Tom Delay: People Are Unemployed Because They Want To Be

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by als463

I don't think it puts you out of touch with reality if you suggest that people look at alternative options. It took me 2 weeks to find a job, only after sending out 40+ resumes. That is what it took. Did I enjoy sending them out, only to hear that I was "over-qualifed" or not qualifed enough? No. That sucked.

Once I graduated college, I took a job as a caseworker. I made about $19,000 a year, once taxes were deducted. Instead of going on Spring Break my senior year of college, I chose to take my week and head over to the State Capitol to take every civil service exam for which I qualifed. It paid off. Sure, I made horrible money. I loved my job, though. Then I went back for my Masters.

As I worked on my Masters, I left my full-time job and worked for about $7.00/ hr. (part-time, so I could attend graduate school full-time) while being talked down to by people with far less education than me (some who had no degree, at all) to make ends meet. That job was horrible. I hated how rude people were and catty some of my co-workers were. I did my job, and I left. No less, no more. I was "over-qualified" for the job, but I was hired to work part-time because I was honest with the employer letting them know that I was going to school full-time.

My employers have been impressed with my resume and all the things I have done because even when I wasn't working, I was doing community service and doing things with my GLO as an Alumna.

I'm not saying it is easy, but I feel like people are really ripping Kevin a part because he thinks some people may not be trying very hard.

To Knight_Shadow, if you couldn't find a job and the only thing being offered was a military position, if you don't take it (and you are qualified for it) then that is your fault for not doing what you need to do in order to make a living. My uncle, a college professor, always told me that he didn't believe people (in this day and age) had ANY excuse for not having a college degree because if they were able-bodied, they could join the military and apply for loans if that is what it took. Do you think I LOVED being in the military? Nope. I did it, though. If you have kids (which I don't, yet) then you have to set aside your pride and take what comes your way.

Two questions:

1. In what year did you get the job that quickly?

2. Did you have any non-$7/hr experience when you were applying for your positions (outside of military service)?

[als463]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Two questions:

1. In what year did you get the job that quickly?

2. Did you have any non-$7/hr experience when you were applying for your positions (outside of military service)?

Well, I graduated undergrad in 2007. I was hired in June of 2007, after going to interviews before school ended. Remember, that is when I took my civil service exams (Spring Break of 2007). That was my first "real" job where I was paid salary of about $24,000 (which was about $19,000 after taxes). I started graduate school in September of 2007. I left my job as a Caseworker in January of 2008 because I wanted to go from being a part-time graduate student to being a full-time graduate student.

Then, I applied to a job at a Juvenile Detention Facility, which paid about $7/ hour. I worked part-time as I attended graduate school full-time. I was hired around the end of February (I left my job as a caseworker around the middle of January). My boyfriend then got into school in New York and he moved to New York for the fall of 2008 to start school, while I stayed in our hometown to work part-time and finish my Masters until I got to my "thesis" portion of my degree. In January of 2009, I moved to New York (around the end of January), obviously leaving my job at the detention facility. I applied to about 40+ jobs and within 2-3 weeks, I was hired as a Counselor.

I worked as a Counselor until I started school in September 2009. I might go back and work over the summer there. If I don't do that, I'll be happy to flip burgers until school starts up again. Hell, I might decide I don't care for school and go back to working where I was working. We will see, but I don't get worried that I won't be able to find a job.

As far as people who aren't "passionate" about joining the military, I disagree. I wasn't "passionate" about it, but I learned some great skills and met some incredible people. I had the opportunity to build my resume while getting a chance to travel and serve my country. I didn't "LOVE" it, but I didn't mind it. Once again, that is no excuse because you don't have a "passion" for something.