Who here has a TRULY low-wage, menial, bullshit job?

[moldpot]

As you all certainly know, many college grads complain about settling for low-paying jobs that aren't what they expected.

It would seem I'm in the same boat as most of these people.

However, upon closer inspection (meaning online research and message-board posting), it is looking to me like a lot of these "low-paying" jobs hand out $30k+ a year, and—although they are often entry-level administrative positions—tend to be at least marginally related to the individual's major.

Well, that doesn't seem too terrible to me!

What about those of us who are struggling to pay the rent with our measly wages from places like Safeway? Those of us who might as well flush our degrees down the toilet for all the good they've done us?

Okay, I admit that what I do now—tutoring little kids in basic English and math—has a little more prestige and pays slightly more than bagging people's groceries. Yet all the other tutors at my workplace are doing it as a part-time job while in college, and I'm doing it fo' realz because it's the closest thing I can find to a writing job. Naturally, that makes me feel a bit lame, not to mention that I get paid less than my non-degreed coworkers because I can't tutor advanced math.

If any of you have been in similar situations, I'd like to read about it.

[NewMrs.]

I know that several of us on this board are now in our late twenties and early thirties, so our employment situations have improved, but we were once in this boat.

For instance, I graduated from college in May 1999. I worked at Wal-Mart making something like $.20 over minimum wage from May 1999 - September 1999. In September 1999, I quit Wal-Mart to take a job an hour away from my parents' house (where I lived at that time) that paid about $6.25 an hour. I thought that this job would be a steppinstone, but it didn't turn out to be what I thought it would be, so I quite after three weeks. From October 1999 - September 2000 I I did a term in the Americorps program. Total living stipend and education award for this term was $12,000.

In September 2000 I took a job with an insurance broker making $18,000 a year. My employer liked to fire people with no prior notice, and it was really stressful, with a lot of mental abuse from our customers. I stayed there until 2004, and at that time I was making $22,000 a year. Finally, in 2004, I found my first job that paid over $30,000.


Does this make you feel better at all?

[wordsmith]

I did manual labor to PAY for my college education...in part so I wouldn't have to live life with no choice but to do manual labor.

I've been out of school for close to a decade, and have worked three professional jobs in three different fields in that time. I've never made $30k, however...when I say my job is lower-paying, I mean that it's lower paying than many other jobs requiring a college degree...not that it's comparable to minimum wage. I was a youth program director for a nonprofit and made $22K, following a stipended year as a full-time volunteer, a journalist whose salary ranged from $19K-$23K, and now a paralegal for a nonprofit, making...slightly more than that.

[crystal_dance]

I graduated from undergrad in the summer of 2003. I did get a "real" major (Computer science and engineering) but I disliked what I had studied and was thoroughly disillusioned with where I was in life. I took my time trying my hand at a variety of jobs as diverse as - business journalist intern, contract graphics designer, stockroom worker at a cafeteria, professional road tripper and human computer interaction (otherwise known as hci) research assistant at my alma mater.

It was an odd period of my life but a very rewarding one. I figured out what I wanted to do with my life through my experiences along the way. Today I work on wall street and have my good days and bad just like everybody else. However, I thoroughly enjoy where I'm at with my life and am happy with my career choices. I did work very very hard to get here but I am also grateful to have gotten a break.

Sometimes you just have to wait and watch. Job hunting is a crapshoot.

[Doolkid]

"Who here has a TRULY low-wage, menial, bullshit job?"

I do!

I graduated in May 2007 from a liberal arts college. I have 35K + interest in loans to pay back. I work in the same retail store I've been at since my sophomore year. When I was in school and working there I worked on the sales floor in a department. Then this past summer, I wasn't having any job leads and a management position opened up. I applied for it and didn't get it. They then gave me the menial task of doing all the price changes and markdowns for the store. And I've been stuck doing that since.

I basically just walk around all day and put price tags on things. Its super lame and boring. I hate doing it so much. I only get paid $7 an/hour...only 75 cents above the state's mim wage. I live at home because I can't afford to live anywhere else.

Yeah...

[fuzmiq]

Yeah. I have noticed the same "low-paying jobs" trend on this board.

