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I'm in need of serious advice. I'm 27 and never had a job It's not exactly that I'm dumb or without standards and goals, but I usually get disinterested quickly and I'm VERY indecisive. The story? I graduated from high school with a 3.5 GPA and actually entered into college on an academic scholarship at age 18. An important mistake I made was not analyzing and making sure the major I chose was really what I wanted to do. It became a situation of my being in college "just to be there" to please my parents, somewhat. Once in college for awhile, I'd often ask myself, "Is this really what I want to do?" Feeling unsure, I'd begin to stop attending classes and caring. Semester after semester of half-way trying/barely passing, getting W and WF grades rolled by and before you knew it, I was 21 or 22 in the same spot. I'd always tell myself, "I'll get it together next semester" or I'd withdraw from classes, go back to my parents home and transfer to other colleges and say "it'll be different here." More years roll by and I'm 24 or 25. Around this time, I FINALLY started to say, "OKAY!, you need to decide on something, seriously!" This is when I actually started to look into the type of jobs that would be available with certain degrees, job outlook, etc. I enrolled into technical college, different things have came to mind, but this is when the quick disinterest comes in. I still switch from major to major. The reason I've never had a job extends from about age 18-22. My parents would still stress, "DONT WORRY ABOUT WORKING!!!, JUST GET A DEGREE!!!" At other times, I'd never look for a job because I'd always tell myself I was "moving" to go to a new school "soon" and would be in a new town anyway. Now, I find myself 27, unemployed, staying with my parents, and taking technical college classes and I've become "unsure" if this is what I want to do again. WHAT DO I DO? For all the classes I've ever took AND ACTUALLY GAVE FULL effort, I've passed with As and Bs. However, my indecisiveness/quick disinterest in things have cause more W, WFs and Fs than anything and my GPA is low. So obviously, it's not that I'm "too dumb" for college, maybe I need to take a different route? Do I see some sort of career counselor? Volunteer? Just find a minimum wage job until I figure it out? Look into careers or options that dont require a degree or how to open a business? I'm still very confused. I'm a fairly attractive guy, dress nice, and have a great personality. Even being in my situation, I can still get dates, but out of "pride" I stray away from women now because I'd wonder why they'd want someone like me at this point and I feel like bum paying for things with money I got from my parents, driving my parents cars, etc. How do I turn things around? Is there some sort of technical college/community college career that's quick to get into so that I at least dont lose interest and can support myself even if it's not my true passion. I JUST NEED ADVICE.
Your parents seriously still support you? What are you going to do when they are no longer around? No one can "turn things around" except for you and you had better figure out quickly what will motivate you enough to get it turned around. How are you going to explain your lack of degree and numerous schools in an interview?
Though my parents were great with providing material possessions, food & housing, and a safe, stable home, they really sucked with guidance or telling me the real deal about "life." At an age like mine, I take full responsibility that I should be doing SOMETHING by now and ultimately it is my own fault that I'm in this situation. But it must be understood that I grew up in with parents that told me 1. Don't worry about what major you choose, just choose something 2. Don't go to technical college or community college, nobody gets jobs from those places. 3. Don't worry about getting a job, just go to school. 4. The never stressed the important of work experience. I should have started years ago when I initially said I was going to look for a job and they told me not to. It's as if they still live in the same fairy world they trained me to believe in. Since I'm back in school (They don't mind me going to technical college now), I guess they think their little "honor roll student for life" (growing up) is still going to magically find this great job after her FINALLY graduates with SOME SORT of paper and live happily ever after. I realize my situation is VERY weird and unique but I want to end and change that now. As for your question about interviews, I'm wondering that myself!
Your parents seriously still support you?
What are you going to do when they are no longer around?
Can't speak for the OP but my 32 y/o wife's parents still support her a bit (can't get by on my income alone) because she has never had a job. Slightly different reason though - she spent all her 20s and early 30s in school, plus graduate school. That's not to say that she/we are not in a pickle - we are because of the catch-22 associated with that first job. But it is what it is. The baby boomers and folks from outside North America see education as more important than employment, but the ground reality is exactly the opposite today.
Though my parents were great with providing material possessions, food & housing, and a safe, stable home, they really sucked with guidance or telling me the real deal about "life." At an age like mine, I take full responsibility that I should be doing SOMETHING by now and ultimately it is my own fault that I'm in this situation. But it must be understood that I grew up in with parents that told me 1. Don't worry about what major you choose, just choose something 2. Don't go to technical college or community college, nobody gets jobs from those places. 3. Don't worry about getting a job, just go to school. 4. The never stressed the important of work experience. I should have started years ago when I initially said I was going to look for a job and they told me not to. It's as if they still live in the same fairy world they trained me to believe in. Since I'm back in school (They don't mind me going to technical college now), I guess they think their little "honor roll student for life" (growing up) is still going to magically find this great job after her FINALLY graduates with SOME SORT of paper and live happily ever after. I realize my situation is VERY weird and unique but I want to end and change that now. As for your question about interviews, I'm wondering that myself!
I have to support your parents in most of their advice.
Community college curriculums are a joke. They make public middle schools look intellectual by comparison.
And work experience isn't that important unless it's substantial work. (You wouldn't be in a much different position if your resume was filled with CVS type jobs.)
I thought I had it pretty bad. I can kind of relate but I do have a work history just not a strong one. This is a tough one but I would try to apply for minimum-wage jobs such as retail. Try to volunteer somewhere and put that on your resume and if all else fails than resort to making things up on your resume. There are professional services that will help you to fabricate a work history. Good luck.
I have to support your parents in most of their advice. Community college curriculums are a joke. They make public middle schools look intellectual by comparison. And work experience isn't that important unless it's substantial work. (You wouldn't be in a much different position if your resume was filled with CVS type jobs.)
So, just to name some programs from my technical college, are you telling me programs like Air Conditioning Technology Diploma, Aircraft Structural Technology, Automotive Fundamentals Diploma, Commercial Truck Driving Technical Certificate, Industrial Systems Technology Associate Degree, Biotechnology Associate Degree, Clinical Laboratory Technology Associate Degree, Dental Assisting Diploma, Dental Hygiene Associate Degree, Orthopedic Technology Associate Degree, Accounting Associate Degree, Business Management Associate Degree, Computer Support Specialist Associate Degree, etc. DONT land people jobs and they are wasting their time?
I would first say that a lot of people are in your immediate position.
There are those who opted to pursue acting and music and then gave up, or have worked a series of odd jobs. There's people much older than you who have been working odd jobs consistently through their lives.
I'm not much better off than you and I have multiple degrees and a significant work history.
That said, floundering in school was bad. You'd have been better off just sitting on your parents couch watching TV for 9 years. Now, you have a bunch of random credits in ... something.
If you just want a career making decent $, doing something respectable, I'd go get a 2 year tech degree and become a ultrasound tech or dental hygienist. The pay is quite good. Many people who have bachelors degrees eventually go back to get the 2 year degree to do that.
If you figure out you want more later on in life, you can go back and finish the bachelors when you have better direction. You're still quite young, which is a plus.
What's more important these days? Actually having a degree or work experience and connects? Example? I have a friend of the family, that works at a certain fortune 500 that I won't name, who said she could "get me in the door" with a job there. The problem is that she told me I would at least need SOME work experience, even if I just had to work at a grocery store for a few months or a year. Is being in a situation like this actually more important or better off than acquiring a certification, diploma or associate degree from a technical college? Do I focus mainly on what my "connect" said then worry about finishing up college once I've got a job or what?
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