Plonkee, my colleague from “across the pond”, e-mailed me recently with a question about the recession. She wonders what job prospects are like for recent (or soon-to-be) college graduates. Unfortunately, with unemployment at its highest rate in a generation, prospects are not good. And those who are unhappy in their current positions are reluctant to quit because they’re afraid they won’t be able to find a replacement. Last week, for example, Jill shared the following story:
I am wondering how to handle the ramifications of the ailing economy. I recently agreed to accept a job with my current employer that extends my responsibilities and gives me full-time work instead of just part-time. I know I should be grateful that I’m not out of work, but this job is not what I want to do as a career. Since I made this decision, I have been unhappy.
I am a recent graduate and can’t find work in my field except temporary jobs with no benefits and less pay. I opted not to pursue these due to the fact that they were temporary only — no possibility for permanent employment. I just don’t know what to do.
I don’t want to be stuck at this job that I accepted, and which makes me unhappy, but I don’t want to jump into anything that isn’t as secure as this. Are others making similar compromises? How are they handling it? Do you or your readers have any advice?
Even though the job market is rough, keep in mind that people still retire, transfer, or get fired regardless of the economic conditions. Job seekers — employed or unemployed — can use the same techniques to increase their chances of securing a job, or transitioning into something more meaningful.
- The first step is to network. Let everyone you speak to now that you’re looking for work. (Well, don’t tell your boss, obviously.) Get your name out there and increase the number of people who are helping you find a job.
- Now is a great time to schedule meetings or informational interviews with people who are doing the type of work you want to do.
- Keep a positive mindset. Be that person who is optimistic despite the realities you face.
- Be ready to talk about yourself. Identify three to five talking points that highlight specific marketable skills you will bring to the work place. These highlights might include strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as a strong work ethic.
- Create projects in your current workplace that you can complete and profile during your job search.
- If unemployed, volunteer in the type of work environment that matches your goals. This will keep you updated on the current technologies and terminology,
allow for networking, and build a portfolio of work samples.
As you establish and maintain a strong network, you will learn about open positions before they are publicized outside of the business or organization. Stay informed by keeping up with local news and read your area Business Journal. Keep updated with association sites connected to your particular industry of interest. Know who is laying employees off or who is actually hiring. See if you can utilize the career development or career services office of your alma mater or the state employment division.
One of the most challenging aspects of being under-employed or unemployed is mental attitude. Hiring managers can sense when someone feels down-and-out, and will avoid bringing those candidates into the workplace. It’s a negative cycle that can quickly snowball to the point of permeating all areas of your life (finances, relationships, health, spirit, etc.). Seek help from trusted friends and family to prevent your challenging employment situation from defining you in a negative light. Remaining confident in who you are and what you have to offer will be refreshing to the employer when that “right fit” job is discovered.
This advice is great, but I think it would be useful for Jill to have feedback from people who have first-hand experience. Do you have any tips for finding a good job in a bad economy? Should Jill remain at a job that makes her unhappy? Should she take a risk and look for something new? Should she go with a temp job? What’s your advice?
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Alright.
Let’s not forget here that not everyone in the world goes to college.
High school graduates are worried about this too.
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If you’ve just accepted the job, then look for ways to use it to learn more of the skills you’d need in the job you really want. The economy will pick up eventually, and if you can ride it out then you should be ok.
I’m a bit stuck in my current job, in an ideal world I’d be looking to make a move now, but because there are fewer jobs, I think it’s going to take me quite a lot longer to find and get something that would be better. Since I’m employed and it’s not unbearable, I’m trying to develop where I am, and also have given myself a long deadline for finding a new job.
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I’m still a recent graduate, I suppose (almost 2 years). I managed to find a very good job recently by continuing to apply once I was in a workplace. I wasn’t in a very bad situation (though it was going downhill), but I wanted to take a better step on my career.
So I looked at what I could leverage about the library job I was working and the ones I’d had in the past and sent out applications every time a good library job that I might be qualified for opened up. In my case, it took about 6 months of applying to get it, but it helped that I had the time since I did have a job.
But it’s tough if you’re in a miserable workplace right now. I have two friends who are desperate to leave toxic work situations but are having a hard time finding anything else, even at entry-level. They’re both working really hard on building portfolios based on the projects they’ve completed at work, but nobody’s biting so far.
