I need a job!

[Dis]

my dream job is to be a park ranger. but I heard you need a college degree for those. And being a goverment job, you have to have connections. well maybe not have to, but it helps a great deal.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Wezil
I knew I heard it somewhere....

Oyer’s study also found that this wage gap did not close over time. Members of the classes of 1988 and 1989 who started out making less money, for example, still trailed their later-graduating peers nearly two decades later.

Oyer said he was surprised that these wage differences did not self-correct over time. Instead, the results showed that graduates’ first jobs and starting salaries had an inordinate impact on their later income stream.

Correlation is not causation. It's possible that the sorts of people prone to minimal career advancement also happen to be the sorts of people prone to taking a crap job after college.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Darius871


Correlation is not causation. It's possible that the sorts of people prone to minimal career advancement also happen to be the sorts of people prone to taking a crap job after college.

Did you read the entire article? I understand what you are saying but that was not at issue here. The study was of entire class years that were unable to find work-in-field b/c of economic downturn. As a group they never recovered.

[Darius871]

I got that part of it, I just don't see how it supports the assertion that getting a temporary McJob is statistically risky on Elok's part.

[SlowwHand]

Actually, food service good be worse. There are worse things than eating.

[Nugog]

As an employer - someone with "some" work history is much more appealing than an ex-student with no work history...........

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Darius871
I got that part of it, I just don't see how it supports the assertion that getting a temporary McJob is statistically risky on Elok's part.

Then you missed the point, because it corrects for exactly the problem you noted.

[Dis]

I think (I have no evidence to back me up ) many people fail (so to speak) when they take lesser jobs because they lack motivation at that point, and settle. If you have the motivation to work your way up, I see no disavantage to taking a lesser job.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Dis
I think (I have no evidence to back me up ) many people fail (so to speak) when they take lesser jobs because they lack motivation at that point, and settle. If you have the motivation to work your way up, I see no disavantage to taking a lesser job.

Looks like someone else that didn't actually read what was posted.

I'm giving Elok no advice on this issue. I posted the study for info. Make what you want of it.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Elok
Lori: I've been looking for jobs in copyediting (on the rare occasions they don't demand 2-3 years copyediting experience, familiarity with style X, obscure program Y, etc.), publication, editing, general stuff like that. I've been applying mostly for government jobs...my dad is a former federal employee and skimmed usajobs.gov's series search list for good ones to try. Most of the ones I apply for there are "administrative officer" or "program analyst" or other such titles for miscellaneous office-work. The few replies I've gotten back from them so far have mostly been along the lines of "Sorry, you're qualified but not among the best qualified."

Start with menial data entry at a temp agency if you have to. You show up. They give you typing samples. You wow them.

Data entry isn't glamorous or interesting or exciting or really anything except easy money, but it's a job you can put on a resume. It's also a job that's not retail, which makes it easier to get other office jobs that involve "attention to detail" and the like.

[Sandman]

Do some volunteer work. It'll put that magic word on your CV: 'experience'.

[Elok]

Originally posted by DanS
Elok: Oh, OK. I thought you were in the DC area because you were looking in the WaPo for jobs.

I'm in the legal field.

I effectively am in the DC area; I'm just not going to move until I have something like employment prospects, lest I get stuck paying rent with a negative balance.

I have no HS work experience because I was an arrogant little twerp in HS and figured, despite all parental advice to the contrary, that employers would be lining up to hire me when they saw how smart I was. I had no need for spending money at the time, so I blew it off. Ooh boy, what a mistake that was...probably should have got an internship or something, I just wanted to concentrate on my studies. I'm getting the impression I'm not hireable now. Oy.

[Wezil]

You'll be fine.

[DanS]

What's "effectively in the DC area"?

[East Street Trader]

I am not sure I have any very clear cut advice. But you certainly must work very hard at this.

Devote a chunk of time every day to looking and aim to put in one or two applications every day.

Which means casting your net wide.

Apply for anything at all that you think you can do. Spend some time each day thinking about the fields you could try for. There is journalism for a start and advertising. And what about teaching?

Do not be picky.

Be willing to start at the very bottom. If you can't earn enough to pay the rent move into a bedsit.

As well as paid work see if you can find any chances to get work experience in a field you like. Look also for voluntary work.

Meanwhile tell everyone you know that you are looking for work and get your family and friends to do likewise.

You will have to work on keeping your energy level and confidence up.

I have a lot of sympathy for your situation because I was very lucky. When I was your age there was full employment and a great demand for graduates. So I did not have your experience.

But the world has moved on.

Be energetic and you'll get a break.