Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Work with a degree
College graduates still working at their jobs in retail and as restaurant servers and bartenders; Loss of jobs, millions of qualified people out of work heading to homelessness, Wall Street Protests. Are you willing to work long and hard to gain a college degree in order to continue working at your college job that has no future in it?
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I do also want to point out that some or most aren't waiting to e Managers they just work there as an actual job for money...
ReplyDelete(From an anonymous account I posted from)As far as Occupy, I cant say much since I don't keep up with it or anything political for that matter. But the fact that college graduates are working at restaurants is scary. I plan on going to graduate school after I graduate in May, so the thought of my degree being useless is terrible. So much time and MONEY being put into an education for nothing is wrong. But I personally, plan to pursue my dreams until something happens. I'm pretty much willing to do anything to make sure my degree is used. I can't go out like no punk. Lol.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is sad that there are people who work hard to receive certification/degrees and end up working in positions that have nothing to do with their skills attained. This however is a big problem in today's society especially with the economy. It's also an issue with the people attaining the degrees. When you choose your degree, realize how many people are also going for the same degree. Is it a field that is growing/stagnant/declining? Will it be around ten years from now, etc.? Things like that factor in a lot. Also, is the area I'm in a good place to stay after I graduate in accordance to the field I am wanting to enter. If you are in a dead zone and are not willing to relocate to a live area, then you should take that into consideration also. If a person really needs a job to get by, then by all means try very hard to find a job that suits what you are looking for and your skills. If this does not happen, take the job offered if you are in desperate need and continue to look for a better job. Sometimes looking outside of your comfortable 50 mile radius is the best bet. Moving opens up many opportunities for a persons career as well as for their life. So, it's really a matter of the person, not the place. Because no one is telling them they have to work in a restaurant. Bills do exist, but so do other job alternatives. Also, most people settle and do not look for a job as hard they make it seem.
ReplyDeleteTrue, you're right. My dad had the family move around for some time for his job as an engineer (to point out it was the moving and traveling that made it really fun) and he got a great experience out of. Unfortunately not everyone of his jobs paid for the move so he paid out of pocket sometimes. I wonder if many people are in this situation? There are a lot of jobs out there I'm pretty sure but they are out of our comfort zone. Not to go completely out of topic but there were times when we had to worry if the area had a problem with certain people (basically racist towns) and we had to look out just in case there was. You never know so sometimes it was good to look it up. And in the case of the moving situation without pay, some people may not be able to pay the travel fees. And that is one of the reasons why they get the job, to have money. But when there is no money in the bank to make the money to send you to the job to make that money, then the chance of you going to the job is low... But then the other factor of jobs not allowing you to get there. All my four to some years of college going to school from Monday to Friday and not having any time during those days to work pushing all that time to the weekend. When I looked or jobs I told them the truth, that I wasn't available during the week and it led me to only restaurant jobs that had the ability to hire me because my lack of time. Now on the weekend while everyone was coming in little by little only for one shift I would make up for my lack of time by working all day those Friday nights to Sunday night by working all day. And my previous Applebee's employees can attest to this by seeing me from 11 am to 2 am again the next day. Like that I had the experience to continue work in the restaurant but finally after getting so close to graduation, I tried to apply to retail jobs or other jobs because my availability became more open and they never called me. I called them all about my application but never heard anything and they had signs that they were hiring when I went to the stores to apply. I have no experience other than restaurant thanks to my school and since I'm about to graduate that's my only high point plus three months in medical which almost doesn't mean much since I haven't been there in years. Employers always look for experience and never want to give that experience. Have you ever had a similar story. It pisses me off when they say 'experience needed' because they are my experience and they have me doing the run around and when they need somebody I'm some where else because of it. Employers need to be more open. The jobs could even pay for some training on the job while developing my experience and don't have to pay me in full to do it. Even some money is better than nothing...
ReplyDelete(From anonymous account elsewhere:) I agree with the comment above. It's sad to see that people who work so hard to earn a degree end up not benefiting as much from what they worked for. Not that there is anything wrong with restaurants, but if you have a degree, it would make more sense to work for what you have earned. I mean, it is difficult to do so though with how the economy is now and how the jobs prospects are at right now. I know of several students who work at restaurants because they have to pay for their loans. In fact, one of my professors told me thats what she had to do for a while. She couldn't find a job with her field so she immediately had to go and work at walmart (even with a masters degree) to pay off her loans. I do somewhat believe that it is unfair for people who have college degrees to have to end up working at places like that or restaurants. But, the reality is, nowadays that is how our society is, much of the times it is necessary. Now, hopefully this doesn't mean that they will keep that job forever. If you have a degree, I'd say do your best to go out and search. Many of the universities have workshops or service centers where they help people look for a job dealing with your degree. I also understand that many people have families or dues that they need to take care of (such as loans like I stated before), and it is a MUST to find a job ASAP even when it has nothing to do with their major. But I do believe that at some point it is important to go out there and look. I haven't graduated yet so I am not aware of how difficult it is. But, I have worked in restaurants way too long to have the idea that I will still be in the same position as I was when I was in high school and I will be sure that I will be looking for something better even if I do end up at a restaurant for a little. Although employment isn't as high as it used to be, there are jobs out there. I think it is a matter on how hard you work for it.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that this is our reality. I'm currently a junior at the University of Houston pursuing a degree in Art... ya, I'm pretty much screwed when I graduate but so is everyone else. This discussion reminded me of a segment I watched a few weeks ago, check it out...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hulu.com/watch/91604/vanguard-maxed-out
Poem: "The world seems to be going down. We have no other place to go right now.
