Web Design

Advice to a Fellow Changling

I've been following the blog of a young lady who decided to switch careers from law to web design.  Sound familiar?  It should - I did the exact same thing.  I've got about 2 years on her, which is enough of a perspective to know that she will turn out just fine.

Still, her latest blog post contained some frustration and disappointment, and I wanted to offer her some words of encouragement.  I left a note on her blog, here it is reprinted:

YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT.
 
First: I took the same exact journey that you are currently on.  I graduated law school in 2007 and had an awful time for five years before I decided to switch careers.  I'm currently earning an excellent salary as a web developer at an airport, which is an insanely cool place to work.  I've got exactly the kind of job I want and I'm glad I was picky.
 
And that's my point: You SHOULD be picky.  There is a WEALTH of web design jobs out there.  You just need to find one that's a good fit for you.  Front end work is a totally legitimate focus.  If you don't feel you're strong enough, do some more professional development.  I did that too.
 
Coming from the current legal market, you get the feeling that the job market in general is a big, scary place filled with rejection.  It's true in the legal world, but not in web design.  Web design is the Happy Hunting Ground.
 
Last year I tried settling for a job that wasn't quite right, and I didn't last more than a month.  Yes I got paid for my time, but there was an opportunity cost: I could have spent that month on more professional development and looking for a better job.
 
Don't settle.  Get the skill set you want, then get the job you want.  In this industry it really is that easy.  I am so, SO happy that I switched from law to web design.  I'm glad you made the switch too.  Be patient and have confidence in yourself.  I know that's hard, coming from the legal world.  But hang in there because you'll land your dream job a lot faster than you expect.
 

Not that kind of changeling.