[Shadix]

I am 26 and I have no idea what to do. I graduated college with a crappy degree and now I have a crappy job. I want to choose a career I can get into and be proud of, but I have no idea how to go about exploring new careers. Career counselors all charge tons of money, which I can't afford since I don't have insurance. Basically it seems like society doesn't want people exploring new opportunities because it needs people working these crappy jobs like the one I have now. People are only given the opportunity to explore new opportunities in college and after that you're expected to just get a job, work your *** off, and know your place. How do I go about disobeying society and serving my own interests instead?

Dear Shadix,

Unfortunately we live in a system where certain roles are more rewarding, some careers more progressive and some professions more respected than the rest. When we grow up in a system like that, we tend to make popular choices only to realise later what we really want deep inside. Upon realisation, some people have a choice to change their course and for others, it is not an option.

Now in order for you to pursue your interests, you have to see whether you can make this decision or not. If you have a family to feed, repay a loan or other financial obligations, then (whether you like it or not) you have to carry on until you can afford to choose whatever you wish to do. So sit down and consider your situation, only you know your circumstances and only you can make a decision.

I wish you well.

[hellboy]

Originally Posted by Shadix

I am 26 and I have no idea what to do. I graduated college with a crappy degree and now I have a crappy job. I want to choose a career I can get into and be proud of, but I have no idea how to go about exploring new careers. Career counselors all charge tons of money, which I can't afford since I don't have insurance. Basically it seems like society doesn't want people exploring new opportunities because it needs people working these crappy jobs like the one I have now. People are only given the opportunity to explore new opportunities in college and after that you're expected to just get a job, work your *** off, and know your place. How do I go about disobeying society and serving my own interests instead?

Go to your alma mater and they will have a career center there with career counselors.

Hellboy

Originally Posted by hellboy

Go to your alma mater and they will have a career center there with career counselors.

Hellboy

@ HellBoy, I am off-topic here but your avatar is that of Winnie the Pook whereas this is how Hell Boy looks like:



Sorry if it offended you but this is coming from a Hell Boy (2004) movie fan!

[doyoutrustme]

Start with what is interesting to you. When you were in college, was there any class requirement you had to take that was fun for you?

[CosmicRose]

You shouldn't have to pay to talk to a career counselor if you have a degree - all you need to do is go back to your college campus (if this is even possible) and walk into their office and say you graduated in (year) and would like to speak to a career counselor. Usually those services are free (I thought). Maybe I'm wrong though. Just keep in mind that even a career counselor might not be able to help that much. They will probably just talk to you about a list of careers that you would be able to find online anyway, and it ultimately comes down to which one you choose and stick to.

[hellboy]

Originally Posted by Alfred.Mayor

@ HellBoy, I am off-topic here but your avatar is that of Winnie the Pook whereas this is how Hell Boy looks like:



Sorry if it offended you but this is coming from a Hell Boy (2004) movie fan!

Lmao!!! Omg that's hilarious! I also am a big Hellboy fan and on my other account In have him as my avatar, but for some reason Pooh is on there because he's my girlfriend's favorite... LOL that is so funny

[Webgoji]

Originally Posted by Shadix

I am 26 and I have no idea what to do. I graduated college with a crappy degree and now I have a crappy job. I want to choose a career I can get into and be proud of, but I have no idea how to go about exploring new careers. Career counselors all charge tons of money, which I can't afford since I don't have insurance. Basically it seems like society doesn't want people exploring new opportunities because it needs people working these crappy jobs like the one I have now. People are only given the opportunity to explore new opportunities in college and after that you're expected to just get a job, work your *** off, and know your place. How do I go about disobeying society and serving my own interests instead?

It's awesome that you're starting this exploration now. I'm 41 and just setting the wheels in motion. I think right now the best thing is to keep that job going so you can pay for your basics. But in the mean time you need to find your "passion". That thing that you do.

For me I always enjoyed writing. I even thought about going into literature in college, but chose engineering thinking it would be fulfilling and pay well (little did I know). But I've always come back to writing.

