Life Update: The Good and Not So Great

[Dillon]

I just happen to come across this site again after a year of not being on here.

For those who don’t know me (and those who do) my name is Dillon and I have a up most beat passion for researching the issues of pollution within the aquatic ecosystem (I used to also study and tag sharks). I have graduated with a masters in natural resources management back in May and everything was going great but lately they have not.
I do apologize of how long this will be.

While during my last semester of graduate school I have been applying to jobs and interviewing and I had gotten two offers where two were for the state (one as an aquatic biologist and one as an enviromental investigator). I was really eager to start either position however the one with the environmental investigator wanted me to start on April 1st and I literally still had over a month of school left and management refused to push back my start date to June first so I respectfully had to decline.
The other one for the aquatic biologist position I did not officially take up the offer given the my apartment management wouldn’t allow me to break my lease early and due to financial constraints at the time I couldn’t afford to move to another city.

With two offers gone since then I took up a part time job being a wildlife naturalist for a non-profit organization and have working there since the end of May. I mainly interact with guests and educate them about the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) in our aquarium and rainforest ecosystems. I also conduct oral presentations on seal and penguin feedings to a wide audience. It’s a lot of work but it only pays $15 an hour. I was getting alot of hours during the Summer but now since the season is over my hour we’re reduced to 20 hours per week which I am trying to make ends meet with over $1000 rent and utilities. The aquarium job is a pretty toxic work environment with low pay and employees are just rude to one another but that is another story for later.
I am preatically working with high school age and freshmen college students and I am the only individual in the department who has a higher level degree. I don’t see a problem with that at all but I was so surprised that I thought this was a biologist position and most people had higher level degrees but I was pretty much wrong on that.
In the meantime I’ve been applying and interviewing for dozens of jobs but I have not once since starting that job have been given a single offer.
I’ve been really depressed and angry with myself for a month now knowing that I’ve work my butt off to complete a higher level degree and have aquired research and analytical experience but yet I can’t even get a job that suites my skill set and qualities. I’ve applied to jobs with the health department, IT jobs, state and federal and I’ve gotten nowhere after over 50 applications. I had an interview with the same position as a enviromental investigator and I had my references checked and called and they acted like they were going to give me an offer but I learned last week I was not selected and when I heard that news I seriously cried while driving in my car.
I’ve been feeling like a literal failure given to the point that I’ve started to quit looking for jobs as I don’t see the point in keeping up with the job search any longer if people don’t want to see me with all the capabilities I have to perform the job.

I’ve been really tight on budget as I’m only making $1200 a month and it’s been so bad that I’ve been having to use supplementary disability income which is only $900 a month. I couldn’t afford a lot of the food and perishables I need to live on so I’ve been going to food banks and my neighbors have been pitching in to help buy groceries. So yeah you can say I am living in poverty conditions at the moment.

I felt I have went to school for nothing only to be in more debt and feeling as though I have achieved nothing. I don’t know what to honestly do to get out of this situation and I don’t see things getting better no matter how much I put myself out there.

 

[Stuttermabolur]

I'm very sorry to hear about the situation you are in. That sounds exceedingly tough. I know you have your doubts, but I still hope things will get better for you, though it might not be from the direction you expect. You seem like a kind soul who shouldn't be in this position.

 

[Aspychata]

I do know a single parent who put her son through a very well-known university, and he still hasn't found a job like four years later. It's really sad when FedEx drivers make more then university grads. And if you do have a degree, inflation has out-paced your paycheck. So then it feels like the university is turning into a ponzi scheme. Can you try being a roommate with someone? But keep applying, try leveling up you resume, tighten up your interview game, and think about a side hustle maybe?

 

[Rogue Princess]

I do know a single parent who put her son through a very well-known university, and he still hasn't found a job like four years later. It's really sad when FedEx drivers make more then university grads. And if you do have a degree, inflation has out-paced your paycheck. So then it feels like the university is turning into a ponzi scheme. Can you try being a roommate with someone? But keep applying, try leveling up you resume, tighten up your interview game, and think about a side hustle maybe?

I find it amusing when people undervalue truck drivers then take a look at their paychecks

 

[Dillon]

I do know a single parent who put her son through a very well-known university, and he still hasn't found a job like four years later. It's really sad when FedEx drivers make more then university grads. And if you do have a degree, inflation has out-paced your paycheck. So then it feels like the university is turning into a ponzi scheme. Can you try being a roommate with someone? But keep applying, try leveling up you resume, tighten up your interview game, and think about a side hustle maybe?

This is exactly how I have been feeling. Going through University to “better myself” has just felt nothing more than a scam when you keep hearing about entry level jobs that require 3-5 years or more work experience when they only require a bachelors degree!! I’ve basically given up at this point for a while; as much skills that I have in things such as GIS (geographic information science), teaching, and analytical research no one seems to want to see my worth which indeed makes me look like a failure.

I would go with a roommate but I’ve had a few bad experiences with roommates while living in the dorms as an undergraduate that I don’t mind being by myself (another story for another time)

 

[Dillon]

I'm very sorry to hear about the situation you are in. That sounds exceedingly tough. I know you have your doubts, but I still hope things will get better for you, though it might not be from the direction you expect. You seem like a kind soul who shouldn't be in this position.

I truly hope things do get better but as of now I don’t see anything positive that I’am having extreme doubts.
No person who wants to excel in their goals should not be put in this kind of situation and that’s the problem with Universities when you graduate, you’re basically on your own to fend for yourself and I am learning that the hard way now.

 

[VictorR]

Hello again and sorry about the circumstances.

Have you considered, for purposes of trying to improve your finances so that you're better positioned to avoid the situation that happened with the second offer, to perhaps look at getting a fly-in-fly-out job, and given you mention GIS, perhaps in mining or oil? (I recognize it's not for everyone, and some would rather not work in resource extraction)

 

[Aspychata]

I like the way you think @VictorR. Anything to get us thinking about options, or we get stuck in our head with those failure thoughts. Also maybe you need to look in Canada, or some place outside the USA that may have a shortage of your talent. The great thing about college, is our critical thinking skills improve, and l believe you can find your niche, but it's going to take some digging around, doing grunt work. Also l would like to point out there are many talented people at this forum who have given excellent job advice, and l hope they stop to support you.

 

[Aspychata]

@Aunty Autie actually truck drivers have horrible pay, just like airline pilots now. Lots of professions have cut the pay. Even surrogates use to make 20,000 dollars, they now advertise 5,000 dollars as the pay schedule. Being a truck driver or a pilot was a well-paying job about 20 years ago.

 

[Rogue Princess]

@Aspychata still a high paying job in my country

 

[Dillon]

Hello again and sorry about the circumstances.

Have you considered, for purposes of trying to improve your finances so that you're better positioned to avoid the situation that happened with the second offer, to perhaps look at getting a fly-in-fly-out job, and given you mention GIS, perhaps in mining or oil? (I recognize it's not for everyone, and some would rather not work in resource extraction)

Considering I would have to have funding for a fly in fly out job I’m not really sure I could afford to do that.

I have looked at all kind of mineral extraction and oil jobs but a lot of them want 8-10 years of experience in the industry and I do not have that at all.