While in school full-time and supporting myself, I made about $15,000/year.

[NewMrs.]

However, upon closer inspection (meaning online research and message-board posting), it is looking to me like a lot of these "low-paying" jobs hand out $30k+ a year, and—although they are often entry-level administrative positions—tend to be at least marginally related to the individual's major.

Well, that doesn't seem too terrible to me!





Honestly, I had similar thoughts about one of the authors of the book "The Quarterlife Crisis." I will admit that I did not actually read the book, but I did read an article or two about why the book was originally written. If I am recalling this correctly, co-author Alexandra Robbins' had her own office at her hated first job out of college. I tried to google the article where I read this, but I can't find it right now.

[moldpot]

Posted by NewMrs: If I am recalling this correctly, co-author Alexandra Robbins' had her own office at her hated first job out of college. I tried to google the article where I read this, but I can't find it right now.

That sounds like an interesting article! Please post if you find it.

[PenforPrez]

However, upon closer inspection (meaning online research and message-board posting), it is looking to me like a lot of these "low-paying" jobs hand out $30k+ a year, and—although they are often entry-level administrative positions—tend to be at least marginally related to the individual's major.

I wish I made $30k. I don't make half that much six years after college. Of course, $15k goes a lot farther in St. Louis than most other places. Especially when you don't have a lot of debt. :)

What about those of us who are struggling to pay the rent with our measly wages from places like Safeway? Those of us who might as well flush our degrees down the toilet for all the good they've done us?

I was there for five years. I worked for Wal-Mart on the sales floor for close to three years, starting out at $5.40 an hour. I got so burned out there that after I left, I didn't work at all for 10 months. I didn't want to take another McJob.

But I eventually wound up so broke that I literally could not leave my house as my car was out of gas, and I had no money to buy more. That's broke. So I had no choice. I got a job cleaning rooms in a hotel. For more money than I made at Wal-Mart. :rolleyes: Not that it's difficult to find a better paying job than that.

My current job found me here on this board. I'm still doing a lot of grunt work. I'm still opening a lot of mail and putting postage on things and data entry. It beats cleaning a hotel room, I can say that. I'm not making much, but it was a vast improvement over before. As long as I watch my money, I do alright. :) But I'm getting a lot of valuable experience I can use later on. Sometimes, you have to go with that.

Paul

[shadeofgreen]

I have one of those entry-level administrative jobs, but I'm paid hourly and my annual income is mid-20s. Well above minimum wage, but just barely what is considered a living wage for this city. Also, it is entry-level in an industry in which I am not interested in staying, so working my way up isn't really all that exciting to me, except that it would mean more money.

I started out as a glorified mailroom clerk, basically. My job duties have changed and are mildly more interesting now, but my paycheck has stayed the same.

As much as I bitch and moan about my job, I am very thankful for not working food service or retail. I mean, at least in corporate hell I never have to worry about working evenings, weekends, or holidays. Really, my biggest worry is brainrot because the job is so tedious, which is a large part of the reason I decided to go back to school. Brainrot and fat ass...I miss the manual labor job I had before. Built in fitness program. Can't beat that.

[mahlerssecond]

I work as a security guard at a warehouse. My annual salary is a little over $20k a year. This is one of the few security jobs that I have held where you have some responsibility. But again there are times when you sit and drool with nothing to do. My biggest issues I have with the job are the insurance benefits. The company goes with the lowest possible bidder, and the insurance does what it can to weasel out of paying a cent. Also does anyone work at a job where you have to wear the most gaudy looking uniform? But on the other hand, the job has gotten easier with bully supervisor gone.

[AsianGeek]

Low paying is relative to where you live. You can live in boston and make $30k a year and struggle to make ends meet because you spend 70% of your paycheck on rent, utilities, gas, insurance, food, and healthcare. Then you can make the same amount living in the middle of nowhere and spend only 20% on your $30k a year salary on your cost of living.

[Bsig84]

Low paying is relative to where you live. You can live in boston and make $30k a year and struggle to make ends meet because you spend 70% of your paycheck on rent, utilities, gas, insurance, food, and healthcare. Then you can make the same amount living in the middle of nowhere and spend only 20% on your $30k a year salary on your cost of living.

