Ben R. is a talented artist with a penchant for observation and attention to detail. He is organized, thoughtful, and creative. These qualities serve him well as a person, and as a graphic designer, and point to his potential for great success. Ben is eager to enter the graphic design field as part of the marketing team for Tent and Table—a business that supplies equipment and rentals for large events. He is excited to have a position in his desired field and is looking forward to getting his career started!
As a child, Ben was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. Throughout high school, he utilized a "504 plan" to make sure that he had the right accommodations to be successful as a student. These accommodations included extra time on tests, the option to hear directions multiple times, and access to his teachers at other times if he became distracted during a lesson. The supports were small, but they made a big difference.
Ben's graphic design origin story began when he won a contest as a middle school student. He had submitted a logo to be used for the annual Apple Festival that was held in his hometown. His design was chosen as the winner! "That kind of recognition—doing something, being good at it, and being rewarded for being good at it—was a great feeling!" he says proudly. Today, his work has evolved into what he describes as an artistic style that utilizes bright colors and fun imagery. He works mostly digitally, yet still enjoys drawing and painting. He also refurbishes furniture in his spare time.
After high school, Ben went to SUNY Fredonia for his undergraduate education. He chose Fredonia because it wasn't too far, but far enough, from his hometown outside of Rochester. Fredonia boasted a stellar arts department which appealed to Ben due to his interest in graphic design. ACCES-VR was a great help to Ben during this transition. He began meeting monthly with his counselor, Chris Minotti, as a high school senior. She assisted him with his search for the right school and helped him navigate the application process. Financially, ACCES helped Ben with the cost of tuition, textbooks, and the large amount of fine art supplies he would need to complete his program of study. Ben had the option to utilize similar accommodations that he used in high school, but he never ended up needing them. He was a very successful student! His counselor also made it known to Ben that if he required it, they would make sure he had access to mental health resources to help manage his anxiety. "Even though I never used some of the services, it was nice to have the reassurance that they were in place if I needed them," says Ben with relief.
Ben enjoyed his time at Fredonia! He made a lot of great friends, and fostered relationships with his professors that continue to this day. The work challenged him academically and confirmed his interest in design. He graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design. Then his job search began!
About a year ago, Ben moved to the Buffalo area—a friend of his needed a roommate—so he decided to take the opportunity to relocate. "I wanted to get out on my own and be independent; I was ready to move out of my parents' house." Ben likes it here. "I enjoy living here, it's a great area, it's a great place to experience the four seasons." And it's only an hour and a half away from home. After moving to Buffalo, Ben took a job working for Little Caesar's, where he became an assistant manager. It was a job that paid the bills, and it had a certain value, as it revealed Ben's aptitude for leadership, yet it was not the type of job Ben wanted long term. After a year he was ready to look for something else.
He reached out to ACCES-VR, and his new counselor, Neetu Nair, provided Ben with some profiles for various job placement companies and the people who ran them. From this list, Ben chose Innovative Placements and Andrea Todaro. Andrea gave him a call and they connected immediately based on a shared experience in the creative arts. (They are both Fredonia alums too.) Andrea and Ben started with the usual suspects: cover letter, resume and a mass resume distribution. Another helpful reference was an employment spreadsheet that helped Ben keep track of where he was in the process with various employers. Ben was quite industrious compiling a list of ten companies that he thought he might like to headhunt. The mass distribution was a success, and he fielded a few offers, but he continued to look. The job that he ended up taking with Tent and Table was a listing he found on one of the employment websites.
The job at Tent and Table appealed to him for several reasons. The job description caught his eye, he possessed the correct qualifications, and was familiar with the specific design software they used. The work reminded him of what he did in college, and there was a certain amount of experience overlap. The idea that he would be the sole graphic designer was also an incentive; he would be "The Guy," so to speak.
The interview process for Ben to be hired was pretty straight forward. About a week after applying for the position, he heard back from Tent and Table and an interview was scheduled. Ben went through the interview training with Andrea Samra. They had nearly a three-hour phone call. "It helped me with my wording—what to say and what not to say—to be successful." The preparation put Ben at ease, he nailed the first interview, and a second, more comprehensive, one was scheduled as a zoom meeting. Andrea Todaro helped Ben get ready for the second interview and their preparation was extensive. In this case they were over prepared thanks to their efforts. Ben was pleasantly surprised to find that the second interview turned out to be even more laid back than the first, and he was offered the job on the spot. This was a confidence boost for Ben and he was excited to have been offered the job so quickly. Maintaining an air of collected cool, and adhering to his thoughtful methodical personality, Ben said he would take the weekend to think it over, which was a very professional thing to do. He accepted the job the following Monday!
Ben's first day with Tent and Table will be March 1. He is looking forward to it and is nervous, yet confident about starting his new job. He will be working from home for the foreseeable future, which he is happy about. He expects his first week to be filled with training meetings and obtaining his email credentials. During his first 30 days he will be making $16 an hour. After 90 days his salary will be increased to $19 an hour, which amounts to $39,000 yearly, and is within his desired range. After 4 months, he will receive full benefits, which include health, vision, dental, and a 401K plan.
Ben feels very fortunate to have his new job and is thankful for the services that ACCES-VR and Innovative Placements provided. The overall support was exactly what he wanted. "I had everything I needed, every step of the way!"
— Martin Kilroy, Writer for Innovative Placements