Dear WorkMinded,

I just don't get it...I worked my butt off to get a degree and now there are no jobs for new college grads.  It's not fair that the economy is so bad right when I graduate.  What is the point of even trying to get a job? I think I may as well relax and wait for the economy to improve and more opportunities to open up.   For now, I am pretty comfortable at my parent's house and they are very sympathetic to my problem. What is your opinion on the best move for a new grad - wait for a better market?

Down and Out Grad in Phoenix

 

 

 

Hi Down and Out...

First of all...congratulations on graduating ...that is a huge milestone!  Savor your accomplishment.  This is the first part of your ticket to future career success and earning a good income.  

 

Your question reminded me of a program called STRIVE/Second Chance.  This amazing program provides training for former felons/drug offenders/homeless / chronically unemployed, etc. to help them reenter the job market. 

 

I have been a guest speaker for the participants in the program a number of times.  When you walk into their meeting room, painted across the wall in HUGE letters is this quote:

 

"Life Ain't Fair

It Ain't Never Gonna be Fair

Eat It

Swallow It

Accept It"

 

It is time for you to accept that there is no Santa Claus and living off your parents indefinitely is not an effective way to build your life.  There is no free ride...when you can't get the job you want, you get two or three or four part-time jobs and you suck it up until a better position opens up in your area of study. 

 

I know you're gonna hate this, but when I graduated, the economy was bad too.  Two friends and I rented a dumpy apartment, made furniture out of discarded construction materials and with sheer determination, we were able to survive in the Washington DC area for several years cobbling together part-time jobs.

 

I was looking for a teaching job and finally landed a half time position 58 miles from home.  I got up at 4:30 AM to be there before 7AM.  I finished up there at 11 AM and got back in the car to drive 64 miles back in the direction of home to my second job. That job was at a mall selling shoes (YUCK!) from 12:30 - 4:30 PM.  Next, I went on to my waitress job from 5-11PM five nites a week and pulled regular shifts on weekends. 

 

Does this show that I am oh so wonderful?  Nope, 'fraid not. Just normal.  And no, I am not gonna tell you I had to walk five miles to school through the snow with rags on my feet 'cuz I didn't have any shoes. 

 

My point is...once you graduate, you are grown up.  Swallow It, Accept It and get on with it.  Take your drama back to Mamma.  Get five part time jobs if you have to. Work in a restaurant washing dishes, work at a hotel cleaning rooms, work at a car wash, grocery store ...whatever. 

 

Not only did my roommates and I survive those tight years, we had a blast.  It is all about the will to succeed and make it on your own.  Not expecting Mommy and Daddy to keep supporting you the rest of your life is your first step toward making it as an adult.  And it is a huge gift to your parents too!

 

You will look back on these times and realize how much fun it was.  You will have the best stories ever for years to come.  Quit complaining, making excuses and moaning about how life isn't fair.  There is no future in that.  Start taking action and you will find that things fall together...employers can sense your desire to work hard and contribute.  Success is MUCH more fun than complaining. 

 

You are right, Down and Out...Life isn't fair...and it is still GREAT!!! 

Hello Readers...

I can't help but get excited about welcoming July! Why?  It means a new month, a chance for a fresh start - a time to alter something....any little thang... that isn't quite working. 

 I know you have probably heard the saying: "One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." (Than-Kew Albert Einstein or Ben Franklin or whoever you believe said it first.)

 I totally buy into this concept as I have seen myself fall into the same traps others may have fallen into.  For example, I am a serial "early adopter".  Meaning, if I see something shiny...something new...I gravitate toward it like a heat seeking missile to check it out.  Much of the time, it is a total waste of energy...but other times it turns into something great. This means in the big picture of things, I am guilty of spinning my wheels sometimes...and could be more efficient by doing a more thorough risk assessment before I jump into something.  

That said...with July we welcome have lots of positives from my humble perspective:

-End of second quarter - which also means end of fiscal year for many organizations.  This equals new budgets available for hiring and projects.

-A slight dip in the unemployment numbers announced today, July 2.

-More HR/Recruiting positions showing up on the screen means companies gearing up for hiring.

-Kids out of school which means less traffic on the roads -don't miss all those mini-vans and busses!

Add your own positives to the list...it's easy to be negative...challenge yourself to see some positives in July...and declare INDEPENDENCE from something holding you back!