[FreckleTone]

Unsure whether this belongs here because I just recently broke down and cried and in need to let out some steam. I don't know who to turn to. To really know why I am going through this I have to start a while back when I was in college. My first diploma was earned from the Arts field. It was in relation to retail and when I graduated back in 2007 I got a job in a retail store, 6 months after graduating. I say it was luck that landed me a job because the store that hired me were desperate for workers and I just happened to be there. I even had a 15 minute interview and on the same day I got the job. Anyway, the work was easy. Moved up pretty quick but I was still getting paid the same and working more. After 2 years I decided to quit. I was thankful for this job because the experience made me confident and gave me a backbone and most of all made me realized that I was made for something more. I wanted to prove to my parents and especially myself that I could do something more with my life also I didn't see myself doing retail forever. My parents are very supportive, I am emotionally independent but I am still technically a child since I still live with them. I left retail and went back to college for something more in the challenging area. I decided to enter into Computer Programming. Even though I didn't have past experience with it I'm sure I can learn it. It was hard, I struggled, I cried endless nights but graduated with a good mark. Three years in the program and here I am looking for a job. For some reasons I was so sure of landing a job instantly since technology is in the height of advancement and many people also have given me advice to enter in the IT field as "that's where the money is", but it's already 5 months I am still jobless. I have applied constantly everywhere and still nothing. I had 3 interviews so far and nothing. I know I shouldn't be complaining and I don't even have the right to because I know there are many that are going through the same situation as I am. I am so depress. I have gone through online articles on "how to stay positive" and most of them consist of spending money and I don't even have that. I don't have fun anymore. I don't ask my parents for money considering they are already paying for my cellphone and VISA and did I mention I still live at home? I feel like I have this obsession to prove myself to the world. I know it's probably not much but I worked my hardest to the flesh in order to graduate to earn this 2nd diploma just so I can get into a career that my parents can be proud off. If this 2nd career change fail me again then I don't know anymore. I'm so depress I have no one to talk to. Please help.

[Little Lulu]

I wonder if your feelings of self worth and need to prove yourself has as much to do with the cause of your depression than the actual unemployment. Everytime I pin my happiness on what others think of me (including my family) I am sure to feel lousy.

Your parents love you no matter what field you work in and other people don't care what you do with your life. But if proof is what matters to you, you have already proven you are a good employee in your retail work and you've proven your capabilities in IT by making good grades.

Do some volunteer work while you wait this out to keep yourself occupied and maybe make some contacts ... I know a previously unemployed chef who was going nutty at home so he volunteered at the local soup kitchen - they hired him as a paid employee.