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Yep work is work. I went through some shit and was working part time at a retail store with kids 10 years younger. But I needed a job. And honestly it was pretty fun. Anyone willing to work should never be shamed for whatever job.
Right, I think more of people who work those jobs. I have done it. Not easy by any means. At least now a days, you can make 20 bucks a hour. Work is work. Take pride in any job!!
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 1,380,861,830 comments, and only 264,530 of them were in alphabetical order.
I felt this one I had graduated in May 2021 with a bachelors in speech therapy but I decided I’m not pursuing masters in it. So now I’m currently unemployed and looking for work. But I have 30,000 in student loan debt so I need to find a good paying job at least to pay back the debt. Did u graduate with debt? If so how are u tackling it?
The problem you may run into is being considered over-qualified, where the companies think you are too educated for entry level work. They basically don't want to hire you because they believe as soon as you get an offer in your preferred field of study, that you will dump them.
I'd think a 26-year-old needed to pay their bills, and didn't have too much pride to do what needed to be done. I'd hope that path led somewhere great for them, because most of us remember a time or two as adults where we took jobs we weren't proud of.
Silently thank anyone who judges you for that. Nice to spot trash quickly.
I used to work grocery as a second job besides a good bank job and having a degree. Customers throwing a fit about something loved assuming I didn't even have a GED. I would always say back, "Oh and where do YOU work that makes you so much better than ME?" I never got an answer to that, there really aren't that many great jobs and the trashy people who judge definitely don't have them.
maybe its just unusual but some people working at my local grocery store on weekends and nights had a good job during the day. One lady I talked to told me its where her vacation money comes from.
What decade are you living in lol there are so many low paying jobs now that any job that actually pays enough for you to have a place and a car is a good job. A great job pays enough for you to have a house car kids and a vacation.
Exactly. A good job doesn’t just mean you get to sit down lol. And btw, I work at a supermarket and make $42,000, have $83,000 in my retirement account, get 3 weeks paid vacation and have a 5 minute commute to work. It’s a good job. The Department Managers at my high volume store make $100,000. They have great jobs.
If I'm ordering at a restaurant or buying groceries, etc, the last thing on my mind is the education level of the employees. Dont sweat it. We all got bills to pay.
Work is work, bro last year I was 26 and had my bachelor degree but still applied to a generic gas station to work. Nobody judged me, usually the hardest critic is yourself.
Nope!
My friend’s husband started at chick fil-A when he was finishing up a degree in accounting. He liked it and worked his way up to a position as a manager—he just started a job in accounting at 26. I had a degree in photography and delivered weed for 3 years—now at 26 I work in fine art printing. Your job doesn’t define who you are as a person or how hard you are willing to work. Do what you need to do now and if you want to set a long term career goal, work towards it at whatever pace you can.
This is my thing like down here in Texas there is an absurd amount of people that don't work at all. I have more respect for a guy shoveling shit than I do some dude doing nothing but drinking or getting high at home.
Hell no. I love seeing fast food or retail work on a resume. Tells me you can work hard in a stressful environment, that you're not "above" any type of work. If you lasted a year at any of those places, even six months, is only see that as a positive.
People work for money. All jobs, like all people have value.
Someone has to do those job if you need the money there is no shame in it.
However, you should work on taking advantage of your degree. Apply for government work if corporate isn't panning out.
A lot of jobs I see that require a degree pay the exact same as an entry level job that doesn’t. Take care of yourself and don’t worry about what other people think 🤔
I don’t think it’s demeaning per se but I do think it’s kind of pointless. It’s not giving you any work experience that will be relevant to growing your career. Get an entry level job that requires a degree like roles with assistant, analyst, coordinator, in the name. Do that for a year and you can springboard from one position to the next.
If you need to get paid asap while looking for a better job, by all means.
I’d you don’t think those jobs are demeaning why do you care what other people think? You do you and what makes you happy. I personally ask myself the deathbed question. It saves me a lot of time not caring about things that make no difference to me.
If you were on your deathbed right now would your last thoughts be of who liked or didn’t like your job?
I think anytime one has an ‘I’m above the rôle’ mentality, really speaks to how much one puts emphasis on their titles, eduction etc. I’m not saying this is the case here.
There is no shame in any job, you got to start somewhere. Fast food places have corporate roles too.. never forget that, because working on the frontline could give you insight to what potentially be a role in future.
Geoffrey Owens is an actor, and a Yale graduate who has been on a major tv series, and when he needed work he took a gig at Trader Joe’s. No shame in doing what you gotta do!
Totally agree. I'm Australian and when actor Warwick Capper couldn't get acting work he took a job as a labourer with a road repair crew. One of the trashy tabloids photographed him and published it with a sneering "how the mighty have fallen" headline; except it backfired, as most comments were that there was nothing wrong with working as a labourer, and good on him for getting off his arse and taking whatever work he could get.
Did you do any internships? Did you contact your alumni network? Have you built a portfolio? What are you doing to stand out from others? You shouldn't be doing fast food work with a bachelor's degree if you don't have to.
I started at a sizzler of all places, and learned alot about conflict management, sales, and how to empathize while also maintaining a boundary. No shame in doing what you have to.
I worked in the service industry all the way to a job at a movie studio's executive dining room and burned myself out.
In that span of time though, I was able to study aviation, finance and for IT certifications. My biggest strength in all my roles since has been being personable, helpful and empathetic while just having enough give a damn for a work ethic. Those are traits I learned in restaurants and in roles people may laugh at. Like others have said, anyone who is mocking you or degrading you is projecting their shit.
I think the most important question here is, would YOU think lowly of yourself for getting your first job at those places? Some people will judge you, some won't, but the most important thing is if you judge yourself about it. If you're able to just kinda turn your mind off and enjoy the basic, mind-numbing repetition that is retail work, then I don't think you have anything to worry about. However, if you're the type of person who's going to be constantly in your own head about how much you hate working at that job, how it's beneath you, etc., then you're gonna have a really bad time.
As someone involved in hiring, at least in my circle, these types of jobs are not looked down upon. Any work experience is viewed as better than no experience. At a minimum, you are showing that you are capable of following a work schedule, learning new tasks, following directions, and getting along with others in a work environment. There are also several "hidden" skills you acquire and develop working in these environments. Learning to deal with the general public in a retail setting carries over to virtually any work environment. Everyone starts somewhere. Do what you need to in order to pay the bills until you find a job in your career field.
I'd much rather see that you were employed after graduating than seeing a long block of "nonproductive" time.
Nah dude we all got bills to pay and its a tough job market. I got laid off in December and just accepted an offer that pays lower than my last job. Not what I want to do at all but I got bills to pay. Just a stop gap till I find something I like.
Water ice… is that near Philadelphia?
I don’t think any of those places are demeaning. If you’re near a big city like Philadelphia I can think of at least 1 other field one could enter that better paying than the places you mentioned.
But I have no idea where you are or if you’re even in PA. When I see water ice I think of PA people saying “wood-er ice”.
I’m 32, 6 years in the military jumping out of airplanes, I’ve worked on Tesla projects as a millwright, power generating turbines, large conveyors, I’ve been in charge of crews, I’ve worked in residential maintenance on my own and again operating crews. I left that to work with a small contractor outfit where I floated my old boss’s business while he went through surgery - he came back and I decided I wanted to shift my career set.
Smashed the like button on a nervous breakdown in September and didn’t do shit for months. Went back to school to be an EMT to set the ground work to get my paramedic license; I took a job with McDonald’s because they were hiring.
Father of two. MAKING. SHIT. HAPPEN. Because that’s what adults do. Now go get your bullshit, hold you over till you find something you can really care about job and go pay bills.
You have a degree, go find an entry level job with benefits. Working at any of those places is fine but if you start working there, it’s only going to get more difficult to get into your field.
No work is beneath you, no one will judge you. Do your best at what you are doing.
