I'm such a slacker. (Chelsea)

 Sorry, I haven't read all the replies, but, I'm going to suggest you at least apply to the mart stores, and other places you don't have any desire to work at. The reason I suggest this is that applying to these places may give you interviews. Even if you have no desire to work at the places, go to the interviews for the experience. This week, I went to 3 interviews (for jobs I do actually want though) and I went to another one a few weeks ago (that I was less interested in, but may have taken if it was offered). Through the course of those interviews, I've learned that I do better earlier in the day rather than in the late afternoon or evening.

I get that you may not want to stay in one thing for too long, which is sort of why my job works well for me. I am always doing the same job, but with a different kid. One day I'll be with one for a few hours, the next day I'm with another, and another day I go to one for a few hours, then to another. In my case, I have every clue about what I want to do, and this is a well suited job for the field I am going in to, but it is also well suited for me, since I liked to drive, and I like to see different people. Maybe the temp agency thing would be good for you to be able to see a variety of different jobs, and be able to get a better idea of what you might like to do.

Education, do you have a GED? Does your state grant high school diplomas to people who were home schooled. In PA, you can get, or at least you used to be able to get one, if you had a certain number of college credits by age 21. Even if you didn't have a clue what you wanted to do, you could just take things to get an idea. Community College is relatively cheap compared to going to a University for classes usually, and starting there is not a bad thing (I did, and nobody looks down upon it at all). Many times, I get an "oh cool," response, and people think it's a great idea since you can really save a lot of money.  My sister is 16, but she can start in the community college through her school ( a cyber school). She isn't totally sure what she wants to do, but has some ideas. I'll make the same suggestion to you that I did to her, take courses that are required in a lot of programs, and/or things you think you might like and will do well in. Maybe just try out one course a semester that looks like it could be fun for you. Heck, even audit them if you don't want to grades. I audited a French course my last semester in community college one semester because I really wanted to take it, and I didn't need it.  However, I was borderline between a higher and lower amount transfer scholarship, and I wasn't sure I would be able to get an A in the course, since I knew some of the things in the course I had really struggled with in high school. An audit can't actually count for credit, but if you should choose something you really  bomb in, but later decide you want to enroll in credit classes, it won't hurt your GPA.
 

Oh, yeah, I definitely have no issues with homeschooling, I was the person who fought like an angry bear with the professor who tried to tell us just how horrible homeschooling is. However, I do believe in the importance of a formal college education for most people. At the bare minimum, an associate degree, but even that doesn't take a person very far these days. If you don't know what you want to be, you can always be a liberal artist.

You know chelsea most people don't know what they want to do for the rest of their lives when they are 19. The key is to set yourself up so you can do anything. I certainly didn't know when I was your age, I had several majors in college along with several minors, but I eventually figured things out. I was on the major of the week plan for awhile. Anne is right, the longer you wait for an education the harder it is to get. College opens MANY doors. If can do nothing but help you. If I was in your position, I'd strongly consider going for my BA or BS. UCI is a great school and is really close ;)

spiritdogs

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. 

I totally understand, but here's the thing. It's going to cost ME however much either way. I don't have a college fund, and my Mom can't afford to pay for my college (my Dad's totally useless and might as well not exist.. I haven't spoken to or seen him in 10 years). So whether I do it now, in five years, or in twenty years, it'll come out of my pocket, or the loans will be on my credit. And I don't see the point in getting a college degree just to have one (what field would I get it in anyway?). If I figure out I want to do something that requires college, I will definitely go, and I'll sort out the money issues then. Otherwise, my plan is to just learn by experience and on my own.

My county shelter is having some job fair on the 30th... It was really far away when I first saw the ad for it, but now that it's only in 10 days, I'm wondering if I shouldn't hold off on taking a job (if I even get any offers before then) and see if I can get a position at the shelter. But my other problem is I don't want a job that'll keep me here, or tie me down even more than I already am tied here. Immature, yes, but I'm not ready for that. I'm way too unhappy as a Californian to be stuck here because of another job. Sigh...

I will say one last thing about the college degree. I didn't know what I wanted to go for either when I started and my undergrad degree is in a field completely unrelated to what I do now. But the important thing is that I have it, period. That alone has allowed me to apply for jobs that I would otherwise not be qualified for just because I have that B.S. after my name. It is an investment and it is a huge commitment in time and finances, but having a bachelors degree is commonly becoming the "minimum" education required for many jobs and it will never hold you back. With that said...

chelsea_b

But my other problem is I don't want a job that'll keep me here, or tie me down even more than I already am tied here. Immature, yes, but I'm not ready for that. I'm way too unhappy as a Californian to be stuck here because of another job. Sigh...

