Have I ruined my chances at a career?
August 25, 2015 1:15 PM Subscribe
Stuck in a rut for several years post-college, unsure about what I'm interested in. All that fun stuff.
'm 26 and have been stuck in a rut for a long time since leaving college. I felt initially hesitant to post this as I don't want to be another textbook example of a 'stuck millennial', but I guess that's where I'm at.
So here's my story: I got a degree in Film from a state university. I was ambitious to focus on audio production at the beginning of my college career. Towards the end of my degree I switched interests to the much-less-marketable film theory/media studies end of the program, with the intent of applying for grad school the following year after graduation. What I didn't foresee was the amount of student debt I owed -- $30,000, which is far less worse than it could be. However, despite having two jobs at the time, I couldn't afford to pay rent and loans, so I moved back home. Tried studying for the GRE, researching grad schools, etc. Ended up having a crisis and focusing my efforts on finding a decent job. I found an temporary retail job at a place that I liked, and thought it would be a start….
And yet here I am, three years later still working at the same job. I've moved out of home and transferred into another city, but I can barely afford to get by. I have been applying to jobs left and right since moving, and I only have been called back for an interview once.
There's one concrete decision I've made, and that is deciding grad school is firmly out of the picture. Unless I strike it rich or decide to pursue it later in life, it's dead to me. I have done sporadic freelance work in film editing and camera operating, in addition to a post-college internship for an artsy film space. All these experiences led nowhere, and I feel like I made no networking connections.
I guess what I'm asking for is advice to take a next step. I would like to switch careers but I haven't found a niche I’m comfortable with. I still retain an interest in media; however, it’s been near impossible for me to work for free because of stringent work scheduling and money issues. I’m also worried that by having worked in retail for so long I’ve potentially jeopardized my chances to get out of it. I do not express any desire to work management for the retail business I work for nor any other. My next step is to try a temp agency out if nothing else comes up. I'd love to hear any responses, even more brutally honest answers.
(I’m aware I probably need therapy. I have long struggled with confidence issues and depressive spells. I have long been discouraged by family for various reasons. I also do not have health insurance to cover the costs of therapy for the rest of the year due to an unforeseen mixup. I have been trying to ‘self-medicate’ via meditation, setting goals for myself, etc. At the same time I don’t feel like I’m a total failure, and I realize that 26 is still young.)
'm 26 and have been stuck in a rut for a long time since leaving college. I felt initially hesitant to post this as I don't want to be another textbook example of a 'stuck millennial', but I guess that's where I'm at.
So here's my story: I got a degree in Film from a state university. I was ambitious to focus on audio production at the beginning of my college career. Towards the end of my degree I switched interests to the much-less-marketable film theory/media studies end of the program, with the intent of applying for grad school the following year after graduation. What I didn't foresee was the amount of student debt I owed -- $30,000, which is far less worse than it could be. However, despite having two jobs at the time, I couldn't afford to pay rent and loans, so I moved back home. Tried studying for the GRE, researching grad schools, etc. Ended up having a crisis and focusing my efforts on finding a decent job. I found an temporary retail job at a place that I liked, and thought it would be a start….
And yet here I am, three years later still working at the same job. I've moved out of home and transferred into another city, but I can barely afford to get by. I have been applying to jobs left and right since moving, and I only have been called back for an interview once.
There's one concrete decision I've made, and that is deciding grad school is firmly out of the picture. Unless I strike it rich or decide to pursue it later in life, it's dead to me. I have done sporadic freelance work in film editing and camera operating, in addition to a post-college internship for an artsy film space. All these experiences led nowhere, and I feel like I made no networking connections.
I guess what I'm asking for is advice to take a next step. I would like to switch careers but I haven't found a niche I’m comfortable with. I still retain an interest in media; however, it’s been near impossible for me to work for free because of stringent work scheduling and money issues. I’m also worried that by having worked in retail for so long I’ve potentially jeopardized my chances to get out of it. I do not express any desire to work management for the retail business I work for nor any other. My next step is to try a temp agency out if nothing else comes up. I'd love to hear any responses, even more brutally honest answers.
(I’m aware I probably need therapy. I have long struggled with confidence issues and depressive spells. I have long been discouraged by family for various reasons. I also do not have health insurance to cover the costs of therapy for the rest of the year due to an unforeseen mixup. I have been trying to ‘self-medicate’ via meditation, setting goals for myself, etc. At the same time I don’t feel like I’m a total failure, and I realize that 26 is still young.)
Oh my goodness, no! As you said, you're young, and there's always a chance of changing careers. Sometimes, you have to do it in ways that are painful in the short term, but will pay off in the long term.