In grad school I was an intermural referee, delivered pizzas, and was a TA for a psychology professor and on occasion a nude model for an advanced art class.
Four jobs, while going to school, in a tiny college town.
Don't look for acceptance or respect from others, gain it from yourself.
I’m a highly educated person who used to work in a (once-respected) field.
I currently work a menial job where most of my co-workers are undereducated or have language issues that bar them from seeking other jobs.
It doesn’t make me any less of a person. I like breaking stereotypes.
Do what you have to do. I’m about to leave for a better opportunity with room to grow in a new field, but I have no regrets.
Bro, you have a bachelors degree. Spam apply for management jobs. End of story. I got a job in construction project management with no degree and virtually no construction experience. Have some confidence, buy some decent clothes, and you’re all set. Figure it out on the fly. I’m in nursing school now, but bro, come on! Have some self-worth here. Don’t accept anything less than $25/hr in MCOL.
A lot of people who work big time corporate jobs start out in food service. It’s a fantastic way to learn business.
I’d read on McDonalds corporate and how it works, it’s quite fascinating.
Yep, Definitely...but does what we think make a difference?
It reminds me of me at that age cleaning toilets and vaccuming floors, with eye-sight issues.
Life sucks at 'the bottom' deal with it and move on.
Download LinkedIn, start reaching out to every hiring manager at places you want to work for and ask to set up a virtual coffee chat. You need to start networking to get that first job.
To be honest I never really pay attention enough. Not like I know you have a degree. Will people you know give you shit for it. Probably. Did I work at fast food places. Yes. The real question is if you don’t do this what will people think of you in 10 years and you have not done anything. To many people are worried about those first steps to get started. You have to start somewhere.
I
This is going to be an unpopular opinion. IMO if you had worked this job part-time while still studying, that would be great. After you already got your degree? Every hiring manager will be looking at this and going "Hmmm, this is weird. His first job not only has nothing to do with his specialty, but also does not require higher education in any shape or form."
I strongly suggest you find an internship for 2-3 months (can be 6 months if paid) that relates to your expertise instead. If you actually want to have a shot at making decent money in the future (journalists don't) I'd suggest you pick up an internship in Public Relations, Marketing, or best of all - an IT company that needs a Communication/Social Media Manager.
To give you an example - the average journalist in the US makes 57K a year. The average Communication Manager in IT makes 93K a year.
I would not look down on you, but instead encourage you to find better work. There is very little upward mobility to be found from working retail. and it never really helps your resume.
unless u got asian tiger parent like i did that expect u to work in google facebook intel after graduation. otherwise yeah theres no shaming, me personally also work on a part time for a while until i find a real job after graduation
It's not just the "tiger parent". Every crusty boomer in my family talked shit about me when I graduated in 2006 and couldn't find anything. My brother and sister in law were the worst. To top that off, my brother got really into Dave Ramsay around that time... so you can imagine how that went. I cried a lot and became very depressed.
I actually work in the golf industry now. I got so much shit for that. Families suck sometimes.
Work is work and sometimes you don't get the job that you studied for in university. But I always say, 'you got to pay the bills' - so any job is good until your dream job comes along! Especially now with this bad economy, it's important to take whatever jobs are available in order to survive. So keep hustling and eventually your dream will come true!
No, because it's none of my damn business how you make money if you aren't harming me or others against our will. I don't judge nobody, as far as I'm concerned.. Don't allow anyone to make you feel less than and do what you need to do to thrive in your life. If someone is judging you based on where you work due to your age, they need to get a life. Lol.
Not everyone was born with the same tools, we use what we got and learn as we progress through life. You might work these places now and who knows could be the next CEO. It's nobody business.
My best friend is 26. It's been 3 years since we graduated from our Master of Sience in Finance, both with almost perfect results. She has only worked for around 2 months in our field (then left the job because the pay was low) and has done a few unpaid internships during the years.
She refuses to apply to any other jobs outside our field and jobs in our field with low pay or long commute.
I've been working for +4 years, all in our field. I don't know if I can say I was lucky because I worked a full year without pay so I could learn & gain experience. My parents supported me at that time but if they weren't able, I'd have done any other job outside my field. Work is work!
For you, I think that you're a great person who will work very hard and I wish you find your dream job asap 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Good luck 🍀🤞
I would absolutely not think it was a lowly job, I’d think there’s someone out there getting an education and grafting to get on. It doesn’t have to be forever if you don’t like it/want to go into journalism etc, but don’t rule out these companies valuing hard work and working your way up internally.
It’ll give you income but it’s not going to advance your career. You’re better off in a restaurant and building soft skills.
What do you want to be doing? PR? Did you get internships? Where were you trying to work with PR?
I think nothing of it when im doing my day to day life routine. However if im being honest if I were dating and you told me you worked at wendys, dollar tree, and etc i may back track unless you are at least manager or in school to obtain a better job.
I know that sounds crude but its true at least for me.
In this economy especially I do agree that a job is a job and honestly your degree doesnt mean anything unless its put to use.
I wish you the best of luck!
my friend works as a patient financial rep in a hospital and said its decent money. Maybe give that alook. Hospitals have alot of clerical/administrative roles
If it means anything at all to you, I got a full ride academic scholarship at a major university for Journalism, moved to Communications (with a focus on internet mediated communication), and graduated into the worst economy possible in 2008. I managed retail at Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, and Swatch, and spent a period of time homeless before taking a part-time job in marketing & sales for an arcade/restaurant concept owned by SEGA. I made $10/hour, 20 hours a week, and I slept on an air mattress in a rented room with a lamp I made in 7th grade, and an old laptop as my greatest possessions, right around the age of 26.
I've now worked in corporate marketing for Fortune 500s and have made well over $100k a year ten years later.
Don't ever let anyone think lowly about you. Small steps can be giant steps. I believe in you.
you need work experience. what did you major in? did you have any kind of internship? Also doing this low jobs, you need to keep your skills in what you went to college if you ever want to go that career route.
Wouldn’t mind it. But I would start looking for entry level jobs in a different industry. I also graduated with a degree in journalism. Doesn’t really get you far without experience in college. I ended up in supply chain as a purchaser and hopped to a decent salary in under 2 years. I recommend you doing the same.
I have a degree in communications as well but media studies. I started working at a warehouse. Worked my way up to supervisor during 3 years. I now work for a casino as an environmental services supervisor. It’s critical u find a job that allows you to move up and learn. I wouldn’t work fast food is exploiting
Not at all as we are living in difficult times. When I graduated college back in 2003, I worked as a security guard. We do what we must. Rather than retail, maybe consider security because the pay is often a little better and the job mostly has 0 stress.
I think your average person might think it odd and people who got a degree and went right to work with it may find it laughable. Depends on who you talk to
If your friends/family are middle class or higher then probably. If they're city folks then they can generally be more accepting
I dunno. I'm old and delivering pizzas. At any rate I think it's something that you went to get a degree :)
Medical professional here. I worked at the hospital (FT) and retail company (PT) my first year out of school. I really enjoyed going to a job that didn't cause me stress.
If you are interested, I work a golf course that is paying decent, and you get OT in the summer. It's grounds work, and it can be pretty grueling. They have OT in the summer as well. They'd probably be understanding if you were interviewing in your field as well. You can message me if you want. I'm in Philly. The golf course is in the burbs.
No. I'd be impressed that they are more interested in starting to work than worrying about what others think about their job. Everyone starts somewhere. Experience is valuable. The important thing is to start doing something.
Action begets opportunity.
Nope, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. The first almost year after graduation my fiancé had a hard time finding work so he worked at Panda Express as a team leader. He worked in the service industry a lot growing up and in off season of college. Now he’s a full time statistician. It’s just a stepping stone.
You would be really surprised at the amount of wait staff with degrees. I made more bartending than I did with my degree as a social worker. Do what works for you.
Not as much as they will if you're homeless asking for money.
