"Paper or plastic" with a degree

[Musicvixen24]

I won't even tell you where I am working now but it is work... but after going on a horrible interview on wed (preparation included such extremes as changing into interview attire in a starbucks bathroom w/o buying a coffee)where the interviewer kept on asking me why I was even there, I decided that I am just going to try to find an internship and struggle financially for a few months. I think that it is horrible that so many people are not willing to give college graduates a chance. Either you went to college or you worked instead. it seems like so many employers would rather want someone with experience rather than a degree. A degree means nothing. I mean it does to me and other graduates. it shows commitment, intelligence, etc, but I am pretty much acting like i don't have one because it doesn't prove or show anything to anyone else. and no I do not have any internships as it shows on my resume that i worked as an assitant manager in a retail store while in school but no one cares that i worked fulltime and went to school full time which is hella hard. i am so through with this shit. I am just so disappointed in myself but they didn't stress in college how important any of this shit was. they said oh you have a degree...everyone'll want you.I am so fed up. i am just venting, i have faith in God and i go to church. i am just so FRUSTRATED. i am about to have a breakdown. i am willing to take any postion now that pays where i don't have to wear a visor. i don't know of I should a) take any job that pays well or b) do an internship and work pt...keep in mind that i do pay rent..obviously it is a). that is the real world but i feel like if i had a few mos internship experience i could ask for more money and be a better candidate

[wordsmith]

It's a catch-22. If you didn't have the degree, you'd be told you weren't qualified without it.

[Trillian42]

I'm sorry to hear you're having such a hard time right now. Take it from someone who's been there, after you adjust to the "shock" of the real world, things do eventually get better. And I whole-heartedly agree that college does not focus on preparing us for the "real world". They feed us that all you need is a degree, and you can do anything. Unfortunately, as you're finding out it does take more than a degree, although I truly believe the work ethic and knowledge you gain in going through college is never a waste of time. I, too, did not do any internships while in college, and that is probably the one thing I would do differently if I had a redo. My suggestion is to focus on meeting people in your field of work. Networking seems the only way to find out about the entry level jobs that they do not really advertise. It helps you get a foot in the door. I hope things turn around for you soon!

[winneythepooh7]

What is your degree in and what types of jobs would you be interested in?

[Skyblade]

Another good way to get a "job wear you don't have to wear a visor" is temping. Sometimes the company you temp for will like you enough to hire you on full-time. Its an option at least.
I know how you feel though. I was lucky enough to have a part time job at a PR Firm my last year of college and I can't tell you how grateful I was for the related experience when I went searching for my first full-time position. I still had a hard time getting a good job though, they always want someone with MORE experience and it seems like nowadays companies can just sit and wait until mr. or ms. perfect comes along instead of hiring the first capable person.

[paiger81]

Originally Posted by winneythepooh7

What is your degree in and what types of jobs would you be interested in?

And have you had anyone look over your resume?

[g8ergal83]

Originally Posted by Trillian42

And I whole-heartedly agree that college does not focus on preparing us for the "real world". They feed us that all you need is a degree, and you can do anything.

Definitely true. Even universities that have great reputations for getting jobs aren't actually good at teaching about jobs. I think they need to have something required in your junior year, followed by a more advanced version of it in your senior year, about getting a job and all that. UF has something in their career center, but its not required and I actually didnt even find out about it until I was looking online last week searching for a career counselor to help me out. High schools, too, need to start teaching real world stuff, and stop telling kids, "You want to be a _____? Just follow your dream and it'll get you there, that's all you need Johnny." Follow your dream? They really need to wake up and say, "Ok Johnny, you want to be this. Here's what you need to do to become this. You're not going to get there without going to college, graduating, networking, slaving away at some job you hate just to earn rent and maybe some food, and then after several years of kissing ass and barely surviving, then you might have an oportunity to move up. But, that is only if they dont hire soemeone else instead of you because of whatever reason."

Schools really need to be realistic with kids because they're really doing a disservice by telling them this stuff. Sure you can be a doctor, but tell them exactly what they need to be doing to become it. and how most universities wont even admit you unless you have a 4.0 or higher gpa right out of high school, and then you need to keep that to get into med school, and how med schools now are even looking for people with different backgrounds, like theatre majors and things like that just because they want someone with a different background than molecular biology. but who knows, i just did journalism. from the best journalism school in the country, or at least the south east. and look where i'm working.