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When I graduated college, I launched a business, so this isn’t something I’ve ever dealt with, but… Why is everyone talking about being “happy” in their jobs right now–how they should be “happy just to have one” or “their job doesn’t make them happy”…
When did working and happiness become so intertwined? Isn’t it okay to do your best at a job, find parts of it you love and deal with the stuff you don’t like? No job is perfect and just about every job has positives (even if it’s just the paycheck) or we’d find something else.
I know it seems easy for me to say since I really have taken full responsibility for every part of my own life, but it’s frustrating seeing people playing the victim and talking about how their job is “forcing” them to be unhappy (or to sacrifice their happiness). (Isn’t this what we did with marriage in the 80s? I was just a kid then, but I remember a lot of my parents’ friends using much the same language to talk about their marriages and how that was the piece that was holding them back from true happiness.)
A job is just a thing. It’s a thing you do for 8+/- hours a day. If it’s awful, find a new one, if it’s unsatisfying, make the other parts of your life more satisfying. Basically, no matter how much time you spend at work, you still have hours to spend elsewhere (and for most of us, we spend the *majority* of our hours elsewhere).
Your job doesn’t have to be your life’s work. It doesn’t have to be meaningful or amazing or something you’re fully passionate about all the time. (And there is absolutely no reason why it should be something you’d do for free.)
My advice to Jill is to keep the job since she’s taken it, and not to make it the center of her universe. Whether she finds volunteer work she loves, starts a fabulous project in her community, or just learns to bake a really great loaf of bread, rounding out her life is likely to either lead to a job she does love *or* to her realizing you can have an amazing life even with a ho-hum job.
Sorry for the rant, J.D. and Jill!
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The main thing is to think things over and reach a decision on whether you want to stay in your field, even if you can’t find permanent work right now, or whether you want to change careers. Consider the long-term prospects in the career you trained for. It’s no fun to have ten years’ experience in a field you don’t really like and feel like you can’t switch because you’d be starting over anywhere else. Keep your expenses down as much as you can–that gives you a lot more freedom.
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@ plonkee – I think that’s excellent advice. Always be acquiring skills in areas that interest you.
@ all – It’s been awhile since I read the book, but in What Color is Your Parachute the author suggests that instead of simply dropping a resume off or emailing one, that you actually go into the office and find out who makes hiring decisions. Hand deliver your resume to that person. In theory, this should make an impression on the hiring manager that you’re serious about getting the job.
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When I graduated in 2001 I was faced with a similar situation from the dot com bust and could not find regular employment as companies were laying off as well. After an exhaustive search with no luck to find a job I turned to a temporary agency. Through that agency I worked on one assignment for a year and half ultimately leading me to employment with the contractor. I can say it was awkward at first at that employer as they had just laid off a bunch of workers and replaced them with temporary employees, but in the end it all worked out and I gained experience in the “real world.”
If you are not having any luck finding a job I would highly recommend visiting a staffing agency.
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I hate to be a debbie downer, but people really need to take what they can get. Sure it would be great to get your dream job right out of college making 58K, but the fact of the matter is there are a heck of a lot of “yous” out there vying for the same position. Supply and demand, I’m afraid. Employer’s HR folks have the duty to hire the best people they can for the cheapest amount of money. With a larger basket of candidates, guess what? Your likelihood of getting hired is less and odds are if you ARE hired, your ability to negotiate salary will be diminished.
A graduate should really try to get experience in the field he or she is interested in if at all possible. I have learned that experience is the majority of the equation. You have a degree? Whoopee, so does thousands of other people.
The other big part is to have multiple options. It is REALLY hard to bluff a salary negotiation when you have nothing to fall back on. My brother in law just graduated with an engineering degree, is single, and is willing to move ANYWHERE, a HR officer’s dream right? He still can’t find anything for more that 55K. I think graduates need to tone down their salary expectations and just load up on experience. When this recession passes, then they’ll have the degree, some experience, and thus, some bargaining chips.. JMHO.
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In most cases, the people who say “Do what you love and the money will follow” usually don’t have very much money. In fact, that’s part of economics, often if you love doing something, then many others love doing it too. So there’s less requirement to pay a premium for that labor. Thus, the great majority of artists are self-described “starving artists.”