If you don't want to be in CA, then get on www.animalsheltering.org or monster.com and start looking! If you want to get into an animal shelter, look at the animalsheltering.org website - they have an entire "jobs" section. If your goal is to get out of CA, then start applying to jobs that you think are interesting, even if you think you don't have a chance in getting hired. Have a resume ready that highlights the skills you have learned as a nanny, i.e. multi-tasking. I know it can be overwhelming and frustrating when you are looking at all of your options, but the first step is to just start looking. You'd be surprised how far that can take you...

chelsea_b

But my other problem is I don't want a job that'll keep me here, or tie me down even more than I already am tied here

 

Chelsea - no job will keep you anywhere unless you sign some contractual agreement like they pay for your college if you commit to 3 years of work.  Otherwise, no job can keep you in one place.  You get the experience, the skills you learned there, you thank them for both and give two weeks notice before you go.  I have lived in New England for the past 12 years.  Within 3 weeks, I decided for SURE that I was going to drop everything I had going on and move here to Arizona.  I had a good job at a globally known company, most of my family living nearby, great things going on w/my dog and her training and the training club I'd started, dozens of great friends, and all sorts of things to leave behind.  But none of them "tied me down" to that place. 

Kelly is right - even when you don't know what you want to do, but you set yourself up to do any of them, you have a far richer life of experiences and opportunities available to you.  Consider yourself a student of the world... by both the experiences in college and out.  If you're not going to commit the energy to learning anything, then you're right - it would be a waste.... but, honestly, that lack of commitment to learning anything flows right into LIFE not just college life.  Why not apply some effort in college when it will pay you back in the long run?  Have some faith and work hard... I'm a sometimes lazy smart person, too, so I can relate. :)  I had some of the same attitudes you did just 12 years ago - man, I love the life experiences I had, but it would have been great if I'd gone to school at the same time - I'd be set up so much differently right now.

Good luck.  I hope you come to the realization that you are capable of doing it, and then take the steps to just do it.  That's all it takes - ACTION.

miranadobe

I had a good job at a globally known company, most of my family living nearby, great things going on w/my dog and her training and the training club I'd started, dozens of great friends, and all sorts of things to leave behind.  But none of them "tied me down" to that place.

See, but I DO feel tied down because of things like that. Family, friends, jobs...willingly tied down, yes, but tied down and stuck all the same. I want a job I like, but not one I like so much that I won't leave it eventually. I'm so stuck in this nanny job. The mother of the kid I watch is my cousin. I love this kid more than life and can't imagine leaving her. But my world has become so small, and I've spent the past 4 1/2 years doing NOTHING but watching her, because I'm drained, or because I have no time, no money, no whatever.

My plan is to watch her (and her new little brother) until the end of this year, and then hopefully, by some miracle, I'll find the strength to leave them and go have MY life for a while..and then I'll do the adult, long-term job, roots type thing. But I don't want another job that leaves me stuck here longer. I have enough keeping me here (I'm also extremely close to my Mom, siblings and nephew..all of whom except one sister live here).

I seem to be the only person to whom the "willingly tied down" thing makes sense, so feel free to ignore me.. lol

chelsea_b

then hopefully, by some miracle, I'll find the strength to leave them and go have MY life for a while.

it doesn't take a miracle - and doesn't have to wait until you have met some magical place in space/time when you are "ready" to leave.  You can go to school now, learn something now that will serve you well so that you can immediately transition into a new job.  OR, if we were to hope for better, learn something that you find you can be PASSIONATE about and be SOO looking forward to pursuing that with such excitement and anticipation that your family will be glad to see you expand yourself into that new life.

and, I do understand the "willingly tied down" thing - it's a safe haven... some people call it the devil you know is better than the devil you don't.  When I was making my decision to come out here, someone very bright and intuitive said to me - you can make your decisions out of love, or out of fear.  Your choices expand when your decisions are made out of love.... the choices diminish when all decisions are made out of fear.  Don't be afraid... you cannot fail unless you fail yourself.

It's not like that with me. It's like.. I love this kid to death, and miss her like crazy if I don't see her for a few days. I can't imagine moving away and missing big chunks of her life. Her Mom was single when she had Alleen, and I was sort of like her second parent for a long time (even her mother says that). We even lived together for nearly a year and a half, during which time I often got up with her in the middle of the night because her mother worked in the morning..I cared for her when she was sick, I picked her up when she got hurt... She's almost been like my kid, or at least like my little sister or something A LOT closer than "first cousin once removed" or whatever the relation is. So it's not fear keeping me here. It IS love. But at the same time I know she's not my kid, and I know my life can't revolve around her, so I need to get out, I need to have my own life... I've already promised her parents I'd watch them until Alleen starts school in the fall, plus until they're more comfortable putting the baby in a daycare, so that's why my plan is to get out of here at the end of this year. That can't change now, and I don't want it to. I need NOTICE that I won't be seeing her 50 hours a week anymore.. All that's getting me through this 3 month break is knowing I'll be longing for a break like this when I'm watching them in March. LOL.

If you don't plan on leaving them until the end of the year, then why are you looking for a job now?  If a place decides to hire you, what will you do?

