Hello- the biggest question is how do people find good jobs that actually pay well?

37 Comments

1. AnonymousFebruary 14,2023 at 9:00PM UTC

   You often have to start at the bottom in a new field. It's unlikely you'll step into middle management with a few random positions and a bachelor degree to back you up. You need a proven track record of being a solid employee before have the chance to move into better positions. Most industries want to hire people into higher-level roles who have a strong understanding of the industry and expectations and that only comes with experience.

   I remember not wanting to hear that advice when I was frantic to support 3 kids, along with student loans and having been mostly out of the workforce for a decade. But it was the information I needed to set my goals and I've done very well over the years.

   If you're in the US, student loan payments can be adjusted based on your income, so focus on getting an entry-level position in the field you think you'd like as a career.

2. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 7:59PM UTC

   Thanks for your advice- while I was in school I worked for a corporation for 7 years, I made it to upper management but could not use my degree and even after working there for 7 years I made it to the top of the food chain so to speak and there was no further advancement so that is why I left. The money wasn't enough either. I can't be placed on an income payment plan with private loans- I have tried speaking to all my providers and they can't help me. Thank you though.

3. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 11:53PM UTC

   You were in upper management and top of the food chain and could not survive? Wow, I could live on a couple hundred grand easy.

4. AnonymousFebruary 14,2023 at 10:11PM UTC

   Maybe call your student loan provider and see if you can get a deferment for a few months since you're not working? That might take the pressure off a little while you continue your search.

5. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 8:00PM UTC

   I have tried unfortunately since they are private loans they can't help me, my federal loans I can't even afford to look at or pay and they are in deferment until the government figures out what they are doing....

6. AnonymousFebruary 14,2023 at 10:35PM UTC

   First off you are not alone. This is a dilemma for sure for many of us.

   I would suggest you network with your university alumni. Second, consider an entry level or temp position in your area of study. It will not pay well but it will get your foot in that door and get your career started. Then network the heck out that company and make contacts outside the company by attending conferences and tradeshow and seminars. Further, volunteer for special projects and committees to broaden your reach in and out of you company. Build your network and your reputation.

   To build your financial health, learn to budget strictly and get a 2nd job waitressing or bartending.....anywhere you can make tips and accommodate an eveningschedule. Then go from there.

   This is hard but not impossible. I had to work 3 jobs after college to pay my loans off but after working my butt off I had them paid off after 8 years. I was also able to keep my finances in check by using MINT as my budgeting tool. I'm not sitting on a down-payment for my first home.

   You can do this. Your goal us just to get that first step in the door. Seldom is your first job out of college the be all end all but it's important you get started.

   Also, I'm glad your family can help a bit. You are blessed. Mine could not.

7. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 8:07PM UTC

   My family cannot help me anymore- they have done what they could and they are now in financial hardships because of me- so that ship has sailed. I have to figure out something soon.

   I have applied to so many level entry jobs that no one will even interview me.

   I can't even find one full time job to get 2 others-

   I have applied for doggy day cares, target, whole foods, trader joes, Costco, sams club. Even barista jobs at Starbucks to only get decline letters.

   I am using different resume's too, to tailor to customer service- thats literally all I have done my entire career and can't get an interview. I am at a loss....

8. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 15,2023 at 1:39AM UTC

   What is your degree in? What positions are you applying for?

9. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 8:11PM UTC

   My BS is in Public Safety Administration and my AS is in Computer forensics.

   I cannot apply for many things in my degree field. I was originally going to use my BS for child protection agencies in FL but then told that I needed a masters after I was told that I just needed a bachelors degree- needless to say I didn't get the job.

   So there are not many things I can do with either one because I'm too old to become a police officer or fire fighter and thats not really want I want to do.

   With my computer forensics degree I cannot use it either because I do not have any hands on experience or a ton of certifications that I cannot afford at the moment.

10. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 1:37PM UTC

    I think you can't NOT afford to take that $15 job if that is all that is available right now. Apply for an income-based repayment plan, and you will likely pay nothing on your student loans for a year while you find something better. Learn to budget, move back home or find a roommate and get a second job. Millions of people in this country survive on less than $15 hr.

    Get experience however you can-degrees really only prove you can finish what you started not that you are actually skilled in anything, It will likely be a struggle for awhile but you have to start somewhere.

    Take a hard look at the skills you gained from your odd jobs. There is likely a lot more there than you originally think. Were you waiting tables? That involves sales skills, customer service, conflict resolution, etc. Reach out to your University career services. They should have a counselor that can walk you through the best ways to showcase your skills on a resume and an interview.

    Good, well-paying jobs don't just appear, they require searching, hard work and skills. Figure out what you want first, then figure out what you need to do to get there. And don't snub the lower-paying jobs at first. Everyone started somewhere.

11. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 8:30PM UTC

    I have an interview in 2 weeks for a job that pays around $14.75-15.75- I will see what that all entails when I go in for the interview but its still not a guarantee of a job- its just an interview....

    My private student loans cannot go back into deferment or an income driven payment plan. I wish I could do that but sadly the companies have declined me and told me that what I am paying now is the lowest they can go.

    I have my husband that is doing his best with finances but we are having a really hard time- we have a budget that is down to the penny. We do not go out, or overly spend- all of our paychecks go to rent/bills- I have moved across country and no longer near family sadly we cannot live with out 70 year old parents anymore.

    I have reached out to my college as well and they told me about the Handshake app to find a job through that resource but all I am finding on there has nothing to do with my degree- its all sales/insurance or medical. There are not many resources through my college- it wasn't a major state college- still accredited but nothing like UF or USF....

    In a prior post I stated that I worked for a company for 7 years while I was in school and I was a supervisor but I could not advance any further I started making 14/hr, 7 years ago and had to fight for every penny that I made at that company- I have worked as a receptionist for many years, but veterinary related- the hardest part of all of this is getting an interview which all of this could be explained but no one will talk to me about a $15/hr job. I am willing to start somewhere but literally cannot get an interview....

    I have applied to Target, sams club, costco, walmart, trader joes, wholefoods, sprouts that were all around $15/hr to start and get so many decline letters- the only thing I can do to probably find something like that is to remove my education from my resume which kills me to do- I am proud that I am a graduate but cannot tell anyone about it....

12. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 3:04PM UTC

    The first thing you should do is ask for a deferment on your student loans. Contact your provider, and it will give you instructions on how to do that. You can sign up for an income-based plan, and then if you are only making $15.00 per hour (even temporarily), your payments will be adjusted to something you can afford. The next thing you should do is go to the alumni section of your school's website (where you got your BS degree) and look for their career center. Most schools have career coaching, help with resumes, and job boards where companies willing to hire recent graduates will post openings. In the short term - do what you can. I sold cars for two years until I found the job I had been looking for. It was a horrible experience, but it paid the bills and filled a hole in my resume.

13. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 8:36PM UTC

    Thanks for the advice- I have done all the above but cannot do anything about the payments they are what they are-

    My college gave me the handshake app to look for jobs and network the problem with that is that they only post jobs in that area and I no longer live there and they are not in my field.

    I have applied for so many jobs that I just continue to get decline letters- you can see all my replies to others on this to where I have applied but cannot even get an interview.

    I am also not looking for a job that pays over $70,000 to start I understand that is not logical I am just looking for a job that pays around $45,000-50,000. I know that I have to work from the ground up and I have done it before just not in the right field. Thank you for your time.

14. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 9:22PM UTC

    What did you get your degree in? Have you considered developing a budget? Are your student loans private or federal that you got through FASFA? Federal loans provide for income-based payment plans. This was several years ago, but they put me on a plan for $75 per month when I went on one, and I had a job. If you are unemployed, they will likely give you a deferment. Apply through FAFSA. Private loans are different.

