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I lost my job last April, and the US job market still sucks in California. I read stories on reddit, facebook, etc about people with multiple degrees struggling to find slightly higher than minimum wage shitty office jobs that they will loathe just to survive. The aforementioned job I lost, was one of these crappy office gigs.
That being said, I'm 29 and while my resume has plenty of sales, artistic, computer, and customer service related skills they are not actual tangible, consistent, important, skills imho. What I mean, is that while they have a superficial use, they don't really have a real value as far as a career for me.
I am 100% committed to learning/training into something at this point. Preferably a skill that people always will need and can be powered into with dedication and work ethic to be proficient in within 1-2 years. I am even willing to work for free in exchange for this learning provided it eventually pays off or supplies me with that career.
I like to work with my hands, electronics, wood, metal, print, tradesman kinds of things have always been something I was interested in but never knew how to get into without nepotism.
Community/Junior College is a joke and a waste of my time, so please don't suggest that.
I have no money, no car, and barely getting by on EBT and some social support and random art sales.
At this point I am ready to drop any semblance of ego and taking some minimum wage shithole job (if I can even find one).
I was just looking into USCG and it is somewhat ambiguous on age requirements to enlist. I tried to join the airforce about 10 years ago and they said I had to get like 12 college credits or something (because I took the CHSPE early instead of graduating normally) before they would even consider me because I have screws in my ankle and a minor past record with the law. Neither of which are a problem at all, but I never bothered to follow through and just started working shit jobs instead.
Anyone have any advice for vocational school or something I can do? I am completely useless right now, and I would like to be a contributing member to society and hopefully make a decent living doing so.
PS- I am willing to relocate anywhere as I have nothing tying me down.
 
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I've heard working in plumbing is a good career in terms of pay for the amount of training needed. Not very romantic though, that's probably why the pay is good. But if you're looking for a skill people will always need, that's definitely one.
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I'm not exactly sure what your situation is... you mentioned needing 12 more credits since you took the CHSPE (not sure what this is..). Do you have a college degree?
If so, then go teach English in a foreign country. I came to Korea almost 2 years ago. I love my job, I get paid well, and everything is pretty much taken care of for you. You don't need a car, obviously, and whichever school picks you up will pay for your plane tickets and living accomodations. The only thing you'll need to front for is food for your first month and some paperwork costs at the beginning. Also, you will likely only be working about 30 hours a week, so you can make some good money to pick yourself up while still having plenty of free time to develop yourself in a more professionally oriented direction.
It's a HELL of a lot better than a "minimum wage shithole job".
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On January 12 2014 14:16 Fighter wrote:
I'm not exactly sure what your situation is... you mentioned needing 12 more credits since you took the CHSPE (not sure what this is..). Do you have a college degree?
If so, then go teach English in a foreign country. I came to Korea almost 2 years ago. I love my job, I get paid well, and everything is pretty much taken care of for you. You don't need a car, obviously, and whichever school picks you up will pay for your plane tickets and living accomodations. The only thing you'll need to front for is food for your first month and some paperwork costs at the beginning. Also, you will likely only be working about 30 hours a week, so you can make some good money to pick yourself up while still having plenty of free time to develop yourself in a more professionally oriented direction.
It's a HELL of a lot better than a "minimum wage shithole job".
No. It was some arbitrary requirement. http://www.google.com/search?q=CHSPE&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a It's like an exit exam but harder and I went into CC a year later (17) but dropped out.
I don't know korean. And I've always heard people talk shit on english teachers there. How do you get into that anyways?
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Netherlands6181 Posts
That is a good suggestion. I wanted to do that, but I could not on my current passport. You would do a TEFL course on their website www.tefl.com/ (I think that is the correct one) and I think you only really need to know the basics of hangul - greetings and shop names etc for you to be okay down there, which shouldn't be a problem if you are 100% invested.
Failing that, you should work in ESPORTS! + Show Spoiler +Sounds like Quantic need a new manager anyway.
sometimes a minimum wage, shitty job is what you need for that boost into working your way up though. Look into things that interest you and see what opportunities come with each one. Would you be able to teach with your new found knowledge? etc
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On January 12 2014 14:46 dravernor wrote:That is a good suggestion. I wanted to do that, but I could not on my current passport. You would do a TEFL course on their website www.tefl.com/ (I think that is the correct one) and I think you only really need to know the basics of hangul - greetings and shop names etc for you to be okay down there, which shouldn't be a problem if you are 100% invested. Failing that, you should work in ESPORTS! + Show Spoiler +Sounds like Quantic need a new manager anyway. sometimes a minimum wage, shitty job is what you need for that boost into working your way up though. Look into things that interest you and see what opportunities come with each one. Would you be able to teach with your new found knowledge? etc
How much does that cost? Are their grants? I have zero money.
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Netherlands6181 Posts
On January 12 2014 14:49 MarlieChurphy wrote:Show nested quote +On January 12 2014 14:46 dravernor wrote:That is a good suggestion. I wanted to do that, but I could not on my current passport. You would do a TEFL course on their website www.tefl.com/ (I think that is the correct one) and I think you only really need to know the basics of hangul - greetings and shop names etc for you to be okay down there, which shouldn't be a problem if you are 100% invested. Failing that, you should work in ESPORTS! + Show Spoiler +Sounds like Quantic need a new manager anyway. sometimes a minimum wage, shitty job is what you need for that boost into working your way up though. Look into things that interest you and see what opportunities come with each one. Would you be able to teach with your new found knowledge? etc How much does that cost? Are their grants? I have zero money.
I'm not sure, there were special offers a while ago. But by taking even a minimum wage shitty job, you could at least save some money for this investment in your future.
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I've been reading up on the site and it all seems sort of scammish. Like they say that you don't need the degree, but to be competitive you do, and they market the whole scheme as an exotic all expense paid trip but no guarantee of work. And then I saw something about not including the world 'online' in the certification.
Found the costs: http://go-tefl.com/cost.html
Anyone know what all this stuff means? And are there any recourse for information on this other than their site? Also what are the costs of all the other paperwork and stuff needed to do this? Are there any costs to find jobs? How do you find jobs? I'm pretty skeptical.
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On January 12 2014 14:16 Fighter wrote:
I'm not exactly sure what your situation is... you mentioned needing 12 more credits since you took the CHSPE (not sure what this is..). Do you have a college degree?
If so, then go teach English in a foreign country. I came to Korea almost 2 years ago. I love my job, I get paid well, and everything is pretty much taken care of for you. You don't need a car, obviously, and whichever school picks you up will pay for your plane tickets and living accomodations. The only thing you'll need to front for is food for your first month and some paperwork costs at the beginning. Also, you will likely only be working about 30 hours a week, so you can make some good money to pick yourself up while still having plenty of free time to develop yourself in a more professionally oriented direction.
It's a HELL of a lot better than a "minimum wage shithole job".
This is something I have casually considered in the past. It would certainly be an opportunity for me to improve in all aspects of my life. I'd appreciate a simple step-by-step on how to go from anytown, USA into that position in Korea. If I knew the general idea of how to get there, then maybe it would become a real option for me.
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well...money creates opportunities. YOu have no money, hence you have no opportunities.
It wuld be nice to relocate, but you need money for that.
You need money to go to school.
You need money to do something with your hands (buy equipment and have a workspace)
so you should probably get a minimum wage job and try to save up some money or find an interest in skills that are relatively free to learn or where there is a wealth of information to market yourself
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On January 12 2014 15:37 Smurfett3 wrote:
well...money creates opportunities. YOu have no money, hence you have no opportunities.
It wuld be nice to relocate, but you need money for that.
You need money to go to school.
You need money to do something with your hands (buy equipment and have a workspace)
so you should probably get a minimum wage job and try to save up some money or find an interest in skills that are relatively free to learn or where there is a wealth of information to market yourself
The problem with this is you can't save money on minimum wage.
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On January 12 2014 15:44 MarlieChurphy wrote:Show nested quote +On January 12 2014 15:37 Smurfett3 wrote:
well...money creates opportunities. YOu have no money, hence you have no opportunities.
It wuld be nice to relocate, but you need money for that.
You need money to go to school.
You need money to do something with your hands (buy equipment and have a workspace)
so you should probably get a minimum wage job and try to save up some money or find an interest in skills that are relatively free to learn or where there is a wealth of information to market yourself The problem with this is you can't save money on minimum wage.
Frugal until you've saved enough to make it happen. Take 2 jobs. GRIND.
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You want all the reward but none of the hardships.
You dont get to start in the middle or at the top, you start at the bottom.
Stop whining about minimum wage jobs and get on with it or remain a bum.
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you live in california? try to get into the HVAC trade. the humming air conditioners in the hot california sun is the sound of money.
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On January 12 2014 15:00 MarlieChurphy wrote:I've been reading up on the site and it all seems sort of scammish. Like they say that you don't need the degree, but to be competitive you do, and they market the whole scheme as an exotic all expense paid trip but no guarantee of work. And then I saw something about not including the world 'online' in the certification. Found the costs: http://go-tefl.com/cost.html Anyone know what all this stuff means? And are there any recourse for information on this other than their site? Also what are the costs of all the other paperwork and stuff needed to do this? Are there any costs to find jobs? How do you find jobs? I'm pretty skeptical.
