I Will Not Settle

After returning to America after almost five years overseas, I thought that it would be easy to find a challenging and engaging job that I would be happy with for some time.  I was very wrong.  After applying to many different positions and receiving many rejections, I went to a job fair for a new hotel. I had worked in hotels before so I thought "why not?"  Well many reasons why but that's another story.  After going through two interviews at the job fair, I went back for two more before they offered me a position as the Front Desk Supervisor.  I was overjoyed to be employed.

The first month or so went well enough but then I was working 9-5 and training my new Front Desk Agents.  It was what I had imagined.  The hotels opens and throw guests into the mix and ugh, my job is no longer so much fun.  Again that's another story but I decided hospitality is not the field for me and started to look for new opportunities.  I applied to every position that I even had a little bit of interest in. More rejections.  So after realizing that I don't make as much money as I thought I would be and I'm not that happy doing what I do, I decided to take on a second 'fun' job.

So many people in Generation Y are taking minimum wage jobs because that's all they can find.  I'm not saying I won't do it.  My new second job as a swim instructor at the YMCA is just barley over minimum wage.  Now sure, this will be my second job but I don't make too much more than minimum wage at my first job.  This is not how I imagined my life would be when I returned home with all this experience that other people my age do not have.  I will not settle.

I am still applying to jobs that would be more interesting and challenging for me.  I have even started to apply to internships.  The logic behind it being, an internship can open up into a full-time job.  Taking on an internship is not exactly the 'ideal' job but it would be worth the risk of having to cut back on other expenses.  And one I'm willing to make if it means a job that will apply to what I want to do in the future.

The first internship I applied to I've already been invited to interview for.  I'm not going to wing this interview.  I'm meeting with my professor before hand to prepare for any more challenging questions that come up on the particular subject I'm studying with her this semester.  I'm going to do my homework and be fully prepared for it.  I'm going to blow them away because I will not settle anymore.

I am qualified and I have the skills and characteristics to be a great employee for so many different organizations.  I will find one eventually that will realize my potential and give me the opportunity to prove myself to them.  I am going to go that extra mile to impress my interviewers.  I will not settle anymore!!

Generation Y

Generation Y, also known as the "lost" generation, refers to people who were born between 1980 and 2001.  Although those dates are different based on who you talk to, for the purpose of this blog it will be for people born between those years.  Generation Y has been facing many new challenges that their parents did not.  These young adults are facing high unemployment rates even though they are more educated than generations before them.

There have been articles published on the "skill" gap for Generation Y but it is more a problem of a "job" gap.  The current economy is putting out more entry-level, minimum wage jobs that most Generation Y'ers are over qualified for.  As we wait for the Baby Boomers who are now reaching retirement age, to step down from their positions, there is a lack of jobs for those who have a degree.  Many people say that this unemployment is due to Gen-Y's lack of enthusiasm for working.  There are jobs available but it requires relocating for many.  This will not be possible if the job only pays minimum wage where many Gen-Yers will have to move out on their own.  Another increasing trend for Generation Y is that they are living longer with their parents or never moving out at all.

As a member of Generation Y, I have experienced this frustration first hand.  I have a Bachelors degree in Business and am working on a Masters degree in Adult Education and Organizational Development.  I have international working experience and speak five languages.  Since returning to America in August of 2012, I have applied to too many jobs to remember.  I have applied to jobs that I'm overqualified for, jobs that matched my experiences perfectly, and jobs that required more experience than I have.  I am currently employed but at a job that I am overqualified and underpaid for.  It's been frustrating.

This blog is going to document my job search.  I will be posting links to articles that apply to Generation Y and the "job" gap.  I will tell you about the jobs I apply for and how long it takes to hear back from the companies.  This is going to be a place for other members of Generation Y to share their experiences and advice.  So for those of you out there who know what I'm talking about and are as frustrated as I am, let's not give up hope yet.  Let's show them that we will not be lost for long.  We are here and we will be found.