Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
 
Old 08-06-2007, 07:35 PM
 
7 posts, read 61,141 times
Reputation: 13

Advertisements

I am currently living in Charleston and considering relocating to Chicago. If I make the move, I would be also be making a major career change. I have been working in Real Estate for about 4 years - in a position that has required tremendous customer service, conflict resolution, and managerial skills.. However, prior to that, was interning in the Interior Design field, and that is the direction I would like to go if I relocate. I have been doing design on the side (on an amateur level) for several years and have been told by everyone I know that I have a talent for it and that it is something I should pursue on a professional level... I just am not quite sure where to start. Several of the people I have spoken with ARE Design Professionals, and have told me that a degree in Design is not a necessity, and that I may just have to start as an Assistant somewhere to learn the trade and move up from there. Does anyone have any advice as to where would be a good place to start, what Design Firms / Chicago businesses I should look at?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 08-07-2007, 07:45 AM
j33
 
4,626 posts, read 14,089,265 times
Reputation: 1719
I would start by looking at some sales positions in design show-rooms (such as the showrooms in the Merchandise Mart) and high end stores (e.g. Design Within Reach) etc. that actually require that their sales associates have knowledge of design and compensate them accordingly (although probably not to the degree that you would make in real estate). Additionally, if you can get into a firm at in their design library or another entry level position to start off, that might be helpful. You'll have much more opportunities with your background and education (or lack thereof) in the field of residential design than commercial design.

CAD, Photoshop, and Illustrator skills will prove helpful.

Good luck.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-07-2007, 11:15 AM
 
7 posts, read 61,141 times
Reputation: 13
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate the advice. If anyone else has an opinion, I would love to hear it!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 10-14-2010, 09:16 PM
 
5 posts, read 10,209 times
Reputation: 11
Default Interior Design/Kitchen Design jobs in North East Chicago?

I will be moving with my family to Chicago sometime next year. We are completely new to Chicago moving from Missouri, but very excited about the move. My husband got a job in Vernon Hills, so at this point we are looking at housing in a safe neighborhood close to his office.

However, I am planning to start looking for a job myself after getting the house in order and children comfortably in preschool. My education is Interior Design, but I have also been working as a Kitchen Designer. Are there any jobs like that in the Vernon Hills area (Buffalo Groove/Mundelein/Libertyville/etc) or do I have to look closer to the city/loop to be able to find a job in the design field?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 10-14-2010, 09:33 PM
 
Location: Chicago
15,586 posts, read 27,621,939 times
Reputation: 1761
How much can you afford for rent/mortgage? How many bedrooms do you need?

Btw: Vernon Hills is not too close to the city...
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 10-14-2010, 11:10 PM
 
2,059 posts, read 5,749,627 times
Reputation: 1685
I wouldn't even begin to know where you'd find a job like that. What kind of firm would be looking for in order to find a job in those areas? Do you do private homes or commercial property? I would probably be checking out some Chicago design magazine websites to see where the firms are located and what kind of jobs are available. Vernon Hills is also adjacent to the North Shore communities which you may need to research separately to the city of Chicago, since there are likely firms out there too.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 10-15-2010, 06:07 AM
 
28,453 posts, read 85,392,786 times
Reputation: 18729
Default First , get your geography straight...

in the "Chicago Forum" NE Chicago means the neighborhoods of Edgewater & Rogsrs Park, neither of which are convenient to SE / Central Lake Co where you will be living.


Realistically, there are many shops that do kitchen remodeling, and those that have not folded during the economic downturn might do OK in areas like Libertyville and Lake Forest where affluence and aging housing mean that many folks do redo kitchens.

In my experience, the odds of landing a gig at a well paying firm like that are directly related to your ability to "press & impress"-- you will need to have a vast portfolio of really unique looking work to show off AND no reservations about using every trick in the book to track down hiring firm's decision makers.

You will have to pound the pavement, dig for leads, muscle out older established designers...

It is not easy, but it can be an ok way to get a base and maybe expand into your own firm down the road.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:54 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top