I've heard good things about tefl jobs, though its far from my area itself. I'm told its a fairly good career option to, with an advanced level qualification I hear you can expect never to be out of work. Also not knowing the home language for the country you are teaching in is not a problem, you're not expected to speak anything other than English. Apparently there are extreme opportunities for sex with students as well.
As I said, I've heard lots of good things about it but none of this is direct experience.
EDIT: also, do you show your art online? It would be cool to see it!
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You can learn to fix cars and then find job as a mechanic. Once you are experienced, you will never be without a job, and can open your own shop.
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Join the military. Man up and serve the country and then get an education on their dime. :-) that was what folks 25 years ago did.
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Teaching English abroad is good, but somewhat hard if you don't have a degree. Also don't bash on lower tier colleges. In the UK, getting an HND from a college (we call community college college) is a cost effective way of skipping the first one/two pointless years of a university degree.
Teaching is very easy money, and you can find placements that just require a TEFL qualification. In the UK a CELTA is the best I think, it's like 1 month intensive. But having a degree is going to greatly improve the amount of jobs you can find and the quality of them. In fact, often a degree is enough to get you a job by itself.
Besides that you need to find a career path that you think will be fun and just plough through it from the bottom. Usually would take you about 7 years to get anywhere decent.
I'd go and get a commis job in a starred restaurant if I wasn't getting a PhD and travelling about learning languages. That's what I enjoyed and pretty much the only series of jobs I had that didn't involve studying/teaching. The hours are horrendous though, start at 6-8 finish at 11-12 every day.
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Do some volounteering abroad!
Last year when I was kicked out of my uni I went to Scotland (chosen pretty randomly from ads from all over the Europe) and spent a month working in a hostel in exchange for accomodation and breakfast. This doesn't earn you money but you have free accomodation and no other expences than some food. It's not full-time so there's time for you to find a proper job.
Half of the folks there were specifically for finding "a place to live" and it was a great opportunity! Holiday season was starting and they would find a job in a day. There was even one girl from California. I remember her saying about her first months in Europe, that she felt very bad about Europe, it was weird and she didn't like it at all. Then something clicked and now when asked by her friends when she's coming back she laughs because why would she!
The site is called helpx.net, I would recommend Europe because I like it here : ) but it's worldwide. If you just need time for yourself to think about your life you can try something else than hostels, like homestay or farm stay where your host will cover everything for you (sometimes a small allowance, or straight up pay if you would work more than average.
If you want me to talk more about my experience send me a PM.
PS. Year after I'm still jobless and similar position to you and I'm seriously considering this again, this time not as holidays but as an opportunity to find a place for me. When you leave home, there's this freshness and things just go better.
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oh my, this thread is so depressing...
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On January 12 2014 21:19 Piy wrote:
Teaching English abroad is good, but somewhat hard if you don't have a degree. Also don't bash on lower tier colleges. In the UK, getting an HND from a college (we call community college college) is a cost effective way of skipping the first one/two pointless years of a university degree.
Teaching is very easy money, and you can find placements that just require a TEFL qualification. In the UK a CELTA is the best I think, it's like 1 month intensive. But having a degree is going to greatly improve the amount of jobs you can find and the quality of them. In fact, often a degree is enough to get you a job by itself.
Besides that you need to find a career path that you think will be fun and just plough through it from the bottom. Usually would take you about 7 years to get anywhere decent.
I'd go and get a commis job in a starred restaurant if I wasn't getting a PhD and travelling about learning languages. That's what I enjoyed and pretty much the only series of jobs I had that didn't involve studying/teaching. The hours are horrendous though, start at 6-8 finish at 11-12 every day.
Latching on this, if anyone wants more info on a CELTA, where to do it or teaching English in general, drop me a PM. I'll try to fill in the blanks.
Good luck finding what you want to do mate
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I've thought about what I would do if I were put into a similar situation quite a bit.
I think the answer lies in education. Specifically, education that prepares you for a job right when you are finished that will make at least 40k pretax. In addition, it gives you a career which you can do for the rest of your life.
Skilled blue collar work is one option. This would entail some sort of vocational schooling. Plumber, electrician, HVAC. These jobs aren't particularly desirable however. I think there are better options.
Nursing. LVN training is typically 1-2 years and is done at community colleges. The job market for nurses is stable and will likely be so in the future. There is a lot of room for advancement. Should you really get into the profession, salaries can exceed 150k (nurse anesthetist).
A degree in computer science/engineering. A more difficult route. Will require 4-6 years of education. Decent pay and job opportunities.
Degree plus graduate training. This is what I am doing. With a science background you have options in going into the medical field, where you can specialized training in things like pharmacy or optometry, which tend to be high paying/high satisfaction jobs.
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On January 12 2014 19:05 Deleuze wrote:Show nested quote +On January 12 2014 15:00 MarlieChurphy wrote:I've been reading up on the site and it all seems sort of scammish. Like they say that you don't need the degree, but to be competitive you do, and they market the whole scheme as an exotic all expense paid trip but no guarantee of work. And then I saw something about not including the world 'online' in the certification. Found the costs: http://go-tefl.com/cost.html Anyone know what all this stuff means? And are there any recourse for information on this other than their site? Also what are the costs of all the other paperwork and stuff needed to do this? Are there any costs to find jobs? How do you find jobs? I'm pretty skeptical. I've heard good things about tefl jobs, though its far from my area itself. I'm told its a fairly good career option to, with an advanced level qualification I hear you can expect never to be out of work. Also not knowing the home language for the country you are teaching in is not a problem, you're not expected to speak anything other than English. Apparently there are extreme opportunities for sex with students as well.As I said, I've heard lots of good things about it but none of this is direct experience. EDIT: also, do you show your art online? It would be cool to see it!
Yeah because that's exactly what people looking to be teachers should be looking for in their jobs. This is everything thats fucked up about English teaching programs in Asia. 90% of the teachers there are terrible with zero teaching credentials, ability or professional acumen. They're basically taking advantage of a system meant to help people and leeching off it because the ones hiring don't know any better.
To get off my rant, I advise freelancing while job searching. Freelancing can add a lot to your resume that you seem to be lacking which is actual proof of work experience. You mention sales, computer and customer related skills which are all desirable skills but from the sounds of it you have no marketability.
Potential options for free lance that may fit you: graphic artist, web design, and computer repair.
Telemarketing and phone sales are awful but if you're desperate it's another possibility.
There's a tip earlier about learning to be a plumber, which is another avenue as the industry does pay well. I'm not fond of blue collared work but if you don't mind, there's also all sorts of mechanical repair certification you can acquire to take various jobs. Similarly, there are also hospital machine technicians. X-ray technicians for example get paid relatively well for how little investment education wise they have to put in.
Once you accrue some experience that is something you can put on your resume, I'd recommend hiring a head hunter and discussing what you'd like to do and what're your desirables in terms of a job.
Edit: To add, at the end of the day, a college degree is still mandatory for 99% of the population to get any desirable position. From a hiring standpoint, I can tell you a college degree tells me you were willing to invest four years (min) of your life into something without quitting. Yes, a majority of people tell you that a college degree doesn't mean anything but what they really mean is, it doesn't mean anything comparatively because you're expected to have one. Also I'd listen to the poster above me as well since he offers very good advice.
Good luck.
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On January 12 2014 15:44 MarlieChurphy wrote:Show nested quote +On January 12 2014 15:37 Smurfett3 wrote:
well...money creates opportunities. YOu have no money, hence you have no opportunities.
It wuld be nice to relocate, but you need money for that.
You need money to go to school.
You need money to do something with your hands (buy equipment and have a workspace)
so you should probably get a minimum wage job and try to save up some money or find an interest in skills that are relatively free to learn or where there is a wealth of information to market yourself The problem with this is you can't save money on minimum wage.
minimum wage where I live is 7.25$. Where you live it's $8.00. Depending on how much your rent costs, you really shouldn't be buying anything else that you don't need. Rent, food, gas (or public transportation)
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Become a computer programmer. Starting salary is around $100k.
Whatever you do, stop giving up on everything you do.
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On January 12 2014 23:45 Cheerio wrote:
oh my, this thread is so depressing...
yeah, my thoughts on some of the people that posted here
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Some ideas:
-Try to get temp work through local agencies(they take a fee from your paycheck for a while)
-List your skills for sale on craigslist
-You mentioned CC is not an option. In Washington State, FASFA pays for tuition/books/fees and leaves around 1k per quarter in spending money. You can also take student loans(not ideal of course, but if you get a good degree it's worth it). Transfer to a university if you want to get better degrees. The UW has a program where they pay your tuition after FASFA, if you are low income status. Maybe your state has programs like these. Grants and scholarships might be available.
-Donate plasma/sperm
-Invent something/sell something/start a business/create something
-Poker(if you are self motivated/hard worker/smart/disciplined/like pain, have ~$100 to risk)
-Mass apply at jobs/learn how to get a job/be relentless/network
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Nepotism is the best way to land a job. For those with little to offer on their resumes, sometimes its the only way. You are severely undermining yourself, your professional career, your life in general, if you refuse to use nepotism as a way to find a job.
