A must-read-rant-for-all!

So, I was thinking lately that there weren’t any of those “no jobs” threads from people just out of college. I am one of those people. And I often agreed with the posts claiming that there wasn’t a job to be found.

Actually, I found a full time job with benefits and free lunch in an excellent cafeteria. It certainly isn’t a glamorous job. In fact, it’s a pretty difficult and dirty job. I’m a kitchen steward in a major hotel/ casino resort working on the graveyard shift. You can guess that my wages aren’t very high, but they’re going to get me through. I found this job 3 months after I graduated with my associate of arts and was hired within only 3 weeks of applying. Who knows how long I’ll be doing this job. But I’m doing it right now and I feel pretty good.

I’ll tell you something. This is the most humbling experience I’ve ever had. I work with mostly Hispanics; many of them from Latin America. Many of them are old enough to be my father. A few of them speak only a few words of English. I feel left out of the group because I only speak a few words of Spanish and the age gap seems a little awkward to me. But you know what? They make me feel like part of the team.

I got to talking with a few different co-workers. You can guess that many of them work more than one job in addition to this grueling full time gig. One guy told me he takes a nap in the parking garage for an hour or two in between 8 hour shifts.

At this point, I’m sure a lot of the people my age are thinking, “Well, if they made a livable wage, they wouldn’t have to torture themselves like this.” I agree. You’ll get no argument from me. But for my money, these guys represent the epitome of the American spirit. These guys always have a smile on their face and come to work with a positive attitude. The guy who sleeps in the garage between shifts stayed after the end of the day (morning for us) to help me with some problems and questions I had.

Yes, I spent 2 years in college working on a degree that isn’t job-ready. I studied this field because I was passionate about learning the discipline (anthropology), not because I planned to be an anthropologist (I would love to, but it’s not exactly my goal in life). But, I’m also passionate about working hard and feeling like I’ve actually earned my living in an honest way. I used to work in retail. And I was sickened at some peoples’ attitudes toward their jobs..the lazy ne’er-do-wells who wanted higher pay, less responsibility, and undeserved respect. I’ve worked with them. I’ve managed and trained a lot of them too. (I worked in retail the last four years and spent some time assist managing).

It’s only the end of my second day and I’m aching and very tired as I write this. I also touched some pretty gross stuff without gloves during cleaning earlier and I about threw up from the smell. Believe me, I’m going to develop a hand-washing obsession before too long. But dirt and totally disgusting food waste washes away clean and untainted. A poor work ethic doesn’t.

So, I don’t really know what I’m trying to say here. Maybe just that it’s time for some people to stop being armchair theoreticians about “no jobs” and just start doing some good, honest, dirty American work. You don’t have to do it forever. But if you’re still looking for a job, go clean a kitchen. It’s pretty gross. But it’ll cleanse your ego. I guarantee you don’t need 5 years experience doing this stuff to get hired. I can’t claim this kind of advice as my own because this is what our elders have always been telling us!

Someone I knew who dropped out of college (she spends most of her time doing illegal and really stupid things) told me about all the jobs that were “beneath” her. Man I tell ya, people like that are more spoiled than some of that gunk I had to clean out earlier (don’t worry we don’t serve that! Haha.) At one point I reached into a pocket on my coveralls and pulled out a chunk of squid. I have no idea how it got in my pocket, but it certainly wasn't "beneath" me.

Or, you can just make a reeaallly long list of all the jobs that are beneath you while you wait to get hired for your dream job.

By the way, this was not intended to incite comments about ethnicities, purported “races”, or attitudes about immigration. This was intended to let people at ATS know I feel pretty good. And that’s something worth writing home about.

reply to post by NarcolepticBuddha


I'm glad you found employment. I'm sure you'd be happy if it was in your field of study, but that is a reality of life these days, most of the degrees people are coming out with are meaningless.

I really don't understand why people expect to land high paying jobs in their fields right out of school. It has never been that way and never will be, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up.

Take my story for example. I'm an artistic and musically inclined person. I took a year off between highschool and college to figure out where I wanted to be in 4 years. I decided at the time, that graphic design would allow me to do something I love and considered a hobby, and get paid to do it.

So I found a course at a community college that merged my love of graphic design, with IT. The course I took had you form a team, then create a company, pick a field of study or training, then create a computer based training system for that field. This forced everyone to be jack of all trades, you had to take all of the courses.

