| Topic Name: |
Leaving as soon as you're hired |
| Message Name: |
taking a bad job |
| Date Posted: |
06/11/2003 |
| In Reply To: |
Itsyounotme:
First of all, since I work primarily with mid-career adults, let me clarify that my earlier response was geared more to experienced candidates who are debating whether to take a "so-so" job due to financial pressures, as opposed to parental pressures. I definitely hear what you're saying, however; after six months, everybody's going to feel some pressure to grab just about any job, unless they are independently wealthy or are one of the lucky few whose self-esteem isn't heavily dependent on their job status.
With regard to people making their first entry into the job market, I agree, this isn't a time when they can afford to be too selective. Campus recruiting rates are down, undergrad unemployment levels are extremely high (as you pointed out), and frankly, there are a lot of experienced candidates out there competing for what would normally be considered entry-level positions. I don't think there as many waiters with multiple PhD's as the media would have us believe, but there's no denying that many people are severely underemployed at the moment -- raising the bar for anybody entering the workforce for the first time.
On the bright side, younger workers need to realize that they do actually have a number of things working in their favor. For starters, they have their entire careers ahead of them and plenty of time to recover from a slow start in the job market. Secondly, they don't typically have the enormous weight of family obligations, house payments, and retirement worries hanging over their heads.
In addition, younger workers can also afford to make a mistake or two when it comes to accepting jobs. Not only can bad career moves at a young age be a catalyst to helping a person figure out their true long-term interests, but at one level, almost any job imparts at least some of the basic business skills and etiquette that every worker must pick up in their journey towards a professional career.
So what's the bottom line? I agree with you; if I were a younger worker, I wouldn't hold out too long hoping for the "ideal" job if other opportunities present themselves. It's probably best to take anything semi-legitimate right now, just to pay some bills and start building the resume up. The job may turn out to be a grind, but "paying your dues" certainly isn't a recent phenomenon and everybody's got to start somewhere. Chalk it up to unfortunate timing; you happen to be graduating right in the middle of a recession.
As for your question about finding work in another state, your instincts are correct -- it's harder than it sounds. The reasons are fairly obvious. If you're struggling to find work in your own neck of the woods, where it's likely you have the most contacts, and are the most available for interviews, how could it possibly get any easier by looking hundreds or thousands of miles away? Sure, there are exceptions here and there if you happen to be in a hot field that is suddenly in clear demand elsewhere, but that's not very common. Most of the time, job hunting remotely won't be highly productive unless you're a) willing to move to an area first and take your chances, b) go on an extended reconnaisance trip, or c) you already have a networking contact in the city/state who can pull some strings on your behalf.
I still see a lot of people, though, who seem to hold the comfortable illusion that it must be easier to find a job in another state. It's a natural inclination to want to think this, but there are definitely some major barriers. Companies don't want to spend money on relocation packages, so tend to find workers in their own backyards unless they absolutely have to look elsewhere for talent. |
| Message: |
From looking at choices I made out of college during the last recession in 89 my taking a first "bad' job led me to now 14 years of bad jobs. What path you choose right away can cost you in the long run. Same for most of the people I know. It is hard to switch paths and harder to get better jobs if you aren't getting the experience, training and promotions that come with working for good companies.
If you aren't doing what you enjoy it makes it that much worse. So younger workers can take that first job but they must be aware not to get stuck there. As a risk averse person myself I know it can easily happen.
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