Job Hunting

Oh, jobs jobs jobs.  Looking for a job is a tough thing.  You put so much effort into it that you start to feel your energy waning.  Things start to feel repetitive and hopeless after a while.

But besides all of that its kind of neat in a way.  Each job is like a path, a new road that you may travel down.  Each path will change your life.  Each path will shape who you will become, and will shape the opportunities that you will have in the future.  The fact that each job will shape the opportunities you have in the future is a fact that can not be overstated.

This is why people with degree's often do not go for positions at McDonald's, because they are aware of two things.  That you can get stuck in a position like this as the years wane on.  And that you will be judged on your level of worth based on that position, not only your qualifications.  Sure you can try and hide that face that you work there, but this is often something people find out in this age of multi-media.

What do I mean by judged?  Well here's and example.  Say you got your degree in engineering and you know that an entry level position in engineering will pay over 40,000 (I have no idea).  But you can't find a job, a real job, so you find yourself working as a delivery driver for pizza hut at minimum wage.  Sure, you keep looking but the time passes as you struggle to make end's meat.  Then finally after six months you feel that you have to tell them your current position on an application.  Or it will look like you haven't been doing anything since graduation.

Then in a few weeks your hired!  Great for you.  Except that this corporation knows that you "have been able to live on 7.50 an hour" (even if its not true) and then pat themselves on the back as they provide you with 35,000 a year instead of the 40,000 that would be more appropriate for your experience and education.

So that's a down side of looking for a job.  Its always this game to see what positions can I get that will open more doors down the road.  So, a retail job at Walmart will be a long long journey to move up even one step, with only a few lifetime steps available.  Where entering the field at a college appropriate entry level such as general hr or administrative assistant will provide immediately better pay, benefits and many more doors.

Every application and job post is a door to a future.  Some are brighter than others.  And looking for jobs is all about thinking into the future.  Well, at least mostly for someone with an education.  But that's exactly what having that degree or certification does for you.  Gives you more doors.  The more doors the better.