Graduated College...what the hell do I do now?

[Thedude22]

I've been graduated for about 4 months now and it's really starting to take its toll. I wake up at around 11 every day, screw around on the computer, jerk off, eat and then go to sleep around 2 am and start the whole process again. My life is meaningless. I have no passions, no purpose and no future. I hope I can go to grad school but regardless that's a year away.

 

I graduated in the top 4% of my class yet I haven't even had a job interview or even a phone interview. I'm taking an LSAT course which i despise, every time I look at this stupid book I see it as me surrendering everything I wanted in hopes for a big paycheck. I hate the thought of working in a cubicle and all that other BS on top of all that. I don't have a girlfriend and I don't even have anyone I'm remotely interested in, I'm tired of hanging out with my same redneck friends every weekend. I'm in a funk and I don't know how to get out of it.

 

I am ready to have a fresh start and just live a new life in a new city, but without a job I'm pretty much stranded. I need some advice, or if nothing else just use this as a form of venting.

[josie54]

I went to graduate school, and simultaneously held three part-time jobs (secretarial and data-entry) and lived with two other roommates in order to pay the rent after I graduated from college. Had no money, but I had a lot of fun during those years.

 

Sounds like you need recover from your "funk" before you can take any positive steps. Because you know what to do. Get a job--any part-time job will do. A "job" doesn't need to be glamorous. It can be at the local car wash or department store, or as a waiter or bartender. And it can be part-time. Many college graduates work in these types of jobs before they figure out what they want to do--I know I did. And even now, there are plenty of these types of jobs out there, even in smaller towns and cities.

 

Paying the bills comes first. If you don't have bills, then get a part-time job just to get yourself out of the house and have something to account for your time and put on your resume. Then you can figure out the rest, including whether or not you even want to go to graduate school.

[Thedude22]

Part of my "problem" I guess if you can even call it a problem is, I don't have any bills, not even student loan debt. I went to college for free and I have place to live.

 

I would be willing to take a crap job but I don't want to take one where I live. If I'm going to do something like that I would want to at least be able to move. I feel spiritually dead where I'm at, I really feel like moving would do something for me.

[josie54]

Part of my "problem" I guess if you can even call it a problem is, I don't have any bills, not even student loan debt. I went to college for free and I have place to live.

 

I would be willing to take a crap job but I don't want to take one where I live. If I'm going to do something like that I would want to at least be able to move. I feel spiritually dead where I'm at, I really feel like moving would do something for me.

 

So, you're saying that you can't get a job where you are because you want to move, but above you say "you're stranded" without a job and can't move! That seems like circular logic....in fact, it IS circular logic! That's a pretty convenient way to be able to stay in your place and watch TV all day.

 

There is no job so crappy that there isn't something to be learned from it. You get out of the house, you meet people, you even learn skills (interpersonal skills from waiting tables/bartending, teamwork skills from car washes, and so on).

 

If you don't like what you're doing now, change it. You change it by taking whatever job you can find to begin with. It's not a job that defines you, or that you'll have for the rest of your life. It's a job, period. For you, it's not to make money, but to give yourself a little purpose. Give the money you make to charity if you like.

 

Heck, get a job WORKING for a charity, and work for free. Whatever your college degree is in, you could put that knowledge to work for a charity that really needs it, and then you'd have more to put on your resume that would help you get a job in a different city. Find a company in your region that you think would help you gain some valuable skills and take a no-pay internship, again, so that you can build more contacts and gain more skills. Put a time limit on it--most internships are 8 weeks to six months.

 

The fact that you have no bills actually makes it easier for you, because you can take a no-pay internship in the field of your choice. You tell a company that you'll work for free and you'll find all the doors wide open for you. You just need to make sure that it's a quality internship, and not all grunt work. Your school can help hook you up with alumni who would be willing to hire you as an intern. Through the internship, you can try to network and make contacts in the city where you ultimately want to work.