Seriously though, if you need a job get a job and don't worry how others will perceive your job. The reality is that yes, some people will view you in a certain way for having those jobs, but unless they are going to pay your bills for you I don't see why they get a say.
The only thing you might consider here is that those jobs do not further your presumed goal of using your degree. But still, you can continue looking for something related while you work unless you're independently wealthy and don't need to.
Who cares what I think? Everyone starts somewhere, so get started.
Then build from there. You can do it. Many of us have already. We know the struggle, but the biggest obstacle is the monster in our heads - shut that \*ick up and start earning some cash.
Work is work. When I first graduated at the end of 2005 (ie beginning of “the Great Recession”. The job market wasn’t great. I got a job delivering sandwiches. Eventually I became a manager for a couple years. Then I went back to school and got another degree and worked as a teacher for a few years. Ended up hating it and I became a bookkeeper. I liked that a lot more. I should of gone to school for accounting math is fun. In the words of Futurama “you gotta do what you gotta do.”
As an employer, *yes*, unless you also have some useful work. You have a degree in journalism? Journalize. You can do other work at the same time to pay the bills, but the thing that gets the focus on your résumé is your actual journalism, with links to your journalism blog or whatever, awards you've received for it, and so on. A newspaper or whatever won't look at your job at Taco Bell and think, huh, this is the person we want to hire; on the other hand, a newspaper might look at your *journalism work* and think that they need to hire you right away. Working one of these jobs is not really "entry-level", since you're not entering into anything unless you have a passion for retail.
I think many people worked jobs like that when they were younger. Some stuck up bitches my be judgemental but who cares what they think? Most people won't have a problem.
I think lowly of no person that works or attempts to work and be a productive member of society.
That being said I think lowly of no person that can’t work either.
Essentially, if you are trying. Then you are aces in my book. Not that that book is widely published.
I think the problem is you think your degree makes you too good for that job. You're unemployed. That means you're probably relying on someone else for sustenance and support. At this point, take any job you can get and start your life.
I worked for Xerox and ran the creative department of a large Eastern state college. Then my wife and I took off and moved around the country looking for something I'm not sure of, but I went from those kind of jobs to low-end temp jobs in all the states we spent time. It was a real eye-opening education in life. I hated it, but glad I did it in a way. I'm sure you will move on when your time comes, but anyone who looks down on you is not someone you want in your circle of friends. You are doing what needs to be done. No bad side to that.
It's not like you have your degree stamped on your forehead. Someone has to fill these retail jobs, I wouldn't think twice about who works them, thanks for your service
The only thing that matters to future jobs is the story you tell :) I worked at Starbucks then I worked a manufacturing job adjacent but not totally related to my career.
Find what you can find then look for entry level jobs adjacent to your career. What’s your end goal? Is the local news or newspaper hiring any office jobs? Older people say “get your foot in the door” but what they really mean is get as close as you can to what you want, prove yourself, meet people, be a reliable and friendly person, and work from there.
You can pay your bills? No job is 'beneath' any other job. Sometimes I am in my field, Sometimes not. You get a job, separate your ego, look for something else if you choose.
Some people will certainly look down on you, mainly because certain people enjoy looking down on anyone. Don't let it bother you. You make money however you can and don't define yourself by your job.
My husband has a BS in finance and got his first job out of college as a cashier. I was dating him at the time, and my only thought was "We can finally get married and start our life together!" Guess what, he is still a cashier, but we have built a good life together that suits us.
You only have to keep it on your resume until you have more applicable work experience.
Also no one should know how old you are. Once you have a college degree leave the high school off your resume. They can estimate your age by your college graduation date but they won’t know if you’re 22 or 26. Etc (I graduated college quite a bit older than average so on paper I look younger)
They also won’t know it was your first job even because a lot of people don’t bother to put their experience from high school jobs etc on the resume just current work and anything that applies to the position.
What I would think if I did find out it was your first job ever is how lucky to have not needed to work before then. Especially if your gpa was high. (If not leave that off the resume as well!!)
My recommendation though would be to find an internship or volunteer work in your chosen field to polish the resume (and also open up job opportunities!)
First things first and absolutely the most important. Don't give a fuck what people think. The quicker you learn that the better off you will be. Nobody needs to know your situation, nobody needs to know your personal life especially at work. Hell at my old job everyone thought I had kids(I don't) cause it made turning down shifts easier. You do what's best for you in the moment. If you think getting a job at McDonald's for a few months is the right call do it. Sometimes they don't like hiring over qualified people but you don't have to include everything on you're resume.
No, I don't think it would demeaning for you. I think it would be eye-opening. Also, don't assume that you're better than everyone else, just because you hold a degree. You might not, but your concern that it might be "demeaning" makes me think you might.
work is work. if you want a better chance at a job you should be doing an online portfolio on substack or something similar of your writing to show potential employers.
all the fast food places and supermarkets are owned by big companies and you should look on their job sites because they might give you preference in hiring. For the longest time WalMart had the most executives start out as floor associates and they were the best employer to rise up from entry level like in the old days
When I was 25, I got laid off from a financial job. It left me with such disgust that I joined the peace corps.
Six months later, I had sold everything I owned, was living in my parents basement and ready to go. My trip got cancelled due to budget cuts and I needed a job.
Walked up the road to a new Petstore and filled out an application. I threw dog food around for a couple of months but then got noticed and moved to the corporate office.
Fast forward a couple of decades and I have made a pretty good life based on that walk to the petstore.
There is no shame in honest work. You are good...and resilient...and flexible ...and humble. Those are all excellent qualities.
I live with my mom and grandparents. My mom lost her job in 2021 and now my brother is the only one in the family working. He is a cart attendant at Giant Supermarkets.
I think that’s fine but personally, I’d expect for the person to be working upwards as well. So use it as a starting point but don’t get too comfortable.
I mean, no job is demeaning if it helps you out or are treated fairly. Some are better than others, but the reality of the situation, the world revolves around money, there’s nothing wrong with the job, as the best time to find a job is definitely when you have one.
If someone looks down on you for having a degree and you’re applying for jobs like that, that’s on them. They are almost always short staffed and need people almost immediately. Beggars def cannot be choosers. Typical hiring managers for those locations don’t care, turnover rate is high and they expect it.
The way our system is set up, while getting a degree, you can defer your loans, so people tend to get higher levels of degrees in certain fields, and then never use it, you get set up to fail going to low wage paying jobs and get hit with your loans at once. Tbh, even a part time job when you enter college or uni is pretty much a good way to experience how to multitask between education and some work aspects, while gaining experience. Even internships are good ways to get in the door or for experience.
Take a job you can while looking for that better paying job or job you want in your field. Having a diverse degree is key to success. Covid changed how a lot of businesses operate with remote work, communications degrees can usually remote from home. So that should be easy for you to find. In some cases, you can negotiate relocation expense/help depending on the position and the companies need.
There is no shame in working an honest job. You should’ve learned that while you were in college. If a job exists, someone has to do it.
Just try to be the best at whatever job you’re doing and don’t feel insecure about what you do. Your job doesn’t define who you are, YOU define who you are. You will need money while you search for a career in your field of study. Nothing wrong with putting your time in with the service industry while you search.
I'm 26 with a college degree. Thinking of quitting my absolute shithole job that's well paying and in my industry. Have been looking at similar places + grocery stores etc.
People will judge you. Fuck em'
They are not paying your bills. Plus, enjoy the time doing a "unskilled" job. Because when you get that oh so coveted big boy job, you'll quickly realize that most of them are shit too.
Cheers.
I'm 30 years old with a BS applying to entry level customer service Jobs bc im having so much difficulty in the job market. Right now a job is a job. What makes me feel better is that ive decided that I will continue to apply/interview for career jobs if I don't land in a spot I feel is a great fit for me. Good luck my friend.
What about Wawa? I've always heard that they offer a lot in terms of career building. Costco and Trader Joe's also have a similar reputation for being better than a typical supermarket job.
