Seriously... When did I become a grown up?

I get that I graduated college, oh like 3 months ago, but does that mean I have to have a job already.  In an ideal world, I would love to be working a full-time job that provides me with benefits and paid vacation days, but lets face it; the economy sucks.  Every person I know seems to ask me "Do you have a job, yet?"  I really want to come back with a witty response and say, "Actually, it's by choice that I don't have a job right now!"   NEWSFLASH, people that don't have full-time jobs that utilize their degrees don't really want to be asked about their job searches.  It's so annoying, if I want to update people on my job search process I'll let you know.   Whatever happened to "hey how's it going?" or "how have you been?"  Nothing like angering the person your about to have a conversation with!

Literally every person I know has asked me what I'm doing.  Currently, I'm working nearly 40 hours a week at my retail job, so it's not like I'm sitting at home doing nothing all day.  But when you tell people you don't have a "real" job they assume you're doing nothing.

Yeah, working in retail is not my ideal career path but I'm trying to make it work and trying to figure out what my next move is if I am to stay in this field.


HERE'S SOME ADVICE:
STOP ASKING RECENT COLLEGE GRADS IF THEY HAVE A JOB!!!!!  IF WE DID, WE'D BE SCREAMING IT FROM THE ROOF TOPS.

As Christian Grey would say... these are shouty capitals.

quote from http://alittledashofash.blogspot.com/2011/10/just-saying-steve-jobs.html

Life Sucks Sometimes. I Need a Change Stat!!!!

Hello all...

As you can probably already tell this post is not going to be all sunshine and rainbows.  After my last post about unfortunately not receiving a job offer, I've been in a funk.  I've realized that I can no longer work in retail (at least not in the position I'm currently in).  I need something more, I need a management position or a real job, I just need a change.  I need something that will provide me the financial security I am looking for.

So, where does that leave me.  Hopeless, frustrated, tired, optimistic? How about all of the above.  I keep telling myself that I'm giving myself the summer to kind of figure out what I want to do but in reality there aren't really jobs out there (at least the jobs that are there are not entry level positions).  I'm just confused. I've been reading the book Life After College and the information in the book is actually helping me figure out what my goals are, what motivates me, and is helping me develop a life plan.  While the book is helping me, it is making me semi depressed as well.  I know a lot of college students are struggling to find a job but I don't hear them complaining.  I cannot stress it enough, I'm begging someone to give me a chance.

I guess the rejection email I received from my last interview is taunting me.  I should probably just delete it but I keep looking at it hoping some how it will say what I want it to say.  It's not going to happen but I can dream!  What got me was that the email said "You are extremely qualified for the position and come highly recommended, but we've decided to go with someone with more experience."  There's that word again, experience, it's almost taunting me now.  How do employers expect recent grads to gain this experience if they are not willing to give someone a chance.  I wish I used my college experience a little more efficiently and done more internships to gain that experience but I don't have a time machine so that isn't really possible.  I guess I'll just hope some employer will remember the feeling and take a chance on me.

Sorry for my rant about jobs, I think the fact that I was so close to getting this position it made me re-evaluate my life and has frustrated me.  My one friend asked me if I actually wanted this position or was I just excited to have a job? What's interesting is I couldn't really answer the question.  I think I was more interested in making a decent amount of money and being able to say I'm employed rather then doing the actual job.  Oh well, no sense in wondering what could have been.

My week improved slightly over the next couple of days.  I was able to FINALLY get a haircut, which was long overdue!

Unfortunately, my hair only looked this good for a few hours because the Jersey humidity and rain caused my naturally wavy hair to frizz and poof up.  I am grateful that my hair is healthy and shiny and just so soft.  I'm thinking come September I may try something extreme with my hair.  I've done the short bob or the long shapeless hair.  The only thing I haven't done is dye my hair yet.  My hair stylist as well as the manager of the salon I go to told me to not even think about dying my hair but I want something different.  I want to add definition and color to my hair.  What I'm thinking is something like this in terms of the cut and maybe even the color....

from Pinterest

I don't think I'd go as blonde, but maybe go a light brown at my ends.  I wish I could have my hair look this good everyday but my waves are not as disciplined.  I tend to wake up with one side looking a mess while the other looks nice and pulled together.  

This is the color I'm thinking would soot my skin tone better...

Like the title states I need a change.  Whether it's a new job or a new hairstyle.  I need something that will boost my confidence and hopefully help me land a job.


I want to leave this blog with a quote that I find fitting for this blog.

"Keep on beginning and failing.  Each time you fail, start over again, and you will grow stronger until you have accomplished a purpose- not the one you began with perhaps, but you you'll be glad to remember. " Anne Sullivan

Hopefully my next post will be filled with sunshine and butterflies!!!!

Life.......

Life can be so challenging sometimes.  Today, I had my yearly review with one of my managers at the retail store I work at.  The company I work for decided upon completing our reviews we are required to answer a few short questions.  What kinds of questions you ask?  Completely pointless questions that do not relate to my job.  I was asked "where do you see yourself in 5 years?" REALLY... this question is haunting my life.  My response was, "uhh not here."  The next question asked me to rate my satisfaction with my job from a scale of 1-10.  I asked if I could give negative numbers and my manager seemed less than thrilled (I found it hilarious).  I don't understand why people expect me to have a plan for my life 5 years from now... I don't even know what I'm going to be doing next week?

These question have got me thinking?  What are my career goals and aspirations?  Do I want to stay in retail or do I want to move on and explore the world?  Now is the perfect time in my life to just pick up and move for a career opportunity.  Sure, it will be completely scary not living by my family but is it worth it to have a successful career?

Hopefully, I'll have exciting news soon!!!!!!

Tori

PLEASE.... give me a chance

Ok recent grads, how many of you are frustrated that you simply can't find a job?  I think the problem isn't that there aren't jobs out there, there are tons, just not enough for recent grads.  I really would like to use my degree (Communications) for a job and not just work in retail, like I'm doing now.  Every job that I've seen somewhat interested in applying to requires some amount of prior experience.  Umm... how am I going to get any experience when no one will give me a chance.  It's actually really discouraging that no one wants to give people a chance?  Don't they remember that someone gave them a chance too.

I'm hoping that I'm not the only one who is completely lost in this job hunting process.  I've become so desperate (really I could use all the advice I could get) I bought a self-help book.  I actually recently bought a book from Target that is a guide for college students about all the things you don't learn about in college.  I haven't actually read it yet, but I plan to write a review of it once I'm done with it.

It's a scary world out there and let's hope this book helps me become more comfortable with growing up, because as of right now I'm terrified.

All the best!

Tori