 

I'm going to be brutally honest here, but it's in the name of trying to help, so don't take offense. You're showing an extreme lack of imagination. This is not an either-or proposition (You can't get a job until you move, you can't move until you get a job--that's just silly.)

 

Work for free for a charity or company that you believe in, in a field that you like (don't have to LOVE it...just like it). You said yourself, YOU HAVE NO BILLS. At your age, experience itself is just as valuable to your future as a paycheck.

[Eclypse]

I'm in my last year so I'll be in the same position as you soon I bet. Personally though I wouldn't be able to do something like waiting or car washing. That would be quite demeaning. Going from studying HIV and the forefront of biomedical research to asking if you want fries with that? You may as well have dropped out in 8th grade then.

 

The fact that you graduated college tells employers that you were willing to get up at 6am every day, that you put in the hard yards while others partied etc. It's valuable. Hopefully someone recognizes it soon.

[Thedude22]

Ok I NEED a job in a NEW city and that I cannot find. What I can find is jobs I'm not suited for where I live. That's not circular logic. If I could find a job I could do in a city I wanted to live in, I'd do it.

 

Internships would be great but the hitch is they specifically only want college students. I graduated four months ago, so I'm unwanted. I could apply for a summer course to technically fulfill my "enrolled" status to get an internship I guess, but that seems pretty ridiculous. I'm at the end of my rope though so maybe I'll just do that.

 

I can do extremely reckless things and things I'm unsuited for essentially. I could just up and move and see what I can find. I'd love to do that but I will burn through cash fast doing that. I could join the Peace Corps, but I am not a huge fan of volunteer work. I could travel Europe, but all my friends are poor so I'd have to go alone, plus it would burn cash. I can do lots of things, but I doubt they are the most intelligent things to do especially when I will likely be dropping 40-50k on grad school eventually.

[Thedude22]

I'm in my last year so I'll be in the same position as you soon I bet. Personally though I wouldn't be able to do something like waiting or car washing. That would be quite demeaning. Going from studying HIV and the forefront of biomedical research to asking if you want fries with that? You may as well have dropped out in 8th grade then.

 

The fact that you graduated college tells employers that you were willing to get up at 6am every day, that you put in the hard yards while others partied etc. It's valuable. Hopefully someone recognizes it soon.

 

I went to a third tier college, have a history degree, and have no valuable work experience. I was deluded enough to think that a super high GPA/great academic credentials would overcome all that. I was wrong.

 

If you have Biology degree (sounds like it), went to a good college, and did an internship in your field, you may have a shot. These days you have to have a superfecta to get a decent job: high GPA, prestigious alma mater, desired degree, and a great internship. I know people from Ivy league schools with low gpas and it doesn't mean a thing. You have to have it all. Best of luck though, apply as soon as you can.

[tman666]

How about joining the military? A buddy of mine flies C-17's in the USAF and he has a history degree. (Hint: you have to have a degree to be an officer).

 

How about a service job such as being a fireman or a cop?

 

How about going to a trade school to learn to work on diesel engines, or turbines?

 

How about working on an oil rig? I guarantee you'll feel like you earned your pay at the end of a day working on a rig.

 

There's plenty of jobs out there. They ALL require drive and desire.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of jobs are you looking for?

[josie54]

Internships would be great but the hitch is they specifically only want college students. I graduated four months ago, so I'm unwanted. I could apply for a summer course to technically fulfill my "enrolled" status to get an internship I guess, but that seems pretty ridiculous. I'm at the end of my rope though so maybe I'll just do that.

 

How have you tested this theory? Have you called your school's career services office to ask if they could find you an unpaid position in your field and been turned down? Have you worked with your career services office to make sure your resume, cover letter, and interviewing skills are as strong as they can possibly be? Have you called a company directly (or sent a resume) offering to work unpaid for a period of time? Have you contacted a charity and offered to volunteer in a capacity that matched your skills so that you can have work that will expand your resume? Have you attended any networking events to try to meet people in your field of choice?