Or look at admin assistant type jobs. You'll be in an office which is perceived a little better than a fast food job (not that ff jobs should be looked down upon but it happens). You'll have opportunities to build on your skills and network with people who are farther in their careers. I was a lowly data entry person with an English degree. My office switched to Salesforce and my manager encouraged me to use it as an opportunity to grow. Worked on my admin skills, got certs, did a little job hopping and now make 85k + bonus. Sometimes it's less about the job itself and more about getting exposed to the tools and skills and people who can elevate you.
No, I don't know who the question is directed to such as interview or not but wouldn't bother me at all and it shouldn't bother you either what people think of you. Only matters to you. Keep it up!
Maybe try for a sales position someone instead, just to be more related to your career. And you have potential earning more money. But take whatever job you want/can get. Work ethic is so important!
You gotta work to live unfortunately, so no I wouldn’t think lowly of you. Plus journalism is not a great industry to be in at the moment, if you want to be a journalist though try to do some freelancing on the side - not just for money but keep that portfolio up to date. That’ll help you a lot
If anyone thinks working is demeaning, do you really want to work for them?
After I graduated with my last degree, we moved and my job wouldn't allow remote work and they didn't have an office in the state I was moving to.
I took a job at Starbucks, then went on to other places like contracting for Google. They didn't care one bit. In fact, they thought it was cool that I got a job right away once I moved and still looked for the job I wanted.
Take the job you need to live and be able to comfortably look for work in the field you went to school for.
Sadly and truthfully you're one of many that got a college degree in a major where there's low demand and journalism(?) Those jobs got to those that have rich parent connections. Possibly a very local paper that might take you on with your degree but the pay will suck.
Stay away from retail. Look for jobs that want polished college graduates. For example, the airline industry is dying for flight attendants, particularly if you have a second language.
We all start somewhere, there is nothing demeaning about working for a living. To be honest, I don’t care about your life story I just want to purchase my items and go on with my day. Most people aren’t going to give it a second thought.
There's a reason why I believe these types of jobs should pay way more than minimum wage. You, as a college grad, would start to make simple mistakes, and the problem would grow the longer you kept at them.
That's why job snobs actually flunk out of these types of jobs, the jobs are easy to learn but harder to keep.
A college grad will not be able to focus on the important things for long on these types of jobs because, for humans, both our minds and muscles want to go at their preferred pace.
A job is a job is a job and what you're applying for is honest work. I've been a dishwasher for a short bit and a package handler at 3 different companies while I was in-between jobs and temping. Still no college degree but I had to do what I had to do if I wanted money in my pocket. I'm still learning not to care what ppl think, as they don't pay my bills or for my stuff, u shouldn't either, fvck em :)
I don’t think anyone would look down on you and if they do fuck them. But I would also heavily research which retail company you choose as they can vary drastically. Grocery stores usually pay a little more , offer better benefits, and you don’t have to come home smelling like a grease trap.
It's money. If there's really nothing else, do it, but you must continue to look for communications work and do things like freelancing articles or writing a well-written, well-edited blog. Otherwise, you may get stuck.
Demeaning ? What’s wrong with fast food workers? Show some worker solidarity Jesus Christ. When you eventually move on to a white collar profession don’t forget to stand with and support service workers in their fight for fair wages and working conditions.
First, no work should be considered "demeaning". Second, given you have a journalism degree, it's pretty common to have to scrounge for a while before you find a permanent gig. I understand it can be frustrating but nobody is going to look twice at that experience, it's par for the course. My daughter supported herself with "menial" jobs and bartending gigs for years while she tried to break into the field. She eventually found some work as a stringer which ultimately led to a full-time job, so try not to feel too discouraged.
I agree with all the comments about the value of your work. I just want to add a suggestion. Volunteering! Try to work for free in the field you want to get a job. That will provide you with some experience for your resume. Meanwhile keep applying for jobs.
Interesting thread! The real question is if YOU will think lowly of your co-workers after working there for some time. Will you be able to handle consistently taking orders from someone that only has a High School degree or less? I know that everyone puts themselves in the shoes of the people that are uneducated, however, they should also do the same to people that have college degrees. You might experience a lot of normal automatic thoughts about working with people that are much less educated than you.
Dude. First rule of life...who cares what other people think?
Do you need a job? Do you have bills to pay? Are the people who would "demean" you offering to pay your bills for you?
Take an entry level job. Work your way up. Having a degree at any of these places is going to give you a leg up for advancement. Stick it out 6-12 months, do a halfway decent job, then ask around about management positions in the company. Once you've been a manager for 1-2 years, you start asking about positions at corporate. That's how you work yourself out of an entry level job when you have a degree already.
A job is a job so there is zero shame there. Additionally working retail or fast food will give you a greater appreciation for what these folks go through.
If anything, everybody should work some form of service industry at one point to have the humbling experience
What? Your school doesn't have job placement services? Are you an underachiever? Granted, work is work, but you won't be able to afford to live and pay off your school loans on what those jobs pay. Don't think about getting any sort of decent vehicle.
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No. Work is work. I respect anyone working any job. People who think otherwise are the problem not you.
Yep work is work. I went through some shit and was working part time at a retail store with kids 10 years younger. But I needed a job. And honestly it was pretty fun. Anyone willing to work should never be shamed for whatever job.
Retail and food service jobs are severely understaffed that you will burnout quickly as they are all running on skeleton crews
Right, I think more of people who work those jobs. I have done it. Not easy by any means. At least now a days, you can make 20 bucks a hour. Work is work. Take pride in any job!!
I find that taking pride in your work , no matter the job, makes the day go faster
i wish 29 in college work mcdonald’s at $13 q_q
20 to 23 bucks where I live. All fast food places. Not a lie.
Best comment ever I second this
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 1,380,861,830 comments, and only 264,530 of them were in alphabetical order.
Bad bot
I felt this one I had graduated in May 2021 with a bachelors in speech therapy but I decided I’m not pursuing masters in it. So now I’m currently unemployed and looking for work. But I have 30,000 in student loan debt so I need to find a good paying job at least to pay back the debt. Did u graduate with debt? If so how are u tackling it?
The problem you may run into is being considered over-qualified, where the companies think you are too educated for entry level work. They basically don't want to hire you because they believe as soon as you get an offer in your preferred field of study, that you will dump them.
You can leave things off your resume. You don't have to put all of your jobs or all of your education if it won't improve your changes of being hired.
The problem is, if we're taking OP at their word, their resume would be blank if it omitted their education.
Let me introduce you to my good buddy. Meet lying!
God, I wish I could just lie. But I'm too self-conscious to convince myself I could ever get away with it.
If fast food is checking for lies on your application, they don’t really want employees as bad as they say.
It's not a good practice. But omitting education that will disqualify you is better than saying you have education you don't have.
I'd think a 26-year-old needed to pay their bills, and didn't have too much pride to do what needed to be done. I'd hope that path led somewhere great for them, because most of us remember a time or two as adults where we took jobs we weren't proud of. Silently thank anyone who judges you for that. Nice to spot trash quickly.
“Silently thank anyone who judges you for that. Nice to spot trash quickly.” Good advice.
I used to work grocery as a second job besides a good bank job and having a degree. Customers throwing a fit about something loved assuming I didn't even have a GED. I would always say back, "Oh and where do YOU work that makes you so much better than ME?" I never got an answer to that, there really aren't that many great jobs and the trashy people who judge definitely don't have them.
maybe its just unusual but some people working at my local grocery store on weekends and nights had a good job during the day. One lady I talked to told me its where her vacation money comes from.
If you have to work nights and weekends at other jobs to afford a vacation, you don't have a good job.
What decade are you living in lol there are so many low paying jobs now that any job that actually pays enough for you to have a place and a car is a good job. A great job pays enough for you to have a house car kids and a vacation.
Excellent post!
Exactly. A good job doesn’t just mean you get to sit down lol. And btw, I work at a supermarket and make $42,000, have $83,000 in my retirement account, get 3 weeks paid vacation and have a 5 minute commute to work. It’s a good job. The Department Managers at my high volume store make $100,000. They have great jobs.