Now I know, because I'm always defaulting to writing, that it's my passion. I'm working a crappy job to pay the bills, but I'm starting the wheels in motion (backwards, it's confusing, but I don't have time to explain) to become a professional writer.

So what are your hobbies? What classes did you most like? What's that "thing" you do and is always on your mind? Start with finding that passion and then figure out how to develop your career around that.

(And trust me, 26 isn't too late. )

[CapedCrusader]

If you are living alone, it will be much more easier because you don't have somebody to feed. Situations like that are not easy. So you have to really think about it. Think what you really want. Maybe, you want to join the Marines. I urge you to join the Marines. Semper Fi!

[Miss Laura]

How about volunteering? If you have time. I started off volunteering when I was 16 looking after kids who have a disability (physical, mental, emotional) I had no idea what I wanted to do in life. This made me go to college to train as a classroom assistant... but that wasn't for me. I then started to work with men who had Autism, Learning Disabilities and Challenging Behaviour. This was my dream job! I went in as a support worker and came out as a key worker. But this also made me EXTREMELY ill mentally (I was unaware I had bipolar until 4 years into working in this line if work). I now volunteer as a youth worker working with school aged kids and as their volunteer co-ordinator. I also volunteer as a befriender for a mental health charity... I always say everyone should volunteer once in their life it's very rewarding :-) I still don't know what I want to do but least I have options

[Slamjammer]

By this time in your life you should have some idea of (1) things you LIKE to do, and (2) things for which you have a natural APTITUDE. They aren't necessarily the same, but there is probably some overlap. Sit down and make a list of each, then compare the two. See where one compliments the other, and think of ways they might relate to your degree, if at all. Unless you are leaning towards a technical field, don't get too hung up on the relevance of your degree. A very good friend of mine sells components used to operate nuclear power plants....but has a degree in history. Go figure! Very often a degree merely attests to the fact that you are reasonably well organized, you can work hard, and you can learn new things....nothing more.

Also, most recruiting firms will do the counseling for free, and have relationships with employers who are actively hiring. If they find you a job, their fee is typically paid by the employer.

There are many doors open for you. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and go find them.

Good luck!

[Koko2]

My career advice is don't select a career path because the job is in high demand or something like that. Look at what your favorite high school classes were, and choose a career along similar lines. Create your own demand by doing what you love.

[Koko2]

Originally Posted by Slamjammer

. A very good friend of mine sells components used to operate nuclear power plants....but has a degree in history. Go figure! Very often a degree merely attests to the fact that you are reasonably well organized, you can work hard, and you can learn new things....nothing more.

Good luck!

The ESPN sports announcer Chris Behrman (the guy who yells "back, back, back, back, back, homerun!) has a history degree. I think a liberal arts degree can help one to stand out from the crowd, and is not a bad choice at all for someone interested in such. I wanted to get a liberal arts degree when I was in high school and have a liberal arts minor, but wish it were my major.

[Slamjammer]

Originally Posted by Koko2

The ESPN sports announcer Chris Behrman (the guy who yells "back, back, back, back, back, homerun!) has a history degree. I think a liberal arts degree can help one to stand out from the crowd, and is not a bad choice at all for someone interested in such. I wanted to get a liberal arts degree when I was in high school and have a liberal arts minor, but wish it were my major.

My daughter got a liberal arts degree at IU, and found that it was about as useful in the business world as the aforementioned history degree. She went back to school and got an MBA.

[cool09]

You have a crappy degree? What type of degree? People need to work hard and find something that's comfortable to them before they're 40-45 because after that it's too late to put lots of energy into something and to start something new. My energy started to really diminish after 48 or so. I've had all sorts of jobs and was never successful: painter, engineer, cemetery worker, office cleaner, library clerk. I started working as a paperboy at 11, had many jobs before 18 and was burned out by 35. (Mood disorder starting at 14 certainly didn't help.) If you can tolerate people and are pleasant you can really do anything you want to do.

My sister-in-law got a sociology degree, started as a bill collector and worked her way up the ladder to a VP at a major bank and makes well over $100K now. Her sister did the same exact thing (with the same bank) and has so much money she doesn't know what to do with it.