I was the lead designer, yet, I had to still take programming and the business aspect of it. during that time, I found myself not really enjoying being, what I called, a "button monkey" creating buttons sucked the joy out of design for me and I became fascinated with programming, and eventually switched to being the lead programmer.

Now, this is a 2 year course. Around the middle of the second year I decided that I wanted to stretch even further into the other courses offered, and jumped into the 2nd year of the 3d animation and design course, which was supposed to see me graduate in 3 years with 2 diplomas, technicality killed that.

So I finish my courses, start applying for any IT related jobs and moved to the city I'm in now. It sector took a massive hit after 911 and any of my prospects simply evaporated. I worked a few crappy jobs in between. Worked as a "sitter" for a healthcare company. Basically, I'd go into the terminally ill ward at the hospital and keep people company, read to them, talk to them, help take some of the load off the nurses. After that I bounced into an inventory job where I had to travel around the province in the wee hours of the morning, taking inventory for massive grocery stores and retail outlets. Again, no where even close to my field.

Then I decided to go back to school and went to a private college for IT and Networking + Security. That course alone cost twice as much as the other two courses I took.

When I finished that, again, still not many prospects, but thanks to connections made at non IT related jobs, I was directed to a non profit organization that recycles and refurbishes old computers and network equipment, donating it to local non profit groups, schools, and even exporting some to Africa. This loosely connects with my training, but really, all we were doing there was sorting crap from 1 pile to another and pulling out what could be recycled.

A job that is completely "beneath" my and my training level.

BUT.... Because I stuck with it, when the provincial government started this massive student/teacher laptop project, providing a high end wireless network for every school in the province, supplying all teachers with laptops, and most students as well, I was there, with resume in hand when they needed someone to tear down the old library and convert it into a computer imaging and repair lab.

Again, a task completely below my training level. BUT because I stuck with it, it landed me a few casual government contracts.

Well, it's 6 years later, I'm still here on 3 year contracts at a time, making a comfortable living doing something that mostly I consider a hobby.

But I would have never gotten where I am without taking a job that some would consider beneath me.

If you aren't willing to work for it, what the hell do you expect out of life?

Exactly, There is a Job for everyone, I'm fully qualified in psychology but i work as a Kitchen Porter.....

If you are willing to settle for less than what you consider yourself worthy of you will find a job, I enjoy my job, I wash dishes but hell it's a job never-the-less! I found this job myself, I have no Car, I live in the middle of nowhere, I cycle 8 Miles to work every day and work 50 hours week.

And yet people in cities are deluded enough to say there are "No Jobs".

reply to post by TedHodgson


Thanks for your post! I somewhat minored in psychology. I feel that anthropology is simply the psychology of a culture instead of the individual. Had I been able to afford going to university, I would have minored in psychology. I bet you get plenty of psychological data and field observations working in that kitchen!

reply to post by NarcolepticBuddha


I certainly do!

However even the head chef feels threatened by the fact i have a Degree

reply to post by TedHodgson


I guess we can go a bit off topic since I haven't gotten many replies yet. I wondered if the chefs didn't associate with the stewards on my first day because every time I greeted one they would just stare at me and then ignore me. So I just kept my mouth shut and smiled when making eye contact. Eventually one chef asked if I was new, welcomed me, and shook my hand.

I'm not sure why a chef would feel threatened by a psychology degree in the kitchen

reply to post by NarcolepticBuddha


I have no idea why either, It's strange when i talk to him

Define SLAVERY!

Now compare it with working full time to earn just enough wage to enable you to survive until tomorrow to do another days work. Not much difference is there!

Meanwhile the employers/shareholders live in mansions on multy acre estates, fly to work in their lear jets, return home to a meal cooked by their servants, sleep in a bed made by their servants, wake up to a breakfast cooked by their servants etc etc etc..... paradise!

and you mention a friend who sleeps for an hour between shifts and think he's some kind of hero!!!

Keep taking the fluoride and it'll all be ok.

reply to post by VoidHawk


This thread is not about the unjust distribution of wealth. I didn't say anybody was a hero. I said I admire people for carrying a positive attitude in a difficult situation. By the way, that guy sleeping in between shifts said he is saving so he can leave the country. I think he said he is here as an asylee. We all know it's borderline slavery for the fat cats. That part goes without saying. What exactly did you add to this thread?

I think positive attitude is the key for anything. A positive attitude isn't exactly the same thing as acceptance. It's a character trait that more people should have..perhaps you should jump on board.

And I take no fluoride in my water, thanks..I guess that means I know what I'm talking about by your own logic?