NationStates Jolt Archive

Ok, so I apparently put myself in a real nice hole job wise, stuck with experience I neither need or can use, with career ambitions that have now become ambiguous and out of my reach for the near future. How do I get back on track, after feeling as though I exhausted most of my options!

a quick run down would be, after graduating from a state school with a pol sci degree (and no internship experience because of my own ignorance and a crappy advisory staff) I finished some year long internships with a local legislature, volunteering at the red cross, and tutoring social studies online (everything going pretty good first year out of school) At the point it was my goal to get my masters in intl relations and get a job w/ the state department.

After this year however, things take a down turn.... I accept a job in a database center for a charity thinking it will be good money while I take some eco classes I needed for grad school, study for my GRE's etc. 2 Years later I’m still here, with my GRE scores being too mediocre to get into the schools I want, now zero government experience to utilize and apparently unable to get a job in most areas which would actually be useful (like law, or even NGO's). On top of this I didn't apply last year for school as I thought I would have a better chance of being placed in an overseas English teaching program in Japan (only to be rejected, and wasted 6 months preparing that application)! Now it being the fall semester already I would have to wait until next year to be able to apply again for school (w/ no additional experience to add to my admissions portfolio even if I was excited to apply again).

Now I've become so desperate to leave, I question weather I even want to do government work anymore... but have no experience to enter most other industries… not to mention the fact I only make 30k (30k being chump change working and commuting to NYC) and am not really willing to stay at this pay grade or even take a cut (which would probably be necessary).

I've tried contacting school mentors, talking to government representatives, admissions staff to my perspective schools.... all give rather obscure generalized advice which in no way helps me to realize if Government work would be right for me anymore or where I might want to go from here.

Anyone got any input because I’m defiantly lost >.<

Go back to school and get a useful degree. Poly-sci? What the hell good is that? Seriously.

Well my thinking when choosing it besides it being the degree where I was able to study which most interested me (being international realtions/buisness/politics) was, usually pol sci degree is one of the basic degrees for 1. Most government jobs 2. Entry level paralegal/legal assistant jobs 3. some entry level public relations jobs 4. Most non-profit/NGO jobs. Of course, at this point I don’t enjoy the "recent graduate" title anymore so I've lost many of those opportunities.

I do plan to apply for school for the next term.. But I can't tollerate where I am now anymore. And after 6-7 months of hardcore looking (with many interviews and even 1 or 2 offers which didn't fit my liking) I'm exahusted.

... Government work? in like, your City/State legislature?

during your free time, try going to your city hall/State building and see if there's some volunteer work you can do. from there, network yourself and if there is any particular person you are interested in, see if you can do some volunteer work for them.

then establish a good relationship with that person then seek their advice.

1. Buy a one way ticket to Rainbow Lake, AB.
2. Get a job with me.
3. Make loads of money.
4. High turnover rate means room for advancement.
5. I'm serious, we're short handed at the moment.
6. Plus it's a gravy job in the winter.

My advice; ditch your pie in the sky pipe dreams and do whatever job pays the bills. Seriously, take whatever you can get otherwise you'll end up in trouble soon.

Enjoy life.

Jobs have one purpose and one purpose only: keeping the lights on.

Anything more is just useless.

[/hippy]

Ok, so I apparently put myself in a real nice hole job wise, stuck with experience I neither need or can use, with career ambitions that have now become ambiguous and out of my reach for the near future. How do I get back on track, after feeling as though I exhausted most of my options!

a quick run down would be, after graduating from a state school with a pol sci degree (and no internship experience because of my own ignorance and a crappy advisory staff) I finished some year long internships with a local legislature, volunteering at the red cross, and tutoring social studies online (everything going pretty good first year out of school) At the point it was my goal to get my masters in intl relations and get a job w/ the state department.

After this year however, things take a down turn.... I accept a job in a database center for a charity thinking it will be good money while I take some eco classes I needed for grad school, study for my GRE's etc. 2 Years later I’m still here, with my GRE scores being too mediocre to get into the schools I want, now zero government experience to utilize and apparently unable to get a job in most areas which would actually be useful (like law, or even NGO's). On top of this I didn't apply last year for school as I thought I would have a better chance of being placed in an overseas English teaching program in Japan (only to be rejected, and wasted 6 months preparing that application)! Now it being the fall semester already I would have to wait until next year to be able to apply again for school (w/ no additional experience to add to my admissions portfolio even if I was excited to apply again).

Now I've become so desperate to leave, I question weather I even want to do government work anymore... but have no experience to enter most other industries… not to mention the fact I only make 30k (30k being chump change working and commuting to NYC) and am not really willing to stay at this pay grade or even take a cut (which would probably be necessary).

I've tried contacting school mentors, talking to government representatives, admissions staff to my perspective schools.... all give rather obscure generalized advice which in no way helps me to realize if Government work would be right for me anymore or where I might want to go from here.

Anyone got any input because I’m defiantly lost >.<

The cute smilie in your thread title makes me want to hug you.