The only way to be very successful (financially) in a field doing something that you and alot of other people love is to be extremely talented at it, and get all the right breaks. Statisticially speaking, you’re not very talented. You’re not Alex Rodriguez or Steven Spielberg or Brad Pitt.
I’m an engineer, personally, I’m fairly smart, but I’m certainly no Einstein. Not even close. If I were an artist with this level of talent, I would also be a waiter. But not many people think engineering is all that fun, so I have less competition. In college, kids are asked “What do you want to do? Act? Sing? Paint? Write? Dig up bones? Study that. The money will follow!” I like to ski in the snow, but that wasn’t a major at my college; so I picked engineering.
And I make alot more money than ski instructors. And in the end, it is enjoyable. And I’m well paid. I like what I do, I like where I work, I like the people I work with. If your attitude is positive you find enjoyment in life where you can. And I keep my expenses low so we can enjoy things we like to do, like skiing.
Maybe you really do have a bad work environment, and in that case, J.D. and the other commenters have given you better advice than I can.
Just remember, don’t throw away something good to pursue something that’s not there.
The grass is always greener on the other side, and they don’t call it work for nothing.
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This advice is really only applicable if you’re a recent graduate, young, or don’t have too many ties to where you are currently living, but there are a lot of opportunities to work abroad, especially in a lesser-developed country. As an assistant, secretary, nanny or a teacher you can earn a pretty good salary, learn another language, and have something fairly unique to put on your resume. It might not be your dream field or forever job, but it will give you something to stand out from other applicants after leaving, and if you learn the language well enough, a marketable skill. On top of that, it’s a great way to travel.
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JD (and Plonkee)-Good question. I’ve written a couple posts (one on Get Rich Slowly) on job hunting. You may want to check out my post 11 Steps to the Job of Your Dreams.
First you need to consider what you really want to do. Most people are working in jobs that don’t match their degree. Often this is because they don’t have a career plan. Other times it is because they had no clue what they wanted to do for a living when they started college.
Do you really want to work in your field? If so, develop a career plan. This will help you understand the progression of jobs and companies you need to go through. Don’t worry, you can modify as needed if your needs change.
With the current economic climate you may want to keep your current job. You may find something better but that is risky. If you take a new job you become the low man on the ladder. In many cases you become the first they let go.
If you stay at your current job try to use it to learn and grow. Also, consider getting yourself into higher value activities. What do I mean? There are three high value areas of any company: sales/marketing, product creation, and cost control. I cover this a lot on my blog Wealth and Wisdom.
If you do want to find a new job start networking. This is one of the best ways to find a new job and to job security. I wrote a guest post here on this topic Network Your Way to Job Security.
When you get to the point that you are ready to do informational interviews or to ask you network about job security be careful. If your employer gets wind of it they may fire you on the spot!
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Several of these posts have excellent points. Keep looking if you don’t like your job, and make sure your salary expectations are realistic in this economy.
During the early 90s (when the economy was bad) I was stuck in a job I hated, and was going to grad school at night. At one point I had enough of it. I took a leap of faith, accepting a part time telemarketing position which paid just enough for a roof and food. I quit my full-time job to focus on school.
Nearly twenty years later I still count this bet on myself one of the best things I ever did. I kept applying for jobs, and landed one which was better suited to my tastes & skills for the duration of my academic career. Things really went up from there.
If you don’t have significant obligations (debt, family and other), you might want to make a plan and take a chance on yourself. Just keep expectations realistic.
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I agree with a lot of the sentiments already here. It is a harsh reality that the current economy limits most new grads’ job opportunities. And while Jill’s current job offer might not be exactly what she’s looking for, it is still a way to earn money and gain valuable experience. Attitude and perspective can go a long way to make a situation better.
It has been my experience, as someone relatively fresh out of school, that the first few months aren’t just about getting going in a career track, but settling into a new lifestyle and figuring out so many things. And while school was a straightforward track with logical steps, someone’s career path will likely be all over the place. We are young, and there will be plenty of time to find the “right” job.
