Massachusetts: The NO Networking state

(I've abstained from spelling "Massachusetts" in my usual snarky fashion as I'd like this page to properly appear in a web search. Rest assured, my opinion of this state remains unchanged.) 

As I look back at my early days of running from one temp gig to another in this miserable state trying to prove myself as a designer and build up a network of clients and contacts, I can now see what a complete waste of time and futile effort it all was. I already wrote about Cramer as one good example; here are a few more, spanning the time from 1999 to 2003.

Vantage Partners

Way back when, either late 1999 or early 2000, I was placed here on a temp presentation design gig through PSG. As always, I did a fine job, earning a glowing review in the end, “Please tell her that she was the best designer I’ve ever worked with!” As always, I naively said to myself, terrific! There’s another satisfied customer who will sure call me back whenever they have the need for a designer! (Yeah, right.)

So, here we are, 16 years on, and they have to put out an advertisement and solicit loads of resumes for this one dinky five-month stint. 

How sad that they never could be bothered to establish a long-term relationship with me (or, apparently, anyone else).

Even funnier (or sadder, depending on your POV), I got a call from TCG checking in to see whether I’d like to make myself available for some temp work. I asked, “Well, that depends, what have you got? Anything worth my time?” The rep replied she’s got “two great opportunities currently open, one with Vantage Partners, and another one with Cambridge Systematics.” Recall, I briefly mentioned a very bad experience with the latter company here.

Oh, good grief. Sixteen years on, and it’s the same dinky companies filling the same old roles with temps. It's like musical chairs except with jobs instead of chairs.  

Aramark

Back in 2003, PSG called me about a presentation design gig with Aramark. My rep (a very nice guy, unfortunately he moved to another state) said that the client had given the task of designing a PPT template to someone there internally and they were NOT happy at all with what he did. Based on the details he gave me, I deduced this person was not a designer, just someone who thinks they’re a designer because they knew PPT. I “accepted the mission,” drove up to their Norwell location and met with the girl in charge of the project. She showed me what this other “designer” had done -- a plain red background with the Aramark logo in white on top, text placeholders, and that was it. I came home created three template designs which included imagery and some 3D elements. Her email response to me was that I blew them away with my designs, “We are all very impressed with what you’ve given us!” After they picked a template they sent me slides to incorporate into the new design. Again, they were happy with everything and, again, I foolishly said to myself, “Excellent, another satisfied client that I can count on to feed me some project work in the future!”

Never heard from them again. They advertised for a designer twice in the past few years, and I applied both times (in May 2014, and in December 2015). I was automatically rejected by their ATS without anyone even looking at my website. 

Staples

Just like with Aramark, PSG called me with a PPT design job at Staples back in 2003. They had no PPT in their corporate brand back then, thus I was hired to fix this. I gave them several template designs that they loved, they picked one and I designed their slides to match the new template. Again, glowing feedback to PSG. Again, this led to NOTHING.

I look back at these joke jobs and wonder, why did it have to be like this? The only reason I can think of is that Stinkassachusetts…stinks.