15. AnonymousFebruary 15,2023 at 9:53PM UTC

    I have a BS in Public Safety Administration and an AS in Computer Forensics.

    Right now the loans that I am paying on are all private, my federal loans are not due yet since the government isn't sure what they are doing with all this legal stuff.

    I have to have a budget and it's literally down to the penny. I cannot afford to pay for anything else- no dinners out, no new clothes, or overspending. I know that I was definitely not making enough to what my bills added up to be... Even if I get 2 jobs at $15/hr it still won't be enough to cover my debt and bills.

16. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 1:14PM UTC

    Depending on where you live, check out your city government or state government websites (law enforcement, corrections) and consider going to the police academy. This will get your foot in the door to use your PS and Forensics skills and pays better than minimum wage. As for your debt and budget, check out the bills you have. You can live with basic cable or just a few live-streaming subscriptions rather than a complete package. Your cell phone bill can also probably do without the bells and whistles. Are you paying for other's phones besides yours? Why? Unless you are upside down in a car loan, you can sell your car and buy a cheaper or used car or use public transit. If you are renting, move to someplace more affordable at the end of your lease. Ask your landlord what they will take to get you out of your lease early because you are unemployed and don't want to get into trouble with this. Suppose he is looking at the possibility of having to do an eviction. In that case, they will often allow you out of your lease and keep the security deposit rather than the expense and headaches of going through the court process. It may only cost you a part of a month's rent.

    I have done this a couple of times in my life. When looking at the possibility of homelessness, it is incredible what you figure out you can live without (i.e., your bills). As a case manager, I have counseled many clients on what it will take to keep them in their homes. For many of them, it started with their car. When you look at the payments, gas, and insurance, they paid more for their vehicle than rent. Many of them were paying over $200.00 in cable and internet. I work from home today, and my internet and cable package is less than that. You may have to sacrifice a bit (or a lot), but doing everything you can to keep a roof over your head, even if it means letting go of some of the luxuries you feel you can't live with out, should be your number one focus.

17. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 12:39AM UTC

    I was one that deferred ALOT in my early days. You do what you have to to get by. I found a job that was paycheck to paycheck and somewhat in the science field. Not what my degree was in technically, but close enough. It took a while but I worked my way up, found a company that paid for my masters and eventually paid off all my loans (almost 100k)! It is possible is what I'm trying to say... it takes work, perseverance, and penny pinching.

    And if you want a job in child services that needs a master degree, see if a company will pay for a part time program... it will help a bunch to get ahead. Good luck and know you are not alone in this.

18. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 2:55AM UTC

    My best advice is to get your foot in the door somewhere and take the $15/hr job. When I graduated college in 2002, I started off making $12.50/hr. I had an IT degree and couldn't believe I made so little. I worked hard, switched jobs every 2 years, a couple of times, until I landed somewhere I could grow. I now make 6 figures. Everyone has to start off as a grunt and you work your way up.

19. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 7:44PM UTC

    So the problem taking a low paying job like that, wouldn't even cover my rent. I have checked into other places to live but the cost of living anywhere right now is very expensive. I am willing to do what it takes but I have to have a roof over my head too.

20. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 1:42PM UTC

    put your loans in an income driven repayment plan! studentloans dot gov, it's likely you won't have to pay anything till you get a job that pays well. I'm finally required to pay like $32.00/month, and I make ~$50,000/year

    Interest will continue to accrue, you can make interest-only payments if you can afford to.

    Student loans suck. I'm sorry.

21. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 4:03PM UTC

    be very careful about how you do your income driven repayment plans. I don't want to scare you, but I graduated in 2000 and I'm still trying to pay off my loans because of the interest rates being so high. at this point, almost $30k in just interest has been added to my loans.

22. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 7:16PM UTC

    I have about $70,000 in student loans right now....the ones I have to pay on currently are my private loans. Those have passed the deferment stage and they cannot lower my payments- I have about 4 private loans that I am currently paying on every month.

23. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 2:26PM UTC

    In addition to all of the great advice here, join LinkedIn and fill out your profile. Start connecting with anyone and everyone you know...and who you know through your family. Start reaching out to these people to let them know you graduated, what your degree is in, your strengths, and ask if they know of anything in their company that would be a good fit for you. You will get limited responses, but networking gets you the best results. You might also want to connect on LinkedIn with people in the field that you are interested in working. I have actually helped people get jobs that I didn't even know, but they connected with me on LinkedIn because we were in the same field of work.

24. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 7:18PM UTC

    I have joined LinkedIn and to be 100% honest its full of scams- I get more than 5 calls a day about going back to college or if I can work for a company that is far from legit. So I stay away from that resource its only given me more headaches.

25. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 3:28PM UTC

    I know it seems counterintuitive, but you can’t really just apply for anything and everything. You really need to figure out what you’d like to do, what skills you have, and what industries and jobs require those skills as well as what other skills you will develop in those jobs.

    Find some public or community resources for resume and cover letter writing and for interview skills. Some might have career coaching as well.

    What jon did you do in college? If you got to the top level of that job, you will have accumulated transferable skills. What are they? How can they apply to other roles?

26. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 5:27PM UTC

    To add: the college jobs need higher level people. Go back and see where you can fit to one of those positions. Good luck.

27. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 7:24PM UTC

    When I was in college I was a receptionist for a veterinary/speciality hospital. I have a ton of transferable skills- the problem is just getting that one interview that can change all of this....

    So I would love to get into human resources- I have checked into what I would need to do and right now with everything else I cannot afford their certification- the aPHR certification is around $500 for the test and the study materials are around $250.

    I also would like to get my SHRM-CP for human resources but that cert is around $800 for the test. Since I have never been in human resources before I cannot say that I have any experience and I have tried to find internships and entry level jobs its just really tough to find. I have reached out to both of these companies for their certifications and they do not offer payment plans or any student loan options....

28. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 10:59PM UTC

    I totally get how frustrating that is. I think this is a situation where you might have to start at the bottom in your chosen field to gain more experience as well as work towards being able to afford certification.

    You say your family has exhausted what they are able to do to help you. Are you living with them? If not, is that a possibility so that you can pay less or no rent vs if you were living on your own or with a roommate? Is there another relative or a friend that you be willing to help in this regard? Maybe in exchange for chores or something?

29. Ginger PetrusFebruary 17,2023 at 6:19PM UTC

    I worked in HR for 3 years without any certifications while going to school to get my BS. I already had my AS. Granted...I didn't start at the managerial level or anything, but my foot was in the door, and I liked my job.

30. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 11:04PM UTC

    And forgot to add above, maybe you’ll have to take on a couple of part-time jobs or a lower paying full time job and another part-time job to make ends meet in the meantime. Look into thinking outside the box with some of those side hustles: pet sitting or dog walking, for example.

31. Laura BrennanFebruary 16,2023 at 6:09PM UTC

    First of all, kudos to you for coming here and asking for help. That is adulting. You are reaching out to try to find something new to do.

    This is hard, and I know it feels like you have done everything possible. But you wouldn't be here asking for advice if you didn't really want to crack this nut. And you've gotten some great suggestions.

    Let's take it as given that your loan payments are what they are. You've checked into it, you feel like you've hit a wall, let's not waste energy there.

    You've gotten some excellent advice on sitting down with your current bills and getting rid of everything you can, at least temporarily. Do that.

    What you're left with is the nut you have to financially crack. It's just a number, not a referendum on you or your choices. If you can take away the feelings around the number (things like "my student loan payment would take the entire paycheck" which feels debilitating) and just be able to look at it as, okay, that's the number, that's the goal, it will help enormously. Frees up a lot of mental energy.

