Where's my grown-up guidance counselor?!

I've just read an interesting article npr posted about Georgetown University's recent study on unemployment and college majors.

This article sheds light on a problem facing both American and Canadian graduates and young professionals. While it is true that there is no one path or guaranteed method to obtaining the dream job (right?!) there is definitely information that one can learn, and should probably learn sooner than later. I don’t recall receiving guidance of any relevance when I was in high school, and I don’t even know if there was someone at my university I could have talked to who could have helped me prepare for entering the job market, or work to improve my job prospects. 

Now, five years after receiving my undergraduate degree – albeit in the non-specific field of Liberal Arts – I have worked a myriad of jobs, have no real savings, no clue what I want to do, and doubts about returning to school to improve my prospects. I need a guidance counselor now as much as I ever needed one in High School. True, there are “career counselors” however they cost a fortune that I can’t afford – and my therapist (whom really, I also can’t afford) won’t give me advice because of course I am to have realizations/revelations of my own – which is so annoying.  

Honestly, right now, all I want is for someone to tell me what to do. I’m tired of feeling blindly around, hoping I’ll somehow stumble upon the secret stepping stone to my brilliant career. 

I loved school, I would love to go back – have a structure and purpose to every day – but I can’t help but wonder if a graduate degree is worth it. Seems to me I’m more likely to end up with debt and a piece of paper on my wall than with greater job options and higher earning power. These are the conundrums I wish more people were talking about. Okay fine, there has been a fair bit of coverage on the topic of the millennial generation’s employment struggles but statistics and studies is not enough! Stop telling me about my bleak prospects (because believe me, I am well aware) and start telling me how to challenge them! Where’s my grown-up guidance counselor?!

Operation optimism

It has occurred to me that I am becoming increasingly more cynical and pessimistic. (Most of this negativity both comes from and is directed towards my job search). It's not good. Must cultivate a more optimistic outlook.

Photo via Beyond the Gray

Feeling Low.

... or something.

I'm tired of spending hours scanning computer screens for job opportunities, mentally wrestling over the appropriate word to insert into a cover letter or application, feeling exhausted despite the startling lack of movement / physical exertion I've managed thus far.

I've found a company that sounds like a really great opportunity. It's holding an Open House tonight, and another one on Thursday night. I am unnaturally stressed about it - as I get about all events that involve a room full of strangers and a requirement to be my best and most outgoing self.

Does self-paralyzation exist? Is there a creature who - involuntarily or otherwise - stops itself from moving forward? There are enough venomous things out there, surely one of them is prone to masochistic tendencies... I'm pretty good at - involuntarily or otherwise - paralyzing myself. It sucks. It is not worth blaming things on, and yet it is very easy to blame a lot of things on.

So anyways, the day is gray, I'm filled with self-doubt, and I'm at the point where a cover letter makes me want to go to sleep and a meet&greet makes me want to cry.

No encouraging, go-get-'em comments please. I just need to vent and wallow before I get back on track.

What will I ever do with my life??!!

Tonight I'm going out for a beer with friend of the family to discuss "my career". Remember the interview I had a while back? Well nothing came of it. All that stress was for naught.

So last week I met Mr. Banker for a coffee to discuss the possibility of me working in "the Finance Industry". He's super nice, and we had a great chat. I'm going to meet him and his wife (also a bank employee) for a post-work beer and continue a conversation about life in the finance world.

He suggested that in the meantime I think about other industries I would like to work in; which is a hilariously difficult request for me. My whole problem and the root of much of my stress is that I have not a clue what I'd like to do, or which career path I should choose.

So over lunch I took an online quiz to tell me which jobs best suit me (okay, so I took 2 quizzes..)

Quiz #1 says my ideal jobs are:

artist

historian

banker

novelist

university professor

photographer

veterinarian

paralegal

graphic designer

online content developer

webmaster

producer

managing director

nutritionist

advertising

nursing

Quiz #2 suggests these as suitable career choices:

editor

journalist

teacher

strategic planner

consultant

performing arts

marketing

communication

research and development

Interesting. Some overlap. 'Banker' is represented, but other than that no jobs that I believe Mr. & Mrs Banker can really assist in. Almost all of these require (in my view) further schooling. Helpful? Kind of, but not really. Huh.