Tuesday, 08 February 2011
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My New Life as a Jobless College Graduate
I'm writing this post to vent about my incredibly, hopelessly, depressingly boring new life as a post-grad. Instead of packing up my room and heading to the Big Apple to start my journalism career as planned, I am completely jobless living in my old room in my hometown.
I wake up every morning to my sister's 9-month-old bulldog breathing down my neck while sharing my pillow and stealing the covers. He snores loudly making it impossible for anyone but him to sleep. When my attempts to push him off the bed fail, I roll myself out of bed and make my way downstairs.
I then roll out my yoga mat and tune into my OnDemand workout videos. I do hours of yoga each morning out of pure boredom, but if there's anything that I can be thankful for, it is my free time to exercise. All. Day. Long. I haven't done this many workout videos in my entire life. It's doing amazing things for my abs and thankfully the yoga is keeping me somewhat sane, for that hour anyway. My anxiety is at an all-time high lately thanks to my inability to get a job, but the yoga and running has counterbalanced it some. I dedicate the remainder of the morning and the afternoon to my internship, the only thing that is helping me hang on to the hope that I will one day have the editorial job of my dreams.
After hours of fighting with the puppy to get back into the house after he's run away into the streets because my sister refuses to go to obedience school with him, I begin pursuing the help wanted ads and journalism job websites. I apply to countless jobs, writing email after email and pleading my case to anyone who will listen without ever getting a response. Disheartened, I then eat dinner with my family, watch a few sitcoms and head to bed.
So there you have it. I spend my days wrestling with a puppy that sits on my lap unaware of his 65-pounds stature, doing an excessive amount of yoga (my headstands are really coming along!), and viciously searching for a job. You may think I'm living the dream; I have very few responsibilities, I can wake up and go to bed whenever I want to, I babysit an insanely adorable puppy and I live rent free in my house with the family I love. Despite all those perks, the pressure of getting a job and moving out is still mounting. There isn't a second that goes by that I don't get reminded of my jobless life. I feel hopeless, worthless and stuck. I guess for now I better get used to living my life with my fingers crossed.
Any advice for staying sane during this time of transition?
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About the Author
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- From: ericapyznar@xanga
- About Me: I am a 21 year old recent college grad. I love all things relating to beauty and style. I have an obsession with working out and running and have recently gotten hooked on yoga. I love my combat boots and wear them entirely too often. I am in a lifelong committed relationship with mascara and wouldn't dare leave the house without it. I could watch runway shows all day and tell myself that I will one day be able to wear an outfit designed by Marc Jacobs. I am a little crazy at times, but I have a great heart and a lot of beauty tricks and tips up my sleeve to share with anyone who will listen :)
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Comments (35)
I hear ya. I still don't have a job in my field. Granted I am interning and gaining some experience but it's free. So guess where I'm working to earn some dough. PetSmart. Just try to keep your head up. Check for jobs daily, apply and in the meantime get a job wherever you can.
what did you expect with a journalism degree? haha. write write write write and keep writing if you want to nab a journalism job. Or learn a new skill.... dog whisperer?
I went to a job interview today. The employer told me they received over 500 responses to their help-wanted. It is a soap retail job. You know something's wrong when over 500 people are applying to a retail position.
This reminds me of that book The Devil Wears Prada. You should read it! It's pretty much you ;D
I hate this post. No offense, but II graduate in may with a journalism degree and I really don't want to be in the position you are.... I do think I have something lined up for when I'm done with school and will at least enjoy being out of my hometown and out of my dorm for a while (my boyfriend and I are moving in together right before I graduate)
But I can't help thinking you're being extremely negative... okay, so you can't find a job in your field right now.... go to networking events, job fairs, employment agencies and until you make any progress get a job SOMEWHERE.
Basically I'm saying you don't seem happy in the position you're in and I fail to believe you've exhausted all options.
Don't give up.. good luck to you !
Welcome, you've just joined the legions of graduated college students without a job/career.
What I did when I was jobless was to work towards getting certified and licensed (engineering). I also went to a lot of networking events and volunteered much of my time (which also helped in networking). And I spent 8+ hours a day on indeed.com looking through jobs. Don't be afraid to apply to jobs that are a little out of your field, you might be pleasantly surprised. You just have to keep up your search, eventually something will come along.