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On January 13 2014 01:41 esla_sol wrote:
Degree plus graduate training. This is what I am doing. With a science background you have options in going into the medical field, where you can specialized training in things like pharmacy or optometry, which tend to be high paying/high satisfaction jobs. This is absolutely the worse thread to boast with your career choices.
On January 13 2014 02:46 phantomfive wrote:
Become a computer programmer. Starting salary is around $100k.
Whatever you do, stop giving up on everything you do.
well for the position he is in I believe giving up on everything he does EXCEPT his career choice is actually what needs to be done if he is to remedy the situation quickly
On January 13 2014 02:50 guN-viCe wrote:
Some ideas:
-Try to get temp work through local agencies(they take a fee from your paycheck for a while)
-List your skills for sale on craigslist
-You mentioned CC is not an option. In Washington State, FASFA pays for tuition/books/fees and leaves around 1k per quarter in spending money. You can also take student loans(not ideal of course, but if you get a good degree it's worth it). Transfer to a university if you want to get better degrees. The UW has a program where they pay your tuition after FASFA, if you are low income status. Maybe your state has programs like these. Grants and scholarships might be available.
-Donate plasma/sperm
-Invent something/sell something/start a business/create something
-Poker(if you are self motivated/hard worker/smart/disciplined/like pain, have ~$100 to risk)
-Mass apply at jobs/learn how to get a job/be relentless/network
oh God, please don't encourage broke people to engage in activities that don't create value for the society (poker actually creates substantial negative value) and involve huge financial risks.
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Glass blowing is cool.
Can you stick with artistry?
You can make sick things.
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On January 12 2014 17:44 Omnishroud wrote:
You want all the reward but none of the hardships.
You dont get to start in the middle or at the top, you start at the bottom.
Stop whining about minimum wage jobs and get on with it or remain a bum.
That's just not true :p All starting positions are available, depends on how smart you were when choosing your parents, weighted by high school and college decisions.
OP: shitty situation, probably with no clear or nice solutions.
Imo the most straightforward thing to do is to apply to all and every job you think you have any sort of qualifications for. Low levels sales (any and all industries), customer service (same), tech support, you name it. Then spend the next 5-10 years fighting tooth and nail for a low level management position.
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I don't know if this is the same the US, but in arctic Canada people generally get payed way more. So, you could try to get some kind of job in Alaska, or arctic Canada if that is possible.
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The advice given in this thread is depressingly bad.
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On January 13 2014 02:46 phantomfive wrote:
Become a computer programmer. Starting salary is around $100k.
Whatever you do, stop giving up on everything you do.
Do you have any example of someone starting at this? I only took two years of Comp Sci but all my friends started at between 30-40 k up here in Canadia. Not quite sure where those 100k programming jobs are but do send some info my way!
In British Columbia there will be explosive growth in the development of Natural Gas facilities as well as possibly pipeline work. Not this year, but between 2015-2016 as long as no large hiccups happen there will be opportunities for trades people around the world. We already have a number of American/Australian/Canadian folk at it already and that's JUST with the RTA Aluminium smelting project in Kitimat. Kitimat was literally built for this purpose in the 50's.
Roughly Four multibillion dollar LNG plants are slated not including compressor and pump stations going to and from the plant to the place of export.
If Enbridge goes ahead there is another giant spread of work.
I can't speak for California but there will be a burning need for trade folk in BC. Where they come from won't be important when shit hits the fan.
Ignoring opportunities up here trades will always be needed and when the baby boomers retire there will be a giant skill shortage world wide.
Good luck sir, I never really chose what I wanted to do. I just kind of fell into and it worked out. Hopefully you choose, if not I hope the landing isn't too rough ^^
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I hope you don't take it too personal, I don't know you outside of TL and maybe you are not what I think you are. But the advice I will give you is brutally honest.
First of all, you are a lazy piece of shit. I feel comfortable saying this since I was in your situation before but never managed to have no job at all (except for that one period where I was incapacitated for a few months).
People come here from all over the world and often manage to score jobs without even knowing essential English. Something as stupid as being a waiter can actually get you through school. We are not even talking working two jobs (a no-brainer in your situation) - it is obvious enough for you to come to this conclusion yourself.
Just because what you type is so dumb and shitty and lazy I have a hard time giving advice, but I saw people like you before and I know that they sometimes need motivation to do anything with themselves.
I don't know if you dwell in your parents' basement or rent but you can easily rent a room for 400-500$$ a mo in any part of the US. Depending on where, it can range from horrible cockroach-infested place to a nice clean one. It doesn't matter.
Any relatively healthy human being is capable of making AT LEAST 400+ $$ a week in the US. That leaves you with 1200$$/mo to spend on your other needs. Phones can run <30$/mo, internet about the same. depending on your needs you might even skip the phone. Lets say all your bills add up to 300$ (that's generous btw), you have 900$ left. You can buy some shitty vehicle after just 1 month of work. I'm not forgetting that you use EBT so you don't need to spend on food.
You can start bringing up excuses, additional needs etc, but I've been there myself. Just get your shit together, stop drinking beer and smoking pot, you sound dumb enough as it is. Don't make it worse.
From here on you can do w/e. Community Colleges will probably pay for your expenses (financial aid) and you won't spend a dime on education. State schools often do the same thing. You can pick from a wide range of available choices. If you can't study then do a trade. Someone said plumbing - you can make huge money - up to 100k etc. Stop whining.
Please don't go to Korea. You can, probably, but I would be saddened knowing that someone like you is teaching people. Good luck and try to become a better man.
User was warned for this post
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On January 13 2014 06:53 usedtocare wrote:
I hope you don't take it too personal, I don't know you outside of TL and maybe you are not what I think you are. But the advice I will give you is brutally honest.
First of all, you are a lazy piece of shit. I feel comfortable saying this since I was in your situation before but never managed to have no job at all (except for that one period where I was incapacitated for a few months).
People come here from all over the world and often manage to score jobs without even knowing essential English. Something as stupid as being a waiter can actually get you through school. We are not even talking working two jobs (a no-brainer in your situation) - it is obvious enough for you to come to this conclusion yourself.
Just because what you type is so dumb and shitty and lazy I have a hard time giving advice, but I saw people like you before and I know that they sometimes need motivation to do anything with themselves.
I don't know if you dwell in your parents' basement or rent but you can easily rent a room for 400-500$$ a mo in any part of the US. Depending on where, it can range from horrible cockroach-infested place to a nice clean one. It doesn't matter.
Any relatively healthy human being is capable of making AT LEAST 400+ $$ a week in the US. That leaves you with 1200$$/mo to spend on your other needs. Phones can run <30$/mo, internet about the same. depending on your needs you might even skip the phone. Lets say all your bills add up to 300$ (that's generous btw), you have 900$ left. You can buy some shitty vehicle after just 1 month of work. I'm not forgetting that you use EBT so you don't need to spend on food.
You can start bringing up excuses, additional needs etc, but I've been there myself. Just get your shit together, stop drinking beer and smoking pot, you sound dumb enough as it is. Don't make it worse.
From here on you can do w/e. Community Colleges will probably pay for your expenses (financial aid) and you won't spend a dime on education. State schools often do the same thing. You can pick from a wide range of available choices. If you can't study then do a trade. Someone said plumbing - you can make huge money - up to 100k etc. Stop whining.
Please don't go to Korea. You can, probably, but I would be saddened knowing that someone like you is teaching people. Good luck and try to become a better man.
1. no need to be a massive dick.
2. your math is wrong. how can1200 -400-300 = 900??
3. Yeah OP the picture might be bleak atm but find something you are passionate for and go all-in. You will probably never make millions, but as long as you accomplish yourself and like the line of work you are in, you should enjoy your existence.
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Personally I would recommend against teaching English. I did a brief stint in China and it is miserable - the locals look down on you, the pay is terrible, your employers will be shady, and it doesn't help your resume once you come back to the States. The only "good" positions that are available are for people who actually have experience and certification in teaching. It might be better in SK though.
If you're really willing to do something you may not enjoy to secure a decent future for yourself, I would recommend accounting. Go do a 2-year degree while working some business-related field, get a CPA, within 4 years you could be in a good enough position to guarantee yourself a middle-class income for life.
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If you've ever considered working in Canada, there are tons of jobs that are oil-related in Alberta that can pay you over $100k/year without an education. You'll be working hard and for long hours, but the opportunity is there. If you start a trade here, by the time you get your journeyman's ticket, you'll be making well north of $120k/year with a fairly cushy job. It won't be office work, but you'll be doing 10 days on, 4 days off 10-12 hour days and making $30-45/hour + overtime. You only need 2-4 months of schooling after every year of work and normally the company will pay for your schooling + give you 600-1000/month subsidy while you're in school provided you sign a contract to return to work for them.
Other options here would be to get an engineering degree where you can easily make $25-35/hour (8 hour days, 5 days a week) as an INTERN. The second you graduate, you're looking at ~$70k/year your first year out of school in a nice office job with a really awesome environment. The 4 years of school are intense and grueling but the end definitely justifies the means.
On January 13 2014 01:41 esla_sol wrote:
I've thought about what I would do if I were put into a similar situation quite a bit.
I think the answer lies in education. Specifically, education that prepares you for a job right when you are finished that will make at least 40k pretax. In addition, it gives you a career which you can do for the rest of your life.