    Now, how can you bring money in?

    You can see that by this metric, any job helps a little. You're not trying to get your career job at this moment, you're just trying to reach a little higher than your number goal - you want a little more coming in than going out so you can start building a safety net.

    What do you have to do to make that happen?

    Don't work in the dark, get some data. For instance, are you sure it's your education that's keeping you from getting a job at Target? Who knows! Start questioning your assumptions. Can you go to your local Target and ask a manager there what you could do to be a better candidate? What are they looking for? You might find out that it has nothing to do with you, or you might find out you misspelled the name of your college on your resume and the computer spit you out because of it (no shade -- my friend misspelled the name of her college once, that's why I thought of this example. Our brains fill in what they expect to see, that's why we have friends to proofread for us!)

    Where can you find out what it would take to get the job you want (both for now and for your career)? Who can you ask? These are known as informational interviews and they are gold.

    This is what alum groups are great for, by the way. Take some time to figure out what you actually want to do (it may be too hard now, this may be something you have bandwidth for once this crisis has passed) and find alums who are in that field. As for a 20-minute informational interview, treat it like a job interview (professional, polite, immaculate) and ask good questions, things you really want to know about what the job entails, what are the most rewarding things about the field, what skills do you need, how to get your foot in the door. This can help you focus your search and present yourself in the right light when the time comes.

    At the same time -- and this is really important -- these kinds of interviews will help you establish a network in your new place. It is hard to start over someplace new, because you're right, you don't yet have the support system you need. But that doesn't mean you can't build it. You can also build one virtually. Look to see what professional associations/colleges/civic groups in the fields you want to be in have online meetings. A lot of these are free and open to the public. This is a way to continue to educate yourself in your chosen fields, follow up with guest speakers and group leaders with informational interviews, and meet other people with the same professional interests. Some of them, you'll like. They become part of your network.

    Look for ways to build a network in your new community as well. Does your library have a book club? Probably, and it's probably free. MeetUp is free to set up an account and probably has all sorts of local and virtual meetings you can join in on. Lots of people have already suggested LinkedIn. Where can you be active?

    The library is a great community resource, by the way. Check their bulletin boards. Check all the bulletin boards. Is there a local community college? A coffee shop? See what people post locally. What job-hunting resources does the government have in your area? Job fairs?

    Talk to temp agencies. What would make you a good candidate for them? Coursera has gobs of free courses you can take to get skills (don't worry about paying for the certificate, just get good at stuff).

    What are the rules in your state for substitute teachers? What are you already good at that you can help people with (taxes? dog-walking? babysitting?) Use that network you're building to get the word out. Check into Fiverr.

    Will you make enough money at any one of these options? Probably not, but again, it's the mindset of "every little bit gets me closer." This is temporary, you will not be doing this forever. And BONUS every person you meet becomes part of your network. Show yourself to be a competent professional and you will be remembered when bigger things open up.

    Also, the place you applied that told you they needed a master's... don't write them off because of one bad interaction. They definitely have other jobs that don't require a master's. If that's the field you want to be in, even being the receptionist there is a great way to get your foot in the door.

    Finally, if you view this as a temporary setback, take some of the pressure off of it, it'll be easier to do what needs to be done right now. You may need to work two jobs for a little while. Have a two-bedroom? See if you can get a roommate. Not ideal, but it will help you get through this. Is there a skill you can provide online/on your own time? What problem can you start solving for someone tomorrow for a little bit of cash?

    It's a two-pronged approach: 1) Do whatever you need to do now to get money coming in, even if it's two jobs, a side hustle, dog-walking at dawn, and cutting cable for six months. 2) Build a support system/network, set up informational interviews, show up regularly to networking events so that people can get to know you, be your competent, capable self. That is an investment in your future.

    You can figure this out.

32. Cyndi RosenblattFebruary 16,2023 at 6:31PM UTC

    Incredible response! Love all the actionable advice you provided! Hope this is helpful to OP.