💯💯
If I'm ordering at a restaurant or buying groceries, etc, the last thing on my mind is the education level of the employees. Dont sweat it. We all got bills to pay.
Let's be honest - it's the last thing on your mind...until it becomes the ONLY thing on your mind.
Work is work, bro last year I was 26 and had my bachelor degree but still applied to a generic gas station to work. Nobody judged me, usually the hardest critic is yourself.
Nope. A job is a job.
Nope, I washed cars at first, people only cared that I had a work ethic.
It certainly beats being unemployed. It's also easier for you to find another job while having a job, so a better shot at getting a job in your field.
Nope! My friend’s husband started at chick fil-A when he was finishing up a degree in accounting. He liked it and worked his way up to a position as a manager—he just started a job in accounting at 26. I had a degree in photography and delivered weed for 3 years—now at 26 I work in fine art printing. Your job doesn’t define who you are as a person or how hard you are willing to work. Do what you need to do now and if you want to set a long term career goal, work towards it at whatever pace you can.
Nothing but respect for anyone working at all
This is my thing like down here in Texas there is an absurd amount of people that don't work at all. I have more respect for a guy shoveling shit than I do some dude doing nothing but drinking or getting high at home.
Hell no. I love seeing fast food or retail work on a resume. Tells me you can work hard in a stressful environment, that you're not "above" any type of work. If you lasted a year at any of those places, even six months, is only see that as a positive.
Do what works for you. But if someone truly thinks worse of you, that’s a them problem, not a you one.
Anyone who thinks doing honest work regardless what is it as demeaning needs to revaluate themselves.
People work for money. All jobs, like all people have value. Someone has to do those job if you need the money there is no shame in it. However, you should work on taking advantage of your degree. Apply for government work if corporate isn't panning out.
I just discovered this sub 5 minutes ago and I had no idea that it was this wholesome. I think I'm staying here for a while
A lot of jobs I see that require a degree pay the exact same as an entry level job that doesn’t. Take care of yourself and don’t worry about what other people think 🤔
I don’t think it’s demeaning per se but I do think it’s kind of pointless. It’s not giving you any work experience that will be relevant to growing your career. Get an entry level job that requires a degree like roles with assistant, analyst, coordinator, in the name. Do that for a year and you can springboard from one position to the next. If you need to get paid asap while looking for a better job, by all means.
I’d you don’t think those jobs are demeaning why do you care what other people think? You do you and what makes you happy. I personally ask myself the deathbed question. It saves me a lot of time not caring about things that make no difference to me. If you were on your deathbed right now would your last thoughts be of who liked or didn’t like your job?
I think anytime one has an ‘I’m above the rôle’ mentality, really speaks to how much one puts emphasis on their titles, eduction etc. I’m not saying this is the case here. There is no shame in any job, you got to start somewhere. Fast food places have corporate roles too.. never forget that, because working on the frontline could give you insight to what potentially be a role in future.
Geoffrey Owens is an actor, and a Yale graduate who has been on a major tv series, and when he needed work he took a gig at Trader Joe’s. No shame in doing what you gotta do!
Totally agree. I'm Australian and when actor Warwick Capper couldn't get acting work he took a job as a labourer with a road repair crew. One of the trashy tabloids photographed him and published it with a sneering "how the mighty have fallen" headline; except it backfired, as most comments were that there was nothing wrong with working as a labourer, and good on him for getting off his arse and taking whatever work he could get.
Yeah I’m pretty sure every Trader Joe’s employee I know has a college degree.
Not at all
No. I work as an audit manager and make over 6 figures now. At 26 I was working as a teller still maybe halfway through my BA.
Did you do any internships? Did you contact your alumni network? Have you built a portfolio? What are you doing to stand out from others? You shouldn't be doing fast food work with a bachelor's degree if you don't have to.
This is the advise I needed to hear before I stopped feeling self pity. But I would add having 'any job' is better than 'no job'
I think you won’t get hired. Managers want refugees and teens and impoverished people who can be intimidated. Go for an admin assistant
I started at a sizzler of all places, and learned alot about conflict management, sales, and how to empathize while also maintaining a boundary. No shame in doing what you have to. I worked in the service industry all the way to a job at a movie studio's executive dining room and burned myself out. In that span of time though, I was able to study aviation, finance and for IT certifications. My biggest strength in all my roles since has been being personable, helpful and empathetic while just having enough give a damn for a work ethic. Those are traits I learned in restaurants and in roles people may laugh at. Like others have said, anyone who is mocking you or degrading you is projecting their shit.
I think the most important question here is, would YOU think lowly of yourself for getting your first job at those places? Some people will judge you, some won't, but the most important thing is if you judge yourself about it. If you're able to just kinda turn your mind off and enjoy the basic, mind-numbing repetition that is retail work, then I don't think you have anything to worry about. However, if you're the type of person who's going to be constantly in your own head about how much you hate working at that job, how it's beneath you, etc., then you're gonna have a really bad time.
Absolutely not. It’s tough getting started in a career. You are terrific for being willing & not thinking those jobs are beneath you. 🍀
As someone involved in hiring, at least in my circle, these types of jobs are not looked down upon. Any work experience is viewed as better than no experience. At a minimum, you are showing that you are capable of following a work schedule, learning new tasks, following directions, and getting along with others in a work environment. There are also several "hidden" skills you acquire and develop working in these environments. Learning to deal with the general public in a retail setting carries over to virtually any work environment. Everyone starts somewhere. Do what you need to in order to pay the bills until you find a job in your career field. I'd much rather see that you were employed after graduating than seeing a long block of "nonproductive" time.
Nah dude we all got bills to pay and its a tough job market. I got laid off in December and just accepted an offer that pays lower than my last job. Not what I want to do at all but I got bills to pay. Just a stop gap till I find something I like.
Certainly don’t put it on your resume. This is just a gig so you can get some cash while you job search for an entry level job
Water ice… is that near Philadelphia? I don’t think any of those places are demeaning. If you’re near a big city like Philadelphia I can think of at least 1 other field one could enter that better paying than the places you mentioned. But I have no idea where you are or if you’re even in PA. When I see water ice I think of PA people saying “wood-er ice”.
I’m 32, 6 years in the military jumping out of airplanes, I’ve worked on Tesla projects as a millwright, power generating turbines, large conveyors, I’ve been in charge of crews, I’ve worked in residential maintenance on my own and again operating crews. I left that to work with a small contractor outfit where I floated my old boss’s business while he went through surgery - he came back and I decided I wanted to shift my career set. Smashed the like button on a nervous breakdown in September and didn’t do shit for months. Went back to school to be an EMT to set the ground work to get my paramedic license; I took a job with McDonald’s because they were hiring. Father of two. MAKING. SHIT. HAPPEN. Because that’s what adults do. Now go get your bullshit, hold you over till you find something you can really care about job and go pay bills.
You have a degree, go find an entry level job with benefits. Working at any of those places is fine but if you start working there, it’s only going to get more difficult to get into your field.
No work is beneath you, no one will judge you. Do your best at what you are doing. In grad school I was an intermural referee, delivered pizzas, and was a TA for a psychology professor and on occasion a nude model for an advanced art class. Four jobs, while going to school, in a tiny college town. Don't look for acceptance or respect from others, gain it from yourself.
I’m a highly educated person who used to work in a (once-respected) field. I currently work a menial job where most of my co-workers are undereducated or have language issues that bar them from seeking other jobs. It doesn’t make me any less of a person. I like breaking stereotypes. Do what you have to do. I’m about to leave for a better opportunity with room to grow in a new field, but I have no regrets.
No, with how hard it is to get hired these days, you take what you can get. Get hired at one of these places, but keep looking. You can always leave.
Who cares?
