels, been to 18 countries, fly to NY or LA when I feel like it, and have had dinner with celebrities and billionaires.
If you're dedicated you can do it. I've never met a person who applied themselves that can't make a living as a commercial artist. The people who don't do it..don't do it. They consume media like a glutton and let the days slip by.
You can do it. I worked over 40 jobs before I "made it." Dish washer, fast food, copy shops, retail...
Quote from: japple on January 19, 2011, 01:07:32 AM
Your parents are wrong. I had similar parents and I proved them wrong.
I work in a related field. With the Internet it doesn't really matter where you live. You just have to do it for like 6 hours every day until you rock so hard that people want to hire you. Creative jobs seldom have on the job training. You have to build your reel / portfolio in school or on your own to get in. Once you're in you're in.
I took a feature film job last summer and have had three since then just from word of mouth. I live in the US Midwest. I come from a very poor family (like outhouse poor), no college degree (took may community college classes), but now make a good creative living, have stayed in the nicest hotels, been to 18 countries, fly to NY or LA when I feel like it, and have had dinner with celebrities and billionaires.
If you're dedicated you can do it. I've never met a person who applied themselves that can't make a living as a commercial artist. The people who don't do it..don't do it. They consume media like a glutton and let the days slip by.
You can do it. I worked over 40 jobs before I "made it." Dish washer, fast food, copy shops, retail...
This is actually a very wise post ... It's true of everything, not just artistry as a career. If you put your mind to something and work hard to succeed, you can find a way to make a living. I'm a computer programmer and a project manager at a Fortune 50 company but never went to college (except a few Community College classes where I realized it wasn't for me) and I grew up on a farm as well.
Though I'm not doing what I want to do for a living, I'd rather be designing sets, I make a very solid living because I told myself early on that I can make a career out of something I was pretty good at (computer and system engineering) and I worked hard to make it a reality.
While I don't wine and dine with celebreties, I am on a first name basis and hang out with the CEO's of major international companies. :)
I think in a lot of places these days, people care more about if you can do what they want you to do. They don't care so much about your history. I think that's especially true in fields such as publishing and computer related jobs.
Quote from: japple on January 19, 2011, 01:07:32 AM
You can do it. I worked over 40 jobs before I "made it." Dish washer, fast food, copy shops, retail...
There are plenty of people that work two (or more) jobs. One pays the bills and one is their dream job. If it gets you excited to get out of bed in the morning, chase that dream with all that you have. The most miserable people I've ever met work a job only becuase "it pays alot of money".
Quote from: Maddie Secutura on January 08, 2011, 09:04:24 PM
Thus far I'd like to be a mechanical engineer but apparently no one wants to hire me...
You most assuredly CAN be a mechanical engineer. This particular career choice WILL require at least a bachelor's degree, BSME, to get even considered for the job. We'll presume you either have or are working towards such a degree.
Learn to market yourself. Nobody teaches this. Here's a great first step:
http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2010/dp/1580089879 (http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2010/dp/1580089879)
Remember, employers buy value, so learn to sell value. It's a process. You are selling how you will help them make money and do so with the least hassle. There are other random variables, of course, but this is the crux of the matter. Don't ask what they will do for you? Sell what you will do for them. LEARN TO SELL VALUE! Not only can you then get the job but you can get it at a higher salary (sometimes MUCH higher) than your competing interviewees.
Again, learn to sell yourself. You CAN do it! Just take the first step ... .
;) Lacey
I'm currently a 2nd grade teacher and I absolutely love it. I love being a teacher and would love to keep it up my whole life, but I know how parents react when it turns out little Johnny's teacher is transgendered, and it isn't pretty. After I finish my time here I'm considering going back to grad school for something still in the education field, but something where I won't be a classroom teacher. I think I might be a LITTLE better recieved if I was an itinerant specialist.
Quote from: Maddie Secutura on January 08, 2011, 09:04:24 PM
Thus far I'd like to be a mechanical engineer but apparently no one wants to hire me...
Change "mechanical" to either "aerospace" or "software" and that's about me. My resume has gotten me interviews, but everyone seems to always find "something" that they don't like after meeting me. Gee, wonder what that is... These have been entry level jobs and I have a Master's degree too.
I used to want to be in the Air Force as a kid, but I learned early on that that would never happen, at least not in this life.