[winneythepooh7]

Originally Posted by g8ergal83

Definitely true. Even universities that have great reputations for getting jobs aren't actually good at teaching about jobs. I think they need to have something required in your junior year, followed by a more advanced version of it in your senior year, about getting a job and all that. UF has something in their career center, but its not required and I actually didnt even find out about it until I was looking online last week searching for a career counselor to help me out. High schools, too, need to start teaching real world stuff, and stop telling kids, "You want to be a _____? Just follow your dream and it'll get you there, that's all you need Johnny." Follow your dream? They really need to wake up and say, "Ok Johnny, you want to be this. Here's what you need to do to become this. You're not going to get there without going to college, graduating, networking, slaving away at some job you hate just to earn rent and maybe some food, and then after several years of kissing ass and barely surviving, then you might have an oportunity to move up. But, that is only if they dont hire soemeone else instead of you because of whatever reason."

Schools really need to be realistic with kids because they're really doing a disservice by telling them this stuff. Sure you can be a doctor, but tell them exactly what they need to be doing to become it. and how most universities wont even admit you unless you have a 4.0 or higher gpa right out of high school, and then you need to keep that to get into med school, and how med schools now are even looking for people with different backgrounds, like theatre majors and things like that just because they want someone with a different background than molecular biology. but who knows, i just did journalism. from the best journalism school in the country, or at least the south east. and look where i'm working.

Honestly though, a lot of students don't want to "hear it". A lot of NEW GRADS don't want to hear it either. A lot of people think they are qualified for certain jobs and don't want to hear otherwise. I just shredded about 30 resumes this morning from those types of people.

[wordsmith]

I might be in the minority, but I feel like my schooling prepared me just as well for the post-grad world as could be.

[Skyblade]

I think this is definitely true for schools that are known for being research universities. Basically where you learn theory instead of application. I even took a class in college called "Sociology of the University" which basically explained how research universities are essentially training their students to become Professors, not for jobs outside academia. Also, Professors at research universities are given promotions and kept on staff almost solely based on their research and whether it gets published. Bad teachers are rarely fired if they produce good research.

[wordsmith]

Originally Posted by Skyblade

I think this is definitely true for schools that are known for being research universities. Basically where you learn theory instead of application. I even took a class in college called "Sociology of the University" which basically explained how research universities are essentially training their students to become Professors, not for jobs outside academia. Also, Professors at research universities are given promotions and kept on staff almost solely based on their research and whether it gets published. Bad teachers are rarely fired if they produce good research.

You would think that would be the case for liberal arts as well, given that the focus is on pedagogy/intellectual discovery, versus specifically designated professional or vocationally-related training. But my background is in arts and humanities and I went to a liberal arts college, and still don't feel that I was ill-prepared or fed a line. If anything, I was taught TONS about how to make humanities degrees marketable.

[winneythepooh7]

Sadly, I think many new grads underestimate the importance of networking, as well as submitting a quality resume. I also think that many job seekers don't actually bother to read job ads for specific qualifications/hours needed to work/etc.

[wordsmith]

I think that's in part because they've been advised that sending out your goods for any job possible can't hurt. We all know people who've gotten jobs where they didn't have the preferred qualifications, but got in, anyway. So lots of people are willing to make that hail mary pass and hope for the best just in case. The theory of even if you're taking shots in the dark, take enough and eventually you'll hit a target.

[winneythepooh7]

Originally Posted by wordsmith

I think that's in part because they've been advised that sending out your goods for any job possible can't hurt. We all know people who've gotten jobs where they didn't have the preferred qualifications, but got in, anyway. So lots of people are willing to make that hail mary pass and hope for the best just in case. The theory of even if you're taking shots in the dark, take enough and eventually you'll hit a target.

I guess. But when like 95+% of the resumes received (at least where I work) are people who barely have a Bachelor's and no work experience applying for Master's positions, and they ignore over and over the hours that you need to be available.........it's just really frustrating.

[wordsmith]

I understand.

It's amazing, though, when looking at job descriptions (especially those that are super specific in preferred qualifications), how I'll look down the list of what quals they want me to have, and think, Hmm, nope, I have 5 years' experience instead of the preferred seven, they'd prefer somebody who's bilingual and I'm not, they give greater consideration to somebody with a master's, why bother, etc. only to have others advise me to apply anyway. I think a lot of people think you might as well just throw your hat in the ring if you think you'd be suited.