Career tips : Remember me!

Yeah, well its been about two years, miss me?! I quit looking for work and went to grad school for my Masters in History. I have moved out of the hell hole that was Metro-Detroit and moved down to Tampa with my girlfriend who got a job down here. Well, then, the same old crap is happening that happened to me before. I get interviews, I have gone to numerous staffing firms and they are pretty helpful and do try to help so I am not getting down on them; yet I am still losing out on jobs because of lack of experience. An Interview I had on Tuesday, which I didn't get, came down between me and this other woman. I met all the requirements for the job, but my only knock against me was that I hadn't used a telephone system that one uses to transfer calls. The woman I lost the job to didn't really even want the position but she had used a bloody phone before. Even though she wasn't enthusastic about the position she got it. I am half tempted to call up the VP who interviewed me and tell him that I have a Masters degree and my GPA is 3.7 and I think I have the mental capabilities to use a phone. It is idiocy like this that it doesn't surprise me that corporate america is tanking it, no common sense and extreme laziness. How hard would it be to teach someone to use a phone. I can built computers and fix TVs, so using learning a phone should take me all of what, one minute? Oh well just wanted to vent. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sometimes it's not meant to be. What kind of jobs are folks with a Masters in History looking for?

whatever I can get right now. What is so aggrivating is I know I can do all of the tasks required but because I don't have much experience no-one is willing to give me a chance. Too bad the hiring managers don't remember when they were young and someone gave them a chance. Oh well, I'll be the most educated bum there is, seeing as I am totally useless to any company! Seriously though, corporate America has become a joke. I wonder if I could say if I was from India I would be hired right away.

Hi Nietzsche,

I'm sorry about your situation. I know of two guys who have a Masters in History. One got a job at IBM in a customer service department (call center). He told me it had been very difficult to get a job other than teaching. Before that he took on jobs as house painter for pretty good money. The other guy works in a restaurant, although it was meant for the time being he still works there. A female acquaintance who has a Masters in Cultural and Art History works parttime in a museum. I can't advise you in this, other than keep on going. Good luck.

How hard would it be to teach someone to use a phone.

Longer than it takes to have someone who knows how to do it start the job. Seriously, why would you think that 2 more years of school would fix the problem of not having any work experience? If the problem is lack of work experience, that's what you have to fix.

Start with figuring out what job you want. Why was in your head when you were deciding to get a Masters in History? Did you plan to teach? Did you plan to work in a museum? What's the plan? If you have no clue and just took it for fun, then you need to start immediately with going to your school's career center and getting some help. If your school isn't local, look up a career counselor in the phone book and go there. Even if it costs you a few bucks it will be worth it. They can do testing on your skills, abilities and interests and give you some direction. They can also give you ideas on fields for your major and related fields you may not have considered.

Of course the most obvious thing for you to look at is teaching. Nearly ever school district is hiring and most have programs to fast track if you're willing to work in a high needs school.

Tess

Yeah, people are just stupid is all I can say. I am constantly amazed by the idiocy I witness every day.

You should write a letter to that VP. But what good would it do. I doubt it would teach him a lesson. And you don't want to work for a company that stupid anyway.

I have had zero luck with staffing firms, too. It takes a long time to sign up with them, and usually it is a waste of time.

Good luck finding a job! I know it is not easy. But it just takes one!

Jones:

So how come you didn't go for teaching? No offense, but.... that's pretty much what a history degree is good for, at least in my opinion....and he's in FLORIDA (Tampa) and there is a SEVERE shortage in teachers....he'll have NO problem with getting a job there. If things get tough, guess he's going to have to teach.

Monsterreader: .... my reply didn't refer to my situation.

Jones....well, I was referring to others and tmsmalley saying "go for teaching" with that degree, and in Florida.....you never have to worry about a shortage or competition in teaching

Right...now you simply lie, you Fool. Do I know you? I don't care what your post was about.

Career Tips

Remember me!