Thats exactly what I was going to say. You cant really determine what salary is "truly" low-paying. You have so many things to take into account such as where the person lives and the benefits they are offered.

[caostotale]

I've not done well since college with jobs. Every situation I end up in has loads of work with little chance to push the wage past the $12.00 mark. I feel like I don't "get it" and that people who get paid more than me are just whoring me around on work that they get paid to hand in completed. I think I'm just morbidly unlucky. I actually helped my girlfriend get a job with a contact of mine and she got offered $18.00/hour right off the bat. After that, her scumbag employers refused to hire me because they didn't want any relationships in the office...even though I was far more qualified than my GF for the position. Funny world we live in...

I especially can't stand slaving away for a shit wage when I simultaneously get paid $40-50/hour in my evenings as a private music instructor going to peoples' homes. That's amazing pay for work that is essentially effortless. I literally make 4x the pay I get at a job that burns me out and makes me feel like human garbage. Only problem is, I can't feasibly pull that off for 30 or more hours a week. It also hurts that I've encountered nothing but discomfort whenever I mention that at an interview for a new job. It's like the assholes would prefer that I got paid less and simply worked more hours.

To put things in the geographical perspective, I live in NJ and the prices for everything here are always on the increase.

[AsianGeek]

My advice to you is that you should start job hunting. Do something that you went to school for. Or rather something remotely close. A low paying job that has no room for advancement usually means that you don't bring to the company any skill that they value. So you go somewhere that will value your expertise. The more you use your skill, the more valuable it becomes, and you might find those higher paying jobs much easier to find.

[caostotale]

My advice to you is that you should start job hunting. Do something that you went to school for. Or rather something remotely close. A low paying job that has no room for advancement usually means that you don't bring to the company any skill that they value. So you go somewhere that will value your expertise. The more you use your skill, the more valuable it becomes, and you might find those higher paying jobs much easier to find.

I went to school for education, not to grease myself into some predefined career path. Nothing is more annoying then people telling me "why did you get a history degree if you didn't want to teach grade-school?", as if I knew that in 10th grade and never changed my mind. I certainly have picked up plenty of work "skills" along the way, but I usually end up working somewhere where long-term employees who lack those skills just want to burn me out using those skills while they reap the benefits of my labor. I never feel I have the remotest stake in whatever I'm doing, and that makes me feel like a piece of shit. At least when I teach music privately, there is a direct proportion between the work I do and the pay I receive. I don't have to kick 75% of my pay up to some suited-up cocksucker who doesn't know anything about music theory or guitar technique. Office environments are a joke compared to this. You work your ass off fixing stupid senior employees' countless mistakes and you constantly have to feel thankful that you haven't been fired yet. You also have to feel good about just having enough money to fill the freezer with frozen dinners for another week.

I've found that my skills are only valuable when I'm allowed to manage them myself. As soon as you enter an office environment, people who lack skills (and who have gotten by purely on bullshitting and dressing nice) end up using you and treating you like office equipment. Temp agencies have become the best example of this. 90% of the "opportunities" they boast essentially amount to you being whored out to some friendly company who's got a manager or some other perm who's too lazy or retarded to handle their own workload. I've found myself in too many positions where I seem to magically know the software and the procedures better than the person I'm working for, but none of that matters as that person will keep me locked out of any real opportunities to better myself at the company. As long as idiots can dress nice and smile and lie their way from opportunity to opportunity, the honest and skilled folk in the world who do all the real work will consistently be f**ked.

[AsianGeek]

We all have to deal with those annoyances at the office environment. But the truth of the matter is, unless you have a skill that is very hard and expensive to replace to employers, you won't find respect from them. If it's too much to cope with the office perhaps you should look into starting your own business. It might suit your personality more than working for someone.

[bridgetjones]

I worked in call centres in uni and in between "real jobs".

Yeah I hear you on that alot of people in office jobs are essentially ass-kissers. I feel sorry that you have had bad luck with employers. My work has given a few people full time jobs that pay living wages to former temps/ co op students. I might add that usually we wait until they are not on contract with an agency so as to cut out the agency. Agencies can rape you too.