Skilled blue collar work is one option. This would entail some sort of vocational schooling. Plumber, electrician, HVAC. These jobs aren't particularly desirable however. I think there are better options.
Nursing. LVN training is typically 1-2 years and is done at community colleges. The job market for nurses is stable and will likely be so in the future. There is a lot of room for advancement. Should you really get into the profession, salaries can exceed 150k (nurse anesthetist).
A degree in computer science/engineering. A more difficult route. Will require 4-6 years of education. Decent pay and job opportunities.
Degree plus graduate training. This is what I am doing. With a science background you have options in going into the medical field, where you can specialized training in things like pharmacy or optometry, which tend to be high paying/high satisfaction jobs.
I highly disagree with the science degree. The advisors sell people on "opportunity" and "potential." Guess what? There are probably 2-4000 science students starting their degrees every year. Where I got my science degree, there are 150 spots in the Medical school, 35 spots in Dentistry, 80 spots in Pharmacy and there isn't an optometry program that doesn't require an MD. So let's say there are 300 spots available. So you're now competing against every single one of those 2000-4000 students to get into one of these 300 spots (because honestly, who really takes a science degree just to get a BSc and call it quits? Maybe Geologists/Geophysicists and that's it). Not only that, you're also competing against students from across the nation who are also applying to these programs, many of whom have attended more highly regarded universities and are seen as more favourable students even though they may have lower GPAs.
If you go to university, go into a program that will get you a job. Computer science, engineering, finance, accounting, etc. Marketing is also an option but it's almost impossible to get a job there. If you do, you'll be starting from the mail room and have to work your way up.
What are you good at? Do you have exceptional people skills? Are you brilliant with anything technical? List your soft skills and maybe I can help you find something that will fit your skills.
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On January 13 2014 07:14 Kevin_Sorbo wrote:Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 06:53 usedtocare wrote:
I hope you don't take it too personal, I don't know you outside of TL and maybe you are not what I think you are. But the advice I will give you is brutally honest.
First of all, you are a lazy piece of shit. I feel comfortable saying this since I was in your situation before but never managed to have no job at all (except for that one period where I was incapacitated for a few months).
People come here from all over the world and often manage to score jobs without even knowing essential English. Something as stupid as being a waiter can actually get you through school. We are not even talking working two jobs (a no-brainer in your situation) - it is obvious enough for you to come to this conclusion yourself.
Just because what you type is so dumb and shitty and lazy I have a hard time giving advice, but I saw people like you before and I know that they sometimes need motivation to do anything with themselves.
I don't know if you dwell in your parents' basement or rent but you can easily rent a room for 400-500$$ a mo in any part of the US. Depending on where, it can range from horrible cockroach-infested place to a nice clean one. It doesn't matter.
Any relatively healthy human being is capable of making AT LEAST 400+ $$ a week in the US. That leaves you with 1200$$/mo to spend on your other needs. Phones can run <30$/mo, internet about the same. depending on your needs you might even skip the phone. Lets say all your bills add up to 300$ (that's generous btw), you have 900$ left. You can buy some shitty vehicle after just 1 month of work. I'm not forgetting that you use EBT so you don't need to spend on food.
You can start bringing up excuses, additional needs etc, but I've been there myself. Just get your shit together, stop drinking beer and smoking pot, you sound dumb enough as it is. Don't make it worse.
From here on you can do w/e. Community Colleges will probably pay for your expenses (financial aid) and you won't spend a dime on education. State schools often do the same thing. You can pick from a wide range of available choices. If you can't study then do a trade. Someone said plumbing - you can make huge money - up to 100k etc. Stop whining.
Please don't go to Korea. You can, probably, but I would be saddened knowing that someone like you is teaching people. Good luck and try to become a better man. 1. no need to be a massive dick. 2. your math is wrong. how can1200 -400-300 = 900?? 3. Yeah OP the picture might be bleak atm but find something you are passionate for and go all-in. You will probably never make millions, but as long as you accomplish yourself and like the line of work you are in, you should enjoy your existence.
Another genius. 4*400 = 1600
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On January 13 2014 07:14 Kevin_Sorbo wrote:Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 06:53 usedtocare wrote:
I hope you don't take it too personal, I don't know you outside of TL and maybe you are not what I think you are. But the advice I will give you is brutally honest.
First of all, you are a lazy piece of shit. I feel comfortable saying this since I was in your situation before but never managed to have no job at all (except for that one period where I was incapacitated for a few months).
People come here from all over the world and often manage to score jobs without even knowing essential English. Something as stupid as being a waiter can actually get you through school. We are not even talking working two jobs (a no-brainer in your situation) - it is obvious enough for you to come to this conclusion yourself.
Just because what you type is so dumb and shitty and lazy I have a hard time giving advice, but I saw people like you before and I know that they sometimes need motivation to do anything with themselves.
I don't know if you dwell in your parents' basement or rent but you can easily rent a room for 400-500$$ a mo in any part of the US. Depending on where, it can range from horrible cockroach-infested place to a nice clean one. It doesn't matter.
Any relatively healthy human being is capable of making AT LEAST 400+ $$ a week in the US. That leaves you with 1200$$/mo to spend on your other needs. Phones can run <30$/mo, internet about the same. depending on your needs you might even skip the phone. Lets say all your bills add up to 300$ (that's generous btw), you have 900$ left. You can buy some shitty vehicle after just 1 month of work. I'm not forgetting that you use EBT so you don't need to spend on food.
You can start bringing up excuses, additional needs etc, but I've been there myself. Just get your shit together, stop drinking beer and smoking pot, you sound dumb enough as it is. Don't make it worse.
From here on you can do w/e. Community Colleges will probably pay for your expenses (financial aid) and you won't spend a dime on education. State schools often do the same thing. You can pick from a wide range of available choices. If you can't study then do a trade. Someone said plumbing - you can make huge money - up to 100k etc. Stop whining.
Please don't go to Korea. You can, probably, but I would be saddened knowing that someone like you is teaching people. Good luck and try to become a better man. 1. no need to be a massive dick. 2. your math is wrong. how can1200 -400-300 = 900?? 3. Yeah OP the picture might be bleak atm but find something you are passionate for and go all-in. You will probably never make millions, but as long as you accomplish yourself and like the line of work you are in, you should enjoy your existence.
1. Would you prefer him to be a pussy or an asshole instead?
2. He meant 1600, it was likely a typo. 400x4 = 1600. 1600-400 = 1200. 1200-300 = 900.
Edit: Beat to the punch.
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You can look into apprenticeship programs, they're almost all manual labor jobs but they will pay very well for your training.
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There's many responses and I didn't read them all, but if someone hasn't already said it, you need to tailor your resume. If your resume legitimately has "sales, artistic, computer, and customer service related skills" and jobs listed on it, they're going to see an unfocused journeyman without specific drive in an area.
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On January 12 2014 17:44 Omnishroud wrote:
You want all the reward but none of the hardships.
You dont get to start in the middle or at the top, you start at the bottom.
Stop whining about minimum wage jobs and get on with it or remain a bum.
I understand your reasoning and I believe it too, it's called grit, but you don't know me. My entire life I've been poor and kicked around. I've grinded my way into independence a couple of times only to be kicked back to square one over and over. It's really shitty and it's getting old. I want to learn a trade or something more stable than the shortsighted suggestions people offer up.
I mean what is your advice for me to do? Just work shitty minimum wage jobs forever only to be kicked down repeatedly? Because that is the definition of insane.
On January 12 2014 19:05 Deleuze wrote:Show nested quote +On January 12 2014 15:00 MarlieChurphy wrote:I've been reading up on the site and it all seems sort of scammish. Like they say that you don't need the degree, but to be competitive you do, and they market the whole scheme as an exotic all expense paid trip but no guarantee of work. And then I saw something about not including the world 'online' in the certification. Found the costs: http://go-tefl.com/cost.html Anyone know what all this stuff means? And are there any recourse for information on this other than their site? Also what are the costs of all the other paperwork and stuff needed to do this? Are there any costs to find jobs? How do you find jobs? I'm pretty skeptical. I've heard good things about tefl jobs, though its far from my area itself. I'm told its a fairly good career option to, with an advanced level qualification I hear you can expect never to be out of work. Also not knowing the home language for the country you are teaching in is not a problem, you're not expected to speak anything other than English. Apparently there are extreme opportunities for sex with students as well. As I said, I've heard lots of good things about it but none of this is direct experience. EDIT: also, do you show your art online? It would be cool to see it!
The sex with students thing is pretty unethical and grounds for dismissal in any context. It's pretty unhealthy boundaries. I admit it crossed my mind before you even brought it up, and I bet that is the appeal for lots of people getting into it. That temptation alone is one reason why I wouldn't want to get into it amongst a bunch of other more important ones.
Check my other blogs for my art. I think for the most part people just don't care about art; more specifically they only care about it within specific contexts or if you have some sort of legend to go along with it. People like art, they just don't want to pay for it (unless it's trendy/tattoos). EG; I put CL ads up biweekly and a chick last week hit me up for a 16x20 canvas with her sister's name for her grad that people could sign. Even though my prices are clearly outlined she mentioned that she didn't want the background colored and just the name in the middle (so wanting a cheaper price), I cut like 10$ off and quoted her a price and she didn't respond back.
