Fact Finders Pro’s Post

10000% this. Digital marketing right now is also being a jack of all trades, but everyone has to have an expertise (you don't want to be a master of none!). For success, the team must work together, listen, and learn more from those who have different proficiencies and perspectives. This is how you build a wholistic campaign (design, etc.). Companies want less people to do more work. This may save on salary, but in the end they will suffer losses from people's inability to focus and excel in exchange for just getting things done. Less payroll does not = more revenue.

What an absolute joke. Alternatively, this is a guide on overworking your staff with minimum pay without actually saying you want to overwork your staff with minimum pay.

So glad to hear this seasoned Art Director write about this. I was just speaking about this the other day myself. After several years of being self-employed as an Art Director and Sr Brand Designer (and subcontracting specialists for various tasks and newer technologies I couldn't do myself), I'm casually looking into working for an agency again. It's been shocking to see so many job advertisements that expect expert experience in many different specialist areas. Graphic Designers are now expected to be 2d designers, 3d designers, UX /UI designers, illustrators, web develop3"ers, web designers, animators, marketing strategists, photographers, photo editors, videographers, video editors, copywriters...the list goes on. It's even more shocking when you see low-ball salaries attached to these roles. As brand strategists/designers we often speak to our clients about niching down (aka it's better to be an expert at one thing, than mediocre at many things), yet how many agencies are trying to hire these multi-specialist generalists, who, let's face it, are probably not multi-specialists and only try to look like that on paper?

In the Talent Acquisition/Recruiting profession, we call this a Purple Squirrel. Few (if any) candidates will match these requirements. Few (if any) candidates will possess the mastery of experience across the broad skill set as stated. What’s more, some of the best people may never apply. The result: a job that stays open for months. Hiring for attitude and passion, along with a successful work history, is a much better approach than checking boxes to match skills. The right hire, over time, brings so much more value to a company. By building a culture focused on learning, you get the best talent that will support a growth mindset. I could literally write a book on this topic. If you would like to discuss this approach, please contact me here on LinkedIn. #hiring #learning #learningculture #purplesquirrel

Should also turn water into wine, quickly

People that have worked under me all know my mantra. "What's your focus." You may be good at a lot of things, but what are you GREAT at? Then that's what we focus on. That's how we will position you to succeed and be showcased. A lot of people use the "jack of all trades" as a positive thing, which in some ways it can be, but it also sets you up to take on FAR more work than your job description entails. Keep in mind below. For a Sr. Graphic Designer... they want you to be able to do: Graphic Design Character Design 2D/3D Design HTML Coding Web Design CRM systems UI/UX knowledge SEO experience Platform design knowledge and also be a team player. lol. Rich Sherman is right on the money on his take of this. I've run into this personally as well. Yes, I CAN do motion graphics, graphic design, 3D work, etc... but is that what I applied for? The more you know.

Is this really unacceptable? 💯 My resume actually looks a lot like this. I reflect on my skillset daily, strategizing what new thing I need to learn to stay relevant. If someone asks me to do something I haven't done before, I learn how to do it. Youtube and Chat GPT are my go-to professors. Every marketing job I've had has expected me to have an extensive skillset. I adapt, acquire knowledge, and GSD. It probably helps that I'm passionate AF about marketing. I've been in love and have a deep relationship with WordPress and Adobe Creative Cloud. Me and Elementor are besties. I like hanging out with Illustrator and After Effects like everyday. I also have a crush on Canva, because they're always there for me in a hurry. Convincing CEOs, COOs, and CROs that your skills are worth more money... well that's a case by case basis. A lot of people have skills that deserve more compensation than what they receive. Marketers are just one of many in the salary vs. skills battle.

Exactly my thoughts.

Exactly!!! I should technically be at a Senior Graphic designer role. But in the four years I was out of a job, I couldnt get one because of requirements like this. ESPECIALLY in regards to UX design and Web Design. They are vastly different than graphic design. They take a skill that I do not have. It’s not my specialty. I excel at Brand identity, digital documents, visual graphics. And accessibility for those with special needs. Not a study on human behavior and how they are going to click things in a web page or app design. These requirements need to change!!

I wholeheartedly agree, working together as a team is super important if we want to achieve greatness. It's not fair to expect every Graphic Designer, or any professional for that matter, to be amazing at everything. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and when we work together in a collaborative environment, we can use those strengths and weaknesses to come up with more creative and effective results. Plus, if we stick to strict experience requirements, we might miss out on some talented individuals who bring fresh perspectives and skills to the table. Companies need to realize the value of different experiences and create a place where professionals can shine based on what they're best at. I'm just an ordinary person and a designer, and honestly, I don't really care about counting how many years of experience I have in design. Instead of stressing over the number of years of experience, I think it's better to embrace the journey and the ups and downs that come with it. Because honestly, the number of years doesn't define our story as designers. Let's focus on pushing our limits and being limitless in our creativity. 🧝♀️ 😇 🙏