But if Jill’s full-time position is truly intolerable, then she has options. Cobbling together a living with part-time work, living at home (if it’s an option), and being focused on a job search will be one way to get by.
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I understand Jill’s dilemma. I am currently working part-time (28 hours a week, Monday-Thursday) but there is a chance in the future (dependent upon receiving grant money) that my position would become full time. I know that my boss kind of knows I don’t want to be full-time… but still, if we got the money and the position became full time, they would either want me to take it, or they’d find someone else. I might be able to negotiate some way to stay until I found another part time job (they really like me). But if I could find no other part time job, then I’d pretty much feel forced to become full-time at my current one.
It seems a lot of people are putting in lots of overtime, taking on extra projects, and even accepting being treated poorly by their employers right now, because the economy is so bad and the alternatives are to not have a job at all. It’s truly sad.
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If Jill works at a larger company, she could look into an internal move. For instance, she might want to move from the IT department to sales. It makes sense for companies to hire internally for openings, because they don’t have to pay to move someone or give a signing bonus. It’s likely that Jill has skills that can easily be applicable to a different job function in her company.
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I just graduated from college in December, and I can very much relate to Jill’s problem.
Anticipating difficulties finding a job, I began sending out resumes and interviewing in early August. Finally, on Christmas eve, I was hired to a job that I love at a company that is still quite strong.
The secret was four summers of internships that I did. I gained not only valuable experience in my field, but also very key networking contacts.
I would recommend that Jill get a temp-job or internship in her field ASAP if it is at all financially possible. Even if there is currently no opportunity for future employment, she will be put at the top of the list when (not if) companies start hiring again. If the company really likes you, they just might hire you full-time when your temp job ends!
If she just grits her teeth and deals with her current unsatisfactory job, she may not be able to compete in a future (better) job market. In this economy, as in ALL economies, you’ve got to do whatever you can to keep yourself ahead of the pack.
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@ HollyP:
I am glad to hear your story. I start MBA classes in May and will likely be leaving a decent paying job with great benefits that I hate to working part-time at Starbucks or something while at school. I am glad it worked out for you, it gives me hope for my own future!
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JD has some good suggestions. Right now, I think that you should just stick it out while actively looking. I too am a recent college graduate, and hated the first job I had out of school. It literally almost destroyed my relationship, so I actively pursued getting a different job (albeit a temporary one with possibility of extension, but it is in the field of my degree). To get that job (the one I’m currently in), I networked. I let people know I was looking, and a woman I befriended riding the bus to the university hired me where she works. Lucky, sure, but if I didn’t try, I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere. I’m in Canada so the economy isn’t quite as bad, but I have to admit it worries me too. Don’t quit unless you have something lined up, though. Remember that the longer you go on there, the more experience you’ll have, so it will be easier to get future employment. Good luck.
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Jessica’s comment hits the nail on the head. I graduated in ’91, into a recession, and my part-time job turned into a full-time position that was not thrilling, but far better than unemployment. Eventually I wound up doing something better suited to my talents and interests, but it takes time to get there — and even the job I have now, which I love, has aspects that I hate.
1. Don’t subscribe to the mythical notion that you will get your ideal job right away. That rarely happens nowadays — and most people have two or three or even four jobs in their lifetime. Think of this job as one phase of your career, not as the only and last place you will ever ever work.
2. Don’t subscribe to the myth of “job charming.” Your job is not the sum of your identity; it is a way to earn money. Develop yourself as a person outside the job. Figure out what you love and spend time doing that.
3. Be as great an employee as you can right now, and learn as much as you can from your present position. Leadership or project opportunities coming up? Take them. Heck, make them. This will get you a good recommendation from your current employer when the time eventually comes to leave. And it will come.
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One thing to think about is that there are no ideal jobs. You should enjoy your work but we don’t live in a perfect world. What I find is that in 80% of the cases it is all in your attitude. If you want to be happy in your job you will be. If you want to grouse no job will satisfy you. The other 20% of jobs should make you run!
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For the past three years I have worked as an instructor at a local community college in Western Pennsylvania. Through the state, we offer a 30-hour basic computer skills course for the unemployed. In the past three months I have had students who have never done a job search before…many had obtained their jobs right out of high school or college more than 20 years ago. Job hunting is an ominous task to them.
