When can a job become a career?
Jennifer McClelland | RSS | 6 Comments
Coming out of college, many people may be facing the same dilemma. Not only can they not find work, but the jobs that they are able to find simply don’t suit them or won’t pay the student loan bill. So, when is it okay to take a lower paying job and hope that it turns into a career?
Well, this is where it comes time to start talking to your coworkers. If you’re working at a retail store and aren’t making too much, start asking around to see:
What other people are making
How long they’ve been there
What kind of education they have
While this may seem to be a bit personal to ask some people these questions, the people who are equal to you are more likely to answer the questions and you’ll quickly discover if your job is a dead end job or if this job can become a career.
Today I came across a girl around my age, who graduated with a marketing degree from the same college I did in 2007 and can’t find work either. She has been working at the retail store for over a year and a half however, she is earning $1 an hour less than I am.
After talking to her and some of the people around the store who are a bit less educated than I am, I have discovered that this is likely a dead end job where the people who work higher up in the store rarely leave and corporate typically will look over this store when they begin looking for new hires in their offices.
It’s easy to tell when your job is a dead end job after you’ve asked around, but what if it’s a career? Well, you’ll likely hear that people are promoted more often than not and you’ve heard of at least a couple of people who have been moved into corporate or at least a regional position after being at the store for a few years.
College graduates are finding work in some fields
Tags: loan bill, new hires, dilemma
Nikolaevi4 | Thu, Aug 27 2009
The crisis has put everything in its place.
Jennifer McClelland | Thu, Aug 27 2009
I don’t think so. I believe that the crisis has simply made it very difficult for anyone to find work that is rewarding.
Bill from MBA Program | Tue, Sep 29 2009
Its so unfortunate what is happening today: On one hand the pressures to get advanced education are only increasing with the job market. On the other hand, getting an affordable student loan is becoming more difficult as well.
Things are changing, and certainly not for the better. It remains difficult to stay optimistic.
Your article does raise a good point though: No matter where you are at career wise you need to be the one asking the questions and doing investigation.
Melanie from work at home jobs | Wed, Sep 30 2009
People could try working at home. They could work at their own pace, in less time that they will spend when they are working 8 to 5. And they could reach the point that they are only working for 4 hours a day, and earning more.
We just need to be brave to try things, to risk. People could also try work at home jobs if they wanted to earn money to go for the career that they really want in life. But earning big money could change their output in life.
It is really melancholic that we have friends out their who are just earning sufficient money to survive. If you try work at home jobs and you feel that its claims are true, then you can reach out to them.
Blessing from BBN SMS | Thu, Oct 01 2009
I think finding a career job is not quite easy but one should still remain hopeful
David | Thu, Oct 01 2009
Trying to get from the job you are in to the career you want is such a difficult thing. I struggled for years before persistence and hard work paid off.