Student's post-graduate job experiences

Comments from department guests

Job placement stories

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I love my job! I’ve been here almost three months and I look forward to coming to work! I’ve never had a job like this before. No one yells at me and people are actually civil and polite to each other. Wow! A year ago, I never thought such a place existed - ha, ha! I am working side-by-side with graduates from four-year schools. At first, I was intimidated. Now, I am amazed. I am so much better prepared and so much more productive than they are. I consider myself lucky to have gone to Ivy Tech in Columbus. The thoroughness of the program has served me very well! Thank you so much!

> > Mary Brandon, graduate

Having now seen lots of other student portfolios at my job, I am not intimidated at all by those who went through a four-year program. And, I am amazed at the things (short-cuts, layout design, etc.) I know that the other designers do not - I can get things done in half the time they do. These are reasons to be extremely proud of the program you run down there in Columbus, and, how fortunate I feel to have gone through it.

> > Adam Williams, graduate

The education that I received at Ivy Tech Columbus was supreme and cutting edge. When I first was seeking my place in the world on the East coast, I kept getting the same question . . . "WHERE did you go to school? WHERE did you get this awesome education?"

Well, I would then have to go on and on about how I had some of the best of instuctors and equipment. Resoundingly, I would hear, "It shows."

> > Linda King, graduate

It's really cool to open Indy Monthly, Indy Woman, and Indy Star and see my ads, and to drive down the highway and see a billboard that I created. This is possibly one of the coolest jobs someone could have!

> > Dustin Brenton, graduate

I'm still east of Los Angeles, and I really like it out here. I just thought I'd let you know that I got a job at a local studio!! :)  They do great work and have big reviews. George just recently went totally digital in his studio, so I brought up some Photoshop points to him, in my interview.

He said, "Wow, not only can you take great photographs, but you can edit too..."  He pulled up about five raw digital images right then and asked me to show him what I knew. I started adjusting the photos and it turned out I knew about things that he didn't!! :)  He hired me on the spot!

Now, I do all his editing and retouching in Photoshop, and I photograph both portraits and weddings. He said that it was nice to have someone come in who knew the aspects of lighting and who could critique an image so well.

I thought of you, and I wanted to thank you for always pushing me to take my education one step further. I can remember when I was in my first year at Ivy Tech, and I would have a final print that I thought was great, and then you'd point out things that still could be done to enhance the image and make it that much better. Well, I did want to be better so I'd go back to the darkroom and try again. But when I did what you'd suggested I was so much more pleased with my images. :)
 
This job is a start. I plan to do much bigger and better things. But, it will provide me with more experience, and isn't that what life is really all about . . .

> > Rosalie Murphy, graduate

Well, Jonathan, with much thanks to you, I am pleased to inform you that I have been accepted to the Columbia College Chicago Graduate Program in Educational Studies to pursue my Master's in Art Education . . .

> > Amanda Mauer, graduate

Jonathan told me about an internship for a photographer here so I got right on that and it ended up that they hired me on permanently a few weeks ago! It is a great job where I get to do photography as well as some design, and work on Macs all day! Not to mention the pay is very good as are the benefits.

A job like this is the whole reason I decided to go back to school so I am infinitely grateful! I had a Bachelor's degree but I have to say I feel like I learned more in the two years at Ivy Tech than I did in my four years at the university. You guys run an excellent program over there and you really prepare people to get out in to the real work world.

> > Brooke Yarber, Bloomington

I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all that you did for me while attending Ivy Tech. If it were not for your dedication and personal help through the years, I would not be the skilled worker I am today. Another opportunity has come my way . . .

> > Stacy Suits, graduate

Artistic talent must have the proper guidance, development and tools at its disposal to prosper. Ivy Tech gave me these things and more at the dawn of the desktop publishing era when many art departments thought the Macintosh was only a fruit. We had a sprawling computer lab and the right software and training to give our class the absolute best opportunity to succeed. Because of that training and knowledge, I was able to gain the leads, jobs and relationships that have led me since.

> > Nick Zink, graduate

Over the years, I’ve reviewed many portfolios from programs in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky. The samples I’ve seen from Ivy Tech-Columbus and, most recently, your web site, smokes anything I’ve seen. Ivy Tech portfolios represent more "real world" design.

> > Bruce Morgan : Art Director : Cook, Inc.

I’ve looked at tons of portfolios, and the ones coming out of Ivy Tech-Columbus are always a notch, or even two, above anything coming out of the other schools.

> > Vince Freeman : Owner : Sonar Studios
> > VISIT SONAR STUDIOS WEB SITE

I really enjoyed the critique day. Your students' work is superior to what else is out there. The overall quality of the student portfolios was stunning. You have a wonderful program going there. The critique is great practice for job interviews too - as painful as they are for the kids, they need the experience of doing it.

> > Phyllis Taylor : Senior Communications Specialist
> > Financial Management Service, Indiana University

Frankly, most of the Ivy Tech portfolios we’ve seen over the years stand out above the rest. The Ivy Tech students are more mature and have a greater appreciation of business-related issues than students from other schools.

> > Jerry Mcafee, Power Presentations
> > VISIT POWER PRESENTATIONS WEB SITE

Thanks for the opportunity to talk to and review the work of your students. I really enjoyed the experience. You should be proud of the program you're running down there - almost every one of your students were engaged, interested and respectful.

> > Ted Scofield, Scofield Design
> > VISIT SCOFIELD DESIGN WEB SITE

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I just got hired on.

I had been working (at a home and bath plastics manufacturer) for for two months on a part-time basis. Basically, once I got there, I really liked the work and decided I was going to make them hire me. So, I worked my tail off (I blew them away with my computer knowledge . . . all of those "Don shortcut things!"). They slowly started trusting me with full design projects and after about a month they asked me to go full-time. We went back and forth on salary for a little while and landed on a number with which I am VERY happy!

We design shower curtains and all of the accessories for designs you'll find in Linens-n-Things, Bed Bath and Beyond, Meijer, K-Mart, Wal-Mart and many more stores. I am now dealing with vendors and producers all over the world, including China, Germany, and Brazil.

The job is very fun, fast-paced, and always changing. Well, that is it . . . thank you for all of your attention to detail and persistence on making me the best me I can be.

> > Brian Rees, graduate

I am working in the Training Industry now and I LOVE IT!!! I think I have found my calling. Woo Hoo!> >

I do get to use my design background for creating training materials and visual aids. By the way my design background has helped me in all jobs I have had. You all have a great program and I appreciate it a great deal.

> > Ruth Robinson (Farnsworth), graduate

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