Celebration Weekend

Mood: Inspired
Listening to: Calvin Harris radio on Pandora

My brother, Andy, is turning 43 today. Hard to believe my little brother is over 40. He's on a video shoot for his company today. It's also Father's Day tomorrow. Blessed to be the daughter of a spiritual and loving papa like my dad.

This will be my second week of job hunting. My goal is to be employed by Monday, August 4, 2020.

After working out today I was getting ideas in the shower about what I'd be open to doing since graphic design job openings are almost nonexistent in Bismarck. I have over 20 years of graphic design and 7 years of prepress experience at an actual printing company. Realistically, I won't be asked back to a company after a layoff. In all reality, when/if they rehire a new designer(s) after the economy starts to pick up, I hopefully will be once again employed. My old company will most likely hire someone cheaper and with a ton of experience.

I want a MORE FULFILLING job with health benefits. After brainstorming a bit, here's a small list:

• Marketing: I'd like to email two former graphic designers, one who worked at my old company, and ask what they needed to do to get into marketing (any extra schooling, transferrable skills, etc.)
• Chef's Assistant: Food is inspiring. My boyfriend and I are both foodies, love to travel, and take numerous photos of the many exciting dishes we try.
• Web Designer: This would require more schooling, but I already have the design skills to assist people with how they want their website or online ads to look like
• Daycare Helper
• Administrative Assistant: Nikhil gave me a pep talk last night. He said this job would pay for the chicken enchiladas, and then I could still do my creative work on the side. I'm guessing these are most of the jobs I will be applying for. I need to pay my bills, have medical insurance, and I could use any office skills I gained as a graphic designer. But will I need Accounting skills?
• Art Teacher: This would also require going back to school or even getting a teacher certificate
• Graphic Designer: This most likely won't happen. It's sad, because my old place had an excellent reputation for design and print. Even though I wasn't "top dog" at our company, I became a BETTER graphic designer after working there for seven years. I just need to utilize and transfer those skills to a new job now. I have a theater buddy who lost his job at a print shop also. He now works at the public library and is very lucky to be doing in house graphic design with the library. I'm tempted to take him out to lunch and drill him with questions on how he got to his next step after his job loss. (It would also be great to see him. It's been ages.)
• HIT or Pride

This is a start. Next step is to polish my General (Career Change) and Graphic Design resumés.
I can pursue contests in photography, graphic design, and painting for fun.

Below is a lunch I whipped up: Two eggs on a whole wheat tortilla; feta cheese, carrots, spinach, chick peas, capers, dill, and a drizzle of olive oil