who has gone to school Gruaduated,and have a hardtime?

[mbonder]

That's some great motivation Mbonder. :up:

Thanks, it took a lot of work to get to where I am and the next step (moving to administration--vice principal, principal, superintendent) will take even more work still and more money.

Many people in their twenties (myself included for a period of time in my mid twenties, I'm 29 now) believe that just because you went to school you will automatically have a good paying job when you are finished.

THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE!


The older generation may tell you that, and they believe that they are right because that truly was the way it was when they were going to college and grad school, it's not their fault, but the market has become saturated with people that have college degrees, it no longer presents as much of an advantage as it once did.

So you can cry about it (most that feel entitled take this route), or you can create the advantage you need through effort and determination. You can not teach effort, it comes from your heart, no one can give you effort, you give it to yourself.

When I eventually get in a position to hire someone, this will ultimately be one of the factors that will push a candidate toward getting hired. Effort shows your ultimate desire to attain something, by proving that to me, you show that you will have a similar effort to prove that you were worth my choice to hire you.

[Wh33lhop]

Respect.

OP, follow this plan -

1 - make two lists, one with your skills and one with what makes you happy.
2 - write down where you want to be in five, seven, whatever years.
3 - work backwards from your goal to develop a few benchmarks that you can meet using your skills and doing what makes you happy.
4 - turn off the computer and get to work.
5 - never complain about how much things suck.

Learn to write clear and cogent sentences. No one will hire you for anything if you write like English is your fifteenth language. You can practice on R3v.

Don't rely on want ads. Look up phone numbers of managers, call them, tell them what you want to do and ask if you can buy them a cup of coffee. Ask questions, ask how they got started, ask if they can introduce you to other people. Most people are willing to help, but they aren't going to make the first move.

If you have facial piercings and wear black and smell like dank - knock that shit off. No one is going to hire someone if they look like they're going to steal from them.

Finally, stop acting like anyone owes you anything. You make your own opportunities and misfortune. If you can't work on anything except old BMWs, learn to work on new things or work only on old BMWs. The world won't adapt to suit you. The world does not care about you.

Good luck.

I'm done with OT. Bye.

OP, read every single thing this man has said and think long and hard about each point. I'm no hiring manager, but I wouldn't hire anybody with your attitude either.

[mtechnik]

That's some great motivation Mbonder. :up:

[Rodoni]

I can only speak for the Army, but they don't care what your degree is in, and it will have no bearing on what unit you're assigned to. They just want you to have one.

1LT I deployed to Iraq with was a business major, in a commo unit.

I really only want to join the Coast Guard, maybeeee the Air Force. Just haven't had time to talk to a recruiter yet.

[mbonder]

I graduated in 2008 with a major in history and a minor in holocaust studies.

At the conclusion of undergrad I had $26k of debt, which I feel fortunate about as this only amounted to one year of the cost of school. Between my parents and my grandparents on my father's side the rest was paid for. This was the single biggest gift anyone will ever give me and I have the desire to do the same for my kids when the time comes (assuming I have kids, still a couple years off).

I graduated with a masters degree in teaching history with my NJ teacher's certificate in 2011.

At the conclusion of grad school I had $28k of debt. Grad school was my choice and I had to take out loans to be able to attend, no assistance whatsoever.

So in May of 2011 I found myself $54k in debt hoping to get a job as a high school history teacher in NJ. I must have submitted resumes to every single high school and middle school in northern and central NJ, public and private. I went on the goofiest interviews where they ask you questions about the most inane, mundane details of history that no student would actually need to know, no teacher would actually teach, but that's how they weeded you out. If you weren't built like Ken Jennings, capable of winning Jeopardy for over 100 days straight, you clearly weren't cut out for a high school history class.

As you can guess by now, I didn't get a job within the usual hiring window (March-July each year for teachers). I had worked construction (residential renovations and the like) while I was in school to pay for food, books, and beer, so I went back into that knowing that it would be at least until March of 2012 that I could apply again in the hopes of getting a job.

As March turned into May 2012, it looked as though I wasn't going to get a job again, which would have led me to abandon the teacher idea altogether. At this point I was probably at the lowest point in my life, I was working construction (which I went into teaching to get away from), I had $56k in debt with no real way to pay it off (Construction only made me enough to pay rent and insurance), and it really looked as though I had made a very costly poor decision.

Throughout the process I continued to pound the pavement, hitting up stupid interviews, calling anyone that I knew that was connected to teaching, sending out letters of introduction to private school headmasters letting them know that I was qualified. Anything I could think of, anyone I could talk to, the hard work.

Eventually, I got my shot at the private school that my father and cousin graduated high school from. I got a real interview where I could prove myself and I nailed it. They offered me a job the following week and I took it without a hesitation. My hard work finally paid off.

Bottom line: Hard work will lead you to success, I truly believe that. Don't ever think anything will be handed to you, because it won't. Successful people make their success through planning, determination, hard work, effort. Never give up, regardless of how shitty things look.

As for paying off debt, just set up direct withdrawals. For both of my loans I set up direct withdrawals at specific times in the month when you know you'll have the money. I have paid my debts down significantly in a way that is very manageable because its the same every month.

[Joe G]

My father promised my two sisters and I he would pay for our college...however after my 3rd semester I realized that was an empty promise once I began taking out student loans in my own name.

Once I realized I was going to be in debt, I left the small liberal arts college I was attending and abandoned my Communication/Education double major with a History minor. I took time off school, worked for a while and thought about what I wanted to do. After about 1.5 years out of school I transferred to the University of Kansas and I now am a Senior in the KU School of Business. This May I will have a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a career that will allow me to realistically pay off my debt and achieve my goals.

