You’re educated, why not get a better job?

Viewing 8 posts - 16 through 23 (of 23 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #47178

    Cheryl
    Member

    Some people don’t get a better job because they are seeking less responsibility. I had a job for awhile that really took a lot out of me. When I got burnt out, I went back to school and got a part-time job at a bank. I quickly discovered that I was loving the lack of responsibility. I didn’t have any reason to stress about my job whatsoever, and there were no office politics to deal with. Some people go to college and then discover they are much happier without all the stress that comes with a higher-paying job. And sometimes these people feel it’s less important to make a lot of money than to be happier. Personally, I got sick of the lack of responsibility after about a year, but other people aren’t as driven as me.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Cheryl, Gender : F, Age : 31, City : Woodstock, State : VA, Country : United States, 
    #31133

    PW30319
    Member

    I have a PhD in molecular biology. I recently spent 8 months unemployed, looking for ANY job at all by the end of that time. Exactly what job should I have been doing? Having a degree (or two) doesn’t mean I no longer need to eat or pay the rent.

    User Detail :  

    Name : PW30319, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 33, City : Sydney, State : NA, Country : Australia, Occupation : I.T., Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 
    #27846

    Emily25374
    Member

    Sometimes you get all the way through school, up until the last semester of your last year, and realize that you only picked your major because of what your parents said, what you thought when you were 18, etc. Plus, there are a lot of cases where what you decide you want to do when you are 18-20 or so is not what you want to do once you get older. Or there’s burnout, or there are some jobs that a person with master’s degrees can get that end up taking more of your time than you want to give (I have a psychology degree but recently took a job as a seamstress – I got my psych degree because I used to think I could never make money or get respect doing what I really love.)

    User Detail :  

    Name : Emily25374, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Methodist, Age : 24, City : Memphis, State : TN, Country : United States, Occupation : Seamstress, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 
    #27321

    Tony24170
    Member

    It could be that the guy in the cubicle next to you couldn’t find a job in his field and, while he’s working there, he’s also looking (no matter what your education level, you still need to pay the rent). Unfortunately, a degree does not guarantee a dream job right at the get-go, and some people who don’t have the connections or even the luck need to take a job they may be overqualified for because they have to live.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Tony24170, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Orthodox Christian, Age : 27, City : Washington, State : DC, Country : United States, Occupation : Analyst, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 
    #24873

    Mira S.
    Member

    This is written as if I had a choice in the matter. I’m an administrative assistant. Way overqualified. I can’t stand when people ask me this question. Yes I’m here until something better comes through. It’s better than sitting at home watching the bills pile up. It’s probably just a matter of time before the guy in the next cubicle gets something better. Or maybe he’s working on a novel. You never know what a person may be doing in their off hours.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Mira S., Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 31, City : Toronto, State : NA, Country : Canada, Occupation : artist/yoga tecaher, Education level : 4 Years of College, 
    #36419

    Teresa24694
    Member

    Many people have already responded with various reasons why someone like your coworker would take a job he is ‘overqualified’ for. The best I can do is speak from my own experience. I’m still in college majoring in Spanish and Law Enforcement. When I leave school I want to be a police officer, and nothing else. Some people assume that by going to college and getting degrees that I want to have a more rigorous job, like a detective or FBI agent. Yes, these are paths I could take once I finish school, but those are not what I want right now. Most police departments do not require more than an associates degree, or even a high school diploma, to be a police officer so I don’t blame others for wondering why I’m spending four years at a university if that is my intention. I want as much preparation and qualification as I can get, and I know I can do this, so why not? My belief is that it’s better to have too much than not enough. Plus the fact that you attended college, to some employers, proves that you can deal with different types of people and that you are able to learn beyond what is necessary.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Teresa24694, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 19, City : Macomb, State : IL, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class, 
    #13988

    Melody
    Member

    I have a four-year degree in education. I taught for a couple of years, then married and moved to another part of the state, where I was never successful in finding a teaching position. Eventually I caught on that I would need to find something else to do if I wanted to earn a living–so I am now a secretary. I learned that not only do I love what I do now, but I’m much, much better at this than I was at teaching! The pursuit of an education is never a waste of time; I don’t regret for one minute earning that degree, and I am amused by people who think I’m ‘wasting’ it. On the contrary, I do apply many of the principles I learned in college to my current job, and to helping my children with their school work. Some people earn a degree simply for the love of learning, which is something to be admired and not scorned.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Melody, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 40, City : Kansas City, State : MO, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, 
    #28369

    Jenny
    Member

    Sometimes a job finds us. It may not be what we studied in college, but it feels right and we are able to derive personal satisfaction from it. Success isn’t always measured in the size of a paycheck, but in a job well done. Some people walk away from the field they thought they wanted to work in in order to do something that has value to them in other ways. Perhaps it’s less stressful, leaves more time for family, or the work is important because it is community oriented and helps other people.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Jenny, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 44, City : Red Creek, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : Library Director, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class, 
Viewing 8 posts - 16 through 23 (of 23 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.