I'm a recent college graduate and can't find a job in my field. I have a part-time job not in my field and am still looking for that "real" job.
I was considering going back to school though. There is a very nice, small college almost right behind my current place of employment. I am very interested in the one program they have. Unlike my previous college that I graduated, this college works with students to find that job.
I'd be able to go to class during the day and work my part time shift in the evening. The program I am interested in would complement my other degree well. I'd have an internship to graduate, the internship is the one thing I really want!
However, there is the cost. I was saving up...I don't make that much part-time. I wanted to save up so that I could eventually be financially stable and independent enough to be able to move anywhere I need to if I do find a job...the expense of moving out of my parents house wouldn't be a problem if I save up you see.
Should I continue to save or should I consider taking the classes? :/
Part of me wants to save...it is security, independence ect. But the other half thinks that I can always make more money, and I might end up staying in this part-time job forever and not finding a job in my field if I don't try something else...:/
If you're comfortable sharing this information, what's your degree in, what is your proposed field of study, and what is your current part-time job? And the biggie - how much would the new program cost and how long would it take to finish? Without knowing those things, I'd say that the school idea is well worth checking into. It's been really hard for recent graduates to find good, full-time jobs in their intended fields lately, and though the economy is supposedly getting better, the situation might last for a while longer. If your intended course of study would make you a more marketable candidate in the future and if you would enjoy it, it sounds like a good use of both your time and your money. It sounds like you're still young, so there will be plenty of time to save later, once you have a full-time job.
I'm also curious what your degree is in. I studied philosophy and sociology in college....which makes me pretty hard to employ without a graduate degree. If you are looking for more stability in the future, I would make sure that you are choosing to study something that does have more demand. I ended up going another route and went through a certification program to become a teacher. But yeah...I feel your pain on the not being able to find that dream job you hoped your degree would bring you.
I have an associates degree in administrative office specialist. I currently work as a cashier at a grocery store though. Weekly hours vary, sometimes less than 20 hours
I've been thinking back and forth between 2 schools. One has a program I like that would be another associates for me in business, management and marketing. I would be close to home & to my current job. I'd still be able to live at home with parents as opposed to paying rent & living on my own...I think about 14,000 for one year. (tuition only, this doesn't include books I assume)
They don't offer a bachelors degree though...but I was considering that too. More years & money is the con there though...the college I was considering for a bachelors in business would be about 8000 off campus, 15000 on campus per year.
The Associates degree would take me about 2 years to finish I think. The bachelors I assume to be about 4 with it being more credits.
It sounds like you are attracted to a for-profit school. I'd be a bit wary about a for-profit school. They tend to cost more and no real guarantee that you'd get a job. Also, a lot of them aren't accredited and any classes you take, wouldn't be applied to a future degree.
If you are interested in business, I'd look for a state school and look into financial aid programs. I went to a state school and they did help students get jobs but you also had to be aware of the career center and various offerings for job seeking opportunities.
(PS $28k for an AA is totally not worth it. I'd look at local community colleges first)
You might not know this, but most 4 year colleges accept credits from 2 year schools. Depending on the classes you took, you could cut a lot from the 4 year degree. But that might be less likely with the kind of degree you have. Ask the 4 year school if they have an articulation agreement with your 2 year school... then (either way) find out if any of your classes would transfer. If there's an agreement the transfers will already have been established, so it's easier.
Heather makes a good point. Also, if there are some general ed classes you are lacking, you can go to a community college to make those up. I have a BS but I'm going into a different field which requires pre-reqs I didn't have in my undergrad. So right now, I'm going to a community college at a fraction of the cost to get the pre-reqs.
go to school. you're not going to find anything, probably for a while, unfortunately because of our economic situation right now. it's a waste to try to save and get on your own on a part time job, if they're anything like most the places around here being part time means anywhere between 0 and 25 or so hours a week. better to stay w/ the folks and get yourself into your field, i think.
as someone who is wasting her time forever and what was supposed to be a temporary job... i can tell you!
Neli, I actually graduated from a community college.
And yes, I was thinking that maybe either way some of my gen ed courses might transfer to the university and reduce the amount of time and credits I'll need.
And maybe I won't need to go even 2 years before I do find a job? I was thinking classes would keep my skills current so I wouldn't lose them, plus help me network ect. I could take 1 semester and find a job the next and decide that is what I want...
I was also looking into temp agencies?
If you have credits from a community college I would bet a number would transfer to a 4-year school (if it's a traditional college or university). Again, contact the specific schools and ask about transfer credits. It will help if you have copies of your transcript from the Community College.
