I fully agree that your web site is probably the problem. In addition to the other comments, which are completely correct, you have no intro at the top of the site. When you load the page, you just get some logos - there is no explanation of why they are there. Did you design them? Do you just like them? The icon on the right that scrolls down to your content is non-standard to the point that I don't even know what it is. So the whole site just doesn't communicate very well.
And even if that didn't turn me off as a potential customer, I'd be seriously questioning whether I want to hire someone who claims to be a designer, when they didn't even put together a design for their own site that effectively tells me who they are.
Basically, I think you are too close to your own site design to see just how flawed it is. Sorry is that sounds harsh. But I'd re-do your entire approach. Don't put up a portfolio and then try to add commentary at the bottom - put up a easy-to-read, concise explanation of what problems you can solve for people. In this scenario, you are the product, and you need to market yourself just like any other product - tell people right off the bat why you will improve their life. If you don't do that, the portfolio is meaningless.
I think it might be D. Your website has a whole section on why not to hire you. One of the things is not to hire you if “I need approval,” and then there’s a pull quote roughly saying you tell it how it is. That’s all well and good as something to value about yourself, but it reads to me like you’re an asshole. I don’t know you- I don’t think YOU think you’re an asshole- but if you’re trying to get hired then I think I’d take a look at the “don’t hire me” section and figure out what you can compromise on. It sounds like you wanna stay near your kids- that seems very doable. Maybe you could work with an agency for a bit. Maybe you can find the space between yes man and firebrand. Just my two cents- good luck!
I think I lead with that level of transparency because I find corporate interactions incredibly inefficient/difficult and I'm trying to filter out managers and speak directly to founders and engineers, or people that aren't put off or threatened by self-knowledge or honesty. But you're right.. like I shouldn't complain about not getting picked up when I'm literally turning people away.
Yeah, exactly. I really mean what I said- I respect this value. And usually I think filtering out people you don’t want to work with is wise. But the more you want work the more you should loosen the filters
So now I can brand, design and deploy entire products on my own... which is incredibly cool and fun, and Valuable(??)
Everyone else can do this too now. I suspect that today, many companies are still wrestling with AI, how to use it, how to incorporate it, and many are thinking they don't need programmers anymore.
In time, some will realize they still need someone that speaks the language to talk to the AI.
My best advice, start your own company, launch your own products, while also looking for work, or accepting contract jobs. Then you'll have 2 revenue streams.
Two-pronged approach is almost certainly The Way, thankyou, while also perhaps rethinking my definitions of value. I'm great at launching companies and ideas, they just never go profitable, you're right that I should focus on solving for that.
I fully agree that your web site is probably the problem. In addition to the other comments, which are completely correct, you have no intro at the top of the site. When you load the page, you just get some logos - there is no explanation of why they are there. Did you design them? Do you just like them? The icon on the right that scrolls down to your content is non-standard to the point that I don't even know what it is. So the whole site just doesn't communicate very well.
And even if that didn't turn me off as a potential customer, I'd be seriously questioning whether I want to hire someone who claims to be a designer, when they didn't even put together a design for their own site that effectively tells me who they are.
Basically, I think you are too close to your own site design to see just how flawed it is. Sorry is that sounds harsh. But I'd re-do your entire approach. Don't put up a portfolio and then try to add commentary at the bottom - put up a easy-to-read, concise explanation of what problems you can solve for people. In this scenario, you are the product, and you need to market yourself just like any other product - tell people right off the bat why you will improve their life. If you don't do that, the portfolio is meaningless.
I think it might be D. Your website has a whole section on why not to hire you. One of the things is not to hire you if “I need approval,” and then there’s a pull quote roughly saying you tell it how it is. That’s all well and good as something to value about yourself, but it reads to me like you’re an asshole. I don’t know you- I don’t think YOU think you’re an asshole- but if you’re trying to get hired then I think I’d take a look at the “don’t hire me” section and figure out what you can compromise on. It sounds like you wanna stay near your kids- that seems very doable. Maybe you could work with an agency for a bit. Maybe you can find the space between yes man and firebrand. Just my two cents- good luck!
lol, thank you. I'm sure I needed to hear this.
I think I lead with that level of transparency because I find corporate interactions incredibly inefficient/difficult and I'm trying to filter out managers and speak directly to founders and engineers, or people that aren't put off or threatened by self-knowledge or honesty. But you're right.. like I shouldn't complain about not getting picked up when I'm literally turning people away.
Yeah, exactly. I really mean what I said- I respect this value. And usually I think filtering out people you don’t want to work with is wise. But the more you want work the more you should loosen the filters
So now I can brand, design and deploy entire products on my own... which is incredibly cool and fun, and Valuable(??)
Everyone else can do this too now. I suspect that today, many companies are still wrestling with AI, how to use it, how to incorporate it, and many are thinking they don't need programmers anymore.
In time, some will realize they still need someone that speaks the language to talk to the AI.
My best advice, start your own company, launch your own products, while also looking for work, or accepting contract jobs. Then you'll have 2 revenue streams.
Only thing stopping you is you.
Two-pronged approach is almost certainly The Way, thankyou, while also perhaps rethinking my definitions of value. I'm great at launching companies and ideas, they just never go profitable, you're right that I should focus on solving for that.