Just so that I am clear on a few facts here:

You got a degree in a field and did not set yourself up to succeed.

You took a dead-end job that gives you no marketable skills

You look to an online game for career advice.

It might be helpful if you memorized phrases like "do you want to supersize that" or "butter on your popcorn sir".

Find something you care about and then go after it. DO NOT LOOK HERE and do not blame others (Crappy advice? It is your life nobody elses. You have to work for it!

Just so that I am clear on a few facts here:

You got a degree in a field and did not set yourself up to succeed.

You took a dead-end job that gives you no marketable skills

You look to an online game for career advice.

It might be helpful if you memorized phrases like "do you want to supersize that" or "butter on your popcorn sir".

Find something you care about and then go after it. DO NOT LOOK HERE and do not blame others (Crappy advice? It is your life nobody elses. You have to work for it!

Did you not get enough hugs as a child?

Did you not get enough hugs as a child?


*nods in sombre agreement*

1. Buy a one way ticket to Rainbow Lake, AB.
2. Get a job with me.
3. Make loads of money.
4. High turnover rate means room for advancement.
5. I'm serious, we're short handed at the moment.
6. Plus it's a gravy job in the winter.

I am intrigued. Rainbow Lake seems like my kind of place. Cold and small. The last 4 points interest me the most. Do explain.

Go back to school and get a useful degree. Poly-sci? What the hell good is that? Seriously.

Hell I was making mid to high 20s and I lived in NYC so I feel you. I also have a political science degree (ah-hem, which is good to get a lot of government and law enforcement jobs, teaching, etc.). Have you tried a temp agency? Vanguard Temporaries has a Manhattan office.

Become an artist. At least, in the off chance, someone will like your work.

Or, everyone will hate it.

Maybe, either way, you'll become famous.

Or not.

If not, you've got a lot of artsy stuff, and no food, money etc.

You've got enough to be used for motivation for what I like to call, "rage painting". Give it a shot.

I am intrigued. Rainbow Lake seems like my kind of place. Cold and small. The last 4 points interest me the most. Do explain.

1. The company I work for, swampers start at like $17-18/hr depending on experience. Doesn't sound like much but when the winter rolls around and you work 100-120+ hours a week, the coin adds up.

2. 2/3rds of the guys working for us are from the east coast and go home for the summer to fish. Plus we weed out the retards pretty quick. You think the Trump is bad...

3. We have more work then we have people right now. We've got the contract with Husky which guarantees us first call outs. Husky is the biggest operator in the area. The only others that compare are Exxon-Mobile (they're jackasses, we don't need their work) and Apache.

4. It really is a gravy job in the winter. Hurry up and wait. Sit in the truck and snooze. Hell, in many cases more time is spent driving to location then actual work at location. Swampers just go along for the ride (snooze some more if you like).

Just so that I am clear on a few facts here:

You got a degree in a field and did not set yourself up to succeed.

You took a dead-end job that gives you no marketable skills

You look to an online game for career advice.

It might be helpful if you memorized phrases like "do you want to supersize that" or "butter on your popcorn sir".

Find something you care about and then go after it. DO NOT LOOK HERE and do not blame others (Crappy advice? It is your life nobody elses. You have to work for it!

ACTUALLY... I dont find seeking career advice online to be a negative at all... I think people should seek advice from all sources to get the broadest taste of knoweldge.. you never know you can run into online, or who might offer (unwittingly) some of the best advice you can find.

Clearly if I were only looking online, esp from a forum, I'd be in trouble. But having worked for a legislature already, I know the value of asking anyone and everyone. I've already questioned past teachers, university "mentors", local and federal government officals (senators and assemblymen), admissions advisors etc...

... Government work? in like, your City/State legislature?

during your free time, try going to your city hall/State building and see if there's some volunteer work you can do. from there, network yourself and if there is any particular person you are interested in, see if you can do some volunteer work for them.

then establish a good relationship with that person then seek their advice.

I've actually considered this too, previously while doing internships I also volunteered with the red cross and tutored online to maximize my experiance potential. But, the job i have now is full time and of course the government is the government and so dosn't function on weekends. I've considered quitting, and taking temp jobs while also volunteering again, however its been suggested to me that temping is essentially the same as no work at all in the eyes of employers. They will see it as an "employment history gap" and wonder "why couldn't he get a real job"...

I dunno how accurate that is..

I've actually considered this too, previously while doing internships I also volunteered with the red cross and tutored online to maximize my experiance potential. But, the job i have now is full time and of course the government is the government and so dosn't function on weekends. I've considered quitting, and taking temp jobs while also volunteering again, however its been suggested to me that temping is essentially the same as no work at all in the eyes of employers. They will see it as an "employment history gap" and wonder "why couldn't he get a real job"...

I dunno how accurate that is..
You can put TEMP work as part of your work history. espeically if you use a TEMP Agency.

however, I would suggest part time work. one during nights/weekends that would free up your days for working in the government.

but I will also tell you, It will be hard.