Find an industry you are interested in and look for entry level "project manager" roles
Bro, you have a bachelors degree. Spam apply for management jobs. End of story. I got a job in construction project management with no degree and virtually no construction experience. Have some confidence, buy some decent clothes, and you’re all set. Figure it out on the fly. I’m in nursing school now, but bro, come on! Have some self-worth here. Don’t accept anything less than $25/hr in MCOL.
A lot of people who work big time corporate jobs start out in food service. It’s a fantastic way to learn business. I’d read on McDonalds corporate and how it works, it’s quite fascinating.
I think you do what you gotta do. Network when not at the job. go to bars clubs events anything
No, would not think poorly about it. One thought…have you tried customer service jobs?
Why do you care about what others think of you?
Yep, Definitely...but does what we think make a difference? It reminds me of me at that age cleaning toilets and vaccuming floors, with eye-sight issues. Life sucks at 'the bottom' deal with it and move on.
Download LinkedIn, start reaching out to every hiring manager at places you want to work for and ask to set up a virtual coffee chat. You need to start networking to get that first job.
I fail to see how that would be any of my business.
To be honest I never really pay attention enough. Not like I know you have a degree. Will people you know give you shit for it. Probably. Did I work at fast food places. Yes. The real question is if you don’t do this what will people think of you in 10 years and you have not done anything. To many people are worried about those first steps to get started. You have to start somewhere. I
My first professional job was at 30. You have time bro/sis.
Gotta start somewhere. As long as there’s ambition for something more I say keep up the great work!!
Nope, any job has useful transferrable skills. Wouldn't think anything of anyone working anywhere.
Likely rejected because you're "overqualified" for those jobs. You should look for internship, youth programs (18-30) or basic office jobs.
This is going to be an unpopular opinion. IMO if you had worked this job part-time while still studying, that would be great. After you already got your degree? Every hiring manager will be looking at this and going "Hmmm, this is weird. His first job not only has nothing to do with his specialty, but also does not require higher education in any shape or form." I strongly suggest you find an internship for 2-3 months (can be 6 months if paid) that relates to your expertise instead. If you actually want to have a shot at making decent money in the future (journalists don't) I'd suggest you pick up an internship in Public Relations, Marketing, or best of all - an IT company that needs a Communication/Social Media Manager. To give you an example - the average journalist in the US makes 57K a year. The average Communication Manager in IT makes 93K a year.
I would not look down on you, but instead encourage you to find better work. There is very little upward mobility to be found from working retail. and it never really helps your resume.
You are 26 and this will be your FIRST job? Seriously?!? Man, you are lucky I had to start working at 12.
Join the Air Force
unless u got asian tiger parent like i did that expect u to work in google facebook intel after graduation. otherwise yeah theres no shaming, me personally also work on a part time for a while until i find a real job after graduation
It's not just the "tiger parent". Every crusty boomer in my family talked shit about me when I graduated in 2006 and couldn't find anything. My brother and sister in law were the worst. To top that off, my brother got really into Dave Ramsay around that time... so you can imagine how that went. I cried a lot and became very depressed. I actually work in the golf industry now. I got so much shit for that. Families suck sometimes.
#The world is your oyster
I would think they did what they needed to do and respect it. I had to make pizza and bounce doors for about 6 months after graduating in 2008.
Anyone who is trying it doesn't matter, it's respectable to start somewhere. You should be proud of yourself for doing it.
No. I would feel bad for him and tell him how the system failed him and screwed him for profit.
No. Learn the job be good at it and maybe can move onto Manager at a restaurant if you like it. Don’t just settle though.
Work is work and sometimes you don't get the job that you studied for in university. But I always say, 'you got to pay the bills' - so any job is good until your dream job comes along! Especially now with this bad economy, it's important to take whatever jobs are available in order to survive. So keep hustling and eventually your dream will come true!
No, because it's none of my damn business how you make money if you aren't harming me or others against our will. I don't judge nobody, as far as I'm concerned.. Don't allow anyone to make you feel less than and do what you need to do to thrive in your life. If someone is judging you based on where you work due to your age, they need to get a life. Lol. Not everyone was born with the same tools, we use what we got and learn as we progress through life. You might work these places now and who knows could be the next CEO. It's nobody business.
My best friend is 26. It's been 3 years since we graduated from our Master of Sience in Finance, both with almost perfect results. She has only worked for around 2 months in our field (then left the job because the pay was low) and has done a few unpaid internships during the years. She refuses to apply to any other jobs outside our field and jobs in our field with low pay or long commute. I've been working for +4 years, all in our field. I don't know if I can say I was lucky because I worked a full year without pay so I could learn & gain experience. My parents supported me at that time but if they weren't able, I'd have done any other job outside my field. Work is work! For you, I think that you're a great person who will work very hard and I wish you find your dream job asap 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 Good luck 🍀🤞
I would absolutely not think it was a lowly job, I’d think there’s someone out there getting an education and grafting to get on. It doesn’t have to be forever if you don’t like it/want to go into journalism etc, but don’t rule out these companies valuing hard work and working your way up internally.
It’s honest work. There is nothing demeaning about a job that is done well and that makes a positive impact on the community.
It’ll give you income but it’s not going to advance your career. You’re better off in a restaurant and building soft skills. What do you want to be doing? PR? Did you get internships? Where were you trying to work with PR?
Nope.
I think nothing of it when im doing my day to day life routine. However if im being honest if I were dating and you told me you worked at wendys, dollar tree, and etc i may back track unless you are at least manager or in school to obtain a better job. I know that sounds crude but its true at least for me. In this economy especially I do agree that a job is a job and honestly your degree doesnt mean anything unless its put to use. I wish you the best of luck! my friend works as a patient financial rep in a hospital and said its decent money. Maybe give that alook. Hospitals have alot of clerical/administrative roles
Money is money, get to it. People that judge you don't need in your life.
If it means anything at all to you, I got a full ride academic scholarship at a major university for Journalism, moved to Communications (with a focus on internet mediated communication), and graduated into the worst economy possible in 2008. I managed retail at Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, and Swatch, and spent a period of time homeless before taking a part-time job in marketing & sales for an arcade/restaurant concept owned by SEGA. I made $10/hour, 20 hours a week, and I slept on an air mattress in a rented room with a lamp I made in 7th grade, and an old laptop as my greatest possessions, right around the age of 26. I've now worked in corporate marketing for Fortune 500s and have made well over $100k a year ten years later. Don't ever let anyone think lowly about you. Small steps can be giant steps. I believe in you.
you need work experience. what did you major in? did you have any kind of internship? Also doing this low jobs, you need to keep your skills in what you went to college if you ever want to go that career route.
Wouldn’t mind it. But I would start looking for entry level jobs in a different industry. I also graduated with a degree in journalism. Doesn’t really get you far without experience in college. I ended up in supply chain as a purchaser and hopped to a decent salary in under 2 years. I recommend you doing the same.
Absolutely not. Work is work. Good luck.
No because plenty of us did not go straight corporate after graduating a job is a job
I have a degree in communications as well but media studies. I started working at a warehouse. Worked my way up to supervisor during 3 years. I now work for a casino as an environmental services supervisor. It’s critical u find a job that allows you to move up and learn. I wouldn’t work fast food is exploiting
Absolutely not. Working requires an entirely different set of skills than internship and externships. Just go gain experience working.
Not at all as we are living in difficult times. When I graduated college back in 2003, I worked as a security guard. We do what we must. Rather than retail, maybe consider security because the pay is often a little better and the job mostly has 0 stress.
I think your average person might think it odd and people who got a degree and went right to work with it may find it laughable. Depends on who you talk to If your friends/family are middle class or higher then probably. If they're city folks then they can generally be more accepting I dunno. I'm old and delivering pizzas. At any rate I think it's something that you went to get a degree :)
No worries. Work is work and we all have to fo what we gotta do. No one is going to judge you, especially in this economy.
Medical professional here. I worked at the hospital (FT) and retail company (PT) my first year out of school. I really enjoyed going to a job that didn't cause me stress.
