“I am one year out of college and I don’t think I can take my job much longer.
When I was 10 years old, if you had asked me where I wanted to work, I would have said Corporation X — it’s a dream company, and that’s where I work! But, ugh — after a year of working 14- to 18-hour days, five to six days a week, for $10.50 an hour, I am exhausted and still living paycheck to paycheck.
Here’s the kicker, though: I might work an 18-hour shift, but I will only be given three hours of work to do.
The rest of the time I just sit at my desk and wait.
When I do have something to do I love my job! Honestly, if my job paid better, gave me benefits, I worked normal hours and they constantly had work for me to do, it would be the perfect job.
What should I do? Should I stick it out for a few more years in hopes of getting slightly more reasonable hours? Or should I call it quits and cut my losses and try to get into a graduate program in search of a new career path? — Exhausted”
Dear Exhausted:
Sounds like you get paid to sit around on your ass and do nothing for 15 hours.
I’d like that job.
$10.50 an hour is rough, especially today. There isn’t any overtime pay that could help you a bit more? Or there is and it’s just not helping as much as it could if you were paid more.
See if there are any other opportunities within that company that could give you better hours, a higher wage, or more work (since you seem to love more work). Or see if there is something else that you could be doing within your own department. Maybe your supervisor is looking for someone proactive and waiting for an employee to ask what else they could be doing.
You were never going to get your ideal job straight out of college. I didn’t. I still don’t have that “dream job” or a real job for that matter, but that’s neither here nor there.
Stick it out and see where it can take you. If you cut your loses now you’re possibly delaying yourself even more. At least now you’re in a place you enjoy (when you work) and that can lead to something down the line.
John Kidde Writes 