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Originally Posted by Nxious
I contacted the career counseling department in my university, but they told me after 5 years from graduation we don't give help, and they gave me the name of a governmental employment service agency that help people find jobs where I live, which I went to for 4 months taking workshops and 1-on-1 training with a trainer, but all was useless.
I would work anything that requires reasonable mental effort and pay the bills. I don't want to deal with customers because I am terrible with people and have no patience, and the physical work is not for me (I have back problems).
I thought of getting another master degree in computer science with specialization in machine learning, but it seemed too much of a road to take after my 7-year graduate studies, and I would need a financial assistance or a scholarship as I have tight budget!!
Also, I don't think in my current mental state I could sit and read for hours as I used to do. I am learning things alone though on my pace and as much as I can. I only have academic experience (research), and even another degree would put me on square one again.
I once applied to a position in the industry in my field, and the recruiter replied rather coldly "we are not looking for people with academic experience only"!! OK, but if no one is looking for people with academic experience only like me, where can I get this industrial experience?!! and when I apply to junior positions, they think I am overqualified to take a job that requires Bachelor's degree!!
I am confused and clueless to what else I can do.
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Wow. So your university's career center puts a cap on helping alumni find a job? That's bogus! I'm 48 and graduated from my university's grad program in 2013 and can still make appointments at the career center there for help finding a job and I can contact alumni in my city to ask them to help me find a job too. Nothing's come up yet from that, but those are options. That STINKS that your university's career center won't help you after 5 years. That seems very suspicious to me.
I say go for that second masters in computer science and work if you know it will help you get a job in a field/industry you have an interest in. Yes, you'll have to read a lot but you can find resources to help you (also, most grad school classes put students into 'cohorts' or study groups for the entire course, so you can break up reading assignments by person in your cohort group and get notes from other group members that summarize the other parts of the reading assignments).
It's a good choice and screw it, just take out student loans. Did you know, that if you are on social security, student loan lenders CANT take that money from you. And, even if you are on SS and work a part-time job, you can do IBR -- income based repayment or apply for financial hardship and defer your student loans. So, really think about going back to grad school if you know your other options for employment are limited. It can totally open up new employment opportunities for you -- grad school.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nxious
Another point is that when I apply to a position, I probably come across as desperate, especially if I am overqualified for that position. Another reason to not to consider me.
The other day I was talking to someone, and I told him how I feel depressed and frustrated that I am unemployed and cannot get anything, especially I am seeing others doing well in their jobs or at least have one, he basically invalidated my feelings by telling me you don't know what's going on in their lives. Well, yes, I don't know what's going on in their lives, as no one knows what's going on in my life and what I went through.
Everyone has his/her own package in life. But I was talking specifically about having a basic thing in life to get by: a job. I wasn't discussing how they seem happy in their lives or not.
Then he started to imply that I am envious of others (WTF)!!!! Another person when I told him how I feel and what I am going through, he basically replied that he is stressed out in his job!! OK, we can talk about this, but at least acknowledge what I said!! Nothing.
And this person when we were in college he was calling me everyday for at least an hour, and ask for my help when he needed help, and visited me all the time. Now he barely recognizes me. I feel when someone is not working others start to look down at him/her.
That he/she is inferior, and to be honest that's how I feel most of the time these days. One person I sent email to to ask for his guidance and suggestion, and told him to call me anytime, when he called he told me people who are available all the time (he meant me obviously) are desperate!!
OK, I know that I am desperate for help and for a job, but telling me that I am desperate in my face was hurtful!! Besides, I wanted him to call me at his convenience, because I am the one needed his help, but instead he told me I am desperate. At the end he told me just to edit my resume!! As I haven't done that 100s of times. Thanks for your valuable time.
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You sound just like me. Your friend sounds like everyone else who has a stable job -- very insensitive and doesn't understand the long-term effects of not being employed. I gave up confiding in family and friends about my employment situation exactly because of what you experienced with this friend of yours.
They just don't get it and are totally insensitive to our situation b/c they are 1) glad they're not in our situation and 2) don't want to offer us empathy b/c they think we are lazy or not trying hard enough etc. etc. because they are just clueless and at the end of the day, people are judgmental jerks.
Do not take it personally what this idiot said to you.