I encourage them to look into what the staffing services have in the way of jobs. Many of the employers in our region had begun to use such agencies within the last 10 years or so as a means to screen good employees. Often times a temp position can lead to being offered a full time position with the company.
Jessica found this happens, although this temp position was not in her field. I don’t think there should be an issue at getting experience beyond what degree you prepared for. Still, there are skills that will transcend industries and career paths. Why not focus on having a solid job in these tough times. More importantly, focus in on honing skills like team-building, computer skills, communications skills, organizational skills and polish the basic work ethic? Jessica didn’t mention the industry she is working in, or the one she wishes she were in, but she may be utilizing some specialty software or process that will shine on her resume when she is marketing herself into a career path she’s dreamed of.
My Mother, bless her soul, taught me many lessons. One of the most important ones was “Never stop learning.” Later, she’d add, “They can take away your job, your title, even close down a company, but they can’t take away what you learned while working there. That will benefit you down the line, you’ll see.” Those words came after my first experience with a shocking layoff many years ago.
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This story rings very true for me, being another December ’08 grad. I took a VERY temp position out of college filing tax returns to pass the time until I found another job prospect. I have been unemployed for about a month now, though and am faced with a dilemna. I have an opportunity 650 miles away which would put me in a higher position than I have been in in previous jobs (and higher pay), but is for a company that I do not feel I can morally support. My only other option so far, near my home here in SC (the state with the second highest unemployment rate currently), is to take two part-time positions in more menial labor.
Niether of these options are directly related to what I would like to be doing 5 to 10 years down the road. However, I need money rolling in again soon to knock out my student loan debt and thus free myself for opportunities that do relate to what I’m seeking.
I’m constantly debating with myself right now whether I should sell a piece of my soul to the devil for the better looking resume position (the cost of living would be higher there, so I’d need that higher income and thus that is mostly a moot point), or whether I should remain in entry-level positions for now that will allow me to sleep at night.
Also, @Jessica (#4): It is my opinion that the search for “job happiness” is related to the fact that a full-time job takes up half or more of your daily “life energy”–assuming 8 hours of sleep at night. I for one would much rather be doing something that I enjoy for that much time every day than something that makes me miserable.
You make a decent argument that one can find this enjoyment in other aspects of life. I feel, though, that working so hard for so much of your day in such a depressed state drains one’s motivation and energy far faster, thus leaving you feeling less energetic in your other pursuits. Also, wouldn’t it be better all-around if you could be happy with both and not have to use the one to compensate for the other (like crashing in front of the TV to wind down after a stressful day is for many people)?
I think that THAT is the core of the matter, in addition to the obvious general feeling of misery.
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Networking is essential. Along with a flawless CV and great people skills.
Many of my friends that have been laid off from their jobs have also went back to school to get MBA’s. It seems like in the business world, its a standard practice now to get one just to be able to get an avg paying job.
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Thanks to everyone who has given their experiences of both sides of the issue! It is so wonderful to hear varying opinions that I dont get from friends/family. Let me just say that I do have realistic expectations in that I do not expect to find a job right away and in this economy it may take up to or more than a year. Re: Salary – Most entry level jobs in my desired field (which I have my degree for) are about the same as I am making now so I dont expect a huge increase. And I was a returning student, so I have already been in the workforce for 7+ years prior to supporting myself through school. I guess I already have one up on most other graduates who are younger! I already have a skillset that they dont.
@B SMith (#10): You hit in the head. This is my career plan in action! This is the reason I went back to school to get my degree so that I can pursue my passion and make money at it. It has always been my goal to get a job in my “new” career field but the reality of the economy is making it that much harder.
Now I am even more motivated to volunteer in my career area…there are plenty of opportunities there. Now if my job doesnt get in the way of that!
I completely sympathize with everyone who is also going through this type of situation. Best of luck to you.
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OK, two pieces of advice that I haven’t seen reflected above:
1) For recent graduates. If the job market is really rough, consider going back for a second or graduate degree — maybe part time while you work part-time. And if you are currently in the middle of college, consider slowing down and taking an extra year to get your degree while you work part time or get an internship.
