Need Some Cheddar
I’m about to graduate from college, which yay…I guess.
Tomorrow, I will begin sending out resumes and looking for work. I’m terribly nervous and pretty scurred, because I have a drawer, I mean apartment, to pay for and a cat to support. Financial security in this city is never guaranteed, and I suppose that’s thrilling for some, but for me? I’d sooner donate a testicle if I could just to avoid all this stress.
To top it off, everyone I know has work lined up already or are already going on interviews. And, while they have been proactively looking for work, I have been studying the job market. This is what I have discovered:
There are two types of jobs in New York (and probably anywhere, but the dissonance is more obvious here). Type 1: the job for which everyone is qualified, and so EVERYONE applies for it. Type 2: the job for which no one is qualified, making it constantly available, which haunts anyone looking for work because there’s ALWAYS an ad for it. Always.
If anyone has any advice or connections, I would be forever grateful (so would my cat). At this point, I’ll take just about anything that will start me at a minimum annual salary of $30k. I have experience in healthcare, research, web design, media, clerical work, performance and fine art, and publishing. But, like, not years and years of experience, which is what ultimately kills me. I’ve made sure to apply for positions in all of those areas, so maybe something will click. Maybe.
Isn’t New York supposed provide opportunities for people? With college degrees? And high grades? And decent resumes? And charm? CHARM!
I should have majored in business. The fuckers who did have jobs already. Assholes.
I’ll forward your resume to my HR dept if you want man. Also, typically with entry level positions (i.e. assistant _____ ) they are looking for a personality/persona that will best compliment existing personnel – they do not expect you to know how to do the job straight outta college.
I work for a very small firm, so I can’t necessarily help you out with connections, but e-mail me your resume and I’d be happy to proof/edit/make it look more professional. (I ran the GM pension fund’s internship program for two years, hired my replacement at my last job, and have done a ton of student mentoring, so I’ve seen my share of resumes.) Also, include a short description of what you’d ideally like to be doing. (Even if its not a real job that exists as you know it… just give me a sense of where you want to go, not what you can get.)
THANKS, guys!
if you get really desparate, pretty much no matter what your degree is you can get a job as a teacher in inner city public schools. they kind of expect people to be completely temporary so there’s no binding long contract or anything. my brother did it, and if you end up being interested i can probably get you a phone number. it’s a decent salary (between 25 and 30)
sadly, it seems a college degree outside of business qualifies you to continue working in a restaurant or retail. or you could always go straight to grad school to prolong being underpaid for what you do.