 

You can't expect to stay at home and send out resumes blindly and expect jobs to fall from the sky, especially in this economy. If traditional "easy" methods aren't working, you need to use untraditional methods, so that you can meet alumni in your field, beef up your resume with experience of some kind--or preferably, both.

 

You don't seem to be willing to do what's necessary to find a job. You can't just jump into the job of your dreams straight out of college. You might have to actually do a little work.

 

I know I'm sounding a bit harsh here, and I don't mean to cause any offense, but when I got out of college, I never expected that my degree alone would get me a job. I took those smaller "demeaning" jobs and built up a base of references in order to get to the job I have now (in magazine publishing). I worked with my college's career services office (and for a couple of years, FOR that office as a clerk) to make more contacts.

 

I just don't understand the mindset that you're expressing here. I guess that makes me officially "old."

[fortyninethousand322]

I have the same problem as the OP except I'm in my last semester (one interesting class, and then some crap classes I had to take to fill up credits).

 

I have been applying to jobs since November, and before that I had been applying for internships throughout college. I would have thought that a degree in Middle East Studies and a working knowledge (not yet fluent but working on it) of Arabic, Hebrew and French would attract some interest from intelligence/analysis, or State Department type of jobs. But nothing.

 

I have good friends, and I have every intention on living in my area (outside of DC) although I do plan on living closer to the city when I finally do move out of my parents' house. But, like the OP I feel like I'm stuck in a rut.

 

So OP, you're not the only one.

[Thedude22]

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of jobs are you looking for?

 

I SHOULD join the military for my career prospects, I'd love to do intelligence analysis and with my gpa/degree I could be an intelligence officer making around 42k with great benefits. Problem is I really do not want to be a soldier, the military culture just doesn't fit my personality. That may sound like a lame excuse but joining the military is more than a job, it's a new personality, new way of life. Mainly the jobs I want are 35-45k a yr marketing/sales/government/PR/communications/writing work across the country. I was highly focused on government jobs for awhile but after the government is really strict on hiring now with the near collapse and all.

 

indset that you're expressing here. I guess that makes me officially "old."

 

Well I meet people 30 and up with jobs and they look at us recent grads and think we are lazy/unimaginative losers who think they will land a 100k job just because they have a college degree. Wrong.

 

All we want is a survivable wage and a job with a career track, we'll start off as a 35k associate no problem, but the best you can find is an Admin Assistant at 28k, which offers no career path and a meager salary. My career services at my college is abysmal, I have taken full advantage of mock interviews/resume reviews and in both I was rated highly by the employer. I tried the job fair but I found the whole thing just to be a place where recruiters handed out info for students to apply online, which I was already doing. I don't call employers often, because for the most part they don't want you to and make it as hard as possible for you to speak to a hiring manager. Maybe I don't have the gaul to charge into Goldman Sachs and say "Give me a job" but is that really what you need to do to get a decent job?

 

The older generation cannot comprehend what this is like because this is the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and it's actually worse for young people because there are no public works programs like there were in the 30's. You likely graduated in an thriving economy, compared to this, sure it was easy for you. I'm not going to give up, I just need to try harder than what the older generation did, but don't compare yourselves to us and look down on us because you'd be just as unemployed had you graduated in the black hole that is 2008-present. I too am not being insulting, but I get this attitude from people who graduated during an American golden age that we are losers because we can't find jobs in the middle of the dark ages. Part of the whole reason we aren't getting the jobs in the first place is employees with 5-10 years experience are taking the entry level jobs, how are we suppose to compete with that?

Edited April 20, 2011 by Thedude22

[Thedude22]

I have the same problem as the OP except I'm in my last semester (one interesting class, and then some crap classes I had to take to fill up credits).

 

I have been applying to jobs since November, and before that I had been applying for internships throughout college. I would have thought that a degree in Middle East Studies and a working knowledge (not yet fluent but working on it) of Arabic, Hebrew and French would attract some interest from intelligence/analysis, or State Department type of jobs. But nothing.

