Morning All!
The only reason why I'd rather work for myself is due to the disbelief I run into during the interviewing process in the media (multimedia) industry. I find myself constantly having to prove my capabilities, with a portfolio of work that clearly shows I can execute and get the job done. Too often have I had to take test for companies on desktop applications like Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw. Some of the test may have you recreate a company logo to test how well you know the program and can finish the test in a small window of time. The look on the employees faces is priceless when they see a lady "girl" complete the test with such quality, speed and ease.
In the multimedia industry there are many men and few women especially on pre-post production graphics side. As a triple minority Black, Woman and Nigerian, Im blind to what may work against me and I just work like one of the guys. But to secure a position I have to work three times harder to sell myself just to get through the testing along with pushing for a second interview. Sadly enough I grew up in the city of Fort Worth and have never really worked in my home city. It's always been in Dallas, Irving and even McKinney TX, that I have gotten most of my media jobs and contracts. I have even landed independent work in the state of Georgia. Im still grateful for that opportunity given to me by Mr. Bell (African-American Entrepreneur) of iss2.com of whom I was able to re-design the shell of their company website, which is still being used.
When I interview in cowtown (hometown) Im treated like Im in foreign territory when I know Im more than capable of doing the work. It's this kind of opposition that forces people to work for themselves. I now understand why so many of the people I admire are sole proprietors. Entrepreneurship should be the only idea put into the minds of children during primary, secondary school and university. They should not have the mind set of always working for someone else. True, we all work for someone when doing business but establishing ones self, setting your own hours should be the new standard. Running your own business that is time and cost effective, makes much more sense than slowing down for companies who could care less about your plans and goals while you help them realize theirs.
Im no newbie to this industry, it's been over 7 years now I have been hustling to remain employed in the multimedia industry for a while. You run into family settings in the workplace adding another task to your job title just to fit in. One wrong move and their friends in HR will help them do their dirty work. If you appear too eager or making slow workers (Johnny come lately's) look as though they're resting on companies time, you are automatically targeted. If you make them look too bad they'll even get IT(server technician) on the server side to tamper with your files and computer and make it look like you did it. All in the name of slowing down your work process.
As I push through this as I always have, I just remember how much I love the process of producing and THAT is what keeps me going along with knowing our God is faithful. I can adapt to anything so I know how to embrace change, it's the doubt from strangers I have to learn to block out. Remaining positive when going into a masked work environment is not easy. I don't care who doesn't like the managers or about any corporate politics for that matter. Producing is all that matters when I walk through the door of any establishment.
Peace and light folk. Hydrate, Be Kind, Keep it Simple. Keep learning.
Cecilia O.
UPDATE:
It's not a matter of my material lacking focus, people and employers love my work its a matter being hired in on a not so complicated process that my own peers in other states and cities don't run into. This is Texas and unless you've worked here you wouldn't know where Im coming from.
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