Help!

[Tess]

SCAD has a course in their community education (I think this is only available in Atlanta) for copywriting for advertising. It's $300 registration fee for 10 sessions.

http://www.scad.edu/scadatlanta/academi ... ty_edu.pdf

Hope the link works...it's on the bottom of page 12 in the pdf.

[leftnotracks]

I can't tell you how to do this, since I have no idea what your software is or how it works.

I can tell you that vinyl cut letters and shapes don't have a "stroke", since the letter is cut out of the vinvyl. It's all fill.

Here's how you can do it in Illustrator.

1. Set the 26 and convert to paths.
2. Object > Paths > Offset path. Not that the new paths overlap. You don't want that.
3. Select the outer 26 and, using the Pathfinder palette, Option-click (Windows: Alt-click) on the top left icon.
4. Add a little square to use for registration both above and below. Make this in both red and blue and but them in the same place.
5. Save red and blue components as separate files and convert them to yor cutting software's format. The program probably came with an EPS converter, so save as Illustrator EPS version 8.
6. When you've cut both colours, apply the blue to the red, then apply the blue to the car. The registration boxes from step 4 will be very helpful here. Obviously you will not apply the registration boxes to the car.

[jessikarabbit]

[size="2"]Things like this are not discussed in school, and I don't know of anyone else that has ever had to deal with anything like this. Any in-house pros guidance would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
[/size] For the last two years I have worked for my company, starting as an intern and becoming the "Marketing Communications Coordinator". I am the (as in the only) print designer, creating all the marketing collateral, trade show exhibits, business cards, and ads. The company was acquired by a Fortune 1000 company last year and I am now responsible for creating and implementing branding.  I have also been obtaining quotes for printing, negotiating terms and completing projects by shipping materials to trade shows and sales staff. I also handle the product photography; planning, editing, and organizing images.

I recently had my second annual review. My director gave me a glowing review based on my work with him, and information that my Marketing Communication Manager had provided him with prior to leaving the company. Soon after my review a new Marketing Communication Manager was hired. I was given a raise which was generous in percentage, however prior to the raise I was still earning the same as I was as an intern so the new hourly rate of pay was significantly below what my research was showing as average.
I met with HR to discuss this and was told that I was being paid as a mix between a "Graphic Artist" and a "Marketing ***" because that is how the HR manager translated my job description, despite my official title being "Marketing Communications Coordinator" and having a very clear job description.  I also discovered that I was on the same pay scale as the receptionists! I had done a great amount of research to estimate what I thought my salary should be and I was told by the HR manager that the research I had done was flawed because I was not obtaining it from a service that I had to pay for, and the reported salaries were inflated. I brought multiple examples including information from salary.com and the AIGA annual salary survey, which included all of our company's particular demographics.
I then attempted to discuss this with my director, and my new manager. My director told me I would have to discuss this only with my manager, who had been with the company for less than 3 weeks at this point. My manager has express that she feels that all I do is design and would like to rebuild my job description and title to reflect that. She has told me that she is looking at job descriptions from her past work to formulate this new job description. She has yet to do so and it has been a month.
While I wouldn't mind a description that focuses on design, the HR manager uses a program to determine salaries and it dictated that a "Graphic Artist" earns $14 an hour. I have no managerial support in arguing what my job actually entails despite having a written description, and apparently no protection from an ignorant HR manager from freely translating my actual description to whatever she would like.
            Now I am not sure what to do. Of all those involved I have been with the company the longest, by over a year. My director has blown off my attempts to discuss this and is usually out of town. My manager is struggling with her own job still, and constantly re prioritizing the 14 different projects I am currently juggling. Nothing has been approved for completion in over 9 weeks. This situation taking a toll on my work and my psyche. I have been looking for a new job, but have yet to have success. Other than continuing my search for something new, I have no idea what to do.

[gato_no_naces]

How frustrating!

