My Life

[Del Murder]

My problem is that I just don't know how to do anything. It's like, I need an instruction manual to figure out how to start a career. So many people have these great jobs that I could do, because I could do anything, but I have no idea how they got them. You have to spell everything out for me and I hate that, but that is the way it is, and no one really understands that. You guys know the feeling? I know I can always trust my friends at the Linkshell Forum.

[Miriel]

*patpat*

I really doubt that you're the only one with this problem, I know I'm always wondering how people get the jobs they have. It's especially hard here in LA when you're trying to get into an industry that's so exclusive, you can't even find the door in order to stick your foot through it.

I had to talk to so many people in order to figure out exactly what I needed to do in order to be runner on a movie set. I dislike having to rely on other people so much, and really, I should be able to get a job running back and forth without having people spell out every single step for me. Meh...

[Del Murder]

Well I don't even have an idustry I want to get into. There's too much choosing and I hate choosing. Perhaps that makes me weak, I wouldn't know.

I realized today that if I had a job I enjoyed and lived somewhere on my own I would probably be as satisfied as I could allow myself to be. The problem is that there aren't many things I enjoy, and I have no idea how to apply myself to those things or where to start even. How do you overcome cluelessness? Don't you need a clue to overcome anything?

[Miriel]

It doesn't make you weak, just indecisive.

I think once you get the ball rolling, things get easier. It's just the first few blind steps that are difficult. Go to Monster (http://www.monster.com/) and search for jobs that sparks your interest and just apply, apply, apply. You have to start somewhere, it might as well be there.

People who know exactly what they want to do in life are lucky, and also very rare. I don't see anything wrong in sampling a variety of careers until you find the one that suits you best.

[Remnant]

Bah I say!

People who know exactly what they want to do tend to be defined by that one thing. I've got a brother like that. Literally, we're in the car one day, and he says "You know what I think are really amazing? Cars." And from that point, he has been defined by cars and engineering.

I feel your pain Super Delete. I tried to be an engineer for lack of anything better to do. Hated it. Went to a university for 3 semesters and they booted me out (turns out not going to class...for weeks at a time... will do that).

I went back home, went to a community college, earned a couple associates degrees (somewhat inadvertantly while I figured out what I wanted to do), went back to a different university and majored in econ, where I was second in my class.

Now I'm in a good law school. Its hard and I have no time for anything really, but I like it. Took me forever to find something I like, but I'm glad I took the time to do it.

I guess my point is, being indecisive is not a bad thing. It just means that when you do decide, you'll probably like what you do.

As for those people with "great" jobs... some people know, or their parents know, the right people to get a cake walk job. Its lame, but its just how it works. Doesn't mean you're screwed. Just means you have to network yourself, or be your own boss. Or get really good marks at a good school so sombody throws a job at you (though, this is rare with the economy the way it is. Most good jobs come from networking, not any kind of distribution by ability. Market economy my butt.)

[Del Murder]

I got pretty good marks and nothing was thrown at me. That was the plan, actually, so when it didn't happen I found myself in this current rut without a clue. I'm one of those people with a lot of talent but no clue. People say 'network' and I don't know what the heck it means or how to do it. I'm not good with words.

Thanks for replying to my thread, guys.

[Remnant]

Candid and practical networking advice from someone who had to learn it himself:

Be apolitical in social settings, unless you know very well the opinions of those around you.

Dress conservatively- I don't mean in the political way, but your clothes start talking to people a long time before you open your mouth. If you have any fashion conscious friends, either covertly or overtly get their advice on what you are wearing, even if you are pretty confident about your choices. Though I hate to draw stereotypes of any kind, I find my girlfriend and other girls do a much better job of this than my male friends.

Remove any piercings and the like, and try not to prominently display tatoos. Again, I'm all for expression, but like it or not, these things send a message to many employers that you don't want to send.

Talk to people. More importantly, be a insanely good listener. Remember names especially.

Bring up your career interests in causal conversation, (unless it would seem plainly inappropriate of course). People get networked into jobs in really strange ways, even at high levels. Case in point- the dean of my law school was simply conversing with a person at a party he went to, and wound up getting the job when that person dropped his name later. Personally, I got to follow a lawyer around for a while as a result of just talking to a person I worked with at Target, who helped me out. I didn't think wierd breaks like that happened to me until it did.

Other little things:
Carry a pen and notepad around with you.
When you wake up in the morning, if nothing else, skim the paper, or msn news, or anything mainstream. News storys are great for innocuous conversation.
Try to smile more- not just like some insane wierdo, but a pleasant smile gives you a great psychological boost in conversations.

Actually, search the web for networking tips. I know msn news has done a few articles on job hunting that are pretty useful. Here's a good place to start:
article list (http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/MSN/CareerAdvice/JobSearch.htm)

I know this is what is called "selling out" or other such nonsense, but people who say that generally either a)have the luxury of doing so through other means b)never want to, and thus likely never will, have a carreer or c)want to, but don't want to work for it, so find fault with you.

Also, one last thing- its not one of those "instant success" kind of things. Just get used to doing it and it pays off in the end.

[Del Murder]

I despise small talk, but I guess it's a necessary evil. I've spent the majority of my life trying to eliminate it completely, so we'll see how long I go before I give back in to the beast.

This thread is out of place now.