Another ridiculous example: + Show Spoiler +
I appreciate people suggesting teaching abroad, and while that is appealing on a short term level, and I do enjoy teaching/helping/volunteering, It's not something that greatly interests me, or something I can see progressing into something career based. I would much rather learn a skill like carpentry and then go to africa and teach people how to build if that makes any sense.
On January 13 2014 06:31 docvoc wrote:
The advice given in this thread is depressingly bad.
Agreed. I understand people are trying to help, but I am most likely asking much younger people/students that don't really understand my situation fully, so that's ok. I can just try to skip over it.
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On January 12 2014 16:25 Whiplash wrote:Show nested quote +On January 12 2014 15:44 MarlieChurphy wrote:On January 12 2014 15:37 Smurfett3 wrote:
well...money creates opportunities. YOu have no money, hence you have no opportunities.
It wuld be nice to relocate, but you need money for that.
You need money to go to school.
You need money to do something with your hands (buy equipment and have a workspace)
so you should probably get a minimum wage job and try to save up some money or find an interest in skills that are relatively free to learn or where there is a wealth of information to market yourself The problem with this is you can't save money on minimum wage. Frugal until you've saved enough to make it happen. Take 2 jobs. GRIND.
GRINND
ya gotta do what you gotta do.
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On January 13 2014 11:13 MarlieChurphy wrote:Check my other blogs for my art. I think for the most part people just don't care about art; more specifically they only care about it within specific contexts or if you have some sort of legend to go along with it. People like art, they just don't want to pay for it (unless it's trendy/tattoos). EG; I put CL ads up biweekly and a chick last week hit me up for a 16x20 canvas with her sister's name for her grad that people could sign. Even though my prices are clearly outlined she mentioned that she didn't want the background colored and just the name in the middle (so wanting a cheaper price), I cut like 10$ off and quoted her a price and she didn't respond back. Another ridiculous example: + Show Spoiler +
He made $420 in one day of sales, that's not too bad...
Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 06:31 docvoc wrote:
The advice given in this thread is depressingly bad. Agreed. I understand people are trying to help, but I am most likely asking much younger people/students that don't really understand my situation fully, so that's ok. I can just try to skip over it.
I'm almost 27, have supported myself (including tuition) since I was 19 and am about to finish my 2nd degree debt-free. On top of that, I've made enough money to travel for a semester between degrees as well as take myself and my brother on a 3 week trip across South East Asia. None of this is parents' money or inheritance, I just work hard and am not a dumbass. So please, tell me how hard your life is and how difficult everything is. I can't wait to hear more.
Get off your ass and do something, it's not that hard.
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On January 13 2014 11:23 KaiserKieran wrote:Show nested quote +On January 12 2014 16:25 Whiplash wrote:On January 12 2014 15:44 MarlieChurphy wrote:On January 12 2014 15:37 Smurfett3 wrote:
well...money creates opportunities. YOu have no money, hence you have no opportunities.
It wuld be nice to relocate, but you need money for that.
You need money to go to school.
You need money to do something with your hands (buy equipment and have a workspace)
so you should probably get a minimum wage job and try to save up some money or find an interest in skills that are relatively free to learn or where there is a wealth of information to market yourself The problem with this is you can't save money on minimum wage. Frugal until you've saved enough to make it happen. Take 2 jobs. GRIND. GRINND ya gotta do what you gotta do.
Grinding is stupid. I want to work smart, not work hard- that just sets me up to nothing like I have in the past. Grinding doesn't work and isn't sustainable as the last 10+ years has shown me
On January 13 2014 07:18 chadissilent wrote:
What are you good at? Do you have exceptional people skills? Are you brilliant with anything technical? List your soft skills and maybe I can help you find something that will fit your skills.
'I am a jack of all trades but a master of none.' I can basically do anything, and learn anything, and do it pretty well, but I've never thought myself to be the best at any one thing. Maybe that's just a shitty modest/humble mentality, or maybe I just haven't found something that I am actually very very good at.
Naturally an introvert, but I have learned applicable psychology in order to succeed in telemarketing, sales, and customer service, and to some extent relationships/women.
side note: A popular bike chain store manager once called me for a phone interview and told me it was between me for my sales experience, and another guy who had none but had bike knowledge and passion for bikes or something. It was the longest weirdest phone interview I've ever had and the guy really just came off as a dick and trying to tell me I belong to a job with computers and cellphones based on my past (neither of which I really had a passion for in the first place). I mean I used every sales trick I knew to sway this man towards me but it's like he never wanted me in the first place, it seemed he just wanted to talk about stupid shit. I basically ended the coversation with the last ditch sales tactic of taking myself away, I said; "Well it seems that you're unsure if my sales background is what you want so I'm going to have to get back to job hunting now and if you make up your mind, give me a call."
I learned how to solder etc. off of 60s youtube video and installed my car stereo and speakers. Is that brilliant?
- Can work under pressure. I don't get stressed.
- Can adapt to anything, and enjoy new challenges.
- Work best independently without being micromanaged, not really a team player type, although I do enjoy competition and occasional team efforts.
- Communication skills are above average.
- Great multitasker.
- Honest, loyal, and respectful to the people who deserve it.
- Above average computer literacy.
- Very resourceful and DIY mindset.
- Often think in abstract/outside the box ways, or in objective ways that others overlook.
I could probably list a dozen more things but I can't specifically think of anything off the top of my head without really getting introspective and spending a lot of time writing it all out.
If you are serious, I can post my resume or email it to you.
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On January 13 2014 11:56 chadissilent wrote:Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 11:13 MarlieChurphy wrote:Check my other blogs for my art. I think for the most part people just don't care about art; more specifically they only care about it within specific contexts or if you have some sort of legend to go along with it. People like art, they just don't want to pay for it (unless it's trendy/tattoos). EG; I put CL ads up biweekly and a chick last week hit me up for a 16x20 canvas with her sister's name for her grad that people could sign. Even though my prices are clearly outlined she mentioned that she didn't want the background colored and just the name in the middle (so wanting a cheaper price), I cut like 10$ off and quoted her a price and she didn't respond back. Another ridiculous example: + Show Spoiler + He made $420 in one day of sales, that's not too bad... Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 06:31 docvoc wrote:
The advice given in this thread is depressingly bad. Agreed. I understand people are trying to help, but I am most likely asking much younger people/students that don't really understand my situation fully, so that's ok. I can just try to skip over it. I'm almost 27, have supported myself (including tuition) since I was 19 and am about to finish my 2nd degree debt-free. On top of that, I've made enough money to travel for a semester between degrees as well as take myself and my brother on a 3 week trip across South East Asia. None of this is parents' money or inheritance, I just work hard and am not a dumbass. So please, tell me how hard your life is and how difficult everything is. I can't wait to hear more. Get off your ass and do something, it's not that hard.
I hope you are joking about the art. Who knows how long it took him to make all the work, then he had to setup and pay the men to sell it and film it etc. Arguably, this is business move/advertisement investment. You are one of these people that assumes art is simple and not hard work. There are all kinds of costs in time and money to create it, then there are additional costs of time and money to market and sell it. You can read about my art trials and tribs in my other blog if you care to learn about it. And the point is that the work he sold and didn't sell there, was worth thousands/millions of dollars and if the people knew that, they would have snatched it all up immediately (they don't care about it for the art, just for the monetary value).
The rest is just anecdotal/bragging, I don't know you and you don't know me, so calling me a dumbass who doesn't work hard enough isn't going to accomplish anything. You also contradict yourself, is it hard work? or not that hard?
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1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
On January 13 2014 12:18 MarlieChurphy wrote:Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 07:18 chadissilent wrote:
What are you good at? Do you have exceptional people skills? Are you brilliant with anything technical? List your soft skills and maybe I can help you find something that will fit your skills. - Can work under pressure. I don't get stressed.
- Can adapt to anything, and enjoy new challenges.
- Work best independently without being micromanaged, not really a team player type, although I do enjoy competition and occasional team efforts.
- Communication skills are above average.
- Great multitasker.
- Honest, loyal, and respectful to the people who deserve it.
- Above average computer literacy.
- Very resourceful and DIY mindset.
- Often think in abstract/outside the box ways, or in objective ways that others overlook.
Is this how you filled out your resume? Because if it is then it could be the reason you are having difficulty finding a job that suits the skills you already have. I would never hire someone who wrote something like this on their resume.
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No, I just wrote out stuff honestly here. Which begs the question though, why is it that this is wrong and people wouldn't hire an honest person instead of one who fills in the normal generic format of "hard worker, punctual, team player, fast learner" I mean 90% of the shit people put in applications, resumes, and cover letters is just bullshit that people want to read that sounds good and keywords that are picked up by algorithms.
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1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
The problem is that what you wrote, I also consider generic and meaningless phrases. It is impossible to prove otherwise without enough exposure. How can you tell if a person really does "work under pressure" or can "adapt to anything"? If companies believed stuff like that the applicant could just put as many boastful claims as he wants as long as he is creative and eloquent enough about it.
