Career Help and Advice
Related: About this forumSomeone remind me I should be grateful that I'm working.
Because right now that's all my job has going for it.
pscot
(21,031 posts)ailsagirl
(23,764 posts)I'd kill for one... well, you know what I mean.
klook
(12,842 posts)Believe me, I know it's hard, since work sucks up so much time and energy. I've had jobs that meant little or nothing to me most of my working life. I'm sure this is true for many more people than are willing to admit it. The saying "Do what you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life" is great for those who can truthfully say it, but I have to be honest and say my work situation is far from that model.
To maintain sanity, I have to relegate work to its proper place in my life. The things that are most important to me (family, friends, hobbies, creative pursuits) produce either zero or minuscule income. But they are what I live for.
My job supports these important activities -- OK, and also it supports a roof over my and my family's head, meals, clothing, transportation, etc. That's all it is, really: an income generator. I get almost no personal satisfaction from it. At least I can say I'm not in a job that I'm ashamed of. It's just not one I care about that much, but it's a good living for my education, skills, and demographics.
You've heard the saying -- either you "live to work or work to live." I'm definitely in the "work to live" category.
I do try to do a good job while I'm working (and my glowing performance reviews attest to that). But in the overall picture, my job is basically a temporary necessity that I put up with while I have to.
EnvironmentalVK
(6 posts)As a recent college graduate (OSU-Environmental Science) who works two part time jobs: (RGIS and Genuine Care Prosthetics Administrative Assistant) I aim applying for positions in the EPA, DEQ, and Student Conservation Association as an employee or a paid intern.
Job search is stressful but I would advise not giving up and keep he positive spirit.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)She is still looking.
IronLionZion
(46,895 posts)rather than taking a chance on someone who has been unemployed for some time. It's very difficult for the long term unemployed to even get interviews. Gratitude is a great attitude. Expressing negativity towards anything can be a big turnoff in job interviews.
Rather than being unhappy with my current job, I state that the company's major organizational changes are heading in a different direction from where I would like to go. Or vice versa, I see my career heading in a different direction or I want to leverage different skillsets than what they have me doing.
If you have been training and building up new skills in the work you want, put that right on the top. The stuff you want to go into should be the first thing anyone sees on your resume before going down to your work experience. That worked for me.
I recently got a new job offer after years of passively searching while I had a soul sucking job in the wrong field with multi-hour commutes to different cities. I'm nothing special, so it can be done by anyone. An optimistic attitude makes a big difference.
Good luck to all!