It sounds like you're doing the right thing in searching for a new job, though. Obviously, with the changes that have gone on in the recent past there's going to be turmoil within the company. However, it sounds like your manager doesn't want to pay you what you deserve (or can't, due to budgetary or even inter-office political restrictions you may not be aware of). The sort-of-nice thing about the situation is that she's willing to reword your job description so that your responsibilities don't outweigh your salary, even if it is much lower than what you deserve. I'm sure it doesn't make you feel much better though.

It sounds like you want to stay at this place based on all you've done to prove what you deserve and the fact that you're stressed and anxious about the situation. Reflect on the past two years though. Based on what you've done for the company in that time, do you think the way they're handling this situation is fair to you? Probably not. And if that's the case, perhaps it's for the best that you're searching for a new job. At least while you are on the hunt for a position that fits you better than this one currently does, you'll have the security of a steady paycheck.

Good luck!

[Ch3rrill]

Oh my - that is frustrating! Unfortunately, if that's the approach they're taking, chances are things won't change. Check out the Creative Group for more salary research, and maybe consider drafting your own example of what you think your job description should be. Other than I don't know what to say, because in my experience with this sort of thing, there's not much you can do if they're not willing to listen.
 
Similar situation at my last job - we were a totally new department and they didn't know what to do with us. Since our office was located in the warehouse, they decided to start us off on the same scale as warehouse workers!!!! Then they realized we had to have some college education for what we were doing, so they upgraded us to the call centre scale. then when we complained, they said fine, we'll pay you what a bilingual call centre agent makes - this was 2 years into the process. When I finally left after 5 years, they were just starting to research and bring the salaries up to what they considered "industry standard". They had hired an HR rep by this time - we didn't have one before. But like you, they used some archaic data to decide what that standard was. And they weren't going to simply pay us that much anyway - we were going to get there gradually over a series of raises (one per year) for a number of years. when I left I was the last one out - everyone else had quit - and they offered to pay me a lot more to stay, but for me it was over.
 
Good luck, and keep your eye open for those new opportunities

[Sam_EW]

Sorry to hear that.
In a big company that doesn't use designer to generate profit, HR doesn't have a category for us, therefor they pay you whatever they think is fair, maybe by your education, age (i know it's sad) etc. And it also depends on your manager. If she is willing to push very hard, you might get that raise. Some people suggest to negotiate vacation days if you can't get more money, but i have tried that, didn't go anywhere.
what I have realized over 7 years of my career, to succeed in an in-house department, doing what we do (something other people are completely clueless about), you need to have a boss who is a very good communicator and willing to stand up for his or her team. That is how the rest of the company sees your value.

good luck!

[amberlyth]

I certainly agree with Sam, and others who have been in this situation. In my experience I have found that the harder you try and mess with corporate structure, the worse it gets. There are threads that have been posted on previous bosses, mine included, where your direct report is your first line of defense; if that relationship is not good, a position with another company appears to be the only answer - and in your case it certainly seems that way. But there are exceptions, and you'll know when those rare birds of opportunity comes along....is there anyone higher than your director?

Awhile back, I found out that my boss was grooming someone outside the company for a sweet position in our company - undermining me at every chance. Here's just a snapshot of the whole experience, hope it helps:
A merger took place and there was an opportunity to transfer to another state...a sweet deal indeed. This was the opportunity one could only dream of! But for some reason, my boss wouldn't discuss it with me at all, like it was not an option. Another person had recently joined our team and it seemed as though I was the odd man out. Had it not been for the support of our new teammates in our future location, I wouldn't have lasted. The VP above my boss was not even approachable for this subject so I started looking and interviewing outside the company. There was a glimmer of hope when me and this new girl had an incident, it brought up lots of unspoken merger issues: that is when I decided to have a meeting with a VP from our future location. Found out that my boss never even told him I wanted to transfer, and I made it clear to her how much it meant. He was so happy to find out that I would go, that he put the wheels in motion immediately. My boss called a meeting between the 3 of us, basically stating her case why she thought my qualifications were somehow not good enough. Since it was a closed meeting, I felt it necessary to express myself clearly and that is the only time I've ever used the word Bit@h at work in my entire 20 year career.
To make a very long story short: the new management team offered me the sweetest transfer deal I've ever heard of, my old boss was let go (ha! after 25yrs there), and that other person she was grooming ended up out there with me, only to spill the beans on the evil plan that failed - and now she was out there without someone to help her get ahead. She eventually left too. Funny how things work out.