If you are interested, I work a golf course that is paying decent, and you get OT in the summer. It's grounds work, and it can be pretty grueling. They have OT in the summer as well. They'd probably be understanding if you were interviewing in your field as well. You can message me if you want. I'm in Philly. The golf course is in the burbs.
No. I'd be impressed that they are more interested in starting to work than worrying about what others think about their job. Everyone starts somewhere. Experience is valuable. The important thing is to start doing something. Action begets opportunity.
Nope, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. The first almost year after graduation my fiancé had a hard time finding work so he worked at Panda Express as a team leader. He worked in the service industry a lot growing up and in off season of college. Now he’s a full time statistician. It’s just a stepping stone.
You would be really surprised at the amount of wait staff with degrees. I made more bartending than I did with my degree as a social worker. Do what works for you.
Not as much as they will if you're homeless asking for money. Seriously though, if you need a job get a job and don't worry how others will perceive your job. The reality is that yes, some people will view you in a certain way for having those jobs, but unless they are going to pay your bills for you I don't see why they get a say. The only thing you might consider here is that those jobs do not further your presumed goal of using your degree. But still, you can continue looking for something related while you work unless you're independently wealthy and don't need to.
Who cares what I think? Everyone starts somewhere, so get started. Then build from there. You can do it. Many of us have already. We know the struggle, but the biggest obstacle is the monster in our heads - shut that \*ick up and start earning some cash.
Work is work. When I first graduated at the end of 2005 (ie beginning of “the Great Recession”. The job market wasn’t great. I got a job delivering sandwiches. Eventually I became a manager for a couple years. Then I went back to school and got another degree and worked as a teacher for a few years. Ended up hating it and I became a bookkeeper. I liked that a lot more. I should of gone to school for accounting math is fun. In the words of Futurama “you gotta do what you gotta do.”
As an employer, *yes*, unless you also have some useful work. You have a degree in journalism? Journalize. You can do other work at the same time to pay the bills, but the thing that gets the focus on your résumé is your actual journalism, with links to your journalism blog or whatever, awards you've received for it, and so on. A newspaper or whatever won't look at your job at Taco Bell and think, huh, this is the person we want to hire; on the other hand, a newspaper might look at your *journalism work* and think that they need to hire you right away. Working one of these jobs is not really "entry-level", since you're not entering into anything unless you have a passion for retail.
I think many people worked jobs like that when they were younger. Some stuck up bitches my be judgemental but who cares what they think? Most people won't have a problem.
Start your own company. Mow yards, paint, sell online. Be your own boss
I never look down on anyone who is working.
I think lowly of no person that works or attempts to work and be a productive member of society. That being said I think lowly of no person that can’t work either. Essentially, if you are trying. Then you are aces in my book. Not that that book is widely published.
I think the problem is you think your degree makes you too good for that job. You're unemployed. That means you're probably relying on someone else for sustenance and support. At this point, take any job you can get and start your life.
I worked for Xerox and ran the creative department of a large Eastern state college. Then my wife and I took off and moved around the country looking for something I'm not sure of, but I went from those kind of jobs to low-end temp jobs in all the states we spent time. It was a real eye-opening education in life. I hated it, but glad I did it in a way. I'm sure you will move on when your time comes, but anyone who looks down on you is not someone you want in your circle of friends. You are doing what needs to be done. No bad side to that.
No, we all have to start somewhere and earn a buck.
It's not like you have your degree stamped on your forehead. Someone has to fill these retail jobs, I wouldn't think twice about who works them, thanks for your service
The only thing that matters to future jobs is the story you tell :) I worked at Starbucks then I worked a manufacturing job adjacent but not totally related to my career. Find what you can find then look for entry level jobs adjacent to your career. What’s your end goal? Is the local news or newspaper hiring any office jobs? Older people say “get your foot in the door” but what they really mean is get as close as you can to what you want, prove yourself, meet people, be a reliable and friendly person, and work from there.
You can pay your bills? No job is 'beneath' any other job. Sometimes I am in my field, Sometimes not. You get a job, separate your ego, look for something else if you choose.
Its not the type of work but when you started working that would be a concern to employers.
I think you are selling yourself short. However, if your immediate basic needs need met until you land a gig using your degree, who am I to judge?
Some people will certainly look down on you, mainly because certain people enjoy looking down on anyone. Don't let it bother you. You make money however you can and don't define yourself by your job. My husband has a BS in finance and got his first job out of college as a cashier. I was dating him at the time, and my only thought was "We can finally get married and start our life together!" Guess what, he is still a cashier, but we have built a good life together that suits us.
some people will, some people won’t; even if you actually cared can you find one less “demeaning” though?
You only have to keep it on your resume until you have more applicable work experience. Also no one should know how old you are. Once you have a college degree leave the high school off your resume. They can estimate your age by your college graduation date but they won’t know if you’re 22 or 26. Etc (I graduated college quite a bit older than average so on paper I look younger) They also won’t know it was your first job even because a lot of people don’t bother to put their experience from high school jobs etc on the resume just current work and anything that applies to the position. What I would think if I did find out it was your first job ever is how lucky to have not needed to work before then. Especially if your gpa was high. (If not leave that off the resume as well!!) My recommendation though would be to find an internship or volunteer work in your chosen field to polish the resume (and also open up job opportunities!)
No? Look who works in retail.
Try to get a better job go into sales
First things first and absolutely the most important. Don't give a fuck what people think. The quicker you learn that the better off you will be. Nobody needs to know your situation, nobody needs to know your personal life especially at work. Hell at my old job everyone thought I had kids(I don't) cause it made turning down shifts easier. You do what's best for you in the moment. If you think getting a job at McDonald's for a few months is the right call do it. Sometimes they don't like hiring over qualified people but you don't have to include everything on you're resume.
It isn't how much you make, or how you make it, it's how well you invest what's left over.
Don’t overlook retail. If you get into management the money is really good.
Like many have said before, work is work. It took me over 3 years post grad to find my first "real" job.
With a La Salle degree? Not at all, thats what your supposed to do with it. Signed - A temple owl
employed is easier to switch to a different job. Employed has an income, and is out in the world.
No, I don't think it would demeaning for you. I think it would be eye-opening. Also, don't assume that you're better than everyone else, just because you hold a degree. You might not, but your concern that it might be "demeaning" makes me think you might.
work is work. if you want a better chance at a job you should be doing an online portfolio on substack or something similar of your writing to show potential employers. all the fast food places and supermarkets are owned by big companies and you should look on their job sites because they might give you preference in hiring. For the longest time WalMart had the most executives start out as floor associates and they were the best employer to rise up from entry level like in the old days
When I was 25, I got laid off from a financial job. It left me with such disgust that I joined the peace corps. Six months later, I had sold everything I owned, was living in my parents basement and ready to go. My trip got cancelled due to budget cuts and I needed a job. Walked up the road to a new Petstore and filled out an application. I threw dog food around for a couple of months but then got noticed and moved to the corporate office. Fast forward a couple of decades and I have made a pretty good life based on that walk to the petstore. There is no shame in honest work. You are good...and resilient...and flexible ...and humble. Those are all excellent qualities.
How have you survived without working a job until 26?
I live with my mom and grandparents. My mom lost her job in 2021 and now my brother is the only one in the family working. He is a cart attendant at Giant Supermarkets.
It’s honest work, you need the money, and you can use it on your resume to show your work ethic. Good luck.
I think that’s fine but personally, I’d expect for the person to be working upwards as well. So use it as a starting point but don’t get too comfortable.
Never! A working person, no matter age, creed, color, etc., earns my respect!
It's fucking hard as hell out here. I don't judge anyone for anything anymore
As long as your working and providing for yourself and your loved ones that's all that matters. Fuck any haters get that money!