Especially in a very competitive field like journalism, you need to realize that you are going to have to fight just to have a job even remotely in your field, and it might not pay the bills, so get another job as well. You are doing nothing for yourself right now. You need a job or two right now, so go get one. Something that will earn you some money. Forget about waiting for the dream job. Next is, you need to realize that you are going to have to work a long time and build up your resume in order to get the job of your dreams. So the way to start right now is to make a plan. What are your options, your resources? Grad school? Can Mom and Dad put you up in an apartment for a year in a better city while you get your butt in gear and earn your own money with those multiple jobs, while gaining experience in the field through internships and other endeavors? Time to stop this silliness.
@lttlegel - You'd be surprised...last year, I filled out over 70 applications before I got a job, and I wasn't even looking for one in my area of study. I didn't get a callback from a single one, and I was seriously willing to take anything. Most of the jobs were in retail or fast food for minimum wage. The job market blows. I did eventually get a $7/hour job working my ass off as a prep cook, but the job search was really discouraging.
To the poster, I'd suggest finding a job of some sort or volunteer somewhere, just to get you by until you find a job you're happy with. At the very least, it'll break up the monotony and get you out of the house a bit more.
Oh my god, that puppy is ADORABLE.
Good luck! I hope you find something soon! :)
@endlezzthinking@xanga -
Welcome, you've just joined the legions of graduated college students without a job/career.Pretty much.
OP: Apply yourself out there, fill out job applications, do more for your resume. Anything really to get you noticed. It will take time. Don't give up now!
i'm in the same situation as you. just graduated with a BA in Ancient Studies.... i'm currently taking classes part time at the community college (it keeps me from having to repay my loans), working THREE part-time jobs totaling 40+ hours a week, and living at home. it sucks.
i can't say much for journalism, but it seems like a great way to start would be to blog a lot, so you can build up some type of portfolio. also consider looking outside your area, but still keeping it related. i'm remotely interested in teaching, for example, so one of my jobs is as a tutor. consider going back to school for something more lucrative. teacher certification is pretty easy to get. or check out those little certificate programs. i'm considering one in phlebotomy or A+ certification, just to get a decent job.
@lttlegel - it's just being realistic, not negative. my friend graduated four or five years ago with a degree in communications, went to every job fair imaginable, and only managed to land a position related to his degree last month. and it's not even a guaranteed job, just a paid internship that ends in a year. a friend of mine has a Masters in German and works at a grocery store. my boyfriend's supervisor at Target has a PhD in history. the job market simply sucks for liberal arts majors.
Anyone have a clue how the job market looks for med school graduates? I'm looking to reach that eventually...
Welcome to my world.
@wideopenskies@xanga & @too_pretty_to_die@xanga -
As I said, I wasn't trying to be rude... I too appreciate a realistic approach to life. However, the person who posted this emphasized that his/her time was spent doing yoga and pet sitting. To me he/she didn't write it in a way that persuaded me that they've done everything they possibly could. I understand working at a job that pays $7 an hour and isn't in your field sucks, but beggers can't be choosy. Seems to me he should be greatful he can live at home and somehow afford bills without any source of income.
Ironically, I just finished writing an article about networking and other ways to get a job. If it helps I will post it when it's published.
There are some fields that there really isn't much to offer other than teaching the subject. But with journalism and communications I feel like it's more broad and more likely to have jobs available. And I'm not just saying this because I'm optimistic and hopeful, I have a few job opportunies upon graduation, that although aren't guaranteed have potentional. And if they fall through, I'll continue looking for something else.
@wideopenskies@xanga - who knows what will happen in 7 years
I wouldn't worry about it there is always a market for healthcare
@lttlegel - question: did you major in journalism?
@JoeytheGenie@xanga - yes.
