My Degree
Not until recently have I been made to feel my Associates of Applied Arts with Honors degree at the Art Institute of Seattle was lacking.
No, it's not a bachelors degree at a a 4 year college or university, but I have always felt it was the same. Instead of 2 years of "core classes" of english, math and history. And then 2 years of design and illustration classes; I experience 2 years accelerated training in graphic design and illustration. Yes, I did have some "core" classes in math, english and history but these were tailored to my course of study. History was exceptionally fun when the renaissance was explained in deserts and our final was in presentation style. My group did a student studying art movements in the future. (I was pretty big into Quantum Leap at the time.)
Classes were all year with the longest break at Christmas being 3 weeks. They were in 4 hour blocks, one course of study each day, 5 days a week. If you were absent, you just didn't miss a day of class, you missed a week. I was trained by graphic designers and illustrators working in the industry. I learned graphic design and illustration from Gary Hanna http://www.hannastudios.com; Art history from the acclaimed William Cumming: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cumming_(artist); and graphic design and student studio from Fred and Anita Griffin http://www.fredgriffinart.com. Plus many more accomplished graphic designers and illustrators. All of which challenged me and pushed me to strive for my very best, earning my degree with honors.
Upon graduating I returned to Idaho and immediately began working. First at an ad agency then at the Idaho Press-Tribune for 5 years, and then Thrifty Nickel Want Ads of Boise (American Classifieds) Owner of Sterling Media, LLC for 15 years, and finally now freelance full time.
Why do I tell you all this?
Mainly because I was applying for full time graphic design positions I have been met with the bachelor's degree requirement in most job applications. Some have said equivalent experience, but most say bachelors. After 8 months of not getting even so much as a letter stating I was not going to be considered, I submitted my resume to a professional service to have it re-written. The reasoning was that companies now have resume reading programs that pre-process you resume before a hiring agent even sees it. After I had my resume re-written I submitted it to more positions only to be informed that my skills were not what employers were looking for. At least it was being read now, but still no interviews. Why?
Because I didn't spend that extra 2 years at school learning about trigonometry and the history of the 100 years war? I had been working consistently in the industry for more than 20 years creating designs for hundreds of clients.
I have since decided that these programs that pre-screen your resume are fallible. They don't take into consideration the quality of education an applicant has achieved. A Associates of Applied Arts in Visual Communication at the Art Institute of Seattle I believe is just as good as a Bachelors Degree at a 4 year college. REAL WORLD training by PROFESSIONALS working in the industry. Not professional teachers.
Also these programs don't see me, my skills or drive to give the client the best designs they are in need of. Many of whom are grateful for my skills and training.
HR Managers, business owners and application programmers: please consider these qualifications before you simply dismiss an applicant because they don't have the coveted bachelor's degree. You will be missing out on some really talented and dedicated employees.
Thank you