I've been gone for some time now, and there was more stressful drama later when they hired in another manager (who also was let go a less than a year into it). That was also the catalyst for my 2nd round of education.

But looking back, it was the best career move I ever made. Every single thing you ever learned cannot be taken away. Every future employer reaps those benefits...don't forget your value, it never depreciates - and if you're lucky, you'll eventually get the chance to practice everything you've learned thus far: it's a dream.

Good Luck!!!!

ORIGINAL: Sam_EW

Sorry to hear that.
In a big company that doesn't use designer to generate profit, HR doesn't have a category for us, therefor they pay you whatever they think is fair, maybe by your education, age (i know it's sad) etc. And it also depends on your manager. If she is willing to push very hard, you might get that raise. Some people suggest to negotiate vacation days if you can't get more money, but i have tried that, didn't go anywhere.
what I have realized over 7 years of my career, to succeed in an in-house department, doing what we do (something other people are completely clueless about), you need to have a boss who is a very good communicator and willing to stand up for his or her team. That is how the rest of the company sees your value.

good luck!

[marshal]

Sounds like your company undervalues you for the work you've done, and undervalues the work they say you do (graphic artist). So you're right to look elsewhere.
 
If you step back and look at the whole scenario, it seems they're not concerned with keeping you happy. So I'd definitely concentrate my efforts on a job search. Undervalued, under-appreciated, underpaid...out the door.

[jessikarabbit]

Here's a fun update:
A few months back I emailed my director asking for a week off to go to an out of town wedding. Due to communication errors and some interesting math by HR I was down to 14hrs of PTO. Apparently my director was unaware of this and told me my vacation wouldn't be a problem. A second wedding came up, this one I am actually in, and so I submitted a time off request, for unpaid time off. Because for both weddings my absence was split among 2 pay periods I offered to make up the time during the week so no overtime would be used.
Days later I was called into a meeting with my director, HR and my manager. Apparently what I was asking for was too much. My director made it clear that had he known I wanted use unpaid time off he would not have approved it, but because I had an email from him approving it he could not retract it. I was then told I could have a 4 day weekend for the wedding I was in. I attempted to clarify the fact that all my 40 hrs per week would be worked and I simply was requesting to alter my schedule, i was repeatedly told that I had been given time off already and had chosen to use it up. I then thanked the three for being able to come together for something so menial, yet that I was astounded that no one had been able to tell HR that I am not someone's ***.
I was able to attend the first wedding and even answered emails while out of town, and still managed to submit a time card for 80hrs, so I never actually used any unpaid time off. A few weeks later I was told that I would be given the opportunity to have 2 days off to attend the wedding. My manager informed me that it was her policy that I could only be out of the office for 2 hours in order to make up the time and not use PTO.She then asked me to think about what they could do to make me happy (yeah, i'm as confused as you). She then brought up the fact that during my review my director had asked if I wanted to stay focused on design or if I was interested in branching out into other areas, I told him I was open to branching out, though this now seems like they want to add to my workload without adding to my pay in order to make me happy. I have 2 days to let her know.
 Here is my list so far:
1. My manager reads and understands my existing job description.
2. My pay and pay scale are competitive with regional averages for the actual job that I do...

I feel like I am in the twilight zone here. So far the I've been told I can't be paid what I should and I can't have a temporary flexible schedule.
I've been searching for a new job...

[hdblue]

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Rgs