[Slamjammer]

>>. Her sister did the same exact thing (with the same bank) and has so much money she doesn't know what to do with it.<<

Betcha she does ;-)

[Jan1212]

I enrolled in a music school, decided to do liberal arts, then switched to fine arts, failed, enrolled in biology, switched to nursing, now I am an RN. And I still don't know what to do, I hate it. My anxiety and issues are getting in the way of everything in my life, so jm getting help for that first

[CosmicRose]

"Her sister did the same exact thing (with the same bank) and has so much money she doesn't know what to do with it."
She can give it to me just kidding.
I think I'll look into that bill collecting thing. Isn't that kind of a tough job though? Calling people and trying to get them to pay a bill? Like old people or people who lost their jobs? You'd need a lot of people skills for that. Which I'm kind of lacking in right now LOL

[Slamjammer]

>>I think I'll look into that bill collecting thing. Isn't that kind of a tough job though? Calling people and trying to get them to pay a bill? Like old people or people who lost their jobs? You'd need a lot of people skills for that. Which I'm kind of lacking in right now <<

I've always felt that the consumer lending industry offers some of the finest business training available anywhere, along with very good promotional opportunities and decent compensation. Auto loans, charge cards, second mortgages...thru a bank or consumer lending company. Start in collections ( sometimes called "servicing"), progress to credit approval, assistant manager, then branch manager in about 5 years. You can do it with or without a degree, but you'll likely progress faster and have more opportunities with a degree of SOME sort. Yes, you will need some people skills, but that will be true in just about any field of endeavor. All the necessary training is provided.

[Koko2]

Originally Posted by Slamjammer

My daughter got a liberal arts degree at IU, and found that it was about as useful in the business world as the aforementioned history degree. She went back to school and got an MBA.

Your daughter probably has enough genuine passion for that major to succeed with it. My passion lies elsewhere and employers notice that within 10 minutes of a job interview.

[CosmicRose]

I've always heard degrees in art are useless. The only degrees that are worth anything these days are said to be business, science, engineering, and math which are of course the always in demand STEM fields. Even people who have degrees in psychology, education, or communication are having a hard time finding jobs. I'm 22 so I'm seeing everyone I know try to get jobs with their different degrees.
Business and STEM careers are the most in demand. The degrees that focus on creativity are the least in demand. Which is lame, but it makes sense, since the creative jobs are the ones that usually require you to be self employed in the first place.
But the psychology, communication and education degrees are so overpopulated with graduates that they're hard to squeeze into because of all the competition and the sheer amount of new grads in those fields.

[Slamjammer]

Originally Posted by Koko2

Your daughter probably has enough genuine passion for that major to succeed with it. My passion lies elsewhere and employers notice that within 10 minutes of a job interview.

Certainly it is ideal to work within a field you are passionate about. However, I think it's very possible to be happy...contented...doing something else that may offer more opportunity. Perhaps your hobbies could become an outlet for your passion. Keep in mind that a large part of "job satisfaction" comes from other things, like environment, co-workers, security, compensation, and a clear idea of what tomorrow may bring.

[cool09]

Even people who have degrees in psychology, education, or communication are having a hard time finding jobs.

Right now no one is finding work unless you work construction paving roads (financed by the govn't) which aren't in need of paving. Electrical, computer and chemical engineers are always in demand but those are demanding, tedious and underpaid jobs. My degree was mechanical engineering - I'm just lucky I made it thru college. Nursing is a very demanding job - I don't know how they do it. And robots are starting to take over many factory jobs.

[Koko2]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

I've always heard degrees in art are useless. The only degrees that are worth anything these days are said to be business, science, engineering, and math which are of course the always in demand STEM fields. Even people who have degrees in psychology, education, or communication are having a hard time finding jobs. I'm 22 so I'm seeing everyone I know try to get jobs with their different degrees.
Business and STEM careers are the most in demand.

I have a practical degree but can't get a job because no one takes me serious. Others in my high school class followed their dreams, and have become highly successful, creating their own demand in their unconventional field of choice. Degrees in art are anything but useless if that's truly where one's interest lies, and a practical degree is as worthless as the paper it's printed on if the degree holder doesn't have the disposition for it.