ReplyDeleteHelp is all we need. Money, money is what we use to feed.
Easy? No it’s hard, working all your life when you once thought it was smart.
Economy, Mr. & Ms are you even still there? We need you alive we want to give care.
Care like a nurse cause this type of truth hits your mentality first.
On and on since I was born. School and more school like an endless crop of corn.
No one is eating. No one believes. Everyone lives their lives like a future we still see.
On TV, in the newspapers see that the Vanguard has been Maxed Out.
Motivation is hit hard, what will you start thinking about?
You, me, us is this to get our stretch on who can be trusted?
Onto the minds of the public.
Unlimited thoughts reigning above but can it (thoughts) really be trusted?
Real life doesn’t even feel like real life.
Easy to feel like this is another dream seeming so real like.
College degrees worth less than the paper they’re put on?
One by one we reach the same goal on the road we’ve been put on.
No one and everyone told us what to do.
On the fact lawyers & doctors have more money than what they know what to do.
Money is needed to make more money.
You go to the school in the dark thinking it was sunny.
Island of hope breaking apart from our society.
Star that glows, what is our propriety (true nature)?
Falling to our feet who can we look to?
All the people that we know, what can they do?
Love from the home they depend on their parents.
Lost from a lonely life that became apparent.
In the wake of finally being on our own.
No matter where that is we come to find home.
Growing in a world that just seems to have time stopped.
It’s (time) initial ticking have been arrested by an undercover cop.
Stop - just - slow - down. So - fast – we just gotta think now.
On our hearts. On our mind.
Unless we give up we still have the time.
Research what you need in order to get the job you dream.
Further looking into your life in the future.
Unveil your dream the future shows no big losers.
To the future’s finish line we all want to go.
Underneath the words in your resumes specific knowledge.
Realize there is a door to even more possibilities.
Enter it all for one and one for the best of the world’s opportunity.
? Do you believe?"
I love that show you linked. I never knew of its existence but very good information and ways to look at things. You'll be surprised on what you can get with your degree...
I gotta wonder though, did you know that having a degree in art had no paths before you started it or during your studies? Do you think that a lot of people feel the same about their degrees and don't see anything but just having a piece of paper plastered on your wall to say we (I'm soon to be a BS in Psychology by the way) did something in our lives or we went to college?
ReplyDelete"they just work there" - Definition of work (in my own words) = not a career just a place to go to make money for a short period of time; not forever. May refer to a few months, years or less.
ReplyDelete"since I don't keep up with it or anything political for that matter" - Does politics really play that big of a deal in our society that we need to know about it in order to survive?
"time and MONEY" - wasted
"When you choose your degree" - Yes, what makes money that you can live off for the rest of your life with a family and yourself? But also what can you see yourself doing for your life as well?
"willing to relocate to a live area" - Are you willing and able to leave home?
"who work at restaurants because they have to pay for their loans"... "my professors told me thats what she had to do for a while"... "had to go and work at walmart (even with a masters degree)"..."I think it is a matter on how hard you work for it." - Money is money. Many don't have jobs yet should we be happy to live off the endless nothing of these type of jobs that we have worked so hard to get out of after college in order to support ourselves?
Poem edited:
ReplyDelete"The world seems to be going down. We have no other place to go right now." - Where do we go from here?
"Help is all we need." - But from where?
"Money, money is what we use to feed." - Money used to buy food.
"Easy? No it’s hard, working all your life when you once thought it was smart." - Working hard for nothing...
"Economy, Mr. & Ms are you even still there? We need you alive we want to give care." - The economy is personified.
ReplyDelete"Care like a nurse cause this type of truth hits your mentality first." - Hit to the head/ mind...
"On and on since I was born. School and more school like an endless crop of corn." - School never ends
"No one and everyone told us what to do." - Contradiction (yet should be understood)
"On the fact lawyers & doctors have more money than what they know what to do." - You know they make money (usually)
"Money is needed to make more money." - Need money to make money
"You go to the school in the dark thinking it was sunny." - Unseen obstacles...
"Unlimited thoughts reigning above but can it (thoughts) really be trusted?" Sleepless nights
"Real life doesn’t even feel like real life." - Like a nightmare...
"Lost from a lonely life that became apparent." Eyes open to reality/ realization...
ReplyDelete"Stop - just - slow - down. So - fast – we just gotta think now." - Literal, stop and think. Meditate.
"Underneath the words in your resumes specific knowledge." - Update resumes for real information and other possible necessary stuff... with possible connections...
"Enter it all for one and one for the best of the world’s opportunity." - Not for yourself but the one's soon to be in your shadow/ kids...
Can you believe in the world?
"It’s (time) initial ticking have been arrested by an undercover cop.
ReplyDeleteStop - just - slow - down. So - fast – we just gotta think now." - I apologize time didn't stop (But it feels like it did due to the time it takes to get to where we all want to be/ better jobs or careers)