Where do you live? California
What’s your field? School counseling.
How long have you been actively job hunting? Two years.
What sorts of job are you looking for? At first only school counseling positions, then anything in the social service field, and now customer service/sales. I have even considered law enforcement despite me being petit and soft spoken.
Any interviews? I have not had one interview since I graduated. I have in interview tomorrow for a banking position.
Are the jobs you’re seeking in the same part of the country or a different part? Same part.
What are your biggest obstacles? Paying back my student loans! I have to begin repaying them in April. I applied for unemployment in September so I my payments were deferred until April. I have to use my credit cards just to buy basic necessities and am now in credit debt. I am currently a sub so I don’t work over the summer which is going to make it even harder to pay my bills on NO income!
What are your biggest frustrations? I invested 3 years of my life and borrowed 40k to complete a graduate program at a private school and it didn’t work for shit! I am only putting my B.A to work by being a substitute teacher but am sitting on my fancy Masters degree! What a waste! How am I supposed to pay my bills over the summer? I’ve tried to apply for temp agencies for office work but they say I have no experience, What do they mean I have no experience??!!! I have a Masters Degree, I worked my way through college! And I’ve been working since I was 16! They say my experience is non transferable for clerical jobs and I am over qualified. Or I don’t get hired for entry level positions because I have a Masters they think I am going to quit for a higher paying job.
What are your biggest fears? Losing my car, not ever seeing an end to living below to poverty line, dying of illness since I don’t have medical insurance and can’t get regular check ups, not being able to pay off my student loans, never seeing an end to credit card debt, not ever being able to become a parent (simply cant afford it), and never being able to buy a home.
What do you do all day? On the days that I am fortunate to work as a Sub. On days that I don’t work I look better career opportunities, watch TV, surf the net, worry about my financial situation, and sometimes cry.
Do you have big financial worries — family obligations? Loans you’re supposed to pay back? A growing credit card bill? I definitely have financial worries. I have to pay back loans, credit card bills, regular bills, my car, and rent. What I make as a sub isn’t enough to cover my expenses. At the end of the month I am left with nothing. Any other necessities that come up have to be payed with my credit card. So my credit card balance just keeps on growing and growing.
Do you have a spouse or partner who works? No
Any final thoughts? Sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t have gone to grad school. It has taken me no where but to the unemployment office.
