Scared of working, everyone's mad at me and I don't blame them

[Guest]

Hi everyone

 

Hoping someone can help

 

I'm terrified of looking for a job, I can't explain it. My mom has been helping me pay the rent and I feel so bad that I'm not chipping in, I have a college degree and everything

 

So I know I have a problem I just don't know what it is

 

I'm terrified of sending out my resume. I did so many volunteer charity-related projects in undergrad I'm afraid people will think I'm faking or pretending to be mother Theresa which some guy even asked me when I applied to grad school, but charity work isn't terribly job-skill oriented, so at the same time, no one is going to think I have any real skills.

 

I feel like I should just go work at Pizza Hut if nothing else but my mom is always bragging about me and my extraordinary resume and I do have experience in somewhat specialized fields, such as veterinary textbook illustration with some very prestigious vets on the faculty, but that is a very narrow field and I have found very few jobs in my area, and those that I do send my resume to don't even write back. I don't know why, I have a degree from Duke and experience in the field but they want someone with more experience than me, or I'm "overqualified" and they want someone else, and I am so scared I sit at home, feel numb, write to people and blogs during the day, then wake up and feel like crap in the morning

[lizzielou]

Sounds like you're in a little bit of a slump. It also sounds like you are under-estimating yourself and your experience.

 

First of all, keep in mind that you have a degree from an prestigious college! Employers LOVE to see volunteer work. If you are genuinely afraid of all of these projects making you look fake, then maybe you can list those that are your favorites or the most recent tasks and add something like "miscellaneous others" at the bottom of the list. Can you use contacts from these projects as references? That could be an alternative way to get these experiences in potential employers' minds. Plus someone is actually vouching for you, rather than adding to the stack of volunteer work that makes you look like Mother Theresa. I guess I'm trying to say that it reinforces that your experiences are valid and not fake.

 

Another idea is to use your college's career center to help you job hunt.

 

You have the opposite problem of many people our age -- your resume is incredible! Be proud of yourself!

[Guest]

I'm terrified of sending out my resume.

 

That's not logical.

 

I did so many volunteer charity-related projects in undergrad I'm afraid people will think I'm faking or pretending to be mother Theresa which some guy even asked me when I applied to grad school

 

Don't let the remarks of one moron scare you away from all humans. He was an idiot. There's nothing to be 'terrified' about. If you are overly concerned with others' opinions, go see a therapist and get help for that because it will cripple you.

 

but charity work isn't terribly job-skill oriented, so at the same time, no one is going to think I have any real skills.

 

That's not at all the case. You can learn job skills anywhere; having volunteer work on your resume is a good thing.

 

I don't know why, I have a degree from Duke and experience in the field but they want someone with more experience than me, or I'm "overqualified"

 

You have to read the job ads very carefully. Nothing says you have to reveal all of your education if you're going for a job that doesn't specify a degree as part of the qualifications. You also have to understand that looking for a job is a job in itself. You have to sign up for job alerts with all the local sites, develop a list of bookmarks for job sites that you check regularly, read trade publications, sign up for government job finding services, etc etc. And you have to look every day.

 

Having a job isn't really all that different from volunteering except there are more consequences for not turning up. Quit being scared and if you can't quit being scared, RUN to get counseling.

[RecordProducer]

It's just a period of time that you have to go through. You underestimate the job-search process.

 

If people don't call after you've sent your resume then something is wrong with your resume. Do you address the right person in your letter? Is your CL good (explaining how the company would benefit from your skills and why it would be "smart" employ YOU)? Do you follow the instruction for applying they've stated? Do YOU call them to see if they've gotten your letter? (You should!) Do you satisfy all the criteria they stated?

 

You'll find a good job, don't worry! Have some faith. Nothing comes over night. Don't give up and don't stop searching until you have the right job. Good luck!

[Ariadne]

Hi,

 

I'm terrified of looking for a job, I can't explain it. My mom has been helping me pay the rent and I feel so bad that I'm not chipping in, I have a college degree and everything

 

Me too! Just like that. I'm a software engineer and haven't worked in a year and a half. It's terrible, but I think of sending resumes I get scared. I don't want anything to do with interviews, traffic, deadlines, staff meetings, everything is stressful.

 

So I know I have a problem I just don't know what it is I'm terrified of sending out my resume. I did so many volunteer charity-related projects in undergrad I'm afraid people will think I'm faking or pretending to be mother Theresa

 

I did that too, but in things that had nothing to do with my job.

 

I feel like I should just go work at Pizza Hut if nothing else but my mom is always bragging about me and my extraordinary resume and I do have experience in somewhat specialized fields

 

Wow, same here. I think I'm going to work at Target in the corner. And my parents are not very happy about me not working now, but I think I'm going to go live with them for a while.

 

I am so scared I sit at home, feel numb, write to people and blogs during the day, then wake up and feel like crap in the morning

 

I don't feel like crap, but I write in forums.

 

Ariadne

[typical]

I'm mad at you...and I dont even know you.

 

Why are you lazing about? Get going. You have work to do. Your whole life is not really a long time, so move it.