Job Search Gripes

Post Reply New Topic

For those of you who don't know too much about me, I'm 21 years of age, graduated college about 4 months ago. I stay at home and pay rent to my parents while I search for a job.

My mom suggests that I should work retail for the next few months? "Work Retail, Greg," She says. "It will help keep your savings from drying up."

"But I wouldn't like retail."

"Not even at the Apple store? All they do is sit around with their credit card checker-thing and help people. You wouldn't like that?"

NO! I would not! I'm 21 years of age, someone who wants a career, not working a 9-5 retail job, only to come back home completely exhausted and not willing to search for a job at night. Night time is my time. I want to have some time to myself, and I'm sorry, but I'm not going to take up 24/7 of my time to work on jobs. I need downtime. Currently, I work 2-5 (stopping for breakfast and lunch) looking for jobs. For me, that is an awful lot of time looking for a job. You can only stare at the computer screen mindless for so long, and get so many denial letters in the mail before you completely burn out, which is where I am right now.

"Do retail, Greg!"

Do you realize that that is one of THE single most discouraging things my mom says to me? She suggests I do something that A) I wouldn't be good at, what with the difficult people and all, and B) something that isn't really worth my time right now because I do need to devote several hours to my actual CAREER search that I have.

"Do Retail, Greg!"

No, I do not want to do da*n retail! I want to move out, get an apartment of my own, os the rest of the family, including myself, will be happy! Why is that? I cause/instigate without realizing sometimes/exaggerate problems to no end. 100% of the problems in my family come to me. It somehow is my fault that I don't like loud noises and that I can't ask my brother nicely to turn down the TV because he's eating chips, and from where my mom stands, it's not loud at all, even though I can hear it in the other room. Granted, it IS my fault that I melted down because he wouldn't turn the TV down. It's my fault that I get unhappy when my brother orders me around like he's my coach. I don't even play the sport (Badminton), am not coordinated enough, but somehow this gives him permission to imitate my clumsy style of running in front of everyone (not to make fun of, but still), and scream at me everytime I forget to play the front or back of the court. And then...it's also my fault somehow that if I see my mom looking like she is looking for something, it's somehow my fault and demands a response of a yelling/scolding/loud voice/whatever (remember, I don't like loud noises) when I ask if she needs help. OH! And it's also my fault for making my brother feel bad when I tell him that the music he's playing sounds good, even though HE knows it's not. To me, it sounds awesome. But apparently, I can't say anything to him anymore. I really HATE this place for the above (and below).

"Do Retail, Greg!"

No I don't want to! I want a career, dammit. And suddenly, when I tell my brother this, it requires him to laugh at me. But yet somehow, it is my fault. If I move out mom, the three of you (and me, by myself in my apartment with no roomy) will be SOOO much happier. You won't have to deal with me any more. Don't worry, I won't write.

"Do Retail, Greg!"

What, and get effectively STUCK here? This place is not pleasant for me, and nor is it for most everyone else in the family. And yet somehow, you WANT me to be stuck here? If I do retail, I am telling you, I will not have the energy to look for a job AND work a retail job. I don't care what time of day it is. Seeing a lot of people in the same room at the same time weirds me out and makes me want to flee!

"Do Retail, Greg!"

No, if anything I'll work for temporary work. In the city. so I can commute. So I don't have to deal with you guys 24/7. So you guys will be happier until I come home. I will leave a 7, go to work until 5, take the train home, so that makes it about 7:30. Plenty of time or down time, and plenty of time away from you guys.

"Do Retail, Greg!"

Sorry, mom, I just won't!

Sorry but on this I will agree with your mother.

You need to work so your finances do not suffer. Yes, you graduated from college and thats great. What do you expect now? A call from a big corporation begging to hire you?

It doesn't work that way.


Get a job. Any job. Work it while you apply and find the job you studied for. If all goes well it might even be the career you studied for.

What won't work is sitting around the house doing nothing while you wait to land a job.

Oh.. and this 'applying' for jobs on the computer? Doesn't work very well. Just like you, there are thousands of people sending in applications like it was cheap junk mail. I've been on the hiring end of a company and had to sort through those web-applications. I can tell you the vast majority of them are never even opened or seen.

Why? Because it is the person that saw the web job posting, found the company's phone number or physical address and contacted them in person and submitted the application in person that gets the job.

Maybe retail is not exactly for you but there may be many other 'menial' jobs that are. These jobs will not only give you money but will also give you experience which you sorely lack.

Not experience in your field but experience in the working environment. Experience in how to handle the office dramas, the utter stupidity of many rules and procedures (enacted by higher ups that have lost all touch with reality) and most importantly, how to keep your job by covering your behind with a written paper trail so that if and when something BIG screws up, your supervisors or managers wont dump the blame on you to save their jobs.

If you find your dream career job and enter into it without the above experience, chances are you will not keep that job for long. Being good at what you learned in school is not the same as being good at keeping your job and rising up the ranks.

Umm...i send out resumes, I don't apply online, and then I follow up the following week with a phone call.

But my whole point is...retail doesn't help me move out and make my family a better place to live in

Apply in person. It works better than a phone call.

Times are not exactly good to find a job so for the time being try your best to find a job you can tolerate (sensory issues and the likes), learn what you can from it and keep looking for 'your' job.

If it helps any, i'm in the same position sort of. The company I worked for went under and I had to get a job I really didnt want to get into and that really stresses me out: Sales.

I know I wont be keeping that job for long but heck, it'll pay the bills for a few months while I seek another one.

Sales like retail sales, or sales like commision-based sales career-type thing? I couldn't do the latter >.<, but the former I might be able to do.

The best thing to say when applying for work, I have a job, but I want something better.

The cost of hiring and training is high, we are looking for workers, those who stay employed, and who will be worth investing in.

School helps, but it is not real world.

Can you maybe find a part-time retail job, if that's what's hiring in your area? That'll leave you some time for job hunting and slow the burnout process while still giving you some income.

I imagine the temp job market around here is pretty full with all the local layoffs, but maybe it's better where you live. Your mom mentioned the Apple store, is your degree in computers? Maybe professionals have it different - I was working in basic data entry the last time I temped and jobs were fairly scarce, although once you prove you're a good employee you get a bit more calls.

I think temping is a good idea if there are jobs there - you don't stay long enough for the bullies to pay attention to you, and you don't really have to socialize that much. The permanent employees pretty much ignore you after the first day. I enjoyed it. You should find several temp agencies to sign up with so you increase your chances of being employed. (Sorry if that's advice from Captain Obvious, but that's just how I am )

Briefly, my best advice is to take the job you can get, while you continue to look for the job you want. By keeping to this philosophy, I have managed to have two jobs that I loved, that were "not the job I wanted" at the time.

At worst, you continue to make money to support your job search.

At best, you gain confidence that you can succeed in less than perfect conditions & might even find that it's possible to enjoy doing something that isn't the thing you enjoy most.

I'd better stop before I start quoting lyrics from "You Can't Always Get What You Want."