When I look at resumes I always look for facts and specific. Perhaps he worked on this kind of machine, or has fixed an x amount of cars for this specific problem. Maybe he designed this website or wrote a program to solve for a specific work related problem. Resume entries like that interest me. Boastful claims, however honest, however well written, do not.
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On January 13 2014 12:18 MarlieChurphy wrote:Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 07:18 chadissilent wrote:
What are you good at? Do you have exceptional people skills? Are you brilliant with anything technical? List your soft skills and maybe I can help you find something that will fit your skills. 'I am a jack of all trades but a master of none.' I can basically do anything, and learn anything, and do it pretty well, but I've never thought myself to be the best at any one thing. Maybe that's just a shitty modest/humble mentality, or maybe I just haven't found something that I am actually very very good at. Naturally an introvert, but I have learned applicable psychology in order to succeed in telemarketing, sales, and customer service, and to some extent relationships/women. side note: A popular bike chain store manager once called me for a phone interview and told me it was between me for my sales experience, and another guy who had none but had bike knowledge and passion for bikes or something. It was the longest weirdest phone interview I've ever had and the guy really just came off as a dick and trying to tell me I belong to a job with computers and cellphones based on my past (neither of which I really had a passion for in the first place). I mean I used every sales trick I knew to sway this man towards me but it's like he never wanted me in the first place, it seemed he just wanted to talk about stupid shit.
You don't need to use sales tricks on people. He's also a salesman and is very well aware of these tricks. You have to sell him on YOU. What can you bring to the table that others can't? Why should he hire you over anyone else? Do you have something that can't be taught or that will take a long time to teach someone?
I learned how to solder etc. off of 60s youtube video and installed my car stereo and speakers. Is that brilliant?
So you're a motivated self-learner. You have technical experience analyzing circuit diagrams and basic electrical experience. You have basic automotive experience and are mechanically inclined.
For a salesman, you really aren't very good at selling yourself 
- Can work under pressure. I don't get stressed.
- Can adapt to anything, and enjoy new challenges.
- Work best independently without being micromanaged, not really a team player type, although I do enjoy competition and occasional team efforts.
- Communication skills are above average.
- Great multitasker.
- Honest, loyal, and respectful to the people who deserve it.
- Above average computer literacy.
- Very resourceful and DIY mindset.
- Often think in abstract/outside the box ways, or in objective ways that others overlook.
I could probably list a dozen more things but I can't specifically think of anything off the top of my head without really getting introspective and spending a lot of time writing it all out. If you are serious, I can post my resume or email it to you.
Let me try rewording some of this list. PS, NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER SAY YOU ARE NOT A TEAM PLAYER. You won't be considered for most positions if you state that on your resume.
- Thrives under pressure
- Highly motivated self-starter
- Well developed sense of communication
- Efficient time management to balance multiple projects
- Takes a creative approach to problem-solving
- Loyal employee
etc.
You should be able to substantiate all of these claims with your work/volunteer/extracurriculars and provide anecdotes when asked.
Shoot me a PM with a link to your resume and I can take a quick look. I'm far from perfect but hopefully I can help.
On January 13 2014 12:24 MarlieChurphy wrote:Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 11:56 chadissilent wrote:
He made $420 in one day of sales, that's not too bad...
I hope you are joking about the art. Who knows how long it took him to make all the work, then he had to setup and pay the men to sell it and film it etc. Arguably, this is business move/advertisement investment.
I also make art. I'm not good enough to sell it so I don't bother, I keep doing it part time. I'd consider doing it full time when
1. I'm making enough money to support my current lifestyle
2. I'm at the point where I need to quit my job to make more time to create art.
Until then, it's going to remain a part-time hobby where I might make some cash here and there.
The rest is just anecdotal/bragging, I don't know you and you don't know me, so calling me a dumbass who doesn't work hard enough isn't going to accomplish anything. You also contradict yourself, is it hard work? or not that hard?
Let's be clear here: I didn't call you a dumbass and didn't say you aren't going to accomplish anything. You said you're most likely asking much younger people that don't understand you. Well, I'm basically your age and have been on my own for quite a while. I understand you because I'd be in your position if I didn't bust my ass at everything I did.
I don't contradict myself -- it's not overly difficult to get off your ass and do something if you're unhappy with your current situation. It's also not hard to put in hard work, you just have to have a will to work.
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On January 13 2014 11:13 MarlieChurphy wrote:
I've grinded my way into independence a couple of times only to be kicked back to square one over and over.
What exactly do you mean by this? Like what happened exactly? I just don't believe you can be nearly 30 and have put in as much effort as you say you have and not have literally nothing like you say. I could only imagine you'd have to have been mugged/stabbed/robbed multiple times and then had to give all your savings to your dying father for cancer treatment then have your car stolen, have three jobs lay you off, then have a deranged ex-wife take custody of half your belongings.
Because if it's that shitty I don't know what to tell you other than I'm inclined to say you need to re-read usedtocare's first post and start from 0 again. And like other people have said, you can expedite things massively if you're willing to come up to Canada to work on oil fields and stuff.
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On January 13 2014 12:34 MarlieChurphy wrote:
No, I just wrote out stuff honestly here. Which begs the question though, why is it that this is wrong and people wouldn't hire an honest person instead of one who fills in the normal generic format of "hard worker, punctual, team player, fast learner" I mean 90% of the shit people put in applications, resumes, and cover letters is just bullshit that people want to read that sounds good and keywords that are picked up by algorithms.
you need to get more in touch with reality. i agree those are bullshit questions, so you should treat them as such and provide your own bullshit answers.
like in starcraft, to be a good player, you need to keep your subjectivity out of major life decisions as much as possible (not completely, otherwise you will have no direction), but stupid shit like this, who cares. you need to get this notion of 'this is who i am, and i refuse to change' and kick it out the window, because its the same attitude of players in starcraft who complain about getting cheesed 24/7, and doing nothing to adjust their build order/playstyle to compensate.
what kind of company is going to hire someone who lists 'i prefer to work independently, i don't like working on a team?' even if that is true, then maybe you should work towards developing yourself into an individual that CAN work with others, fake it till you make it, but remember that you better have something real to back it up when it counts.
community college in california's system isn't bullshit at all, its very good, i have two cousins who came here got their 2 years done and went on to Berkeley and UCLA, hell from what I saw you can get into a UC with just over a 2.5...
now if you just don't have any interests that match up to well paying careers that benefit from an academic setting, it may be worthwhile for you to attend a technical school, maybe become a computer technician, IT guy (so certifications, or work as a engineering technologist (although the latter might require at least some formal schooling). you can't expect to like everything you do while progressing towards a a goal.
and no, a bachelors is quite ok to make good money, but not all bachelors are equal.
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On January 13 2014 12:24 MarlieChurphy wrote:Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 11:56 chadissilent wrote:On January 13 2014 11:13 MarlieChurphy wrote:Check my other blogs for my art. I think for the most part people just don't care about art; more specifically they only care about it within specific contexts or if you have some sort of legend to go along with it. People like art, they just don't want to pay for it (unless it's trendy/tattoos). EG; I put CL ads up biweekly and a chick last week hit me up for a 16x20 canvas with her sister's name for her grad that people could sign. Even though my prices are clearly outlined she mentioned that she didn't want the background colored and just the name in the middle (so wanting a cheaper price), I cut like 10$ off and quoted her a price and she didn't respond back. Another ridiculous example: + Show Spoiler + He made $420 in one day of sales, that's not too bad... On January 13 2014 06:31 docvoc wrote:
The advice given in this thread is depressingly bad. Agreed. I understand people are trying to help, but I am most likely asking much younger people/students that don't really understand my situation fully, so that's ok. I can just try to skip over it. I'm almost 27, have supported myself (including tuition) since I was 19 and am about to finish my 2nd degree debt-free. On top of that, I've made enough money to travel for a semester between degrees as well as take myself and my brother on a 3 week trip across South East Asia. None of this is parents' money or inheritance, I just work hard and am not a dumbass. So please, tell me how hard your life is and how difficult everything is. I can't wait to hear more. Get off your ass and do something, it's not that hard. I hope you are joking about the art. Who knows how long it took him to make all the work, then he had to setup and pay the men to sell it and film it etc. Arguably, this is business move/advertisement investment. You are one of these people that assumes art is simple and not hard work. There are all kinds of costs in time and money to create it, then there are additional costs of time and money to market and sell it. You can read about my art trials and tribs in my other blog if you care to learn about it. And the point is that the work he sold and didn't sell there, was worth thousands/millions of dollars and if the people knew that, they would have snatched it all up immediately (they don't care about it for the art, just for the monetary value). The rest is just anecdotal/bragging, I don't know you and you don't know me, so calling me a dumbass who doesn't work hard enough isn't going to accomplish anything. You also contradict yourself, is it hard work? or not that hard?
just because something is hard doesn't mean it will or should be rewarded. we create value by providing value for others, that's a fundamental rule of economics -- no man is an island.
if that guy's artwork is really worth millions, that is because someone who is rich decided to buy it for millions, it has certainly has no intrinsic value. there are art pieces that were created by machines in under a week that can be worth a lot. art isn't a field where you should expect monetary gain not totally because the probability is low, but also because the successful few earn a vastly disproportionate amount more income than those who are only marginally worse than themselves.
