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Tips for a new Web Designer working with a Company
This isn't for me (I'm a graphic Designer) but more for my husband who Graduated last year with his Bachelors in Web Design. He was lucky enough to find a job with a small company close by who needed both a Web and Graphic designer.
He is the ONLY one in his department and I feel his boss is taking advantage of him because he's fresh out of college. He's getting 40K/year and I heard that is on the lower end of the spectrum for web designers. He has no extra benefits and he is expected to work almost constantly. He gets off at 5p and he has to come home and work even more until he leaves for work again in the morning.
He signed on to work with their website and edit some studio pictures, but now he's the marketing department, the research department, the newsletters and is in charge of ALL the social media sites as well. I'm wondering if this is normal for the amount he's getting?? And what should he do? Should he talk to his boss or just smile and take it. I don't know if I'm over-reacting because I feel this is affecting his health since he gets little to no sleep and his boss actually told him he expects him to work through the week and is constantly messaging him if he finished his work.
It's going to be a year in September he's been working for the company, he's had 1 small raise that brought him to where he is now.
Any advice we can get would be great!!
Thanks in Advance.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kerby Rosanes on -
I believe this all depends on the signed agreement/contract between him and the company. If all those responsibilities you mentioned are indicated in the agreement, well he can't do anything about it but do his work according to the contract. But knowing that he's fresh out of college, I guess having a wide responsibility in more than one departments is too much for a not so competitive income.
The income of course vary due to company, location, industry, experience, position and benefits. If your husband works in CA, the average income must be between 75,000 - 85,000 as a web designer/developer. http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-web+designer/l-san+fra...
Always keep in mind that maintaining good shape and being healthy is very important. If he thinks he is too much risking his health on the type of job he's in, maybe it's time to talk to the boss or find a new opportunity.
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Permalink Reply by eMarie Kaneshiro on -
Thanks,
We are in CA but not in San Francisco where we already knew they make a lot there, but it's also expensive to live there.
I still need to see a copy of the contract he signed. He was supposed to get a copy but they haven't given him one yet and my husband gets so preoccupied with everything else he does he doesn't remember. I know they were supposed to have another company maintain their Facebook page but they made it worse so his boss handed over the job to him. He recently told my husband he is now the marketing department and from what I remember (what he told me) when he was hired is he is mostly doing graphics and print ads and some work on the web. My husband and his boss are perfectionist and they butt heads a lot so I think it adds to the problem, as well as his boss having OCD as well.
I am on the fence about him finding another job because money is so tight and he's the only one with a steady income (freelance designers don't always make something steady) and after being unemployed for 2 years, we could use it. I keep asking him to talk to his boss but their always so busy running around and doing things, there's no down time. Most of the workers there have quit or were let go because they were at their limit and his boss mentioned that he didn't want my husband to push himself too much but expects him to work almost 24-7 (in my opinion, but it's probably a little bias) . But thanks for reminding me about the contract. I'll try to see if I can get a hold of that.
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Nieuwelaar on -
You really need to get the contract he signed but in my opinion as soon as he leaves work at 5pm he shouldn't do any more until he goes back in the morning. My friend was in the same situation, she had to design a student magazine each week and took her work home every night to finish it in time. In the end she burnt out and told her boss she wasn't taking work home any more. So they could either employ another designer to help her or the magazine would just have to suffer a bit.
Employers are always going to take advantage of recent graduates if they can.
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Permalink Reply by Saya on -
I think this is not a bad sign. That means he is so good that the company wants to use him any where they can.
He is just out of college and doesn't have experience. I think he can use this opportunity to improve his resume and experience but need to tell his boss these are not in what he supposed to do.
I am sure if they are decent people and like his work increase the salary and if not he can move on to another company with experience he has
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Permalink Reply by Misha Burns on
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I would agree. This will help him gain more experience in the field. But if your husband’s work set up and schedule affects your normal life and his health, I would advise that your husband talk it over with the managers to discuss his job contract and decide from there if this job is really cut out for both of you.
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Permalink Reply by David Rachels on
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I must say first experience of any job will certainly be beneficial for employee in future,get some experience of recent job and make the most of it.
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