Reply To: A crappy job is better than no job at all….right? How low would you go?

[earthworker]

I feel your pain, been there.  However, after working for several high profile firms, I have to say they are all alike.  It’s the golden rule.  Those with the gold make the rules.  7 of 10 la firms are lead by designers who become owners, who then find out how profits are ‘really’ made.  They are made by trimming the bottom line, taking advantage of staff and cutting corners.  If you are not a principal or partner, you are a cog in the wheel.  If you think it is different anywhere else, you are mistaken.  Especially in this economy.  Productivity is up, profits are up, hiring is down.  How do you think this is happening?  Every company right now is doing more with less.  That’s why we are having a jobless ‘recovery’. 

My old firm laid off 75% of their staff of 70.  They said they would hire us back if/when things picked up.  Last month I saw they hired an unlicensed landscape designer with only a few years experience.  On top of that, they made him an associate right off the bat. They never called a single former employee to come at least interview for this position. My point is companies have zero loyalty to you.  You are a number that equals billable hours that equals profits for them. That’s all you are.

The alternative is having no job.  Let me tell you the depression when you have a job is nothing compared to the depression of not having one.  I pray for any job, no matter how miserable, that will allow me to pay mortgage and buy baby formula.  In case you haven’t heard, our job market is the worst it has ever been not only for us but architects and engineers.  Half of them are looking for work too.  I would say your situation sucks but the alternative is much much worse.  If you left your job it may be well over a year before you could work in this field again.