I know how lucky I am to have a full time job that pays ok where I like and respect most of my fellow employees. In our case, we hire temps because we are very overloaded and it is busy season. It took me some time and thought to get this job.

Yeah low paying is relative... I know if I lived outside Toronto I would probably be able to afford a house on my salary. There is no way I could buy a house on it here. Maybe a condo... Well I make enough to eat well, go out, do fun things, save abit, pay my bills and live without roomates near downtown Toronto. That is not too bad IMO.

[ya never know..]

I have one of those menial, mind-numbingly boring jobs. I don't make near the $30k you mention, I'm lucky to make 1/2 that. I couldn't even afford to live in my own apartment in this town if I wanted to! If I ever need or want something, I have to pray I'l get a decent chunk of change back from my taxes or I'm basically screwed. Pluse I'm still payin off my loans! Thank God those will be done in a little over a year!

[winneythepooh7]

I started out right after undergrad making like $22K a year. My field is traditionally low-paying to begin with. However, I gained really great knowledge, experience and networking contacts from my very first jobs in my early days in my field. I ended up going back for my Master's and now I am doing pretty well for myself. Social workers will never be "rich" financially, but overall, I really enjoy what I do for a living. I am finally in a place where I can save money from each paycheck, and afford to buy a house in the NY metro area (even though it's on a joint-income).

It was very frustrating getting to that point though, and having seen others around me in the NYC area who seemed to make $$$$ just by breathing, I can certainly relate to what y'all are going through.

Sometimes it's still frustrating, but overall, I can reflect back to where I was, and how far I have come, and really don't think I have much to complain about.

My advice is to not give up and continue to pursue what you want to do with your life. It will be a struggle, but I think we all have the capability to get there. Blaming others for where we are in life currently is not going to do anything but hold us back, as well. So does comparing ourselves to others ;).

[Rage]

My experience is that the more competitive, prestigious industries all start with low paying jobs that you have to prove yourself in. In entertainment, for example, many jobs are just internships where you whore yourself out 24/7 and try to stand out. These jobs tend to align well with people who are just out of school, living with a roommate, have limited concrete expenses, and limited time obligations outside work. Being young and single offers great flexibility to try various industries in my opinion (I'm talking like I'm ancient :eek: ). I find it becomes tougher to start over as you get older, have a family and a set standard of living.

My path was fairly unique in that I went into the military as an officer when I got out of school. I actually was paid pretty well compared to my friends. I had to be on call 24/7, but at least my mission was more worthwhile than some egomaniac's happiness. Looking back now, I wish I had stayed in. I had a sweet career and was pretty well taken care of. Now I have taken a small step back and envy the young and single's flexibility. At the same time though, even taking a step back, I'm doing pretty well for myself financially in a Boston market that, by standards, does not keep up with standard of living increases.

[Austin83]

Well after I graduated college in December 2006, I worked at a resort as a Bell Service Dispatcher for $6.67 an hour (minimum wage in Florida), I then worked in Employee Relations making $9.25 an hour. My new position as a Photographer (taking pictures of tourists as an area attraction) will pay $9.75 an hour. I guess in other places that would not be so bad but in Florida that is barely surviving (even with a roommate that I can not stand) and I doubt I am going to continue to go up in front-line positions.

[LitlPlaya]

My first job I could nab was as a cashier making minimum wage.... And it was not even a part time position with guaranteed hours... It was twice a month ;):

[Goldeneye]

I had such a position for about 2 1/2 years after I had graduated from college. It was a cashiering/hosting position at a restaurant which only paid $7/hour with minimal benefits (a no-name health insurer and the standard 2 weeks vacation).

The only thing which prevented from it being a bullshit position was that since I was (and still am) coin/paper money collector at the time and that they permitted it, I was able to swap out interesting coins/notes out which at times, was my only outlet from going insane.

I quit in dramatic fashion (since it was Valentine's Day at the time I did quit) after a lot of my favorite co-workers have moved on, leaving me with virtually no safety nets as I was stuck with co-workers I didn't get along very well with in the end, as well as the HR person being condescending to me when I asked her a simple question, which was the final straw.