When I started college in 1990, there were no jobs, there were never going to be any jobs, and we all might as well move to Seattle and start a band. Indeed, may of my classmates did just that, dropping out of school to do… whatever. I kept going, slowed down to work an internship (for shitty pay), took a full year off to work in my field (for pathetically shitty pay) and by the time I graduated in 1996 the dotcom boom was in full swing and I had high-paying job offers all over the country! Philosophy majors got signing bonuses and my pathetic work experience was like gold. I could afford to do that since I had low expenses as a student and the work helped me pay for my schooling and kept my debt down.
2) For everyone. Quit thinking so long-term. I know that advice sounds backwards, but in my experience education and career choices need to be considered in, say, three – five year increments. Long enough to get a degree. Long enough to get some experience. Long enough to whether a shitty economic downturn. But not “my career path for the next 30 years.” That’s simply not realistic anymore and it hasn’t been for a couple of decades now.
That crappy job you dislike? In three years the economy will be on the upswing and you’ll be doing something new. You may change careers completely four or five times by the time you retire. You may not even retire traditionally, but simply move into some other, low-stress career (art or freelance or whatever).
When should you be looking for a better job? ALWAYS. Always be looking and you will always be ready for whatever opportunities come along.
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This depends a lot on your relationship with your manager, but it can be worth talking to them about moving your career in the direction you want it to take. I’m assuming here that Jill is in the sector she wants to work in, but isn’t enjoying the specific work she’s doing now. Even if not, some of the following may still be useful.
Make a list of everything you like about your current job. Particularly focus on the bits that are closest to what you want to be doing long term. Now make another list of the things that are missing.
Now you need to be imaginative. Look at the projects you’re involved in, and at the work your company does. Are there ways you could do more of what you want to be doing? Even better, are there ways you can introduce some of the missing elements?
Then, take your lists and ideas to your boss. You want to be putting it across as “ways that I can be of most value to the company”, and “ways that I can develop into a more productive employee”. You never know – he/she might suggest an internal move or development opportunity that’s right up your street.
Whatever happens, keep those lists and keep looking for ways to use them. Then, when you do find the dream job (and I truly believe you will, if you keep looking, but these things can take time), you’ll be in the best position to put in a fantastic application.
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My father always told me that it’s easier to look for a job when you have a job. Keep your current job and continue looking.
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I work with students on a daily basis, and have had scores of them in my office trying to find ways to delay their graduation because they feel that they won’t find a job. Many of these students are from the traditionally ‘in demand’ fields like Computer Science, Engineering, and Business Administration.
For people who are still in college, I think the KEY to finding a job afterward is to take advantage of EVERY opportunity to get work experience while in school. Work on campus, do an internship (or two or three or six). It’s not necessarily about what degree you finish, as much as it is about what you have done with your time outside of the classroom. Too many students think college is a four, five or six year party with a few classes inserted in there somewhere.
Finally, my instinct as far as Jill is concerned is to stay with her current job but keep thinking creatively of ways to increase the duties that she likes while decreasing the time spent on stuff she really hates. No job is perfect, as one commenter pointed out. Also, though, no job should represent 100% of your potential happiness.
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Why is it the assumption that just because you went to college, you should get your dream job the second you graduate? Those four years or so is not a get out of jail free card. You have to work and EARN your way to what you want, and it may take much longer than you expect.
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my grandfather had a saying, “You can do what you love, but accept that it won’t make much money; or you can work for money, and then have the resources to do what you love.”
Part of being adult is having to bite the bullet, so you can bite into food.
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Keep the job while you hunt for the ideal job. Use the time to figure out exactly what you want. It’s much easier to get your ideal job when you have a concrete idea of what the ideal job is (and your employed).
Try to steer the current job towards what you actually want to be doing and failing that, use this as a time to learn what you do and don’t like in bosses, office types, etc. Also, find a mentor!
It took me a few years out of college to find a job I loved, but I used all the jobs I disliked to figure out the kind of boss I like to work for (micromanagers need not apply) and the type of office I like to work in (no open office spaces). These factors can have as much of an influence on whether you like your job as the actual work you do. A bad boss can make the perfect job miserable.
People are still hiring, but they are able to be choosier.
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@Nina:
It’s not (at least for some of us) about finding the ideal job right out of college. It’s about finding one that we can deal with morally, economically, and psychologically–in the right general direction–until a better opportunity arises.
