This would be the second time this has happened in a few months. One of my skills is graphic design and photo editing. I've been using Photoshop and Illustrator for around 15 years and one piece of mine was actually featured in both regional and national news.
This interview was for a local office that specializes in lower-stakes graphic design contracts. Things like local businesses, people who want professional-looking social media branding (icons, logos, banners, etc.). The interview went fine until the topic of my education came up. I've never been able to afford college whatsoever, but I've never let that get in the way of learning considering it's literally 100% free to “acquire” all the tools you need. It was easy when I got into it, and now it's ten million times easier.
The interviewer repeatedly asked me how I was able to learn how to use these creation suites without having gone to college. He was also confused as to why I like design as a hobby without profiting off it. One of his exact questions was a condescending “So you have no clients and just make pictures on the computer?”, to which I responded “
Not a single person that I saw in that office was below the age of 45 and it seemed like the only software they were using was literally Microsoft Word and InDesign. This isn't fucking Mad Men. This is a tiny office where baby boomers overcharge local businesses for what amounts to clip art.