this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2023
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Am I really gonna have to work a min wage job? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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I graduated in May with my associates degree, and sadly after applying a bit nothing, not even a reply email. I am convinced I am just unprepared for this industry, I will admit I don't have a GitHub with 1 billion contributions, and a bunch of connections. but can I seriously get nothing. I can't afford the 25K needed for my bachelors. I am honestly considering put in my applications to target or whatever and giving up.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You are unprepared for this industry because it is saturated, even moreso now that AI is considered a part of the application pool, and every employer does something that wasn't taught in your classes. The hiring process is designed to be brutal. It is what separates the engineers from the programmers, and the programmers from the script kiddies. It isn't for everyone unless you have the drive for it.

You will have to try harder if you want to get somewhere in this industry. That also means further learning, whether at university or on your own. This is a lesson I am still learning after almost 20 years. I graduated with a comp sci associates in 2008, and worked on a contract basis throughout my 20s and early 30s. I still have nothing to show for it in my late 30s, because I let every negative experience push me backwards, to the point where the career just crashed and burned, and I ended up at McDonald's. Don't make those same mistakes.

You are going to have to pay your bills in any way possible, even if that means working a "min wage job", which has absolutely no shame. You don't have to give up your dream if you work at Target. Not everything has to be an absolute. You can work at Target while working on a side project that will give you those 1 billion GitHub contributions.

Put in the work.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You will have to try harder if you want to get somewhere in this industry. That also means further learning, whether at university or on your own. This is a lesson I am still learning after almost 20 years. I graduated with a comp sci associates in 2008, and worked on a contract basis throughout my 20s and early 30s. I still have nothing to show for it in my late 30s, because I let every negative experience push me backwards, to the point where the career just crashed and burned, and I ended up at McDonald’s. Don’t make those same mistakes.

from what I am gathering from all of this, that I will likely never really work in the industry consdiering I am gonna need 3 jobs to stay a float you do realize I have little to no time. lmao

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I do understand your lack of time, you are not alone. I was hoping that my (similar educational and emotional) experience would show you that giving up and allowing hardships to move you backwards isn't the way to go. I'm not saying your goal will never happen for you. I'm saying the "finish line of success" is constantly moving, and this is a marathon and not a race. Don't let yourself get in the way of yourself. As long as your basic needs are met (housing, clothing, food) and you are making steps towards your end goal - no matter how small - you are making progress.

These are some of the things I stuck to after the burnout that kept the goal moving when working 45 hour weeks in an understaffed kitchen:

  • Too tired? Read code and update the docs. It keeps the projects fresh in my mind.
  • Too upset? Bug smashing time! The dopamine boost is amaaaazing.
  • Can't sleep because the sleep schedule is fucked up? I'm awake, instead of getting upset about that, use that energy write a function or two and then go back to bed. It doesn't have to be a whole feature. Conventional/Atomic commits are fabulous for this, especially when using git flow.
  • Woke up a little too early? Pull in some PRs and test them. Use the work day to figure out whether I want to merge them or not.
  • Leisure time is leisure time. If code feels like leisure, do it.

Obviously, the above may not work for you, it only serves as an example of how to redirect your feelings and reality to be a little more productive, to get closer to your goal. Your methods may be different.

My perception of you (going by posts on here and Mastodon) is that you have the passion that is required to succeed, and lack the self-confidence and determination to really go for it. The determination is the most important part because with enough determination, you are the one in the driver's seat. Use your passion to reinforce your determination. In time, the results of your determination will reinforce the self-confidence.

You can do it, you just need to believe in yourself. If it helps, I believe in you too. Big hugs to you, sis. You've go this.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't even think I'll have time for any of this between a few min wage jobs

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

What exactly do you want to hear? Are you hoping someone on here is just gonna offer you a job because of this sob post and your winning personality? People have given you lots of advice and your only response has been "but if I'm working for minimum wage I won't have time, waaaaa". Like do you even have one minimum wage job yet? If not, what are you doing with your time right now? Stop imagining some future where you're working 3 jobs and start doing some shit to better your situation. Or don't, because capitalism fucks everyone over and someone has to lose big. If you're certain it's going to be you then it probably is.