First off...you may have to work at two things in order to get into a new career. A day job that doesn't pay as much as you need, and a night job that will keep you afloat may be necessary. But that's okay! At 26, I'm hoping you aren't so deeply in debt that you can't afford to do something at entry-level rates, but if you are in that situation, then two jobs it may have to be for awhile, or getting into less-expensive situations. Being "young" usually means "less burdened," in that you may not have kids or a mortgage or heavy debts yet. Your student loans, if they are federally guaranteed, generally have some options you can utilize for short-term periods to get you ahead for a bit. Call your provider and see what's available.
Entry level, volunteering, getting in at a different position in a company you want to work at in another capacity...all those options are available to you. It's time to be crafty and get your mindset out of "retail is were I am, so I don't have any other life skills to bring to the table."
(This is from someone who left retail at 29 and firmly ensconced himself into the corporate world beginning without even the ability to type.)
YOU CAN DO IT!!
posted by xingcat at 1:33 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
First off...you may have to work at two things in order to get into a new career. A day job that doesn't pay as much as you need, and a night job that will keep you afloat may be necessary. But that's okay! At 26, I'm hoping you aren't so deeply in debt that you can't afford to do something at entry-level rates, but if you are in that situation, then two jobs it may have to be for awhile, or getting into less-expensive situations. Being "young" usually means "less burdened," in that you may not have kids or a mortgage or heavy debts yet. Your student loans, if they are federally guaranteed, generally have some options you can utilize for short-term periods to get you ahead for a bit. Call your provider and see what's available.
Entry level, volunteering, getting in at a different position in a company you want to work at in another capacity...all those options are available to you. It's time to be crafty and get your mindset out of "retail is were I am, so I don't have any other life skills to bring to the table."
(This is from someone who left retail at 29 and firmly ensconced himself into the corporate world beginning without even the ability to type.)
YOU CAN DO IT!!
posted by xingcat at 1:33 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm on my phone so my answer may be muddled.
I didn't get a degree. I'm 30 years old and after spending the last 12 years in various dead end jobs, I have just accepted a job at a post production house. I'm starting at the bottom as a receptionist and I'm going to be learning everything I can, and working my way to becoming a producer. I had no experience in the film industry and I spent the last 6 months looking for a job that was entry level and paid at least enough to pay my bills. I put a lot of effort into writing a heartfelt cover letter and I sent out emails to companies I liked and told them I wanted to get my start. I had a few interviews and I was hired yesterday.
If I can do it, with no experience and a college drop out, you can too! If you do what I'm doing and start as a receptionist, you have a chance to really get an idea of what positions/branches of the industry you like and you can decide what it is you want
to do. And you can do it while earning money.
I know it's hard when you spend years just working, I never thought I'd have a career. But one thing that everyone I interviewed with said, was that they really admired the big change I was making and the guts it took to go for what I want, especially at my age.
You can do it! Message me if you have any questions.
posted by shesbenevolent at 1:39 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
I didn't get a degree. I'm 30 years old and after spending the last 12 years in various dead end jobs, I have just accepted a job at a post production house. I'm starting at the bottom as a receptionist and I'm going to be learning everything I can, and working my way to becoming a producer. I had no experience in the film industry and I spent the last 6 months looking for a job that was entry level and paid at least enough to pay my bills. I put a lot of effort into writing a heartfelt cover letter and I sent out emails to companies I liked and told them I wanted to get my start. I had a few interviews and I was hired yesterday.
If I can do it, with no experience and a college drop out, you can too! If you do what I'm doing and start as a receptionist, you have a chance to really get an idea of what positions/branches of the industry you like and you can decide what it is you want
to do. And you can do it while earning money.
I know it's hard when you spend years just working, I never thought I'd have a career. But one thing that everyone I interviewed with said, was that they really admired the big change I was making and the guts it took to go for what I want, especially at my age.
You can do it! Message me if you have any questions.
posted by shesbenevolent at 1:39 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
are you thinking about changing careers only because you can't find a job/sustain freelance gigs in your current field? i work in film and i think job availability heavily depend on the city you're in. not saying to move out to LA, but here in Austin there's a huge film community and lots of people surviving through freelance gigs/actual full time jobs. i know people who've networked their way into having consistent freelance gigs here. maybe look into moving to a city that's more fit for millenials/filmmakers? feel free to message me if you have more questions about Austin in particular.
posted by monologish at 1:59 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by monologish at 1:59 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
OK, so here's my experience, not to tell you what to do, but to show you that you can do whatever you want.
I graduated from college with a degree in theatre (directing). I worked in the financial sector, initially with the idea of saving money for graduate school and eventually because I liked it. In 8 years, I went from being completely ignorant of the securities markets to being a registered option principal (among other licenses). At 30 I started law school. At 41 I quit the practice of law as being way too intrusive in my life. I became a legal secretary because I was fantastic at it (you can imagine) and I left work at 5:30 every day. At 45 I started working with the guy I work for now, and my job description hasn't stopped changing and growing since then. I have all the challenges of the legal profession, all the fun of the securities industry, and none of the responsibilities of client development or admin bullshit. I even get to do some word processing (I consider it the "sorbet" between heavy courses).
