ATTENTION: 20 somethings, if you are college educated and enjoy your current job more than having your mother do your laundry or happy hours, raise your hand.
I'm going to assume that those of you with your hand raise (you can put them down now) are few and far between. BUT if you did have your hand raised, I congratulate you... well more like envy you. Lucky biotches.
I came out of college waving my degree in the air and tooting my horn loudly for all to hear. I expected all employers to flock to 'us' like pigeons to bread crumbs. The crumbs I threw must have been stale or perhaps had an unsavory flavor. I went on many job interviews and was a little shocked at what employers offered, and also what they asked of me. I found that my degree did not equal experience (no matter how long it took me to complete it). To be honest, hearing that my education wasn't valid, in an interview, insulted me and my degree. Then, after belittling my education, the employer would offer me a salary that, although above minimum wage, I could not live off of while paying student loans and car payments. Who were these people who worked there now? Turns out they were all either post-grads who still lived with their parents or women who were married with grown children and just wanted an extra income. I did not fall into either of those categories.
Sweet, now what?
I have found that during this economy, a lot of post-grads choose their first full-time jobs based on a few specifics. First of those is salary. It's all about the Benjamins baby! If Diddy remade that song now, it would be titled 'All About the Jacksons'. We finally have independence, a.k.a., we finally have our own bills to pay on top of our student loans. Oh and that car mom & dad gave us for our 16th birthday/graduation/handed down, is on its last few miles. Second are benefits. Now that could either mean health benefits, or fringe benefits. These days a lot of companies offer discounts at fitness centers, and on cell phone plans which are something we look for as perks. Another big bonus is the offer of tuition assistance, which is a perk for us and the employer. Lastly, the final major reason for choosing our first grown-up job is its location. Maybe you want to move from a small town to a big city (like me), or somewhere warmer, or closer to a friend/relative/significant other? Perhaps you chose that job because it is close to home for you?
With that being said, notice that none of those top three reasons included 'because it's what I've always wanted to do' or 'this is what I have been working towards all those years in college'. I don't know about you guys, but that's what I expected to say of my first job. I hadn't thought how unrealistic my expectations were. This realization blindsided me when I read an article on Huffington Post by Christine Hassler. The article was titled "Are 20 Somethings Naively Optimistic About Their Careers?" Clearly, I figured that it was written specifically for me. To give a quick synopsis, Hassler recalls her own experiences of being unsatisfied with jobs she thought would be her career, and gives us angry 20 somethings a wake up call that your first jobs won't be your dream job. She reminded me that we will have to pay our dues, and that could mean starting at the bottom, or working entry level jobs to gain experience.
Here is a little tidbit of informatin about me, I am probably the most impatient person on earth. When I know what I want, I have to have it now! That makes this whole 'paying my dues', and 'gaining experience' thing is killing me... softly. For me, I don't know what my dream job will be, and the fact that I might have to wait 10 years to find out, well that just isn't cool. Nevertheless, I am gritting my teeth and doing the best that I can at whatever job I currently hold.
So my advice to those of you who did not raise your hand, make yourself comfortable, but be ready for what comes next. Constantly challenge yourself in your current job, even the smallest victory can make you feel better. In the meantime, I have kept myself entertained by holding a volunteer position within my sorority. This position allows me to stay close to something that I enjoyed being a part of as a collegiate. I also signed up for an improv class. I'm sure you'll be reading something about that. Fill your downtime with activities, and people that you enjoy. Like my blog! It allows me vent, and doubles as an effortless hobby. P.S. It's free.
Keep your heads up 20 somethings, our time will come.
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