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I've been trying to find a job for a month now, and even with education and experience, I haven't been able to find anything.
The problem is, that I grew up with the whole, "Major in what you are passionate in, and the money shall follow". So what are my passions? Well let's see...
I am very good with the English language and have always excelled with the written and spoken word. However, a BA in English is pretty much useless.
Ok, so I moved on to Spanish. I started studying it when I was a teenager, which most would consider way too late to learn a foreign language. I became fluent, but Spanish and a BA in Spanish, is also useless.
My next passion was History and this is what I actually got my degree in back in the early 2000s. I think it goes without saying that a BA in History is also useless.
I got an MPA after my useless History degree so I could make up for that mistake and I have to have that help me in any capacity. I also considered getting a second BA in Political Science since I am heavily into politics as well. A BA in Political Science is also seen as useless as well and my MPA has yet to help me get a job and I have been looking for almost a year now.
So there you have it, I totally suck at math and thought about doing an MBA, but I took a small practice test and I got only 2 problems out of 10 right in the GMAT math section. I feel like I am destined to work crappy jobs forever since all the good jobs seem to be going to either Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, or Business people. All those jobs require math except for lawyer and even that is not guaranteed. I am already in my 30s and I am tired of working, "crap jobs".
I can't help what I like, and no one pushed these things on me, I became interested in them on my own. I thought about saying screw it and just getting a PhD in one of the above subjects(English or Political Science, not History though!), because I would like to teach college, but even that is not a guarantee, what do you think I should do?
P.S. I personally know a guy that did the whole BA, MA, PhD in English, took 8 years, and he got a job right back at his undergrad school as a professor..if he can do it why cant I? I am just afraid because I don't want to get more schooling only to not be able to get a job....I mean, if he can do it, why can't I?
The major mistake a lot of people make is majoring in something in their passion area, which often tends to be something that isn't in demand or pays next to nothing. One should focus on finding a career that pays well and has good working conditions. It necessarily won't be something you are passionate about or care about once you clock out for the day. You can focus on your passions after work with the good wages you earn in a practical career field. It really sucks to be be stuck in a situation where you're making lousy wages in a job you hate and not being able to afford or have time to work on your passions outside of work.
What jobs are you applying for? English, Spanish, History all point toward getting a teaching certificate.
MPA would point toward an administrative job in local or state government. Are you applying to those? You might also look to Federal employment as a management analyst or contracting specialist (apply at the GS5-7 level which is about what an MPA alone qualifies you for; don't spend a lot of time on the higher grades until you get in and get a year's experience then move up.)
gs9 would be where she starts at with a BA degree, gs7 is associate degree normally, 11 is masters, at least without prior experience at a lower grade first.
but you took so many college classes and still cant think outside of the box? with english and spanish degrees, i figured becoming a translator would be the natural job. or work at an international company with offices in both countries? you like politics and know multiple languages? work for the state department or united nations, spanish is the most common second language for government employees, there was a news article about this a while back.
you could always draw picture books a spanish see spot run coloring book?
edit, you most likely wont get a teaching job back at alma mater unless it is a ta job... most colleges like professors from different regions of the country/world for differing views... but go ahead, spend more money on a phd and find out for yourself.
gs9 would be where she starts at with a BA degree, gs7 is associate degree normally, 11 is masters, at least without prior experience at a lower grade first.
Not likely though. There is just too much competition who have both degree and experience that are willing to take a 9, so someone just starting out needs to set their sights more realistically at 5 or 7. Way too many people think they qualify at a higher grade than they really do and then wonder why they don't get referred for the job. Most people would have better luck if they take the grade they think they should qualify at and drop by two.
Keep following your bliss. It seems hopeless now, but if you remain unrelenting, something will happen. It just happens in "it's" time, not yours. Be creative in where you look and how you might apply your love of language. Advertising agencies, the place I work now(scholastic textbooks and progress testing) would love an english major. You don't want to be 40 years old and wake up every day hating life because of your job. Life is too short. My career is almost over, and it feels like it just started. I only have a few more years to go and regret putting so much into my "career" ie, making someone else's life easier, at my expense. If you persevere and find a job you can tolerate your quality of life will be so much better. Following money never works out, I don't care what people say. Follow your bliss, not money ~ best wishes
gs9 would be where she starts at with a BA degree, gs7 is associate degree normally, 11 is masters, at least without prior experience at a lower grade first.
Haha! Good one. The 'degree requirement' is an absolute travesty in the field I work in.
It's almost never enforced, magically the 'prior experience' is enough-even if the experience isn't truly relevant to the position applied for.
I can't realistically speak for all career fields, though. Perhaps having the right degree or RELEVANT experience is ruthlessly enforced in others.
It sounds like you lack experience that will help you land a professional job. You can get that by volunteering with a professional organization and making connections, volunteering to serve on a board of a charity, etc. Pick something you're good at it and target all your efforts to achieve that, while still keeping an open mind to opportunities that may present themselves along the way.
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a spanish see spot run coloring book?