Now let me tell you about my ex-husband. He did a year in college at 18. I'm not sure he finished any of his classes. When I divorced him, we were 34. He started college then, and then went to law school. He's now a partner in a law firm.
You can do whatever you want. If you don't know what to do, as bullshit as it sounds, go to a career counselor and take their battery of tests. Okay, here's a third story: One of my oldest friends was an anthropology major in college. After she finished her degree requirements, she took a couple of applied art classes and it turned out she loved them. So then she went on to get a second degree in drawing from an art school. Then she entered a secular institute that was based in Nebraska and did a masters in spirituality at Creighton University while she was in her formation years. Then she left the secular institute and was like wtf do I do now? She went to a career counselor, took their tests, and they said, oh you would be a great occupational therapist. She was like wtf I don't know what that is, I don't even know how to use modeling clay, but when she looked into it, she realized that it was a much bigger deal and far more satisfying than she had expected, and that it was a way to combine her interest in people (anthropology) and in meaning (spirituality) and in creativity (art). So she got a master's in occupational therapy and it has worked out really well for her -- a career she hadn't even heard of until she was in her mid-30s.
So you can do whatever you want, whenever you want.
posted by janey47 at 2:04 PM on August 25, 2015 [11 favorites]
I graduated from college with a degree in theatre (directing). I worked in the financial sector, initially with the idea of saving money for graduate school and eventually because I liked it. In 8 years, I went from being completely ignorant of the securities markets to being a registered option principal (among other licenses). At 30 I started law school. At 41 I quit the practice of law as being way too intrusive in my life. I became a legal secretary because I was fantastic at it (you can imagine) and I left work at 5:30 every day. At 45 I started working with the guy I work for now, and my job description hasn't stopped changing and growing since then. I have all the challenges of the legal profession, all the fun of the securities industry, and none of the responsibilities of client development or admin bullshit. I even get to do some word processing (I consider it the "sorbet" between heavy courses).
Now let me tell you about my ex-husband. He did a year in college at 18. I'm not sure he finished any of his classes. When I divorced him, we were 34. He started college then, and then went to law school. He's now a partner in a law firm.
You can do whatever you want. If you don't know what to do, as bullshit as it sounds, go to a career counselor and take their battery of tests. Okay, here's a third story: One of my oldest friends was an anthropology major in college. After she finished her degree requirements, she took a couple of applied art classes and it turned out she loved them. So then she went on to get a second degree in drawing from an art school. Then she entered a secular institute that was based in Nebraska and did a masters in spirituality at Creighton University while she was in her formation years. Then she left the secular institute and was like wtf do I do now? She went to a career counselor, took their tests, and they said, oh you would be a great occupational therapist. She was like wtf I don't know what that is, I don't even know how to use modeling clay, but when she looked into it, she realized that it was a much bigger deal and far more satisfying than she had expected, and that it was a way to combine her interest in people (anthropology) and in meaning (spirituality) and in creativity (art). So she got a master's in occupational therapy and it has worked out really well for her -- a career she hadn't even heard of until she was in her mid-30s.
So you can do whatever you want, whenever you want.
posted by janey47 at 2:04 PM on August 25, 2015 [11 favorites]
Just as a baby step, you might be able to leverage both your education and your retail experience working for an outfit that sells media equipment, either a retailer or a manufacturer or importer.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:00 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by SemiSalt at 4:00 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
I moved back overseas and got a job and some part time jobs on top of that and paid off the debt and saved some money. We moved back and there were still no teaching jobs so I had to reinvent myself at the age of 32 or so. I got a job in government communications, moved to the non-profit sector, got another job in economic development in government, got laid off and got a consulting gig in international development for a year. During that time I switched careers again to online marketing where I am now.
I recently got hired by a news org to run their online marketing / engagement efforts and I start teaching a community college (marketing) next month.
Because of various factors (mainly because I was overseas) I missed out on the upward career track in my twenties, so I have had to improvise.
The one thing I've had to do is figure out what needs to be done, and if and how I can do it with the (meager) transferable skills at my disposal.
Ten years ago when we returned from overseas I also did not have a professional network, which is critical when looking for a meaningful job. So I had to build one quickly (ie in 1 year instead of 3 years).
So, my advice: be entrepreneurial. That means you figure out a job that pays money that you would like to do. It could be a combination of several different jobs. But it has to pay good money.
Start connecting with people in that field. Broadcast what you're trying to do, see if they know anyone you should talk to. They probably won't hire you full-time at first, but might hire you for gigs. And that's good, because you can do them on the side and earn money while quickly learning the basics.
I think 50% of success is just reaching out and having positive interactions.
posted by Nevin at 1:31 PM on August 25, 2015 [7 favorites]