The down economy and the resulting job freezes, etc. make finding a job “in the right direction” very difficult for us, though, and thus the problem.
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J.D., thanks for posting this question. I’m in a similar position, so I also appreciate the comments and advice.
My advice for Jill would be to use her current job to save money for an emergency fund if she doesn’t already have one. Having a cushion before you take a leap of faith means that your financial security isn’t entirely in the hands of an employer. (
Jill, good luck and best wishes for your search
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This is my problem exactly. I’m just about to graduate from college in May and I have a crummy housekeeping position at the university. I need to keep it for the free health care benefits, but the work is soul crushing. I don’t see a way out any time soon, except to look for freelance work on the side in my field.
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I find it amazing that so many of the comments are about how people should accept jobs they don’t enjoy.
Life is too short to waste it on money. Sometimes you’ll have to take a job you don’t like, that’s life. Once you build financial security taking a risk to find a job you want is worth every penny.
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#35 – But we’re not talking to someone who has financial security yet. She is just getting started.
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Some people touched on this but it’s worth mentioning explicity.
If you are a recent graduation with fairly little in the terms of monthly obligations (low credit card debt, no car loan or a car you can easily sell, no-monthly contracts for gym, cell phone etc) the Peace Corps is a great option to consider. You can get unrivaled training and experience in a wide range of topics (including small business ownership) you will learn a foreign language, student loans can be deferred for National Service, and for two years you don’t have to worry about the job market.
Also, when you return you have first pick of any federal jobs you meet the qualifications for. It’s a really great opportunity.
Another program to consider: Teach For America, they are extremely selective but if you’re a strong cadidate you can get two years experience as a teacher in a troubled school district getting paid a beginning teacher’s wage, and a really valuable experience for starting your job search in any field once you are done. It looks much better than temping for two years while barely scraping by and is an excellent way to gain a lot of really valuable skills.
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If she’s depressed at her job, just wait till she’s OUT of a job… And it’s TONS easier to find a job when you have a job. I know from my own experience, candidates who are currently working are more attractive than those that are not — it doesn’t seem fair and managers tell themselves that everyone is treated equally, but people with the jobs have the leg up.
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First, escape the mentality that says, “there’s a recession, so I won’t find a job.” That’s not helpful or true. Lots of employers are hiring, and lots of my friends have found great jobs recently. Sadly, I have friends who aren’t even looking (or aren’t looking very hard) because they just assume they won’t find anything. How will you find a new job if you don’t look or if you look half-assed?
Second, get yourself in a financial position to allow yourself to take jobs you love for less money and potentially less stability. I always believe in taking the job you love and think that money and stability will generally follow if you’re good. But, I can see that this would be harder to do if someone is living on the financial edge.
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Utilizing online resources and networking through LinkedIn and other social networks is a great way to get your name out there, build a personal brand, and find some openings.
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This idiocy about “life’s too short to do anything I don’t like” blows me away. There are all sorts of things in life that we have to deal with that we may not like. “That’s life”. The sense of entitlement I see on so many of these types of forums just blows me away.
Look, I’m not saying saying that existence should be some dreary, stoic exercise in unpleasantness. But come on, folks. For right now, in this economy, be grateful for an income if you have it. As things improve, if another opportunity presents itself, then go for it.
There are plenty of good reasons to stay in a job you’re not thrilled with – taking care of your family’s financial needs and well-being, paying down debt, etc. You put aside your own wants, at least temporarily, for a greater purpose.
Who ever promised us an ideal life? If anyone did, it wasn’t somebody who could deliver on that promise.
An orientation of basic gratitude for what you have goes a long way.
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I love Jessica’s comment (#4) – she’s right, work is sometimes just work and you have to make the best of your life.
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Just remember, in recessions who is always hiring is the federal government. USAJobs.gov
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Kyle, you said:
As things improve, if another opportunity presents itself, then go for it.
I think everyone here would agree with you. But just because the economy is bad doesn’t mean there are no opportunities right now.
