Youth and work...

[yossarian19]

I'm now working my fourth job.
Granted, I never expected to get financially rich. It has never been a goal of mine, in particular. That is why I studied what I studied in college - for fun, not profit.
Shouldn't a 24 year old college graduate, who is willing to work, be able to find better options than four part time jobs? Car payments...
How old are you all, how many jobs have you got / what are you doing? Curious...

 

[4LowandGo]

I'm 25 and a college graduate (Biology Major). I work for the state and I love my job. I was 24 when I got the job. I worked full time as an environmental consultant for over a year after college before I switched over to the state.

A big misconseption for college grads (this doesn't necessarily mean you or anything) is that there will be a job for them after school. I found one, but it was very hard and required lots of searching and resume building. I also did an internship to put me a little ahead of other applicants fresh out of school.

 

[riverfever]

I think it depends on what you studied in college too. I wanted to pursue a biology degree but I had a friend that encouraged me to not do it (due to difficulty finding jobs). I studied education and special education in particular. I graduated 10 years ago and could pick where I wanted to work then and still can now. No one wants to work with special needs learners and male sped teachers are even more rare. I'm not going to get rich and there's plenty of political/governmental BS that irritates the snot outta me but I do enjoy my summers off.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

28 here, and only working 1 job.....don't want any more than that....

I work so that I can enjoy my life outside of work.

But I do know the job market isn't the greatest in Moab to begin with...which is why I moved 70 miles to the Northeast of there

 

[XJ Stryker]

Gradiated high shcool then joind the militry for a college shcolership and did not never go. I work for the govenment know and like it lots. da pay is good to.

 

[Mudderoy]

The sad fact is if you are young companies know they don't have to pay you very much. If you don't like it someone will be available next grad year.

Basically you have to suffer though until you're closer to 30. Sucks....

 

[mcraindog]

man 4 part time jobs...that has to suck ass...im 20 and screwed around at school. (enjoyed the social part more than the work part) wasted a good bit of my parents money and also mine. at the moment i'm working for caterpillar. plan on doing this for a while and saving up some money and then maybe going to school to learn welding.

 

[Onetype]

I dropped out of highschool my senior year, got my GED and by that point I had already been working since I was 16. I am now 23, im a GM for a pretty big restaurant chain.

 

[beakie]

2 years in college, 2 very dif paths (1yr law, 1 yr compture science)
quit both and joined military year later... out this July and looking for work again, nuke plant security would be perfect.
I am all about having a job I can atleast tolerate so I can enjoy my life outside work. My wife absolutely loves her job (vet tech) but gets paid very little to do it... so I have to bring home the bacon, which will prove difficult if I can't find a job soon.
You either gotta do what you love, and be happy with what it pays, whether high or low. Or you get a job you can tolerate that pays well so you can enjoy life outside of work. If you can find work you love and good pay even better still.
I would much rather find a job I can put my time in, and OT when I want to, as long as it pays well so I can enjoy my life outside of work. Seeing my wife work like a SOB, but not get paid well to do it bothers me, but she gets up everyday looking forward to going to work... to me thats crazy.

 

[Ramsey]

Gradiated high shcool then joind the militry for a college shcolership and did not never go. I work for the govenment know and like it lots. da pay is good to.

Man I hope thats a joke.

 

[yossarian19]

man 4 part time jobs...that has to suck ass... .

A little bit. Two of them don't demand much time at all - unfortunately, they are the two writing jobs that I wish were full-time.

Coffee shop, paid under the table. 3.5 hours = 43 in cash today.
1950s style burger joint, healthy tips + reliable paycheck (small though)
City newspaper = I'm brand new, so not enough work to keep me busy / rolling in money
Tech blog based in San Francisco = very part time, but pays well.

Yeah, I'm working on the career track I love and want to do... but it isn't paying the bills yet. Maybe next year.

 

[XJ Stryker]

Man I hope thats a joke.

I be born in shreeport, la. smal werld. why you think it joke! :tears:



I did join the military to go to college then re-enlisted. Then got out. Now I am a contractor for the government with General Dynamics Land Systems. I was born in Shreveport though. Willis Knighten hospital... Love the casino they have there with the million dollar wall that is awesome

 

[JNickel101]

Joined the Air Force 3 weeks after graduating high school...had a 3.85 GPA, was sick and tired of school.

11 years later, here I am 9 years and I can "retire" and most likely do the same thing on a civilian contract, or get a GS job and make lots more money....

 

[Shorty]

Shouldn't a 24 year old college graduate, who is willing to work, be able to find better options than four part time jobs?

yes, if the degree sets you apart from everyone else OR you set yourself apart with actions. Just about every business has full time employment available for the right person, but the additional training, taxes, and benefits makes most of them gunshy about hiring an unproven worker to full time status. Pick something you enjoy doing, research the advancement potential, and accept part time employment in that field. Once you're in the door, you have every opportunity to impress the right people with your actions and earn the promotion over the lazy or unmotivated "I'm just here for the paycheck" crowd.

it worked for me, anywho.....

 

[Ramsey]

I be born in shreeport, la. smal werld. why you think it joke! :tears:



I did join the military to go to college then re-enlisted. Then got out. Now I am a contractor for the government with General Dynamics Land Systems. I was born in Shreveport though. Willis Knighten hospital... Love the casino they have there with the million dollar wall that is awesome

Well that sucks, at least you got out to...kentucky :dunno:

 

[Mudderoy]

I got sick of college, decided I wanted to work and go to college. My parents warned me I wouldn't do both and I should stay in college.

I stopped going to college and took a job working with computers. Worked my way up, got dumped by the company. I was out of work for 9 months before I got a low paying Computer Operator job.

I worked hard there for 16 years. Promotion after promotion, eventually I was Director of Systems and Networking. 4000+ users and 5 different operating systems. I had 20 people on the team in 4 different geographical locations.

They instituted a bonus program so that last year, with bonuses, I stood to make a little over $100k.

The month of my review, which I had 15 prior excellent reviews, they decided they didn't want me in the position any longer. They wanted me there because I was so important, but if I wanted to leave they had a package for me. nudge nudge.

I left the company.

Now I work in a job that requires about 40% of my skills, and get paid about half what I did.

The nice thing is I'm not in such a high pressure job. My wife says I'm a much nicer person. I get to spend more time with my family.

Based on what I have learned I am urging my two adult boys to focus on a 2 year degree, then get their 4 year. That 2 year degree will open doors for them that will allow them to make better money so if they lose focus on school, start a family accidentally etc...

 

[poorboy_616]

I am 29 and on my 6th job......

Auto industry calls me back every time....

Don't ask about the history, some of them are sore points....

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

20, working two part time jobs as well as a full time engineering student at college.....which is a job in itself. Basically no time for a real life or fun....but I guess if I stay at it, eventually I'll have a life again.

 

[Pologuy1441]

21 yrs old & loving it. wildland firefighter for the summer & full time student during the fall/spring semesters.

 

[karstic]

A word of advice, don't be afraid to do the dirty work. When I graduated from college I started at a small company (less than 10 employess) and did everything from sweeping the floor to cleaning the toilets to drilling to lab work to writing reports. Just remember it ALL pays the same. That company gave me experience and contacts that let me move up.

Be flexible. With the slow down in housing construction at my current employer I've had to fill various positions vacated by others, some no way related to my degree but they all pay the bills.