Hey, I'm back...and would like some advice or opinions about what I'm going to write here. Contructive criticism is fine but no flame. ^^;

I just graduated...with an 80 grand dept on my head and nothing lined up. On top of that, I dont even know what I want to do. ...I do want to move to Japan eventually but I don't want to make that move yet.

I'm an art major...yes, painting, drawing, etc.. It was the only thing that actualy truly interested me in college. I lived day to day in terms of academics and didn't really thought of a career. I've been trying to think of careers, but there's really not much I can picture myself in. I've been applying to entry level jobs on monster.. This past semester I applied to museum internships, but haven't got any.

I want to do the Americorps next year to gain skills/experience, something I don't have. Till then, I've been trying to find retail store or food service positions to hold me till then. I'm an extremely shy/quiet girl who developed a stuttering problem during interviews so no one wants to hire me. It really crush my self esteem that I have never been offered a job (even a McDonalds one) all my life (I've tried) besides one small tutoring position I had in school. Right now, I'm even considering welfare until the Americoprs (if I get in) or some other random job.

Congrats Miss W on your graduation. Have you considered besides entry level jobs these other options.

1)Internships-Sadly most of these are no pay.
1a)volunteer for a couple of months such as a local hosptial libabry or day care center. Indirectly doing a 'volunteer' at a mentally retarded day school got me my first job in high school.

2)Peace Corps.

3)going to a trade or speciality business college or school to get a skill. Nursing jobs ie Nursing Aides and entry level Health Care jobs is one of the very few jobs right now, hiring college grads right now after trainning.

As far as 'welfare' or any 'government' assist programs, if you have no other options ie asking your family for help then go for it. The GOP money hungry party since the Reagan era of 1980's made it socially uncool to be on it.

Personally as long as you not on it(government aide)for long term ie more than a few years and you need it go ahead and apply. All of us in America as Taxpayers pay for 'crisis' like this. The clients imo who abuse the 'welfare system' (and give a bad repution to everyone else who really need it) are those who are 'able bodied' and are offered help to support themselves after a period of financial help. ie going to college or job trainning programs.

Welfare reforms and revised rules signed by President Clinton and Congress over 10 years was needed and has saved taxpayers billions. It should never go away but methods to prevent abuse and fraud are needed.

Better to be on 'welfare' for a short period than being hungry or on the streets imo.

This is touch n go....you do what is bestfor you, no one is gonna know what's best for you other than yourself.....this is survival of the fittest, especially in today's society, so you go ahead and do you by any means necessary

Congratulations! I'm really shy too. But I've learned that shyness doesn't get me what I want in life. Be confident!

Welcome back and congrats on graduating from college.

Probably try a few different jobs or so, and maybe you may find something you want a careeer in....

Congrats!

The saying goes "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." Truer words were never spoken. If art is your passion, keep on doing it.

Every industry has jobs that the average person has never heard of. The key is to become an insider and find out. Go to your professors at school and find out where the jobs are in art. Consider starting your own business; every industry needs artists at some point.

As for interviews, people want to see passion in their chosen field. Passion breeds confidence. When we're excited about something, it becomes contagious. I'm reminded of Madonna when she first started out. She came to New York penniless, scraped a few bucks to record a few songs, hounded the radio stations and clubs to play her material and got her big break.

In the meantime, consider internships or volunteer your time teaching art to youngsters if summer programs or seniors in nursing homes. It will keep you sharp and be a feather in your cap in your resume.

Welcome back and congratulations on graduating, Miss W Supporter!

Thanks guys for the congrates and advice! ^_^

(MalcolmXEinstein) I have consider these. I applied to some internships this past spring but no luck. I was pretty close to getting one at a gallery, but something bad and very personal happened, so I didn't go through with it. Any searching was on hault for most of May and June, but I'm starting to try again. Since internships are pretty much filled for the summer, I'd have to try for the fall. My one single parent wouldn't be to please about that...that and the loans. I might have to do welfare if I do an internship. My whole family wants me to get a real job, not an internship or volunteer.. Volunteer would be harder to do since its not validated as a job like an internship is. I would have to ask for train fare and lunch money..