The sentiment I see hear is “if you aren’t happy, look around, see what you find, maybe the right thing is out there” and not, as you seem to be implying “If it’s not your dream job then quit and worry about the consequences later”
I think most people here would advise the prudent route of sticking it out but keeping your eyes open. Sometimes things are unpleasant and you must buck up and deal with it, but part of dealing with it can include looking for a new opportunity.
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1.) Network like mad.
2.) Let people know you’re looking (not your co-workers or your boss though, obviously). They’ll let you know if something’s open, or they’ll keep an eye out for you.
3.) DON’T automatically set your heart on grad school if you can’t find a job you can live with. In my field (IR), the really good grad programs don’t want you unless you have work experience. And, as someone who used to work in graduate admissions, I can honestly say that it’s the students who’ve had the work experience — no matter what kind of work — who really get something out of grad school because they know how the coursework applies to them, what they’ve done, and what they want to do.
4.) If your job situation is toxic, get another job — even if it’s part time — and get out. Being at work with someone you want to murder can drive you postal.
5.) Every job has something about it that’ll drive you nuts (for example, my co-workers usually make me want to hit a wall). But look for the bright side in your work. You’d be surprised what kind of weird and valuable stuff you can learn, even in a job that isn’t “perfect”.
6.) Always be looking for opportunity. You never know what will come along and smack you in the face.
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Find something good about your situation. Remember that any occupation will have its share of flaws. That’s why it’s work. It’s only work. It provides you with basic necessities of life. Keep your job but look for ways on how to improve your situation. You may just have to swallow your pride and take a position within your chosen field even if it means less pay. It’s your “in”. It’s better to have options than to have your back up against the wall with no options at all.
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Katherine, I think you’re totally right about working before grad school. That’s what I did. Not only was it an amazing experience for me, but I really felt I had something to contribute.
And employers can spot the “I went to grad school because I didn’t know what else to do” tactic a mile away.
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I think she should hold onto her job until the economy improves. Some of us aren’t so lucky. I was laid off in 2002. That’s right. SEVEN years ago. I didn’t want to go back into my field, either. There weren’t many jobs anyway.
So I lived on unemployment, enjoying my “temporary” vacation, waiting for the jobs to return. At the time, it was a luxury I felt it was okay to take. BIG MISTAKE.
When unemployment ran out, there were still no jobs, so I tried freelancing (in my field) with a little success, but as my heart wasn’t in it, eventually that dried up, too.
After a couple of years and still no jobs on the horizon, I decided grad school was in order and started down that path, despite being uncertain of what I wanted to do. Then, both of my parents became ill one right after another and I put it all on hold to become their primary caregiver.
They died in 2006.
My field is as dead as they are. So are my college plans because I wasn’t officially IN grad school yet and still have a couple of things to do before I can go.
I live in Ohio, one of the states featuring the worst unemployment and foreclosure rates in the country.
There are no jobs.
My emergency savings? It’s almost gone and I’ve gone to great lengths to stretch it this far. I’m single. I have no husband, no kids, nobody left to help. The estate has been tied up for 2.5 years because of a stipulation that the rental home they owned needs to be sold before the Will can be settled.
It’s in such disrepair, it’s not rentable at this point, and I don’t have the $50,000 it would take to make it so. Because I haven’t had a job since 2002, nobody will give me a loan.
And there are still no jobs that fit my skill set, and if you know anything about the minimum wage employers, they tend to avoid hiring college grads for fear that the employee will leave after six months of rigorous training the moment a job in their field becomes available.
Yet, somehow, I’m maintaining a positive attitude. Most of the time. But if anyone has ANY ideas short of winning the lottery, which I plan to do tonight, let me know.
Keep the job. You have one. It sucks. Treasure it anyway until things get better, THEN go after a dream.
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You want a career, but sometimes you have to settle, temporarily, for a job.
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it is much easier to focus on getting a job that you want to do as a career when you have a job that pays the bills. it can be very overwhelming trying to stay focused when you think the whole world is against you. no one says you have to be content or happy with your current position, that is why you are after all trying to find a new job. i like to eliminate as many variables or things to juggle around, so i would definitely not give up a job i hated while i was searching for a new job. you have to also change your mindset about the job you dislike. it is a means or stepping stone to doing what you want to do, even if it doesn’t necessarily apply to your desired career field. staying positive and seeing the positive in a bad situation does help.
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