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Students
How many times have you been asked the existential crisis-inducing question, “What do you want to do with your life”? It’s tough to answer, especially when you don’t know what kind of options you have, nor the scope of the available careers out there in the “real world”.
The Path Ahead:
It’s difficult enough to navigate through life’s challenges as a young student, that’s why Spyder3D® makes it easy to explore several unique and engaging career pathways that can lead you directly to a fulfilling career right out of high school.
When it comes down to it, real-world experience is a lot more valuable to employers than a degree alone. Schooling is more often than not theory-based, and experience, for the most part, can only be gained outside of the classroom.
That’s where we come in. Our Spyder Lab™ integrates with your existing classes and allows you to immerse yourself in business, graphic media, and manufacturing, giving you the hands-on experience necessary to understand what working in these fields entail.
We Can Help:
Whether you plan on continuing your studies at a four-year college or heading straight to work after high school, our program can help you find a field that you’ll love, or will help you realize isn’t for you, so that you can continue to search for your passion.
Keep in mind that everybody learns and works differently. A four-year degree isn’t the right path for everyone. As long as you’re willing to learn and put in the work, you can easily find a wide array of lucrative careers that best suit your skillset.
FAQ
What will I do in the Spyder Lab™ program?
You’ll be immersed in an innovative and fulfilling class featuring the latest and greatest in professional-quality graphic media production technology. You’ll design and create real-world projects for clients both on and off-campus, and learn the ins and outs of the business process from beginning to end.
For more information on what students will be able to create with each piece of machinery, visit our Graphic Media Applications page at https://www.spyder3d.com/graphics-media-application/.
What are the classes like?
This may vary from school to school, but you can expect to learn the ins of outs of the business journey, from beginning to end in a hands-on, real-world atmosphere. You’ll be soliciting clients on and off-campus, designing and bringing to life various forms of graphic media, fulfilling deadlines, and ensuring the quality of orders.
How do I sign up and get started?
If your school is already a Spyder3D® partner, all you have to do is enroll in the appropriate class(es) utilizing the Spyder Lab™. Otherwise, ask your teachers to visit our main website at www.spyder3d.com where they can learn more about the program and how to implement it on your campus.
How long does the Spyder Lab™ program last?
Classes utilizing the Spyder Lab™ will last a standard academic semester, but students may enroll in and take the class as many times as they’d like.
Can I work with my friends?
Absolutely! If they’re enrolled in your Spyder Lab™ class with you, of course. Otherwise, you’ll be sure to make plenty of new friends with your fellow classmates.
It looks like a lot of work! How will I get through my class?
Worry not, young student! The Spyder3D® team works directly with you and your school to train participants and staff on all there is to know about each piece of equipment, so you can be comfortable and confident in your creations.
As for the workload, balance is key. It’s best to try to allocate the right amount of time to each of your courses. Note that we’ll also be working alongside you throughout the school year, so you and your classmates won’t be at it alone.
What can I get out of participating in the Spyder Lab™ program?
The Spyder Lab™ program was made to prepare students for the workforce directly out of high school, whether or not they plan on continuing their education at university. Students can join regardless of their class standing, but by the time a freshman completes a full four-year run in the Spyder Lab™ program, they’ll emerge a confident leader with proficiency in the areas of business, manufacturing, and graphic media.
Keep in mind that a four-year degree isn’t the right path for everyone. As long as you’re willing to learn and put in the work, you can easily find a wide array of lucrative careers that best suit your skillset.
Can I start creating projects on my own?
At your teacher’s discretion, you may be free to create personal projects on your own time once you have gained confident operational knowledge of each machine.
I don’t have much (or any) graphic design experience, is this class right for me?
While having existing knowledge of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite will work to your advantage during the actual creation process, students will be taught the basics of the primary applications (Photoshop and Illustrator) in their respective classes, so don’t sweat it!
I don’t have the Spyder Lab™ program at my school, how can I get it?
Reach out to your teachers! Show them our website and let them know your desire and excitement to become a master of business, graphic media, and manufacturing!
