It's interesting how, while in college, you have this view that once that firm, rigid piece of paper touches your fingers, the world of opportunity also lays within your grasp. Anything is possible. All jobs are readily available and seeking your acceptance. That people will be racing to your doorstep or leaving message after message on your brand-new Blackberry. That your "Inbox" will always have reached maximum capacity. Where do we come up with this fantastical expectation?
The truth IS - this is untrue. When your "career" since age 4 has been to get good grades and go to college, afterwards you almost have to start fresh. This is the reality. What is life really life "post-grad"? How often do things just fall into place?
You can read all of the interviews by people who have "climbed the corporate ladder" all you want, but experience is the only way to grasp it. The only real advice that I have ever taken from those would probably be the ways to answer interview questions that put you in a corner. The economy sucks right now, especially for up n' comers, even though we are the cheapest and the more tech savvy and have more room to grow. As much as this is a dis-advantage for us newbies, I have realized that I would rather take the beating now than put out some 60 year old (cough cough, both of your parents or my dad). Everyday yuppies are swooping in and taking people's jobs that have been there for 30+ years just because social media is "so gen-x". I sometimes have to remind myself of my role in society, even when I don;t even have 1 foot on the ladder of my career. I would rather have two feet on the ground than have to knock off a 65 year old man with 3 children that haven't even hit college yet and he knows his Social Security vanquished long ago in the mystery of the socialistic government.
ReplyDeleteIts no different whether you are in Kansas City, the minimal mark of the center of the states or in the biggest city that produces 65% of the paper roll. NYC. It is rough.