I have to admit something to you all. I am TOTALLY jealous of the Millennial generation. Not only because I’d love to relive my youth… (Oh come on, you all know you want to relive your youth. You can’t lie to me! :)) And certainly not because when they do stupid things, it’s all online forever. I am extremely glad that the stupid things I did will never see the light of day again.
No, the reason I’m jealous is because of the opportunities they have, just starting out in their careers! I graduated high school in 1991 and college in 1994. It was probably within that previous decade, when you got into a job, you were there. You couldn’t easily move into another position without hands on experience. Companies didn’t want to train you for new skill sets if you wanted to move on into the field you got your degree in. While I was in college, as all college students do, I wanted some spending money, so, I had to get a job.
I fell into a Customer Service job at a bank. Not because it’s what I wanted to do. When I got out of college with my shiny new degree, you know what? I COULDN’T USE IT! All because I had that Customer Service job on my resume. My degree was in Office Administration. But, because I didn’t have the hands on experience, offices did not want to hire me and take the time to train me. They started requiring hands on experience to be hired for a position.
How I felt when I was stuck
Here’s a tip. Unless Customer Service is something you want to do for the rest of your life, or, you want to move up through the ranks within the financial industry, I recommend that you start off as an intern in your field and work your way up into a paid position. IF you are financially able to do so of course. Now, if you’re going to college for something that you have a higher chance of getting into that field after you get your degree, you may be okay getting this type of job.
I tell my son all the time, having telephone Customer Service on your resume is a black hole you will never crawl out of. I’m 43 years old and it took me 24 years to get out of the field. I had a couple of jobs in an office that weren’t phone jobs, but, those only lasted a few months. Primarily because the company decided they didn’t want to train me properly to be successful at the position. During my 20’s and 30’s, companies weren’t willing to take a chance.
This generation isn’t settling for what we may have had to. They are going after what they want and have the expectation that they will get it. I believe this is one of the reasons that the tide is turning and companies are more willing to train the next workforce. They have more opportunities for internships during high school and college to gain the necessary skills to do the job they want to do. There are so many opportunities for this group to explore not only their chosen profession but, if they decide they don’t want someone else to call the shots in their career, entrepreneurship is becoming a more desirable option. With the resources that are readily available to us now, they can be quite successful at it.
But there is the misconception that the Millennial generation is lazy. In all honesty? It’s a myth and unfair to this generation. I think they are doing what they should be doing. Exploring their options to decide what they want out of life. What every generation should do, instead of settling.
My son wants to work for himself and become a psychologist. He has so many dreams that I know he will be successful and not settle. The reason I’ve finally stepped out of my comfort zone and took a chance on a job I’ve never had in the technical writing field. He is my inspiration in writing and publishing my first book and writing my second book. I want him to see that I chose not to settle. I want him to see that I made the choice to be happy in my life and what I’m doing. You can read about my dream finally becoming a reality. Now I have to take my dream and make something of it.
We should always feel satisfied with our jobs.
We all need to take a page from their book and not settle. To take back what our ancestors had and now what our decedents have and make our futures what we want them to be. Not what we have to settle for. Do the scariest thing we will ever do and step into that unknown.
I think it is important to not settle but do something that you love. If you are doing something that doesn’t make you happy it will affect your work and you in the long run. That being said I am sorry that your customer service put you in a black hole. I did not experience that and moved from customer service into the medical management field very easy back in the day.
I refused to settle and I taught my children to work for themselves (if possible) instead of making someone else rich. My oldest daughter took my advice and now owns a very successful business.
I agree with you, not settling is very important and something that needs to be talked about more.
I think settling is the worst disservice we can ever do to ourselves. When I finally stopped settling, my life got so much better.
I LOVE this post because quite often I hear that opposite – that we need to learn to settle because it’s whatever everyone else has done in the past. I definitely live in a generation of dreamers and believers and I absolutely love it.
I was in that customer service black hole for 15 years! I know exactly what you mean. When I finally left, it wasn’t to go to another field. It was to stay home with my kids. While home, I ended up building my dream job but I would never have been able to do it while still on the phones. I settled for many years because we needed the stability of my job. Thank you for reminding me to tell me kids never to get into the customer service black hole!
I couldn’t agree more! I try to teach my kids to go for what they want, always! There is no point in struggling and hating what you do. If you’re going to work hard you might as well be working towards something you love! I try to teach my kids this by allowing them to see me work on my own business and have them help me along the way. They’re very aware of how many hours I work but they also know Im in control and I love what I do.
I think what should have been the scariest decision was leaving my great paying job to come home to be a work from home Mom. I just up and left. Made the choice and ran with it. Never looking back. I don’t recall being scared, but I should have been 😉 LOL Years later my Mom confessed to me that she thought I was insane doing it, but now she couldn’t be more proud.
I have to agree with all of this!! I love my husband and I were able to build a business that allows us to be home with our kids all the time!
I do agree that you don’t need to settle, but I when hiring someone you look for stability, not a jumper. I tell anyone if you want to do something else, get a part time job in that field/internship, go back to school get and get certifications. Stability with education works, but jumping all over the place make you look like a risk hire.
This is great! People definitely shouldn’t have to settle. It’s great seeing young people starting their own businesses and finding jobs they actually like.
It’s so important not to settle with your job. You should always try to find a way to do what you love.
Working from home. It is hard to put all your eggs in one basket. However, I am doing pretty well with it!
I agree it is important not to settle as well. However, as a millennial, I know a lot of motivated millennials who are having trouble getting good paying jobs now that they have their degree.
love this blog! it is so important to not settle just because things are hard! hard lesson to learn, but the rewards are great!
I think if I were to settle I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am today. It’s so important to me to stay true to myself, and teach my kids that settling isn’t an option!
This is a great topic. I agree that we shouldn’t settle to anything, it’s easy to do so since we are basically taught that way. It’s about refusing to do the norm.
BB also worked the Customer Service field- for over 10 years. Totally agree that it’s a tough hole to get out off, but by the same token, there are always companies looking for employees in that department! As for millennials, si, they are the generation with dreams of selfmade riches, but they’re also the generation that is glued to electronics and relates better onscreen than in person. No amiga, let this Baby Boomer assure you, she likes the old folks she talks to and the vieja she’s become.
Glad you’re living up to your dreams and that you’ve encouraged your hija to not wait to go after hers. BB2U
I refuse to settle if it’s a job I want to guarantee you I will do whatever I can in my power to get it. I’m hoping I can instill that in my child.
This is such a great post!! I hope no one ever settles for anything less than they deserve!!
Awesome post and really great advice. I graduated High School in 1996 and thankfully when I walked away from College with my hard earned degree I was in a position I started with as an intern. It definitely helped me move past my childhood job in retail and into the fields I studied in.
It’s so important to search for something that you can fully commit to. Something that doesn’t feel like settling, love these tips!
I’m a Gen X and I think we are on the cusp of what was before us and the millennials. We are like the best of both worlds. I’ve worked in an office since I was 15 years old.
When I wanted to do something different I started own, now I’m happier than ever working a 9 to 5 and my dream.
Congrats on finding your happy.
I graduated from college in 1993 with a degree in Special Education. However now at the age of 44 I am a nurse. My advice, really think about what you would love to do, not just what everyone says you would be good at.