I'm such a slacker. (Chelsea)

 Chelsea, why don't you go to work for one of the big box pet stores?  Or, try to find a retailer that does specialty dog foods, or maybe you could train as a bather/brusher for a groomer.  If you like dogs, and want to work with them, you'll find something to help you make it a reality.  What about kennel help for a boarding facility, or a shelter?  While you are trying to find a job, why not volunteer somewhere?  Sometimes, that's a foot in the door;-))  And, don't judge Billy too harshly.  He wasn't nice the way he said it, but I'm much older than you, and I can tell you that life will definitely suck for you in the 21st century if you don't get educated, motivated, and determined.  So, I hope you just take that as friendly advice from someone who has seen a lot of young girls end up married to "richard noggins" but have no where else to go because they end up with three kids and a GED.  If you want to work with dogs, get going!!!!  Dress, apply, call, write thank you's for every interview you get.

I didn't mean to imply that everyone was nasty, nor that I hadn't gotten good advice, but I've had a few threads of mine go sour recently, and as of right now, I'm not liking this forum as a whole much anymore. I love most of you a lot, it's just not as much fun to post.

I don't appreciate people putting words in my mouth, nor making assumptions about my character or life based on posts here. And I really hate people acting like FORMAL education is the only education that counts. And for the record..I've held down a job for the past 4 1/2 years, right now I'm just in an unpaid 3 month hiatus because the mother has another baby and is on maternity leave. Yes, it's a nanny job, and I'm gonna go ahead and guess that caring for kids doesn't count as work?

I'm unmotivated at the moment, that's true. I'm in a little depressed unhappy slump. Not an excuse, just the truth. But I guess since I'm 19 and seemingly to some people have no worries, I'm not allowed that? I was just asking for advice on how to get motivated, not looking to get attacked because I'm not (nor attacked for being homeschooled or a nanny? wtf??). I learned my lesson.

chelsea_b

I've held down a job for the past 4 1/2 years....that caring for kids doesn't count as work

Oh jeeze! I don't think so!!! I almost took a job as a summer nanny, and I declined - because I did not think I could handle it! I don't see why you could not put that on your application/resume. I think as long as the mother is willing to put in a good word for you - you should be just fine. There's lots of stuff out there! What I did (when I was looking for a new job....) I just took one day - went all over the place putting in my application. Target, different vets offices, and I did get a few responses - even an on-the-stop interview. Most of the applications are not too long - and if you make a copy of all your addresses/phone numbers that you will need it makes it go much faster. Pick a day, go in the middle of the day - when things are not so busy. You'll find something!

15 years ago I was unhappy in my job, so one day while out shopping of all things, I put in an application at one of my favorite, to die for, wish I had this kind of stuff in my house kind of store, on a whim. I was interviewed on the spot and hired part time the next day.

Within 1 year I was full time. Within 2 years I was an assistant manager. Within 6 years I slowly moved up until I had my own store, I manged for them for another few years. I loved my job, but over those years they began to make changes that to me changed why I loved it to begin with. Then I met and married my husband, we threw caution to wind and I quit, left my home state and moved to another town, with no job. What did I do, well I applied everywhere, my needs were little, saving were good, so I took of all things a job answering phones for a funeral home. I did that for almost 2 years, honed my office skills, took a couple of classes and left that job for one in the medical field. I now run a Dr.'s office.

I have no formal education. The places I worked as a teenager would not be considered stepping stones to a great career. The answering service was actually a step down. But I was determined to find my place and one that would make me happy. I enjoy my current job alot.

So, go out, look good and try some places on a whim, talk to people, most jobs are found through word of mouth. Have your information, references with you. You never know where and when the perfect job is going to pop up. I wish you luck.

When you send out your resumes and don't hear back, give them a call and make sure they got it.  Especially at the doggy daycare since, that's the job you are really interested in.  Sometimes too, places take forever to hire.  They'll put out an ad, but take months before filling the position.  I know, I worked for a company like this.  Good Luck!

One thing to bear in mind, no matter what anyone says, at one point or another EVERYONE had an empty resume.  Though your 4 years of doing nanny work can come in very handy, as it is a job that required a lot of responsibility. 

Have the mother you did this for give you a reference.  Definately put it in your resume.

If you have experience being a nanny, why not look for a job in child care?  DH's sister works at a daycare center and she's 18 years old and hasn't graduated yet.  I always see ads in our local paper for people looking for babysitting help.

One thing you may want to consider when you have money rolling in is that while formal education is not the kind that counts, it does matter to many employers, especially if you are looking for opportunities to move up.  It might not be a bad idea to look into going to some classes for something that you want to get into.  

 

You know chelsea you are obviously a very intelligent girl and have a lot of potential. One of my teachers growing up always would say "there are no shortage of smart people in the world, just a shortage of ones that will work hard". I've always remembered this in my path through school and jobs. I think you are at a point where you need to sit down and look at what your ultimate goals are in life. What do you really want to do? Where would you like to be in ten years? Whose job/life do you emulate? When you decide on the answers to these questions, sit down and plan how to get there. Drifting through life and taking any old job will get you by, but may not get you to your goals. If you want that job, go down there in person and speak to a manager. Call every day. There are TONS of doggy daycare places in LA and I'm sure there are lots in OC. Check out your yellow pages, call every single on there and see if there are jobs available. I totally agree on the education thing. The fact is that you cannot go as far in most fields without a few letters after your name. It's a right of passage! You can do it, but you need to get some ambition. I've pushed hard for many years and I've got everything I wanted, you can too!