I would recommend finishing the BA if you start, though. The degree will get your foot in the door for a lot more jobs in the long run.
Well it depends on what type of job you want. In this economy, it is tough. My company mostly requires a BA/BS or 'equivalent experience'. For jobs that do get posted, it seems like hundreds of qualified applicants apply. Networking is good and I think the best option would be a 4 year university. If you do happen to get a job before graduating, I'd still plan on continuing even if only part time. A degree can only help you.
I see you're in PA, could you give a general idea of where in PA?
I'm asking because I'm a PSU Alum. Most PSU branch campuses offer a general buisness degree and are not that competitive to get into. Also it's a state school and they accept community college credits. If you have a PSU campus near you that would be great.
Also I highly recommend getting a little more specific about what kind of buisness/management/administrative etc you want to get into. A buisness degree is pretty useless without a specific direction (unless you get lucky).
Well, I graduated with highest honors and I know my resume is good (several employers who have interviewed me have said so. In fact they said they have received several resumes and mine was 1 of 10-20 that they actually chose to interview)
However, I do not have experience. Everything asks for years of experience in the work field. How do I get around that? I have a degree I worked on, took classes for 2-3 years but haven't ever worked in the field. Ideas on that? It seems you only get a job if you've had one...
I am in central PA. I went to a community college in Harrisburg. I am looking at Ship, or South Hills...
PSU is kind of expensive...:/
I am highly interested in health as I have lost more than 100 pounds. I could see myself working office in health centers, clinics, doctors office or hospitals. I feel that it would keep me motivated to help others achieve better health, you know?
Also, I am interested in education. I really wanted to be a teacher at one time. I took some classes in education even. Therefore, knowing some of that I could see myself working in an education setting as well. A high school or elementary school office, or even offices on a college campus.
Degrees in education may require you to stay longer in school, as you have to meet all the state certification requirements. Here in Ilinois, for instance, it means you have to take certain psychology, history and political science courses to meet your general education requirements. So I often counsel transfer advisees not to major in education, as you can always go back and get a certificate if you think you want it later.
If you think you want to work in the health industry, find some jobs and determine the requirements for those jobs. They may require a certain number of biology and chemistry classes, for instance. If you're talking working more in the business side, then that's something else entirely.
As for the experience thing, you need to find what they call "entry level" jobs probably. These are jobs that don't require experience in the field. Often you can move up quickly from those. But part of it might also be how you write that resume. You have a job now. What skills does IT require. How can you make those skills apply to another job you might be looking at? Sometimes it requires you to have a slightly different resume for each job you apply to, tailoring them to fit the position a bit...
Career Centers at colleges and universities can help you with a lot of these questions, and they are generally free to students and alums. So your CC might even be able to help.
I've taken several gen ed courses in psych, soc, history, ect. when I was planning on being an education major.
I was planning on working in the office field of medical offices. Although, I figured if I did want to go that direction that it would always be helpful to take some medical classes to understand the terminology and be able to communicate with both doctors and patients. However, I don't see myself becoming a doctor/nurse...I don't think I'm smart enough :P
If there are entry level jobs in my area I haven't found any yet!
I have the computer skills, communication skills. I am smart, I just need someone to give me a chance and work with me!
I am working on updating my resume. I am trying to find good key words to describe my experience at a grocery store that would be relevant in office. As a cashier I am running the cash register which is much like a computer. There are procedures that I follow with the computer or other devices if my customer is paying with debit, check, access ect. Like, if they are paying with debit then I have to type in the amount and push the right button so the computer will know it is that type of transaction. If it is a check, it is the same idea and then I put the check in the other machine so that it can be printed on the back. A customer can ask for the price, date, ect to be printed on our checks and the computer will alert me to push the correct button to be printed or not printed.
I feel I am definitely am practicing data entry because if you type in the wrong amount or a wrong number, then you have to figure that out too. Sometimes their access cards do not "swipe" in the machine and then I have to type in their number into my computer. One wrong number and I have to start all over again or it won't work.
I also am constantly communicating with customers and answering questions or helping them get answers. I have to greet them, ask for their bonus card and so on. Sometimes they want to know that they are getting the deal advertised, such as buy one get one free deals and I have learned to read the screen or receipts and can show them where they are saving. If I do not know the answer, I always refer them to the cashiers at customer service. For instance, one guy was buying candles because he saw they were on sale but they didn't come up as on sale and he didn't save. I called a manager and they used their key to fix it so that the customer did get the discount. Obviously I couldn't do that on my own, give him that discount, but I could contact someone who could decide what to do...
Save money or take classes?
