I have a real good paint look for a stratocaster guitar. It is one solid color but it looks really cool. I can't find anywhere that sells it. I was just wondering how would I be able to eventually get a job at Fender for making new ideas and designs for guitars.

Follow your dream. I have to assume that you live somewhere near a Fender facility. If not you'll have to move, even to compete for a job. The world needs the next generation of guitar makers. But do your research. Find out what you're really getting into. If you need to develop skills you'll either need to get some schooling or an apprenticeship of some kind. If you can get a job sweeping the shop floors, take it. Then you've got your foot in the door.

The bottom line is that Fender will always be hiring over the long run. You'll have to convince them that you are somebody they will want on their team.

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals

Most "good paying" companies like to see strong credentials and good work history...not getting fired They will not invest on someone who is a dud.......would you?

Credentials in definition are formal training such as College degrees and work experience. Having a good portfolio showing your work and resume will certainly help big time.

You can't go wrong if you have those under your belt.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

A college or university Design or Engineering degree would be an asset and the kind of credentials A company would look for in a candidate for said position.

And it is counter productive for Fender to hire 1 person to design finishes and nothing else, so you'd be better off trying to do the entire package.

That's right.

You have one good paint idea. What will you do for the rest of your first day? your first week? your first decade at Fender?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

So stay in school and get your college degree. A very important asset to have that can never be taken away from you.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

Hey dont be discouraged though. Keep designing, and keep writing them idea's down. And yes, keep em quiet until the time is right. One day one of those idea's could make you a millionaire. As for paint designs, I think your targeting the wrong end of the market with a huge faceless corporation like FMIC. You could be better off to find a local builder who would also benefit from some good idea's and therefore be more willing to try them.

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No no and no

Good post.

If you just want to work for Fender, well then they have big factories and employ hundreds of people with the appropriate manual skills and work record. You don't need to be a "luthier" to get that kind of work.

If you want a job designing guitars, well that's essentially the Custom Shop and related departments you are talking about. If you study the careers of the custom builders you will find they mostly have backgrounds as techs, builders in other smaller companies, self-employed guitar makers - that kind of thing.

Anyone in any area of life needs to get the best education they can, as others have said. Then point yourself at local teching, or a job on the road, or whatever. And meanwhile build a bunch of guitars yourself.

If I was handing out top-end jobs at Fender I'd be looking for someone walking through the door with a portfolio full of fabulous handmade guitars they'd made. "Gimme a job" ain't quite enough - but take heart: the world's full of guitar companies that need employees...

Cheers - C