The looming student debt crisis will be largely fueled by students who are willing to take on massive amounts of debt while seeking a degree that will not be any more lucrative than a career as a waiter/waitress (not that there is anything wrong with those jobs). It is just so damn impractical to take out $40K+ in student loans just to continue working for ~$10-$12/hr after college, with hopes of a $30K/year salary some day. It just doesn't make sense.

If you are going to attend college, and take on debt, educate yourself in a practical and applicable manner so that come graduation time you have career possibilities to help you manage your debt.

[nando]

because they think they don't have a choice. everyone has told us all our lives, get a degree or have no career. The problem is they are more than willing to extend a loan, but not so willing to hire once all the debt is acquired.

yeah, there's lots of worthless degrees and people who are just lazy, but I think the problem is definitely bigger that, the system itself is broken and skewed towards the banks. Me, I started saving for my kid's college as soon as they were conceived.. I don't intend to pay for every dime, but if they can make it without incurring huge amounts of debt, then my goals will be met.

most educational loans can't be defaulted on.. you can stop paying, but you'll just get hit with interest and penalties. you can't get rid of it by filing for bankruptcy. once you have it, you can only get rid of it by paying it off.

[mrsleeve]

^
Yeah I know that, our entire generation is going to be slaves to the bank for more than the traditional home buyers debt....... I foresee a huge education loan default bubble going on in a couple more years.

My point was how can someone consciously take on that much debt willingly with no reasonable guarantee of being able to secure a means to pay it back. Not going to college was prolly one of the best decisions I have ever made. Even though I have considered it many times even in recent years, its just hard to shake that "training" you get all though your elementary/high school days from all angles

[nando]

it's just how college is structured these days. it's sort of like the sub-prime mortgages, they'll loan to anyone and as much as you want. it's highly profitable and you can't write down the debt so there's not much risk. the trend in school debt has been climbing for a while.

[mrsleeve]

how are some of you guys coming out of school that loaded up with debt, for a "normal degree" (IE not MD or Lawyer or something of that sort)

Fuck I dont even want to be 50k in debt on a mortgage for a fucking house

[Joe G]

23 Years old, graduating in May with a Finance degree. ~$50k in debt.

I have a full time job lined up with a large public accounting firm as a Business Advisory Services Associate (basically consulting). The job is very related to my area of study and I am very fortunate and happy to have it. My beginning salary will be in the low-mid $50s.

I hope with hard work and steady promotions and subsequent pay raises over the next 5-10 years I will easily be able to tackle my student debt.

[justin_l_]

UTC? Pretty sweet deal though, I'd definitely be on that.

Yes
Pratt and Whitney non union plant, things are a little different.

[Holland]

Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.

How are they to work for? I'm working parts with VW.

[chadthestampede]

What brand dealership?

Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.

[Q5Quint]

I went to school, got a job at the school working for my old professors, taught classes at local community college, got a job in private industry teaching, also did inspections reports and presentations. I am a people person, so I get sent out to meet with...people. One of my favorite moments was when I took a much needed vacation, and about 1/2 way into a week off I get a call that my boss is deathly sick and cant make a presentation in west virginia. This was a big deal because part of our contract with the state was to do this continuing education stuff so it was critically important we sent somebody~ I literally rented a car, bought some nice clothes as all I had was beach stuff, and drove 10 hours to do this in the middle of my 'vacation'.

As the job at school scene and private industry scene was drying up due to cuts in gubbment funding, I got a full-time job with another local engineering firm because they had seen my presentations/classes. 3 years later that scene is kind of drying up and it looks like I am about to start building my first house for a client, and possibly working for the gubbment again.

The key is flexibility. You have to be able to work, to want to work, to want to do whatever it takes.

I taught classes, made presentations, ran numbers and did estimating for engineers, did drafting and engineering drawings with autocad, made websites and scheduled training events, sat in board meetings and negotiated contracts. All of that sort of has to do with my degrees, but not specifically at all. I am not a construction manager, yet, and I don't even know what 'job' my other degree would be- something to do with solar energy and green building. I "do" all that stuff, but I don't limit myself to just managing or just solar stuff, or just what my degree was even about.

Our bookeeper has the same degree I do, but she took quickbooks classes at the local community college and has guaranteed herself a job for the next infinity years. If you intend to work FOR someone else, you should probably ask them what they NEED as far as employee skills go. They NEED somebody that KNOWS about quickbooks and taxes, billing and contracts and websites, I assure you of that.

I graduated college 6 years ago and have almost paid off 30k in loans. Really put a hurt on how much e30 time I had, but priorities man. There was also a house and car trailers and superchargers and diesel trucks involved too, so dont think I wasn't having fun. Prolly could have paid it all off by now if I wasn't having so much fun actually.

I am thinking of going back to school as a masters is pretty much required to move up the pay scale with what I do- I have been working for an engineer long enough to sit for the test too, but I know how much they make around here.... and the extra liability for about the same money isn't worth it. I would have to move to a stinky city and work for a big corporate firm to make more, but I doubt I would last 2-3 years doing that, so making the extra money for another degree 'worth it' is a hard decision.

Flexibility though. Even auto repair shops need bookkeepers, drivers, taxes done, websites built, invoices sent out and inventories kept up.

Everybody I know is going to school for nursing because they hear they make a lot of money, and a few I know actually are, but I worry about too many in the same pool.

If I had to do it again I would work for my highschool friends junkyard business, learn bookkeeping at the local community college, and start a construction company on the side. I would be in the same place I am now with zero debt and maybe more money. But hindsight is always 20/20.