My continuing education...

[athelis]

One of the major benefits to working at a state University is that all my schooling is paid for. I have been mulling over how to best take advantage of this - do I want to go and get my Masters or to get a second undergraduate degree? The Masters will help me get a better/higher paying job or at least a raise at my current job. The undergraduate

Comments

Can't you do both?

[mzsylver]

Hmm... I demand more information. What would the Masters be in?

[beknatok]

The key question I'd ask you, having been on the web design side of the fence is, is that really an industry you want to work in? I say this because, unless you're a highly talented artist & designer, who can also sling code, it's really hard to excel in that industry. Though the dot-com bust weeded most out, there's too many hacks who picked up books in the dot-com boom, and now insist they know shit about shit, which they really don't. It makes it much more difficult to fight for a job, as HR folks usually don't know shit about shit, and cannot decipher the good from the bad.

While I don't want to sound like I'm discouraging you from trying something you may really want to do, I am attempting to caution you from entering an industry which, in my mind, is a pain in the ass to get work in, much less stay on the cutting edge, and set yourself apart from your competitors.

[astroliar]

Good points - I guess it's a question of what you want to try to be pursuing. More money never hurts, and a change in an focus can be beneficial - if graphic arts is something that you really want to pursue, it may be worth the time. Just realize that the graphics art field can be very difficult to break into for bigger success.

One side note - Brett is starting to take classes for graphic arts, and was warned by Cisco that if he can be in the top 2%, he would not have a chance at a great career in graphic arts/design. Just a thought, as Cisco is someone that I know has a very sharp mind and knows a bit about the Tech job market.

[dulrik]

My girlfriend is a good artist with a BFA from a respected art school but still has a difficult time finding work. There's a reason for the phrase "starving artist" and it still exists. If you want to work as an artist, you not only have to be a able to create great art, you also have to be really good at selling yourself. A lot of people can not fulfill both sides of that equation.

If your current job offers opportunities for advancement and a Masters would help with that career path, then my advice is to do that instead. Of course, since it's free, there's nothing wrong with taking art courses purely from a hobby standpoint as well.

[dire_mongoose]

I pretty much agree with Tom here.

Even if you want to do graphic design professionally, I think you would probably be better off getting a Masters in anything, and taking art classes and working on your skills in that area on the side. My impression has been that the strength of your personal contacts and design portfolio are bigger factors in getting a graphic design job than an art degree.

I figure you keep your current job (which you don't seem to hate) and try to make more money doing it, take some art classes and work on that area on the side, and that way you'll have the financial freedom to take your time looking and hold out for a graphic design job that you really want. Maybe as you start to feel like you know what you're doing you do some web design work for free/cheap for friends or charities -- this would give you some experience, plus something you can show off.