I've considered Peace Corps too, but I'm not ready to take that leap yet. I want to do Peace Corps later in my life, when I'm stronger. I rather do Americorps now, which is still in the US, among familier surroundings. Right now, I'm a bit scared of the prospect of being put in some remote place...

I have absolutely no interest in health field ^^;; or most trades/careers. Plus, I don't want to rack up more loans.

I don't like the welfare abusers either, xD. I just see it more as a leg up until you get a job. I don't think I qualify though since I still live with a parent. If I do it, I might have to move out through sec. 8 program. It looks pretty complicated. I just don't want to be a leech or a deadbeat live at home adult child...that and I've been told alot to get a job.

(B13 Spring Crk Gateway Mall) I think so too, but I feel like maybe the answer is in some advice. My major and interests are very unique (art, Japan, trains, dogs, etc) for a young adult and I never really truly picture myself in a career so I have a lot of researching to do.

(RokuSix) Roku is six in Japanese, xD. Yeah, I'm painfully shy, but its really hard to break out of it. I might need to go to therapy..but I need medicaid or some health insurance to do that. I don't think I qualify for medicaid since I live at home and I can't get health insurance till I get a job, but I need some help with my shyness to get a job. : / And my shyness is pretty pretty bad; I have one good friend, a few aquantences, not much people really noticed me in school, I never dated, I was told I was too quiet for my own good, etc, etc. (sorry for that little rant, xD)

(219) Yeah, I have applied to some various things, but I do feel that many things aren't for me and my personality and interest. It's really hard to get my attention. Usually the things that do are very offbeat and eccentric.

(Sam) I'll keep doing art. ^^ As for the jobs the avg. person hasn't heard of, I would need to do alot of research. I'm really bad at finding those kinds of things.. Usually when I find a job that's remotely interesting, five million other ppl have applied... I only notice the obvious things, like the flyer in the streets about American Apparel hiring or the graphic artist position on Whole Foods website. : / But I'll try.

You're right about interviews. There are very few mainstream things I am remotely interested in. Very very few and I'm sure ppl sense this on top of the shyness during an interview. I'm a very offbeat oddball, who doesn't give two cents about most careers most ppl are passionate about, who laughs at strange things not many find funny, who doesn't laugh at things everyone finds funny, studied train maps in 2nd grade, sat quietly in a corner to draw anime in high school..yeah, pretty weird. ^^ I wouldn't mind working for a gallery, other art company, anime/manga company, Japanese company..or even drive a train (but I rather go to Japan through the Jet teacher assistant program in a few years) and they rather see me with experience with kids or other high level kind of job (I just might need to do volunteer with kids).

That's because it IS uncool to be on welfare! I am certainly not trying to denigrate those people who are in desperate need of some support for a very very brief time while they look for work, but an enormous number of people who are receiving government assistance choose not to get a job because they consider the few job opportunities they have too "undesirable". Many people think that cleaning toilets or picking up garbage off the floor of a subway station or working in the back of a fast food restaurant are too below them, so they seek government assistance instead of just sucking it up and doing a job.

Miss W Supporter, I know it is very difficult not to be stressed out when you are jobless, especially in this economy, but there are things out there.

My advice is... right now, take what ever you can get and work on your art on the side. The fact is that the more work experience you have (in what ever field it is and no matter how much skill it requires), the more doors will open. And at the same time, you can start putting away some money for the future.

Good luck. The world needs more offbeat oddballs like you

I see...but what if you have a college degree. I don't think someone with a college/post college degree would want to clean toilets and the like, xD..and when they go to a real job, they have alot of explaining to do about what they did and how it applies to this job.

But I understand in applying with anything. I've been doing that so far..

but I feel like people can see right through me; I'm not passionate enough, this isn't my trade (e.g. business or math related instead of art), lack of working skills. Oh well, I'll keep trying.

This is another thing thats only a little related. It's more of an extention of my first post. Sorry, guys for any rants. I just want to write down whats on my mind. I feel like most jobs I see posted are for extraverts, not quiet, keep to myself, people like me. It's kind of fustraiting when you look at qualifications for a specific job, think its alright, until you see "strong communication skills" and "people person" listed. What if you're the complete opposite of those? I think a problem in todays economy or whatever is that the jobs with the most opening are sales and marketing...and other people oriented jobs...it looks like Darwin's Theory, the weak, in this case, the quiet, shy, or loner, is the last to get jobs or no job at all.