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On January 13 2014 12:58 Grobyc wrote:Show nested quote +On January 13 2014 11:13 MarlieChurphy wrote:
I've grinded my way into independence a couple of times only to be kicked back to square one over and over. What exactly do you mean by this? Like what happened exactly? I just don't believe you can be nearly 30 and have put in as much effort as you say you have and not have literally nothing like you say. I could only imagine you'd have to have been mugged/stabbed/robbed multiple times and then had to give all your savings to your dying father for cancer treatment then have your car stolen, have three jobs lay you off, then have a deranged ex-wife take custody of half your belongings. Because if it's that shitty I don't know what to tell you other than I'm inclined to say you need to re-read usedtocare's first post and start from 0 again. And like other people have said, you can expedite things massively if you're willing to come up to Canada to work on oil fields and stuff.
It's a long story, pieces I have told in other blogs on old accounts. I'll try and be brief. I grew up in a broken home with the rest of my secondary family being just as tumultuous and rejecting (I really never felt as if they were family, more like people I was supposed to like that didn't like us -my immediate family. ANd my immediate family wasn't much of a family unit either to begin with.). I grew up poor and we moved around a lot even though my dad is a workaholic and was never around. My mom has bipolar and overly religious. I was somewhat parentalized and had a lot of other shitty problems (law, school, etc) in my teens. I began working early and left school early. Being poor and directionless, I did what I thought I was supposed to do "go to school". Junior college is a waste of time and not feasible for me and people in my situation and not paid for by the state as people seem to think, what I needed was a vocational (and probably still need) school and trade to begin working and making a decent living. Once I was 18, I continued to bounce around from place to place with no real home working low wage jobs nearby and using the money to survive on (savings lol). I spent some times completely homeless and jobless. After years of this, I finally caught a 'break' with a friend who needed a roomate nearby a job I had. The costs were far greater than what I thought I could afford but I barely survived on this for a couple of years, basically never going out or spending money on anything that wasn't necessity. I was fronted a shitty vehicle from mom's friend, and was slowly paying for, that ended up fucking me over in multiple ways more than anything in my life. However, I had no choice because you need a vehicle here as public transportation is a joke. I lost everything in 2010 and started the bouncing around crappy job thing again. I got my highest paying job of 10.50$/hr in 2012 due to random cronyism. It was a shit job that I worked hard at, like all other jobs I held. I had that job for about a year and was fired for bullshit reasons because the laws were changing and more labor was being outsourced. So yes, I was technically layed off multiple times because of businesses closing down due to economy or whatever. I didn't even receive unemployment because they tricked me to signing some shit when I was let go. I had been saving up money to take care of dentistry and to buy a vehicle when my vehicle finally took it's last shit and I was fired. I lived off the 2000$ savings and art sales for about 5-6 months. Now I'm broke again. I'm getting tired of this inability to climb out of poverty no matter how hard I work or try to save. There are so many random factors just fucking me and people like me over and over at every turn.
This is really an oversimplification of some of the more standout things over the years. And while it's not physically terrible like you suggested, I would rather have that than this.
Anyway,
I heard similar work is available in New Mexico? with oil fields from a guy on reddit. He mentioned all the same sort of things but the people were 'salt of the earth' types (whatever he meant by that) and that most people who get into it just plan to do it for a while and end up 60 years old still doing it. And overall trying to discourage me from it, as he grew up there and was trying to move away.
I'd be willing to do either anyways though. How do you get into that?
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On January 13 2014 12:45 lichter wrote:
The problem is that what you wrote, I also consider generic and meaningless phrases. It is impossible to prove otherwise without enough exposure. How can you tell if a person really does "work under pressure" or can "adapt to anything"? If companies believed stuff like that the applicant could just put as many boastful claims as he wants as long as he is creative and eloquent enough about it.
When I look at resumes I always look for facts and specific. Perhaps he worked on this kind of machine, or has fixed an x amount of cars for this specific problem. Maybe he designed this website or wrote a program to solve for a specific work related problem. Resume entries like that interest me. Boastful claims, however honest, however well written, do not.
Well this isn't a resume, he just asked me for a list of 'softskills' whatever that means. My resume is pretty specific with the kinds of details you are talking about.
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What do you wish to achieve with your life? Is there anything you'd really like to do - however outlandish - but it seems like you won't make any money doing it?
Start from the end. When you take your last breath, what is it that you would have done with your life?
If you only want money and a regular life, there are ways to do that, as has been discussed.
I think what's really holding you back is something else, maybe even completely unrelated to money. Do you hate being around people? Do you hate working? What is it?
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On January 13 2014 15:04 hp.Shell wrote:
What do you wish to achieve with your life? Is there anything you'd really like to do - however outlandish - but it seems like you won't make any money doing it?
Start from the end. When you take your last breath, what is it that you would have done with your life?
If you only want money and a regular life, there are ways to do that, as has been discussed.
I think what's really holding you back is something else, maybe even completely unrelated to money. Do you hate being around people? Do you hate working? What is it?
Just wanna be independent and free from bullshit which seems to be impossible. Maybe eventually have a family. There are lots of things that interest me but I don't know if they are things that I should pursue or can pursue largely because of the constraints and lack of knowledge to even know where to begin.
I would much rather get into an industry and see it's inner workings and then go to school alongside it to move up in that than to do it in reverse. I have seen it all too often people getting degrees and having nothing but debt and no use for them as they are not interested in their field after all.
Don't know. I know it's common knowledge that a lot of older people on their deathbeds have specific obvious regrets, but I don't really have anything to regret like that.
It's not that I hate people or work, it's that I hate the jobs I have to work, and I hate the people I have to work with at those jobs. I don't think this is relevant though because I'm pretty sure most people don't look forward to going to work or seeing coworkers. That's not to say there aren't specific times or people from work that are ok, I'm still friends with some people from my last job-sort of. I think the main issue is just that I don't know what to do or where to begin to do anything like this because I wasn't raised right or didn't see how things were supposed to go. It's hard for me to explain, I'm not sure if you know what it feels like. I've had to do everything on my own since I was like 13 and I didn't and still don't have any idea what the fuck to do. Which is why I was thinking about joining the military (even though I really hate the idea and use of them currently) where they help guide lost souls like myself, but I am too old afaik.
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The market in California is too saturated for anything unless you have established network connections. I think you should look to reside elsewhere to start over and increase your income rate. I also think your best chance is to get into technical programs & careers like everyone else has been suggesting. I'll also throw out careers like haircut, nails, etc. The oil-occupation in Canada people have been mentioning might also be good to look at.
Good luck man.
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On January 13 2014 12:45 lichter wrote:
The problem is that what you wrote, I also consider generic and meaningless phrases. It is impossible to prove otherwise without enough exposure. How can you tell if a person really does "work under pressure" or can "adapt to anything"? If companies believed stuff like that the applicant could just put as many boastful claims as he wants as long as he is creative and eloquent enough about it.
When I look at resumes I always look for facts and specific. Perhaps he worked on this kind of machine, or has fixed an x amount of cars for this specific problem. Maybe he designed this website or wrote a program to solve for a specific work related problem. Resume entries like that interest me. Boastful claims, however honest, however well written, do not.
and still companies fill the job requirements with demands like that most of the time: working under pressure, fast learner, analytical thinking, ability to handle stress or work under deadlines etc etc. If you don't care for those don't think that other recruiters wouldn't, clearly they actually do.
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While I can't give you advice on finding a job in the states specifically, I can only support your notion of learning a trade. While I don't regret going through the university route myself, I feel like everyone steered me into this when I would much rather have done something technically or mechanically proficient when I was 17.
I don't know what options you have in that regard, but I can only suggest looking into that. Also if you're willing to relocate you may be able to find vocational training opportunities in locations that really have a severe skill shortage and where the cost of living might be cheaper than where you are now.
In any case I wish you the best of luck, life is tough and you seem to have been dealt a tough hand in any case. Many people on TL have had the privilege of better parenting, money or education that others have not had, but that shouldn't disqualify any advice they give you, but always bring it into your context. I hope you find something that can both support and satisfy you so you can pursue your other life goals.
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you're much older than I am but I believe tradie is the best choice for you. There's just so many degree graduates that with your age and experience you will get destroyed even in high demand fields/ too expensive/ too long. Plus, with hands-on tradie like baking or plumbing or metalworks you're less likely to get outsourced overseas.
Just remember, you are just an ant. You live your life and then you die. So no pressure there cause its not like you can "beat" life.
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If interviews are your problem, here's what works for me. I've had 11 job interviews and thus far a perfect score.
1. No bullshit
When applying for a job that's not your career, don't bullshit them.
Don't give them lines like 'I enjoy working in an office environment and computers are my passion.'.
They know you're lying, they know nobody could be passionate about sitting in front of a computer 30+ hours a week. If you're just in it for the money, you tell them exactly that.
2. Don't play dress up
Seriously, if you try too hard, they will notice. Wear a suit and tie to an interview? Unless you work for a bank or something equally pretentious, don't bother. Your appearance should be clean but at the same time indifferent.
Jeans and stubble works for me, your mileage may vary.
3. You're better than them
Seriously, would you give a shit what some HR-rep or CEO of a small company thinks of you outside of an interview?