 

I have good friends, and I have every intention on living in my area (outside of DC) although I do plan on living closer to the city when I finally do move out of my parents' house. But, like the OP I feel like I'm stuck in a rut.

 

So OP, you're not the only one.

 

You live near DC, that helps a lot. I'd say DC has one of, if not the best job markets in the US, especially for humanities educated people like ourselves. I've been applying to the state department myself. Part of the issue is the government is really strapped for cash right now and they give a huge preference to people who were in the military. Become fluent in Arabic, that will help tremendously.

Edited April 20, 2011 by Thedude22

[josie54]

Well I meet people 30 and up with jobs and they look at us recent grads and think we are lazy/unimaginative losers who think they will land a 100k job just because they have a college degree. Wrong.

 

All we want is a survivable wage and a job with a career track, we'll start off as a 35k associate no problem, but the best you can find is an Admin Assistant at 28k, which offers no career path and a meager salary.

 

You're kidding, right? My first job out of college paid $10/hour. (secretarial). My first salaried job paid $25K a year (assistant editorial position), which I got while working at the $10/hour job. I had $25,000 in debt, and shared an apartment with two roommates to afford rent.

 

I was making $35K within two years, because I got to the $25K job and proved myself. And you know how I got the $25k job? I worked at the $10 an hour job and had experience to show I had the organizational and interpersonal skills for the job. I also tutored on the side to make a little extra money.

 

But I didn't get to that by expecting a $35K job out of the bat. IT WAS A JOB. It was a start. And that start was all I needed to show my employer how good I was at what I did. I was promoted quickly.

 

I am now 41 years old and make $80,000 a year, plus bonuses. You have done nothing yet to change my opinion that your idea of a "survivable wage" is unrealistic.

[fortyninethousand322]

You live near DC, that helps a lot. I'd say DC has one of, if not the best job markets in the US, especially for humanities educated people like ourselves. I've been applying to the state department myself. Part of the issue is the government is really strapped for cash right now and they give a huge preference to people who were in the military. Become fluent in Arabic, that will help tremendously.

 

This is true, and I'm much luckier than most. But a lot of it has to do with networking. This is an area that I have to work on.

[fortyninethousand322]

You're kidding, right? My first job out of college paid $10/hour. (secretarial). My first salaried job paid $25K a year (assistant editorial position), which I got while working at the $10/hour job. I had $25,000 in debt, and shared an apartment with two roommates to afford rent.

 

I was making $35K within two years, because I got to the $25K job and proved myself. And you know how I got the $25k job? I worked at the $10 an hour job and had experience to show I had the organizational and interpersonal skills for the job. I also tutored on the side to make a little extra money.

 

But I didn't get to that by expecting a $35K job out of the bat. IT WAS A JOB. It was a start. And that start was all I needed to show my employer how good I was at what I did. I was promoted quickly.

 

I am now 41 years old and make $80,000 a year, plus bonuses. You have done nothing yet to change my opinion that your idea of a "survivable wage" is unrealistic.

 

This is actually the typical path most people take. Start small and work your way up. There are exceptions of course (one girl I went to high school with graduated a year early and now makes six figures working for Major League Baseball's official office in New York) but they are indeed rare.

 

I can't speak for the OP but I would gladly take a low paying job (I even applied to unpaid internships) if it was one that I felt utilized my skills and expertise. This is why I've been looking for intel/analysis type jobs. I've applied to several jobs in this field (all entry level positions) and was told I didn't have enough experience. I will keep hammering away at it until I find a job in this field, but I won't get a job just to get a job (other than the part time one I have now that pays the bills). That's where I can sympathize with the OP.

[Thedude22]

I would do something lower down the chain but I can't find anything except for Admin Assistant. That's a secretary. I'd be a terrible secretary for one and for two I would be a male secretary, I don't want that stigma, I don't think they even hire male admin assistants. I'd prefer to just be a bartender than that. Essentially if you don't want to be a secretary, you won't be able to get that low level job that could lead to something more.

