QLC Year One: Thoughts and Thinking about this Crisis (Warning: LONG POST!)

[katar26]

I realized since I turned 25 last year, finished college and got full-time in the fall of 2008. I've had a crisis of what to do in life and where I should go from here after my 25th birthday.

Some of the things I learned in the first year of my crisis:

* Grad school is inevitable if I want to go further.
* I need to exercise if I want to stay sane, run 5 miles to stay fresh.
* Networking helps me with my job search.
* I find I like working in the field of finance or in counseling.
* I have to organize my days of what to do in order to keep from getting lost
* I will do good on GMAT's now that I'm not a nervous wreck like I was back in high school.
* I realize after reinventing my job search that I like to see how to improve and make solutions for problems. It was inspired by Eli Goldratt's book The Goal.
* I study best by reciting passages and practicing math problems after taking a Calculus course.
* Volunteer work helps the mind and soul, it keeps you from self-pity and gives a desire to help others who are less fortunate.

This economy didn't really help me with my job hunt after college. But, I was confused throughout all of my college years and how to properly do it.

I started in High School Ed- Social Studies at a college in Ohio but a lot of personal crap happened and I had no clue what to study so I went back home to NY. My family suggested Accounting and Business when I transferred to a community college but thought I would do great teaching kids after transferring to a college nearby home. That didn't work out (I couldn't see myself making plans night after night) and I went to Business. There wasn't a Finance concentration so I went with the general BA degree taking more courses in Finance and Accounting. I saw in presentations and notes that I liked the stock market and marketing the most. However, the banks around me offered internships to schools they knew and my alma meter's Business program works for accountants. My internship however was doing some Marketing and Customer Service to a small business buying and reselling HD equipment to various customers. It taught me organizational skills, customer service and communication skills.

At my last year 2007-2008 in college, I secured part-time data entry at a well-known financial institution through an agency as a temp. I was at that during the summer after graduation and job hunted. I had thought about HR, but to be honest I should have been looking for bank jobs. I was very confused and realized out of the interviews I had no clue hence no offers. The part-time job became full-time in the fall of 2008 and the assignment ended this October. While I was working there, I did networking and still have some contacts and participated in events there. The job taught me how to be detail-oriented and careful.

So, since early October I've been looking for work and establishing new networking contacts. I'm also committing to learning Visual Basic, new languages, and brush up on IT. I also lost a lot of weight in the past year so I'm running and lifting to keep myself from becoming pessimistic. I have secured work at another place through another agency and will start in December hopefully. I'm having fingers crossed this will be permanent. A job is a job and I need cash to save up and move out.

I had realized I was doing the job search the wrong way. Donald Asher, a great speaker, had a presentation on getting any job with any major. Basically, I was not marketing myself well enough to show how my skills and experience makes me a good fit for the job. I did not network enough in college and paid the price for it. I've never been much of a communicator due to a stuttering problem I had in my youth and being shy. But at my last job and the weight loss, I learned to be myself and go with it. I saw too that's why I wasn't getting offers, I just wasn't being myself. I also joined the NSA chapter (National Stuttering Association) in my hometown and in Toastmasters to improve communication skills. Networking has been a great tool to me in the hunt for a job.

I think now or in the near future, finance is not a good idea due to the 2008 crisis and the recession. The lessons from work after college and this recession is marketing. I feel with each NSA meeting and Toastmaster session, it leads to a good interview getting an offer.

With a personal life, I aim to move out and get an apartment with a friend. Yes, I'm still at home with my mom mostly because my last few jobs I couldn't afford rent. The new job pays higher and the townhouses where my friend lives looks nice and I can afford it along with the bills (I would like to be his roommate). The advantage of being at home after college is I paid off my student loans and credit card debt. But I didn't slack at home. I do laundry, pay bills, cook meals and ran errands. It's just a matter of getting a job and that's been hard.

Anyway, this is too long. I'll continue in part 2 like some posters here. It will be more in money, school and life lessons.

Opinions? What have you posters done in situations like this?

[koolkat1980]

Katar, you are on the right track! I like the fact you have future goals and are always hungry for knowledge and more! I think you're doing exceptionally well and to be honest I wouldn't stress because you're doing pretty well right now. A lot of people are in a more dire situation with yuckier circumstances. I like that you're involved in voluntary work as well! Not to mention you're an exerciser!

Just live life and enjoy whatever predicament your in! I see you are very idealistic though which might leave you to being disillusioned often! This is very common for those of us who have entered the workforce.

All I can say is....keep on having your goals and aspirations and hobbies.

[winneythepooh7]

I agree. I think you are definitely on the right track. Keep up the good work!

[katar26]

To everyone who posted, Thanks!

With the new job, the person I contacted at the agency said they have to find out how many people are needed for the next training period this December, when he gets that number I can fill out the paperwork. I did tell him in an e-mail that I am interested. I was going for this one, but had other interviews so I discussed with him to wait. After the other ones didn't work out, I contacted him. It's not like he didn't say no, but I'm just eager to get back to work. Playing the waiting game is what I'm doing. He said he would contact me in the next few days a week at most last Wed. I've learned how to be persistent, but not a pest with calls.

I know the job hunt is frustrating for everyone unemployed now. Have my fingers crossed for a better economy in the next year.

I do seek help and counseling from a counselor I knew at college. He offered his services to me after college so I see him once a month.

Things are looking up. I just enjoy things day by day. I found watching childhood shows and games works to put things in perspective. In fact, I was remembering the crush I had on the Spice Girls when I was 14!

Have a good day everyone!