33. AnonymousFebruary 16,2023 at 7:39PM UTC

    I really appreciate all of your advice but I have tried to do most of these things even before I moved across country. Even when I was still in school I was looking for a job and how to actually use my education and it was very hard then and that was almost 4 years ago.

    I have been a pet sitter/ dog walker for about 7 years, I lost most of my clients when I moved across country and where I live is pretty remote so not many options for that anymore.... The area I moved too is very remote and the city that is closest to me (about an hour away) is very expensive to live in- its basically a small version of California pricing.

    I would love to try and freelance for a bit but I don't have any of the skills that many are looking for. My creative writing skills are subpar and I do not have any skills like that...

    The problem I have is that I cannot get ONE job to even get two at the moment. I would like to find a full time job first and see what that schedule looks like before I can agree to a second job...

    When I was interviewing to become a child protection officer they do not offer reception jobs- if they do its extremely hard to find. I also do not live there anymore- I have moved from FL to CO about a year ago and I have been doing all of these things for about a year now...

    I have met with a forensics specialist in the area to see how I can get in with the city or sheriffs department to then contact the sheriff- which then ghosted me about any possible openings- I have also been non stop on the city or county even state websites to get in with them... no dice..

    Unfortunately its the times we are in... I do appreciate all of these things but I have done all or most of these thing even went door to door with resumes for local coffee shops but they are not hiring at the moment...

34. Dcre1977February 17,2023 at 2:05PM UTC

    I think you need to research where the jobs for your field are and consider moving there. Get on linkedin and see where people are employed in your field.

    Otherwise you are at the mercy of the employment available in your location.

    Most people do not get high paying jobs straight out of college. They struggle until they get a few years of experience. The college degree gets your foot in the door and sets you up for up for promotions.

35. Kelly HammerFebruary 17,2023 at 3:03PM UTC

    I love that you are putting yourself out there and asking for some guidance! Adulting totally stinks, no question! You didn’t indicate what field your degree is in, but there are quite a few placement firms that are field specific. I would start there for a couple of reasons. 1) they can help you find positions that fit with your degree and help you build experience; and 2) they will help you refine your resume to make you a more attractive candidate. Don’t count yourself out! Good luck to you

36. Zofia JaneczekFebruary 17,2023 at 3:49PM UTC

    Quite honestly, no one can afford to be an adult these days or let's say very few can. Living is extremely expensive but you certainly can survive, endure, and get by, this is the lot for many working Americans. The system here is not ideal and an education no longer guarantees a decent job or even a bad job with decent pay. Most Americans HATE their jobs, this is the norm. All seems pretty grim, however it is what you make of it. I'm sure there are things you haven't tried yet to find work. Freelancing, sidegigs, a different industry while you seek a more ideal job. Do you need to work in the USA? Why not find an international job and move, there are better places in the world, the USA isn't everything. Digital nomad perhaps? Do you have a hobby you can lean on, a special skill? Perhaps temp work in an agency for working professionals? Try everything before you count yourself out! Brainstorm on a sheet of paper and see where that leads. There's $ to be made here and a job that you'll be happy with but you have to find it. I'd also reach out to friends on FB and social media and let them know you're looking. Most of us were not born with a silver spoon and we have to work to survive, the lucky ones get to live and the luckiest of all thrive in this life. Best of luck on your endeavors and do not give in or give up! Stay strong and keep up your physical and mental health because the road isn't easy for most.

37. IntentionGirl299847February 17,2023 at 11:32PM UTC

    First you claim hardship and the student loan people will work with you. Second, your BS is equal to 4 years experience and AS is 2. Didn't your career office at your school explain that? You use the classes that were relevant for experience. Now pick and choose from your odd jobs what soft skills transfer over to the jobs you want and write the resume with that added. Communication, active listening, customer service, proven attention to detail, team worker and so on.