Don't try to impress them, make them work for you. Chances are you're talking to an MBA or something equally lame, don't bend over backwards for people like these.
Remember, these are people who were too dim to be get into science, too dull to be artists and not man enough to learn a craft, so they took courses in business or management, courses that everyone with enough spare time could do after a full frontal lobotomy.
They know that, show them that you do, too.
4. Don't smile, sneer
You're not some sycophant who applies to be the CEO's asslicker, so don't look like one.
Don't let them interview you, interview them. Why should you consider them, not the other way round.
The world is your fucking oyster, if you really give them five hours a day they better give you a good reason why.
5. Tell them, don't ask.
'We pay ten Euro an hour for our entry level employees.'
'Could you make that twelve?' NOPE! 'Let's make that twelve and I'll sign this right away.'
This advice may be terrible when applying for a executive-position in a Fortune 500 company, I wouldn't know, but when applying for jobs that are just stepping stones to pay for school, you should treat them as such right away.
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On January 14 2014 23:35 SixStrings wrote:
If interviews are your problem, here's what works for me. I've had 11 job interviews and thus far a perfect score.
1. No bullshit
When applying for a job that's not your career, don't bullshit them.
Don't give them lines like 'I enjoy working in an office environment and computers are my passion.'.
They know you're lying, they know nobody could be passionate about sitting in front of a computer 30+ hours a week. If you're just in it for the money, you tell them exactly that.
2. Don't play dress up
Seriously, if you try too hard, they will notice. Wear a suit and tie to an interview? Unless you work for a bank or something equally pretentious, don't bother. Your appearance should be clean but at the same time indifferent.
Jeans and stubble works for me, your mileage may vary.
3. You're better than them
Seriously, would you give a shit what some HR-rep or CEO of a small company thinks of you outside of an interview?
Don't try to impress them, make them work for you. Chances are you're talking to an MBA or something equally lame, don't bend over backwards for people like these.
Remember, these are people who were too dim to be get into science, too dull to be artists and not man enough to learn a craft, so they took courses in business or management, courses that everyone with enough spare time could do after a full frontal lobotomy.
They know that, show them that you do, too.
4. Don't smile, sneer
You're not some sycophant who applies to be the CEO's asslicker, so don't look like one.
Don't let them interview you, interview them. Why should you consider them, not the other way round.
The world is your fucking oyster, if you really give them five hours a day they better give you a good reason why.
5. Tell them, don't ask.
'We pay ten Euro an hour for our entry level employees.'
'Could you make that twelve?' NOPE! 'Let's make that twelve and I'll sign this right away.'
This advice may be terrible when applying for a executive-position in a Fortune 500 company, I wouldn't know, but when applying for jobs that are just stepping stones to pay for school, you should treat them as such right away.
If you ever want to apply for an engineering job (even an internship), do the exact opposite of this.
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I read through most of that thread and I still am not sure what exactly that is. And what is a CV?
edit- I guess it's some sort of UK resume type thing? I have never heard of this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curriculum_vitae
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That sounds pretty tragic. It's so easy to forget the role having a supportive family and good opportunities early on in life mean to one's future prospects. No wonder people turn to crime, gambling and drugs in this sort of environment, they all offer potential for ways out. It's so easy come along and give this 'man up,' 'on your bike' or 'by the bootstraps' response and then walkaway.
I just took a look at your hats, they are amazing! Obviously art and design are where your passion and talents lie, so this should be your goal! Do you write/graffiti?
For anyone that is interested: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=273390
If you want to hear something depressing + Show Spoiler +I found out recently that a friend of the family is now a multi-millionaire because her husband got lucky and now makes a living off drawing celebrities' pets wearing monocles, curly moustashes and top hats and then sells them back to them. This guy failed his art degree (which I thought was impossible) and has no soul.
My younger brother isn't in quite as bad a situation, but he is eking out a living on near minimum wage as a grounds keeper to a Duke. He's looking to get a license to drive a forklift which will double what he currently earns. So those kinds of professional qualifications can be a way to go - obviously there's the tricky thing in paying for it... Are there local businesses or organisations that would train/apprentice you?
When I was younger I stayed afloat working back stage at a theatre. Bloody fun.
I hope your situation improves soon, good luck out there.
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Say you work 30 hours a week at $8 (and that's generous), that's 960 dollars a month to live on before taxes. Let's make it an even 1000.
Why only 30 hours at $8? Maybe it's different in California, but I have had no trouble in getting two jobs at slightly above minimum wage for a total of more than 40 hours/week while being an unqualified college student.
Why aren't you working right now? Even if it is just a part time job at minimum wage, that's extra income over what you have now. If it's part time then it still leaves you plenty of time to be looking for other opportunities as well. Are you applying to jobs right now? Are you limiting what kind of jobs you are applying for?
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On January 15 2014 01:57 MarlieChurphy wrote:I read through most of that thread and I still am not sure what exactly that is. And what is a CV? edit- I guess it's some sort of UK resume type thing? I have never heard of this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curriculum_vitae
Don't worry, we never heard of resumes too.
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On January 15 2014 06:40 Deleuze wrote:That sounds pretty tragic. It's so easy to forget the role having a supportive family and good opportunities early on in life mean to one's future prospects. No wonder people turn to crime, gambling and drugs in this sort of environment, they all offer potential for ways out. It's so easy come along and give this 'man up,' 'on your bike' or 'by the bootstraps' response and then walkaway. I just took a look at your hats, they are amazing! Obviously art and design are where your passion and talents lie, so this should be your goal! Do you write/graffiti? For anyone that is interested: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=273390If you want to hear something depressing + Show Spoiler +I found out recently that a friend of the family is now a multi-millionaire because her husband got lucky and now makes a living off drawing celebrities' pets wearing monocles, curly moustashes and top hats and then sells them back to them. This guy failed his art degree (which I thought was impossible) and has no soul. My younger brother isn't in quite as bad a situation, but he is eking out a living on near minimum wage as a grounds keeper to a Duke. He's looking to get a license to drive a forklift which will double what he currently earns. So those kinds of professional qualifications can be a way to go - obviously there's the tricky thing in paying for it... Are there local businesses or organisations that would train/apprentice you? When I was younger I stayed afloat working back stage at a theatre. Bloody fun. I hope your situation improves soon, good luck out there.
Thanks. I'm not as passionate about art as I was when I was a kid/teen. Every once in a while, it bites me though. Graffiti, yea I used to be active in my teens when I lived in Sacramento.
Yea, I've found most 'artists' are more about their legend than their actual art. So the guy with a failed art degree isn't lucky, he just knows how to work the art industry. It's not hard to see how it works, with people like Mr.Brainwash (exit through the gift shop), Marla (My kid could paint that), and even Banksy. A lot of banksy's work is pretty normal stencil and he even started out his career straight biting another french guy's rats and King Robbo (which I actually believe is actually Banksy or his alter ego is banksy, however you want to look at it). And then there are all the greats who lived a shit life and now their works are priceless. The key component here, controversy. Art has to be controversial to be worth anything consistently. Or it just needs to be near photographic material because people are into that sort of thing for tattoos, drawings of pictures, etc.
On January 15 2014 11:23 Chaosu wrote:Don't worry, we never heard of resumes too.
But you live so close to France.
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So random nepotism struck today, probably shouldn't be talking about it to jinx it but whatever.
My older sister who is a MFTherapist etc called me today to let me know part of her new job with working with autistic kids/teens involves this big teen that needs a man for life tutor type stuff. It starts at 20$/hr and she said the industry is severely lacking in men as well, so even if this is temporary, I can be learned all the basics etc and use it to further myself into the field and possibly even have a reason to go to school in some psychology related thing if it seems promising.
The reason men are needed is because some of these kids are big for one (I'm 6'2" 185 pretty fit), and are hard to control for these fragile women therapists. The other is because you gotta teach em man stuff, like washing your balls, shootin hoops, and general stuff that a woman wouldn't be comfortable teaching a boy or can't. So that's pretty cool.
The reason why I'm bringing this up, is because I am looking for research and stuff to better prepare for the interview and job. She gave me a bunch of stuff to lookup and watch on YT. Is anyone here on the autism spectrum or have aspergers? Have any tips for me?
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On January 16 2014 05:29 MarlieChurphy wrote:
So random nepotism struck today, probably shouldn't be talking about it to jinx it but whatever.
My older sister who is a MFTherapist etc called me today to let me know part of her new job with working with autistic kids/teens involves this big teen that needs a man for life tutor type stuff. It starts at 20$/hr and she said the industry is severely lacking in men as well, so even if this is temporary, I can be learned all the basics etc and use it to further myself into the field and possibly even have a reason to go to school in some psychology related thing if it seems promising.
The reason men are needed is because some of these kids are big for one (I'm 6'2" 185 pretty fit), and are hard to control for these fragile women therapists. The other is because you gotta teach em man stuff, like washing your balls, shootin hoops, and general stuff that a woman wouldn't be comfortable teaching a boy or can't. So that's pretty cool.
The reason why I'm bringing this up, is because I am looking for research and stuff to better prepare for the interview and job. She gave me a bunch of stuff to lookup and watch on YT. Is anyone here on the autism spectrum or have aspergers? Have any tips for me?
I can see you two becoming a new jay and silent bob
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EPT