 

Internship-wise I messed up. I know of a great internship I'd love to do with the government that has an extremely high rate of hires (75%) but I can't do it unless I'm in school, and it takes 8 months just to go through the acceptance process. The answer to me then is go to a Masters program. I don't know I'll figure things out, I'm smart, I have money, and I have a degree with magna cum laude on it, but it gets discouraging. The only people who can really give advice are people who graduated and made it in the post-recession era, I personally only know 4 people with jobs one year after graduation.

 

One is a Teaching Intern, One is in the Navy, One is a Teaching Assistant, and One is a part-time Admin Assistant at our college.

The teacher is at least on the career track she wants, and the TA is on tack to be a professor one day with more education. They all went through rough periods though, no one found these meager jobs until long down the road. Only one of them was willing to move though and my area isn't chock full of jobs, so that's one reason.

[josie54]

I'm smart, I have money, and I have a degree with magna cum laude on it, but it gets discouraging. The only people who can really give advice are people who graduated and made it in the post-recession era, I personally only know 4 people with jobs one year after graduation.

 

Well, then, you've said it. You're doomed. You can't take this time to travel, to volunteer, or to start a small business (a low overhead service-based business like lawn-mowing or tutoring) to show employers that you have initiative, because showing initiative is beneath you. It's "demeaning." You have no options to offer your free services to small businesses to gain experience to make yourself more attractive to employers.

 

You can't take this time to take more continuing education classes (doesn't have to be a master's program, just a single class) to improve your management, technology, or negotiation skills. Because, well, you just can't.

 

You can't network, you can't find other alumni to give you advice, you can't take the time to set up informational interviews with companies in your field in the cities where you want to work so that you can take this recessionary time to at least gather information about what it takes to break into the field.

 

You can do nothing at all to show employers that you're the kind of person who was willing to volunteer, network, take continuing education classes, or start your own service-based business to gain experience during a recession, so that in a year when hiring picks up gain, you'll be first on their lists to be hired.

 

No, advice from anyone over 30 is useless to you, because the only advice you want is how to get a $35K job at time when you know businesses aren't hiring at high levels, not how to actually develop a resume so you can be fully prepared when they do.

 

Because employers will just love to see a resume from a magna cum laude graduate who gets up at 11:00, jerks off, and then watches television all day. That will be the first person they hire.

 

You're right. I'm just a completely clueless individual who just has no idea.

 

Sheesh.

[Els]

I went to a third tier college, have a history degree, and have no valuable work experience. I was deluded enough to think that a super high GPA/great academic credentials would overcome all that. I was wrong.

 

Okay, this is what I don't get. Take a degree related to your interests, by all means... but if it isn't one with a lot of relevant and great job options, are you really expecting to get a relevant and great job with it?

 

What -are- you expecting to do related to a history degree? Curator, history teacher/lecturer, researcher. I can't think of anything else. Archaeological firm work maybe? But even they would prefer those with more specific archaeology degrees.

 

Add that to the fact that you want the job to be in a specific city, with no job experience on your side, and you might as well be waiting for manna to fall from heaven. Not entirely impossible... but eh.

[fortyninethousand322]

Okay, this is what I don't get. Take a degree related to your interests, by all means... but if it isn't one with a lot of relevant and great job options, are you really expecting to get a relevant and great job with it?

 

What -are- you expecting to do related to a history degree? Curator, history teacher/lecturer, researcher. I can't think of anything else. Archaeological firm work maybe? But even they would prefer those with more specific archaeology degrees.

 

Add that to the fact that you want the job to be in a specific city, with no job experience on your side, and you might as well be waiting for manna to fall from heaven. Not entirely impossible... but eh.

 

I know a guy with a history degree, he works as a government contractor. It's a myth that humanities degrees give you no relevant skills or job prospects. My degree is in the humanities (Middle East Studies) is anyone going to argue that it's useless and not relevant?

 

You can do anything with any kind of degree (maybe with the exception of underwater basket weaving). Few jobs are going to advertise "looking for people with a history degree", but couple it with some good skills (language, technology, etc.) you should be ok. Granted in this economy you might not have people lining up outside your door but still.