Many people, including teachers/professors have told me I should be a teacher for many reasons; I'm softspoken and gentle, my major is art (so the most logical thing to them is be a teacher), I don't like the corporate world...besides it seems like the only way of entering Japan is through the assistant teacher program (since immagration is strict)...but I feel I'm not ready for such a thing. I'm not someone of many words..I don't say much. ^^; ...plus, I know this is redundent, I feel shy/awkward controlling a bunch of kids, I'm not an assertive bossy person. If I do want to get to Japan though I really have to work on this.

This just came to mind; some of you guys are probably wondering how doesn't a college graduate not have working skills...well, since I turned 16 I've tried to find part time/summer work, but was never offered. On top of that, sorry for redunancy, I kept to myself and was too scared to get a leadership position, whether through a school club or whatever. Again, sorry for the rant/redundancy, but I just wanted to explain everything.

WHAT?!? This logic is baffling to me for two reasons.

1. I don't care whether you are a high school dropout, have a bachelor's, a master's, or a doctorate... YOU NEED TO WORK TO SUPPORT YOURSELF. If you can't find a job that you like, then you cannot just sit back and ask the government to support you, leeching off of taxpayers. How can you possibly say that is not OK for a college graduate to clean toilets, but it is OK for them to do NOTHING and collect a welfare check?

2. I don't understand your statement that someone who cleaned toilets for a living would have a lot of explaining to do when they get a real job. Why do you think an employee would be more likely to hire someone who sat around doing nothing and collecting welfare over someone who actually worked (even if it was menial tasks, like cleaning toilets)?

The fact is that potential employers want to see work history. Someone is much more likely to hire you if you've cleaned toilets for a living than if you have a blank resume. Why? Because being steady employed (in any job, professional or unskilled labor) shows that you are motivated, are willing to do what is necessary at first with the hope of moving up the ladder, and probably most important -- it shows that you can show up to work everyday and get there on time (you would be surprised how many people lack this essential skill).

Miss W Supporter -- here is some advice.

First, I must say that teaching is one of the most rewarding careers that I can think of. I can't tell you how many of my friends hate or even mildly dislike their jobs... but I love my job and can't see doing anything else besides teaching. Contrary to popular belief, teachers do not have to be assertive/bossy in their personal lives. Many of my colleagues, including me, are shy and quiet people outside of school, but in the classroom we are very assertive, outgoing, and in complete control.

Second, I notice that you say you don't feel like you are ready to teach. Then my best advice would be... don't go into teaching until you are ready. Teaching (especially towards the beginning of your career) is extremely demanding. Most first year teachers barely have any time to themselves with all the lesson planning, papers to grade, etc.

Shh! Everyone will realize how redundant my username is! D: I was really shy too, and on top of that I had no confidence whatsoever. I bet, though, that if you find a really great opportunity that you're perfect for, you won't be shy anymore! I guess it's a lot to say to throw yourself out there, but that can work...

I'm shy too...I'm not that shy anymore,but it's still there.in 3rd grade,There were kids in my school though I couldn't talk at all.Then one of my class mates in high school make a comment I'm going to be like that Asian guy who went crazy in VA tech,and I was like ok...

I understand what you mean about them wanting to see work history. I personally always felt that they would see menial tasks and welfare the same..assuming you actually did something (internship/volunteer) while on public aid. But I get it, its bad leeching off of tax payers..and to me, its also bad leeching off of parents.

About doing menial tasks though, I have mentioned before that I couldn't get a job in fastfood/grocery/retail. Don't know why...I've been trying, but I don't think people in those places like my personality. I've had some be rude to me before.. I'm still trying since I do want an internship (I'll try to work around the hours) and do other fun things, its just so fustraiting.

You made me feel a little better about the teaching. I am waiting a while though, like you said, since I do need to build more self confidence before teaching. This was one reason why I put off the Japanese assistant teaching application last semester.

(RokuSix) ok, I get it, xD. Yeah, that's me now..hope I grow out of it. And hope I find that perfect job/career. ^^ That would help.

(Bjc) I understand how it feels when someone say something demeaning like that. I've had awful things said to me up and into college, which didn't help my confidence any and made me more shy.