Her Degree Hasn’t Helped Her Find a Career

I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but I am about to jump off of the Wildwood bridge! Not really, but I am definitely frustrated with my life. I think I speak for a lot of people my age, i.e. 30 somethings, when I say that it is almost impossible to survive in this community, unless you are from here and know everyone. I am a well-educated, smart, charismatic woman, and I feel like I’ve accomplished nothing, when I’ve accomplished a lot, including putting myself through school while working full-time. And if anyone thinks that is a small feat, they have never had to do it before.
I have had an undergraduate degree in communications for six years now, and I still haven’t found a career yet. Granted, a resort area is not the best place to find one, but there are people here with careers; there’s bound to be something around here. Right? Wrong, apparently, because I am now having to go back to school to pursue a completely different career, and I am very fearful that after another year and more student loans, I won’t find a job, because I don’t have a lot of local references. Business owners should really give everyone a chance, because otherwise, it is discrimination, and they may be missing out on hiring a great employee.
Whenever I work anywhere, even if it is McDonalds-where I have worked by the way-I am always dedicated to it. Let’s face it, the economy is still in shambles, and I am lucky to be working at all. But, there comes a point when you want more out of life than just a Big Mac. I do deserve a job that I have literally worked for after all. Going to school, working and actually graduating, is not only something to be proud of, but should make me a more desirable candidate for employers.
Otherwise, I might as well have not bothered with college at all. There are people with less education who have supervised me before. Frankly, it should be the other way around. But, somehow, it seems to matter more who you know than what you know. Now, I am not downplaying a high school education, but a higher education should be viewed that way, and inquiring employers should put a college graduate above someone with less education when selecting potential employees.
It seems that these days, a college education is not considered important, unless it is in the medical field, where it is required. And that is why I am now pursuing a career in a completely different field than I graduated with. Even though I am optimistic about it, I almost feel forced into it, since I can’t find anything in my major.
I wish I could say that it will help that I have an undergrad, but it doesn’t. And that is why I hope I am choosing a field that will further my professional life. I mean, I have got nothing against waitressing, but I am sick of it. I need to feel like those four years weren’t a waste of my time, and waiting tables doesn’t make me feel that way.
After all, it is usually college students that are doing it. And once you have graduated, you hope to move on from that. At least the Herald has given me an opportunity to get my foot in the door, which is more than I can say for most places. It’s like they want experienced, young, fresh people, and that is an oxymoron. If an employer wants to hire a “new breed” of employees, then they cannot expect years of experience, because that is impossible.
Even though we are younger, it doesn’t mean we don’t know anything; we do have degrees after all. We deserve a chance to prove ourselves, just like everyone else. Every application does say “equal opportunity employer,” right? Or is that just for minorities? We get discriminated against.
And I am not prejudiced whatsoever, but in my opinion, employers seem so afraid of not being Equal Opportunity Employer-compliant, that they only hire more minorities. And now, young Caucasians seem to be the new minority. Every application now has a section angled at identifying the applicant’s race. But, if they’re really EOE, then why does someone’s ethnicity matter
As another summer season approaches us, I will probably be waiting tables again, and then school will begin in September. So, hopefully I will be able to continue to update Herald readers in the future about my experience, because I know I appreciate this opportunity, as it is almost cathartic to vent about this. And I hope this helps others as well. Good luck to everyone!