[Els]

I know a guy with a history degree, he works as a government contractor. It's a myth that humanities degrees give you no relevant skills or job prospects. My degree is in the humanities (Middle East Studies) is anyone going to argue that it's useless and not relevant?

 

You can do anything with any kind of degree (maybe with the exception of underwater basket weaving). Few jobs are going to advertise "looking for people with a history degree", but couple it with some good skills (language, technology, etc.) you should be ok. Granted in this economy you might not have people lining up outside your door but still.

 

The OP specifically said he was expecting his magna cum laude degree to bring him relevant jobs. I do not think he would consider a govt contractor job relevant to a history degree. Besides, that job could probably be filled by anyone with good language/tech skills and no history degree, so I don't think his stellar GPA would even matter in an interview for that.

Edited April 22, 2011 by Elswyth

[Flgirl44]

I didn't read everything in the post, I just wanted to say im in the same boat. Every month that goes by makes me clam up worse and get less done. I agree with what I did read when the poster said get a job even if it's "beneath you" because its about the momentum and getting that going again.

 

I too thought about the Peace Corps, but it's not safe for girls, especially pretty ones. So that was a no go. Plus it's a long time to be gone from home.

[josie54]

The OP specifically said he was expecting his magna cum laude degree to bring him relevant jobs. I do not think he would consider a govt contractor job relevant to a history degree. Besides, that job could probably be filled by anyone with good language/tech skills and no history degree, so I don't think his stellar GPA would even matter in an interview for that.

 

 

That makes me wonder what job IS relevant to a history degree besides, well, studying history, teaching history, or becoming an archeologist. History is a wonderful degree with a very narrow set of directly related job positions, so if the OP is waiting for one of those, he could be waiting a LONG time.

 

However, an educational background in history teaches you to appreciate context, to communicate, and to think in a broader way. And while I'm not seeing that in the OP's responses up to this point, I've got to think it's there somewhere given his magna cum laude status. Those skills are then relevant to pretty much any job you wish, including government contractor. His educational background and stellar GPA will matter a great deal in getting that job, because it shows he has those skills, which might put him ahead of other candidates.

 

I also want to note that, even given my more sarcastic posts on this thread, I am not unsympathetic to the fact that the job situation right now SUCKS for 20-somethings just getting out of school. It's not easy when you've been working hard for four years to earn your degree and then graduate only to find that it's not going to be your magic ticket to employment. I get that. I really do.

 

I am just very unsympathetic to the idea that there is absolutely nothing that a graduate with no bills and money in the bank can do to fill his time in a way that will put him in a better position to find employment down the road. It's great to want a job. But it's not great to think the world OWES you a job on your terms. That's not going to work, especially in today's world.

 

I am also very unsympathetic to the idea that honest work in any capacity, whether it's delivering pizzas, or bartending, or tutoring high school students, or volunteer work, is "demeaning." That one really hits a nerve, since I engaged in that kind of work for years before I found my first "real" job. It's a matter of work ethic. That kind of work shows that you have a good work ethic. If you show a strong work ethic on your resume and in your job interview, it doesn't matter what kind of work you've been doing up to that point. If they have an opening and you're qualified, they'll want you.

 

That's the only advice I have. It doesn't seem to be the advice the OP wants to hear, but it's just reality.

[fortyninethousand322]

I am just very unsympathetic to the idea that there is absolutely nothing that a graduate with no bills and money in the bank can do to fill his time in a way that will put him in a better position to find employment down the road. It's great to want a job. But it's not great to think the world OWES you a job on your terms. That's not going to work, especially in today's world.

 

I am also very unsympathetic to the idea that honest work in any capacity, whether it's delivering pizzas, or bartending, or tutoring high school students, or volunteer work, is "demeaning." That one really hits a nerve, since I engaged in that kind of work for years before I found my first "real" job. It's a matter of work ethic. That kind of work shows that you have a good work ethic. If you show a strong work ethic on your resume and in your job interview, it doesn't matter what kind of work you've been doing up to that point. If they have an opening and you're qualified, they'll want you.