What if I have additional questions that aren’t answered here?
Reach out to us! Any other questions, comments, or concerns can be sent via email to info@spyder3d.com.
Below you’ll find some handy charts detailing several career paths and median salary ranges that our Spyder Lab™ program can help prepare you for.
POTENTIAL JOBS
Design
Some Experience
Moderate Experience
Significant Experience
Graphic Designer
DUTIES:Design or create graphics to meet clients’ needs for letterheads, logos, websites, or other media.
Median Pay Range:
$46,000 to $72,000 per year
Multimedia Artist/Animator
DUTIES:Create graphics and animation for electronic media, such as internet, film, television, and video games.
Median Pay Range:
$55,000 to $77,000 per year
Art Manager
DUTIES:Plan, direct, coordinate, and manage all activities in a company’s art department.
Median Pay Range:
$75,000 to $108,000 per year
Presentation Designer
DUTIES:Design and create presentation materials on a computer or on paper.
Median Pay Range:
$66,000 to $87,000 per year
Concept Artist
DUTIES: Create concrete visualizations of ideas for buildings, parks, movies, cartoons, video games, etc.
Median Pay Range:
$53,000 to $87,000 per year
Art Director
DUTIES: Come up with design ideas and approaches and excute them in art or layout design.
Median Pay Range:
$66,000 to $101,000 per year
Web or Mobile Media Designer
DUTIES:Design, create, and modify websites or mobile or tablet apps.
Median Pay Range:
$50,000 to $74,000 per year
Independent/Freelance Artist
DUTIES:Take on various creative projects, designing artwork/graphics to best fit your client’s needs.
Median Pay Range:
$49,000 to $80,000 per year
Creative Technologist
DUTIES:Help customers decide the best technology to communicate their message. Oversee the design and technical development of media projects.
Median Pay Range:
$90,000 to $141,000 per year
Commercial Artist
DUTIES: Create drawings, lettering, and backgrounds for advertising stills or overlays for animation.
Median Pay Range:
$62,000 to $138,000 per year
Product Designer
DUTIES: Design and develop the majority of the consumer products that people use in their everyday lives.
Median Pay Range:
$81,000 to $127,000 per year
Design Director
DUTIES: Oversee and direct design of print and digital media.
Median Pay Range:
$114,000 to $165,000 per year
Business
Some Experience
Moderate Experience
Significant Experience
Administrative Assistant
DUTIES:
Support executives and managers in media and advertising firms. Screen calls and take messages, coordinate travel arrangements, compile and maintain news clips and media lists, do Internet research, organize office and maintain files, draft letters and newsletters, and schedule appointments
Median Pay Range:
$39,000 to $55,000 per year or$15.50 to $22 per hour
Ad Account Executive
DUTIES:
Sell advertising space or time in pubications, or on signs, TV, radio, or the Internet. Develop and maintain client relationships and close sales. Do product demonstrations in person, or by phone or webinar.
Median Pay Range:
$53,000 to $89,000 per year
Director of Sales
DUTIES:
Lead, manage, and motivate a team of sales representatives, setting expectations and goals for the team to meet and a general vision to follow.
Median Pay Range:
$90,000 to $148,000 per year
Bookkeeper
DUTIES:
Take care of accounting work for a media, advertising or public relations firm. Do the day to day work on accounts payable and receivable, prepare invoices and pay bills. Bookeepers often work part-time and have flexible hours.
Median Pay Range:
$42,000 to $60,000 per year or$17 to $25 per hour
Accountant
DUTIES:
Create sales and cash flow reports, administer payroll, keep balance sheets, carry out billing activities, manage budgets, keep inventory, etc.
Median Pay Range:
$51,000 to $71,000 per year
VP Market Research
DUTIES:
Oversee media reseach. Communicate with clients to understand their needs. Develop methods, design and direct research and make reccommendations based on findings. Research could be about market activity, competitors’ performance, customer preferences, or future trends that could affect clients’ business.
