Will this ever end???

[cubuffaloes1]

Help!!!

When I graduated college I fell into a dream job at an advertising agency as a copywriter. I thought that life couldn't be any better and I was actually stoked every day to get up and go to work. Unfortunately the agency downsized and my job ended a quick 6 months after it began. In addition to the layoff several things in my personal life fell apart during the same month (bad things come in threes) and the job I took after I couldn't get my head into and failed miserably. Since, I have been working at a small company that is (seemingly) in some serious financial trouble.


For the past few months now I have been an absolute headcase over the whole work/career/direction in life thing. I have interviewed for some awesome jobs. A few have got past the preliminaries but the process almost always seems to fall short of an offer. I am currently employed and make decent money but my company is in serious financial trouble (we even had a recent visit from the IRS). I sometimes feel like I will never get out of this place. It seems to consume my every thought and I am starting feel like I cannot even do this job efficiently. I unfortunately only have about 2 years of tangible experience in my career field and 1 1/2 of that is in this dump. I am about at my wits end (my girlfriend is too). Is it time to consider a career change? Are there tactics that I have yet to explore on the job hunt? Has anyone else out there been through any of this? Advice of any sort would be huge, I am starting to feel like a loser! I know that I am an intelligent and educated individual capable of making it but I just haven't found a home yet.

[Skyblade]

You are definitely not alone in this, and not a loser! I experienced something similar. Just after graduating I got laid off of the part time job (at a PR firm) that I thought would lead into a full-time job. So then I started temping and got a full-time job at this ad placement company. Then I got laid off there 6 months after I started working there. I kept feeling like the field was wrong for me and that it was hopeless. I too had interviewed at many companies and passed some of the preliminary interviews but failed to get "the offer." But, it really takes only ONE company to give you a chance and it will happen if you just keep being persistent and keep trying. I finally landed a job that I thought I was underqualifyed for but took a chance at it and ended up getting hired. You never know what can happen if you just keep trying.
Things aren't hopeless and there are tons of people working in temporary situations until they get a break, but they keep trying while working in their temp jobs. I know that you said your "experience" seems wasted but it really isn't, in any job you gain some sort of skills. I know its hard.

[bd1222]

Cub = hang in there!! I have been out of college for 4 years and I am on my 4th job and Finally like it! I agree with Skyblade - you are gaining so much experience and just network like crazy!