 

That's the only advice I have. It doesn't seem to be the advice the OP wants to hear, but it's just reality.

 

This is true. Volunteer work, free language classes (some do exist), workshops etc. those things can and do help develop good work skills.

 

I agree, I wouldn't necessarily call those jobs "demeaning", but to be honest I could not work 40 hours a week doing them. I'd lose my mind. I work a part time retail job and although I will still work there after I graduate in May while I continue my job search, I will still only work those two days a week that I currently work, no more than that. I need to keep my focus on where I want to go. For some people though going from analyzing the GDP to debt ratio of post World War II Britain, to waiting tables can be a little frustrating.

 

To be honest I think the OP might be having a little quarter-life crisis. It happens.

[denise_xo]

I would do something lower down the chain but I can't find anything except for Admin Assistant. That's a secretary. I'd be a terrible secretary for one and for two I would be a male secretary, I don't want that stigma, I don't think they even hire male admin assistants. I'd prefer to just be a bartender than that. Essentially if you don't want to be a secretary, you won't be able to get that low level job that could lead to something more.

 

Internship-wise I messed up. I know of a great internship I'd love to do with the government that has an extremely high rate of hires (75%) but I can't do it unless I'm in school, and it takes 8 months just to go through the acceptance process. The answer to me then is go to a Masters program. I don't know I'll figure things out, I'm smart, I have money, and I have a degree with magna cum laude on it, but it gets discouraging. The only people who can really give advice are people who graduated and made it in the post-recession era, I personally only know 4 people with jobs one year after graduation.

 

One is a Teaching Intern, One is in the Navy, One is a Teaching Assistant, and One is a part-time Admin Assistant at our college.

The teacher is at least on the career track she wants, and the TA is on tack to be a professor one day with more education. They all went through rough periods though, no one found these meager jobs until long down the road. Only one of them was willing to move though and my area isn't chock full of jobs, so that's one reason.

 

Several of the people I graduated with who got a first for their master's degrees at one of the top ten universities in the UK worked in secretarial type positions for the first 6-12 months after graduation while they were looking for something better/more relevant, and that was at a time when the economy was much better than now. The broad experience of most of my friends was that that's what was needed in order to start getting some experience and getting something more relevant down the road.

[josie54]

I agree, I wouldn't necessarily call those jobs "demeaning", but to be honest I could not work 40 hours a week doing them. I'd lose my mind. I work a part time retail job and although I will still work there after I graduate in May while I continue my job search, I will still only work those two days a week that I currently work, no more than that. I need to keep my focus on where I want to go. For some people though going from analyzing the GDP to debt ratio of post World War II Britain, to waiting tables can be a little frustrating.

 

To be honest I think the OP might be having a little quarter-life crisis. It happens.

 

Oh, I never meant it that those kinds of jobs should be full-time, unless it's necessary to pay the bills. Your real work is definitely to get the job you want. But you need to keep your resume active, so 15-30 hours a week of the work you don't want is sufficient to keep you in the world. (and again, volunteering allows you to do work you DO want, albeit unpaid, that still counts on the resume) The other part of that 40 hrs/week is all about networking, resumes, workshops, etc.

 

As to a quarter-life crisis, I get that too. That's a separate issue from getting a job. It's tough not to know what you want to do, exactly, and not know what direction to go. (I don't think my quarter-life crisis ever ended, to be honest!)

 

It's OK to for dude22 to lose himself in that mindset for a while (which he may have intended to do in this post). I do have sympathy for that as well. But then, at a certain point, a person's just got to move and do what he or she has to do to move forward. You can take advantage of the opportunities that DO exist, until the ones you want open up.

 

In fact, it's those lesser, seemingly dead-end opportunities, the ones that seem beneath one's education, that often LEAD to the opportunities you want, which has been my point all along.