I'm goiing to task you even harder. With one question. What do you like to do more than anything else?

Another hard question: what are you really good at?

Answer: do it or find a way to do it. I don't think you lack motivation. But you may be fuzzy a little on direction. Although knowing what you don't like helps. OTOH, sometimes you have to do something you don't want for a while in order to get to something you do want. Have you ever thought of working for a public library? Quiet environment, read all that you can stand to read, not much pay but it's there. How about mentoring with a trainer, if that's your bag? Does your ideal job involve animals, specifically pet animals? Could your parents help you get financing to become a vet tech?

Find what you want to do and then do it, heck or high water and let nothing stand in your way.

 

See, that's the problem. I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I've spent a lot of time thinking about that and trying to think of something, ANYTHING I could see myself doing for the next 50 years. There's nothing. I think that's my answer. I don't want to do one thing my whole life. I don't want that normal routine life. I don't want to work to pay the bills, and pay the bills to work. It seems so circular and pointless to me. So going to college for 4-8+ years for something that I may or may not want to do next week doesn't make any sense to me. That's a lot of money and a lot of time for someone with such a short attention span.

Any interests I have generally dissipate within a year or two. Any time I think of a career I might like to do, I've over it soon after. The only thing that's lasted is dogs. I've been obsessed with dogs since I was little tiny (which I didn't realize until a few months ago when I pulled out the couple bags of old toys I still have, and 90% of them are dogs or dog-related. Duuuh..), and that obsession has only ever grown stronger. But I don't have the stomach for anything vet-related, I'm not into purebred dogs or dog showing, I don't want to be a dog trainer, or a dog groomer, and there doesn't seem to be enough money in rescuing or shelters to make a living (though I'll definitely be involved with them on the side if nothing else), so what's left?

And really...the doggy daycare interest is just that one, because they also have awesome training classes and programs. When I have some money I'm planning on doing some private training with them to get help with Cherokee, so working there, and being able to get to know the people, plus possibly get discounts..just seems to make sense. I think I'll call them one day this week and just make sure they got the application..maybe ask if it would help if I came down there and applied in person. Otherwise I'll just get some pointless dead-end job. I'm going back to being a nanny in March (after the mother's maternity leave is up) for probably 6-9 months, and hopefully will stay on part-time (weekends and maybe evenings) with whatever job I get. After that..my plan is to volunteer/work/intern at different places (NOT in California..I can't wait..) for a while, and hopefully that'll help me figure out what I want to do in life.

Thanks everybody. Sorry I snapped earlier.

If you are not sure what you want to do, one thing you could consider is signing on with a temp agency.  Most do not require you to have more than a high school education, and that way you would be able to do a variety of jobs that you would not necessarily be stuck with, and you would have something to put on a resume.  

 Chelsea, you're 19, I'm 57 - that probably accounts for me wanting you to get educated LOL - I know that certain doors can slam in your face if you aren't, and it's very much harder to do it later in life!  I waited until I was a lot older to finish my degree and what would have cost my parents about $1000 when I was your age, cost ME $8000 later LOL.  Plus, I do see the gap widening between rich and poor.  But, Ron's advice is excellent - I think that it's very important to love what you do;-))

I, too, have never been one who had a set idea on one job I'd want for the next 50 years. I always took jobs that I thought sounded interesting and, most importantly, paid the bills. As a teen I worked at a pet store. I worked with the developmentally disabled for years until the company closed, and then was a vet assistant for several years. When I moved cross country, I contacted a vet in the area and was hired as a vet tech, which I'm still doing. I like my job well enough (although not all of the people I work with) and while I may not always skip to work everyday, it is certainly tolerable

 There are ways to make a resume look better. As a teen, when I didn't have much to put on a resume, I put the places I'd volunteered (the shelter, nursing homes, etc)

Also, I was homeschooled the last two years of high school and it's never been an issue.

chelsea_b

and there doesn't seem to be enough money in rescuing or shelters to make a living (though I'll definitely be involved with them on the side if nothing else)

Let me just say this - I work in a shelter as a secretary right now. It is a city-run shelter and while the pay isn't great, it is better than what you would find in a similar position in this area. The benefits are great (med, dental, vision) with paid holidays/vacation time off. I'm currently 22 and have had my current position for over 2 years (worked through my jr. and sr. years of college). It may not pay great right now, but it is a great starting point for my resume and I can list the skills I have learned in this position rather than concentrating on the position itself (if that makes sense), i.e. organization, multi-tasking, customer service, communication skills, etc.. If you are interested in shelter/rescue stuff and are willing to get further education (i.e. college degree), you can make upwards of $60,000+/yr as a manager/director of an animal shelter. You are right in saying that most rescues/shelter jobs don't pay alot (typically if it is privately run, you work in the kennels, etc.) but if you find the right place, it is SO worth it and you can make a living off of it.

stormyknight

You are right in saying that most rescues/shelter jobs don't pay alot (typically if it is privately run, you work in the kennels, etc.) but if you find the right place, it is SO worth it and you can make a living off of it.

I could not agree more! Many of us DO make livings off of working in a shelter. I started as a kennel cleaner - and have worked my way to working as a vet tech. The expierence that I have gained from my job cannot be matched anywere else. No, the pay is not great, but it's enough. And nothing replaces the feeling that you have done something amazing to help someone else. I cannot say enough about anyone who slaves away in a shelter. Most of my best friends are shelter workers. The shelter I work at is not county run, not funded by the government. None of us are rich, but are not starving and begging for money on the side.

I started as a volunteer walking dogs. That's a great way in.