There is very little in life more discouraging than spending thousands and thousands of shillings (even if it’s your parents’) on an education only to find no one willing to give you a job and a chance. At a time in your life when the bills start pouring in, your home is in limbo, your relationships and friendships are askew, and your excitement to get your life “started” is at its peak, there really is nothing more crushing. It takes patience, faith, and hard work to press on, maintain your confidence, and relax.
To have to accept an unrelated job where you are not treated well and you not so schooled co-workers are paid the same as you. Or to work in an environment where everyone is miserable and work sucks out your will to go on.
Whatever situation you find yourself in, the important thing is to be willing and able to step back and take a good look at the big picture. Remembering what you’ve accomplished thus far, reminding yourself of how young you are, and realizing that nothing is permanent – “this too shall pass” – is essential for keeping a positive, focused, and balanced outlook. Not to mention dealing with stress and anxiety.
Besides maintaining a healthy mental perspective, keep searching! No matter how aggravating it can be to submit cover letter after cover letter, only to receive zero response, do not stop looking for and applying to new jobs! Make job hunting part of your daily routine. Looking for a job can be a difficult, time-consuming process that provides little feedback or motivation that you’re on the right path. So try everything… check your regular job websites and keep looking for more.
Talk to people, network, don’t burn any bridges, and whatever you do, don’t give up. Keep your eyes and your mind open and the right opportunity will find you eventually. It may be the ultimate test of patience waiting until that fine day, but the strength of self you will gain in the process will be worth it.
Be open to new challenges. So what if you have a degree in Anthropology. If a job comes along, completely unrelated, but sounds like it could put you on an interesting path – go for it! Avoid deciding that something is not worth applying for if it’s not EXACTLY what you want in a job. And on the other side of the coin, don’t apply to relevant jobs if they don’t excite you.
Why waste your time just because they’re in your field? Follow your instinct… if you read a job posting and your gut reaction is interest… then apply! An unrelated job that lights a fire under you is never a bad choice, especially at this point in your life. Don’t limit yourself. Don’t worry about what choice you will make if you get two job offers.
Don’t stress yourself out about what you will do if you land your dream job three weeks after you accept a pay-the-bills job. Make the decisions as they present themselves; don’t waste your time worrying about things that haven’t happened yet, and most importantly, don’t limit yourself because you’re afraid of situations that might happen…chances are, they won’t.
Know when it’s time to make a change. Be aware of your progress, your finances, and your overall situation. Understand what your last-resort options are, and know when to take them. If you’ve been searching for a career for 8 months to no avail and are growing deeper and deeper behind on your bills, then it might be time to give it up and look for any job.
At a certain point, any job is better than none. Remember, it’s only temporary. Chances are, with a college degree, you really can get a general job if you want one, say a sales marketing job. It may not be paying much.
But it’s a job, for now. And your job search shouldn't stop here. Keep job hunting while working and something eventually will change. If you are working a pay-the-bills job but are still struggling, falling behind, and unable to land what you consider the “right job” – then it’s also important to know when it’s time to move on.
Lastly, enjoy this insecure, adrift, wandering phase of your life. Because with all certainty, it won’t last. Someday you will have a job, you will be settled, and you will absolutely reminisce about the days when all you had to do was wake up and explore the possibilities of where your life will go.
Looking for a job, though challenging and daunting, is the equivalent of standing at a cross-roads and choosing which way to go.
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