Median Pay Range:
$100,000 per year and higher
Financial Analyst
DUTIES:
Study marketplace trends, demographics and microeconomic factors to give advice and analysis that helps your company make smart investments.
Median Pay Range:
$60,000 to $81,000 per year
Media Market Research Analyst
DUTIES:
Research market conditions or collect information to get a sense of the sales potential of a product or service. Do research on competing firms’ prices, and sales and marketing methods.
Median Pay Range:
$53,000 to $76,000 per year
VP Sales and Marketing
DUTIES:
Manage ad account executives by setting territories and sales quotas. Build new business opportunities and generate revenue for newspapers, television programs, and/or websites. Make sure that clients’ needs are being met
Median Pay Range:
$100,000 per year and higher
Inside Sales Representative
DUTIES:
Manage daily cash flow, help improve banking services, create and present departmental strategy, reports, and data analysis to management.
Median Pay Range:
$44,000 to $61,000 per year
Digital Marketing Director
DUTIES:
Build relationshipos with prospects, clients and partners in online marketing and media areas.
Median Pay Range:
$97,000 to $154,000 per year
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/President
DUTIES:
Takes charge of an organization and makes the majority of executive decisions. Leads, guides, oversees job performances, formulates strategic direction for their company.
Median Pay Range:
$160,000 to $200,000+ per year
Manufacturing
Some Experience
Moderate Experience
Significant Experience
Maintenance Technician
DUTIES:
General upkeep of various equipment/facilities including troubleshooting and repairs.
Median Pay Range:
$45,000 to $70,000 per year
3D Artist/Modeler
DUTIES:
Design and create three-dimensional objects/characters for prototyping/various graphic media
Median Pay Range:
$54,000 to $88,000 per year
Production Supervisor
DUTIES:
Schedule, coordinate, and execute daily tasks in line with the production schedule, including rate checks, sanitation checks, scrap reporting, inventory management, and mentoring.
Median Pay Range:
$60,000 to $81,000 per year
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Operator
DUTIES:
Work with various shop machines to fabricate parts for assembly, usually from various metal compounds. Monitor machinery, and inspect each created part to ensure quality.
Median Pay Range:
$39,000 to $62,000 per year
Production Planner
DUTIES:
Make sure that each day’s scheduled run of items occur without incident. Order materials, ensure product quality, and make sure the manufacturing area has adequate lighting and envrionmental conditions.
Median Pay Range:
$58,000 to $79,000 per year
Director of Operations
DUTIES:
Oversee your organization’s employees and production of goods and/or services, including purchasing, warehousing, and manufacturing to make sure products meet expectations.
Median Pay Range:
$91,000 to $150,000
Electrical Technician
DUTIES:
Apply electrical knowledge to design, build, repair, and adjust electrical components, circuitry and controls
Median Pay Range:
$52,000 to $82,000 per year or $21 to $31 per hour
Industrial Designer
DUTIES:
Design products//develop concepts for factory-made products such as home appliances, furniture, automobiles, electronics, and toys.
Median Pay Range:
$58,000 to $89,000 per year
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
DUTIES:
Handle the monitoring and maintenance of technical aspects of the manufacturing process, gathering metrics to analyze efficiency and process flow.
Median Pay Range:
$91,000 to $113,000 per year
Quality Assurance (QA) / Quality Control (QC) Inspector
DUTIES:
Inspect, test, and sample materials, parts, or products for defects and any deviations from specifications to ensure quality is being met.
Median Pay Range:
$53,000 to $87,000 per year
Manufacturing Engineer
DUTIES:
Schedule, coordinate, and execute daily tasks in line with the production schedule, including rate checks, sanitation checks, scrap reporting, inventory management, and mentoring.
Median Pay Range:
$69,000 to $90,000 per year
VP Manufacturing
DUTIES:
Oversee operations and ensure that proper steps are taken to make sure that the manufacturing process is running smoothly and safely. Meet sales targets, provide input, and help create growth at your company.
Median Pay Range:
$145,000 to $201,000 per year