#060 I got a full-time job

The most unexpected update of all — let's talk about it.

Nov 07, 2023

(01) REFLECT

Four weeks ago, I started a full-time job as a Senior Designer at a wellness company. This might come as a surprise to you (it certainly was for me), considering I had always envisioned myself as a studio owner. The idea of collaborating with clients across a variety of industries sounded like a dream come true as someone who has always had one too many interests. I could work with a home goods company one day and a beauty company the next if I wanted to.

If you’ve ever attempted to run a creative studio, you realize pretty quickly that the reality is quite different from that dream.

Yes, I got to work on all sorts of brands, from haircare to figure skating classes. But there were so many aspects of studio ownership that were a bit of a nightmare for me.

The part that left me feeling most unfulfilled was that project-based work meant I wasn’t able to nurture the brands I helped build. After work was completed, I would turn around a few weeks later to find that clients were misusing the assets I created for them or having a hard time building on their brand experience due to a lack of in-house designers. Before I knew it, I was removing their website link from my portfolio.

Eventually, I started offering retainers and taking on contract roles that allowed me to keep my hands in the day-to-day work of designing brand experiences. And I loved it.

Being there for my clients day in and day out meant I was more involved in their businesses, but not so much in mine anymore. It was only then that I started considering that perhaps taking a full-time job wouldn't be so bad after all. I even applied and interviewed many times, but never followed through with it because I couldn’t quite let go of this dream I had yet.

It was only after I moved to the U.S. that I truly felt the need for more stability, both in my personal and professional life. However, I should mention that nothing in life is guaranteed. I wouldn’t say a full-time job is 100% more stable than owning your own business, or that running your own business full-time gives you any more of your time back, either. Many people will argue otherwise, but they often will never share the full picture. Regardless, it took some convincing for me to finally come to terms with the idea.

I entered the job market at possibly the worst time ever. Layoffs are still happening, companies have started asking employees to return to the office, salary ranges don’t align with experience, and submitting applications feels like uploading your resume into a void — all of which I chose to ignore. It was hard at times to believe I was going to get a job soon when others were still getting laid off, but I chose to remain hopeful and prepared myself to spend months job searching if needed.

Fortunately, I had recently updated my portfolio over the summer, and after doing tons and tons of TikTok research, I updated my resume to match and began my job search. To be honest, I applied to more jobs than I can count. Even now, after securing a job, I still receive rejections in my inbox. I applied to every job I knew I could do, believing that “one of these will land.” I got on a few calls with recruiters, but it was a long-time client who ended up hiring me full-time. She reached out, asking for my retainer availability, coincidentally at the same time that I was planning on shamelessly letting her know I was looking for a full-time job. I didn’t think anything would come from it, but I got excited as soon she replied, letting me know she was open to the idea. After a little over a month, I officially joined her team. I’ve always heard advice about “using your network” when looking for a job, but only now understand what that looks like in action.

I considered making this newsletter a two-part series to provide more advice for those seeking full-time roles, but I think it all boils down to three key points:

Define your expectations
Trust your skills
Don't fear rejection

While I could discuss crafting the perfect resume, I honestly don't believe there's a one-size-fits-all formula, at least not at this moment. Stick to a standard format and maybe forget about being “humble” for a bit. A good question to ask yourself is: how would I describe myself and my work if I didn’t feel the need to downplay my achievements?

Once you have that, the only thing left to do is apply. Make it part of your daily routine, dedicating 1-2 hours daily to your job search. Reach out to people you know, explore company career pages, connect with recruiters in your field, and join larger creative communities. When I say "put yourself out there," I mean it. Ironically, the experience was humbling, but I didn’t have too much time to dwell on that.

A little over a month later, I'm relieved that I let go of the misconception that taking a full-time job would make me a failure. While I still accept freelance projects that truly excite me, I mostly enjoy my new routine of clocking out at 5 and writing this newsletter. Strangely, I feel a new sense of ownership over my creativity, which is liberating and fulfilling. I can now focus my energy on one set of responsibilities and still hold space to explore my every thought without being too concerned about my next paycheck. If you've experienced something similar or are contemplating a full-time job for other reasons, I hope this issue serves as the last push you need.