This kills me because it's just incredible laziness not to at least have a part time job that you hate right now. There's no excuse for you to be completely jobless. I'm a sophomore in college and I have TWO jobs right now. Yes, they're both shitty food jobs (waitressing and fast food), but still. After I graduate, I'll at least be able to support myself just as well as I am now, even if it takes me a little bit longer to get a job in my field. It blows my mind when someone can't even get a minimum wage job. You're not trying hard enough if you can't. I've been working since I was 16 and have not been unemployed once since then. But, maybe there's your problem. When you've never had even a shitty part time job by the time you get to a certain age, you look lazy, and then even the fast food places don't want to hire you.
I'm goin to be you in exactly 4 months.
And all these haters saying you're being incredibly negative, lazy blahblah
dude stfu and GOOD FOR YOU! if you have two jobs and you're so on top of it and you're so POSITIVE, shit. Not everyone is always motivated and encouraged--- it's a tough time right now and the job market can get to you and make you depressed.
i just graduated a semester early (BA in communications and graphic design) and am totally in your position. i work at starbucks though so i'm not going completely bonkers. i'm part of like 10000 job websites, everyone just wants experience. try visiting your old professors and see if they have any connections or have heard anyone that was looking for help. i just got hired as a research assistant for one of my professors and (HOPEFULLY) snagged an design internship. at this point, just try to get as much experience as possible, even if it's not paid since you're not scrambling for dough at this point in your life.
ALSO..a lot of companies have associate programs where they look specifically for recent college grads to train (paid) and eventually you work for them. Apple, Simon&Schuster, MTV, and most TV networks do this.
g'uck!
@mallorywrites@datingish - Agree, I don't understand why people think they will immediately get a job in a competitive field. Journalism seems to be more about who you know than your actual abilities, although I have no idea.
@HannahMac - THANK YOU !
I agree with you, completely !
This is EXACTLY what I was saying. The person who wrote this describes their life as boring and doing things such as exercising and playing with his sister's dog because he has nothing else to do.
to the poster : My advice: set your alarm clock early tomorrow morning, get up, look presentable & GO FIND YOURSELF A JOB. It doesn't matter where. Then you will have a job and can stop being so lazy and pitiful. When you're not working, go to job fairs, visit websites, send emails, go on other interviews, DO SOMETHING.
i was in the same position as you and thank god, but i got a job finally. my degree was even less marketable than yours -- a bachelors in art. granted, i focused in graphic design, a marketable skill, but an art degree in general got me no further than first a fast food job then a retail job.
anyhow, i set up a kind of hierarchy of interests in order to broaden my job search. primarily i was looking for a design job, but my second option was working with at-risk youth. so now, i have a full time job working with residential kids and i will still do art on the side. maybe one day i will work in a design studio, i have no idea where life will take me. but i think it's really important for people to have a back up 'plan', or interest if you will. point being that yeah, you got your $50,000 or so degree and you want to use it for the field you chose, but realistically, you may have to pick something else - that you also enjoy - for now. community organizations are a great place to start. if working with 'at-risk youth' sounds challenging to you, maybe work at a nursing home. working with people and communities is a gem in this horrible job market because it takes a special person to WANT to deal with pooping old people or ten year olds cussing you out everyday, but the pay is decent because it is a taxing job. that way, you can work on your writing on the side, getting more experience.
lastly, for the others commenting about "it's just laziness that you don't at least have a fast food job" and "just find a job, doesn't matter what kind" - that's just bullshit. it's easy to be ok with shitty jobs while still in college because you know, at least you hope, that your degree with get you a job if you can just stick it out for a couple years. but the thing about post college is that your $50,000 skill will be lost if it isn't used. and what kind of quality of life is it to be in thousands of dollars of debt but working at a fast food place? don't settle. yeah, this author is in a slump but SO IS ALMOST A TENTH OF THIS COUNTRY. so telling someone they're just lazy for not even trying to get a minimum wage job when they've just spent thousands of dollars via the advice of parents, teachers, and desired employers isn't addressing the issue. post-grad and jobless is a terribly hopeless time, but like i said above, if you can creatively find a second interest of yours to pursue, go with that for now. that way, at least you won't feel like you're wasting your degree or life away.
ahhhh I should be graduating soon, but keeps your heads up!!
Staying sane is think positively, at least you have an internship to gain experience. It will get you through the door.story of my life. Â nice to know I'm not alone.