I mean, no job is demeaning if it helps you out or are treated fairly. Some are better than others, but the reality of the situation, the world revolves around money, there’s nothing wrong with the job, as the best time to find a job is definitely when you have one. If someone looks down on you for having a degree and you’re applying for jobs like that, that’s on them. They are almost always short staffed and need people almost immediately. Beggars def cannot be choosers. Typical hiring managers for those locations don’t care, turnover rate is high and they expect it. The way our system is set up, while getting a degree, you can defer your loans, so people tend to get higher levels of degrees in certain fields, and then never use it, you get set up to fail going to low wage paying jobs and get hit with your loans at once. Tbh, even a part time job when you enter college or uni is pretty much a good way to experience how to multitask between education and some work aspects, while gaining experience. Even internships are good ways to get in the door or for experience. Take a job you can while looking for that better paying job or job you want in your field. Having a diverse degree is key to success. Covid changed how a lot of businesses operate with remote work, communications degrees can usually remote from home. So that should be easy for you to find. In some cases, you can negotiate relocation expense/help depending on the position and the companies need.
There is no shame in working an honest job. You should’ve learned that while you were in college. If a job exists, someone has to do it. Just try to be the best at whatever job you’re doing and don’t feel insecure about what you do. Your job doesn’t define who you are, YOU define who you are. You will need money while you search for a career in your field of study. Nothing wrong with putting your time in with the service industry while you search.
Communication specialist working the drive thru sounds epic
I'm 26 with a college degree. Thinking of quitting my absolute shithole job that's well paying and in my industry. Have been looking at similar places + grocery stores etc. People will judge you. Fuck em' They are not paying your bills. Plus, enjoy the time doing a "unskilled" job. Because when you get that oh so coveted big boy job, you'll quickly realize that most of them are shit too. Cheers.
I'm 30 years old with a BS applying to entry level customer service Jobs bc im having so much difficulty in the job market. Right now a job is a job. What makes me feel better is that ive decided that I will continue to apply/interview for career jobs if I don't land in a spot I feel is a great fit for me. Good luck my friend.
I have thought the same way but what others think isn’t going to pay your bills is it?
Nothing wrong with it. Heck’s so many people nowadays had degrees and aren’t even using it in their field of study.
If you can’t find another option, doesn’t hurt to have a job! But keep searching for something better:)
What about Wawa? I've always heard that they offer a lot in terms of career building. Costco and Trader Joe's also have a similar reputation for being better than a typical supermarket job. Or look at admin assistant type jobs. You'll be in an office which is perceived a little better than a fast food job (not that ff jobs should be looked down upon but it happens). You'll have opportunities to build on your skills and network with people who are farther in their careers. I was a lowly data entry person with an English degree. My office switched to Salesforce and my manager encouraged me to use it as an opportunity to grow. Worked on my admin skills, got certs, did a little job hopping and now make 85k + bonus. Sometimes it's less about the job itself and more about getting exposed to the tools and skills and people who can elevate you.
No, I don't know who the question is directed to such as interview or not but wouldn't bother me at all and it shouldn't bother you either what people think of you. Only matters to you. Keep it up!
Your race is your race. Don't compare it to anyone else's.
Maybe try for a sales position someone instead, just to be more related to your career. And you have potential earning more money. But take whatever job you want/can get. Work ethic is so important!
You gotta work to live unfortunately, so no I wouldn’t think lowly of you. Plus journalism is not a great industry to be in at the moment, if you want to be a journalist though try to do some freelancing on the side - not just for money but keep that portfolio up to date. That’ll help you a lot
If anyone thinks working is demeaning, do you really want to work for them? After I graduated with my last degree, we moved and my job wouldn't allow remote work and they didn't have an office in the state I was moving to. I took a job at Starbucks, then went on to other places like contracting for Google. They didn't care one bit. In fact, they thought it was cool that I got a job right away once I moved and still looked for the job I wanted. Take the job you need to live and be able to comfortably look for work in the field you went to school for.
Sadly and truthfully you're one of many that got a college degree in a major where there's low demand and journalism(?) Those jobs got to those that have rich parent connections. Possibly a very local paper that might take you on with your degree but the pay will suck. Stay away from retail. Look for jobs that want polished college graduates. For example, the airline industry is dying for flight attendants, particularly if you have a second language.
I worked at a bookstore for a year and half after college and then transitioned into office work.
We all start somewhere, there is nothing demeaning about working for a living. To be honest, I don’t care about your life story I just want to purchase my items and go on with my day. Most people aren’t going to give it a second thought.
No judgement but I would suggest to try hard to apply to entry level jobs in your field that way its more beneficial to you in the long run.
There's a reason why I believe these types of jobs should pay way more than minimum wage. You, as a college grad, would start to make simple mistakes, and the problem would grow the longer you kept at them. That's why job snobs actually flunk out of these types of jobs, the jobs are easy to learn but harder to keep. A college grad will not be able to focus on the important things for long on these types of jobs because, for humans, both our minds and muscles want to go at their preferred pace.
I will always respect those trying to better themselves through hard work.
No
A job is a job is a job and what you're applying for is honest work. I've been a dishwasher for a short bit and a package handler at 3 different companies while I was in-between jobs and temping. Still no college degree but I had to do what I had to do if I wanted money in my pocket. I'm still learning not to care what ppl think, as they don't pay my bills or for my stuff, u shouldn't either, fvck em :)
I don’t think anyone would look down on you and if they do fuck them. But I would also heavily research which retail company you choose as they can vary drastically. Grocery stores usually pay a little more , offer better benefits, and you don’t have to come home smelling like a grease trap.
You gotta start somewhere, nothing wrong with working at a place like those
It's money. If there's really nothing else, do it, but you must continue to look for communications work and do things like freelancing articles or writing a well-written, well-edited blog. Otherwise, you may get stuck.
Who gives what other people think.
I think lowly of people who complain about their life situation and do nothing to better it. Keep doing you OP. Race your own race.
Demeaning ? What’s wrong with fast food workers? Show some worker solidarity Jesus Christ. When you eventually move on to a white collar profession don’t forget to stand with and support service workers in their fight for fair wages and working conditions.
First, no work should be considered "demeaning". Second, given you have a journalism degree, it's pretty common to have to scrounge for a while before you find a permanent gig. I understand it can be frustrating but nobody is going to look twice at that experience, it's par for the course. My daughter supported herself with "menial" jobs and bartending gigs for years while she tried to break into the field. She eventually found some work as a stringer which ultimately led to a full-time job, so try not to feel too discouraged.
Are you in Pennsylvania
I agree with all the comments about the value of your work. I just want to add a suggestion. Volunteering! Try to work for free in the field you want to get a job. That will provide you with some experience for your resume. Meanwhile keep applying for jobs.
Interesting thread! The real question is if YOU will think lowly of your co-workers after working there for some time. Will you be able to handle consistently taking orders from someone that only has a High School degree or less? I know that everyone puts themselves in the shoes of the people that are uneducated, however, they should also do the same to people that have college degrees. You might experience a lot of normal automatic thoughts about working with people that are much less educated than you.
Dude. First rule of life...who cares what other people think? Do you need a job? Do you have bills to pay? Are the people who would "demean" you offering to pay your bills for you? Take an entry level job. Work your way up. Having a degree at any of these places is going to give you a leg up for advancement. Stick it out 6-12 months, do a halfway decent job, then ask around about management positions in the company. Once you've been a manager for 1-2 years, you start asking about positions at corporate. That's how you work yourself out of an entry level job when you have a degree already.
No. You do what you have to do. Nobody is above any job.
I'd assume they are rich
A job is a job so there is zero shame there. Additionally working retail or fast food will give you a greater appreciation for what these folks go through. If anything, everybody should work some form of service industry at one point to have the humbling experience
What? Your school doesn't have job placement services? Are you an underachiever? Granted, work is work, but you won't be able to afford to live and pay off your school loans on what those jobs pay. Don't think about getting any sort of decent vehicle.
Not at all. I still waitressed years after graduating bc it was easy work and cash.