I also agree with Erica, that volunteering somewhere leads to jobs.  I volunteered here at the law office when I was 17.  After 5 months the assistant left and I had to fill her shoes, knowing very very little, but here, almost 5 years later, I am still here, except now with my own office and a full time well paid job.  I was hired while I was still in highschool.  I went to college 2 years after I started working here.

A lot of companies might say no they are not hiring, but a lot will be more leaning towards yes when you tell them you will volunteer, that is your in.  you go, show them you can do an awesome job, then when the time comes that they need to hire, you can offer yourself.  Just like I do with the students here, they have a choice, either hire someone brand new that needs to be trained and learn everything, or someone who has been working there for (x) months and knows what they are doing, knows the staff and procedure.

 my personal recommendation for now.... get a "joe job" and go to night school at a community college. you can get the basics down for a lot less than going to a major university and have a steady income. once you have been in school a while, you will probably figure out what you want to do, and you can take it from there.

Chelsea, I feel a little bit willingly tied down as well, but right now, I have to do what is best for me, which I realized, may in the end come to help some of those whom I feel tied down to. When I applied to grad schools, one of the reasons I started out applying to schools both here and in Boston was that I didn't think I could leave, because I felt tied to where I am. Even though I knew those were better programs, I didn't think I could bring myself to go. Then, I found out it was very possible for me to travel there for classes for right now because of how they are run, and I realized just how much better the program is. Some circumstances played out that made the job opportunities for me here much more limited.  I also didn't get accepted here, however, by the time I got that notice, I had already sent the deposit for the program I am in now. Even though I still feel tied here, I have to do what's best for me at this point in my life. I was going to avoid the move as long as possible, but I think that was very much for the benefit of others, and not for me.

I would go to the job fair thing, but in the mean time, you can still at least put in applications at other places. I am really for the applying even to places you have no interest in. Again, to get the interviewing experience so that you won't be as nervous when you go to interviews that you are actually interested in. It gives you an idea of what might be asked. Also, you can try out different resumes at different places to see what gets the best response. If you use one resume in a few places and get no response, maybe try making a change or two, then try the new version at some more places. Tweak it to see if some minor changes will give you a better response, then you'll know what resume to use for jobs you actually want. If you get an offer you don't want, you can always say you have something else, or you are no longer interested. If you get a better off right after you start somewhere, you are not obligated to stay.

chelsea_b

Wtf???? Just forget it. I can't believe how nasty this forum has gotten. Forget I ever posted.

Sorry, Chelsea.  From your post I concluded that you needed a swift kick in the butt, so I tried to give you one.  I guess I could have taken the same approach as the majority of posters in this thread and patted you on the head while telling you, "That's okay.  I understand.  Don't worry, the perfect job will come along."  Well, in my mind, it isn't okay, I don't understand and I have been working over 30 years and still haven't found what I would call the "perfect" job.

Formal education is important, Chelsea.  A Bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma.  You severely limit your income earning potential by not having one.

Reading your other posts in this thread, it seems to me that you are just looking for support to maintain your status quo.  You won't get it from me.  Get off your butt and go to school or get a REAL job.  It really is that simple.

Reality check mode .

I just wanted to add that there are a lot of classes you can take online thru the community colleges. You work at your own pace and when you have the time, so you could still be a nanny but take the classes at the same time. There's even financial aid available to pay for books and tuition.

l.michelle

If you don't plan on leaving them until the end of the year, then why are you looking for a job now?  If a place decides to hire you, what will you do?

I have three UNPAID months off, because the mother of the kid I watch had another baby and is on maternity leave. I'm looking for a full-time job for the next couple of months (because I have bills), and hopefully a job I can stay with part time (weekends and maybe evenings) when I'm back to watching the kids again (because nannying may be glamourous (LMAO), but my job don't pay that well).

I totally understand why everyone is telling me to go to college right now, but I have pretty strong opinions on the matter. I'm not going until I figure out why I'm there. Period, the end. IMO, college is not the CAUSE of people making more money, it just correlates. I see a lot of college grads making $9/hour, and a lot of high school drop outs making plenty of money. Yes, generally college grads make more than non-grads, but not always, especially if the non-grads have work and volunteer (and LIFE) experience, and the college grads don't because they've spent their entire lives in school.

If I have the choice (which I will if I don't choose a career like a lawyer or doctor), I'd rather spend my 5+ years and $100,000+ living and experiencing than sitting in a classroom cramming for exams just to get a silly piece of paper that may or may not represent anything. Just a personal preference. If, in 10 years, I'm working at a dead-end job and still haven't done anything with my life, you all can feel free to tell me "I told you so". And well, maybe I'll end up wanting to be a lawyer or something, in which case college is a given. Or maybe I'll change my mind and want to go to college with no real reasons. Who knows.

sounds like you have it all figured out. good luck with the job search.