h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've been away from the H2G2 site for some time, but have decided to start checking in again. It's fun, and besides, in my state of semi-unemployment, I need to write in the journal to relieve the stress.

I consider myself to be semi-employed right now because while I graduated in December with a master's degree in journalism, I am working the same job I held while I was a student, but because of the way you have to get paid when you are a temp. employee as opposed to a student, it is taxed at a much higher rate, so I am actually getting much less money than I made as a student employee. The job is at the University Press at the university where I attended school, and the budget is apparently too tight to fund a full-time position for me, even though numerous people have retired or been fired in recent months.

So, that job is only 30 hours a week, but I am also teaching one college class. This, I love more than anything. This is helping me on my way to becoming a professor, but of course, as with anything, you must start at the bottom, and right now all they have to offer me is one class a semester.

Anyway, back to why I consider myself semi-employed. As a part time employee at both of my jobs, I am not eligible for any of the perks that go along with full-time employement, including health care, benefits, and use of the campus work out center, etc. So, what then, is the point of working my butt off when there is no compensation.

To pay the bills, I guess is the answer, however, the money coming in right now is not even doing that, since I have had to borrow money from my parents for the last two months.

So, get a new job? Well, if one of the 56 places I have applied in the last two months would hire me, then that would be wonderful. Of 56 applications, I have received two interviews. I made it to the final cut with one job, but ended up not getting it. And my degree is in writing, so I know how to write my resumes and cover letter and e-mails in a professional manner. In fact, I get compliments on my writing and communicating abilities from a lot of potential employers, but so far no job offers.

One cannot pay a car payment on compliments.

I know I am not the only one with job issues. The US economy is still struggling, although getting better from last year, but still not so good. I was told a long time ago that if you wanted to succeed, a degree was the only ticket. Now, while I don't belive it is the ONLY ticket, it should count for something. I have two degrees and two underpaid part-time jobs. Something is not right here.

And, I wasn't one of those people who only went to college, but has not real-world job experience. I worked for a newspaper, in publishing, in human resources, in event planning, and have research experience all while going to school.

Not to brag, but I have a good resume. Someone hire me and pay me a decent salary!!!! I just want to be able to pay the bills and feed my beagle and myself and maybe take a roadtrip every now and then.

Signed,

The plight of the twenty-something college grad

Hi,
not quite sure how I ended up in your space or reading your journal, but here I am and there you are so it'd be most rude of me not to say hello
The whole work money story is a familiar one, something that is hitting me at the moment too, though for different reasons. At 31, with kids, here in the UK, my employment potential is limited. So while I am technically self employed doing one of the things I love the need for more money has had me looking around and finding next to nothing that is even close to possible for me. We are intelligent articulate qualified women, why must we struggle to feed our respective creatures??!
Wishing you luck and fortune SOON!

Thank you. There is something comforting in knowing the problem of semi-unemployment extends across the oceans. I am sure it is more expensive to feed your kids than it is my dog, so I wish you the best of luck as well.

It is true, I am surrounded by incredible intelligent and thoughtful people, who could contribute greatly to society if someone would just give them a good job. You do what you have to for money, but the brain craves a challenge.