Well guys, I made a post a while back about woman troubles... well we are done. She went her way and I went mine. I'm sad about it, but it's probably for the best. I have already met another girl, and while we may not be "together" we are already pretty good friends and she's let me see (probably without even knowing it) that there is more to life than a bad relationship and a low paying Job at The Home Depot.

So here goes.

I need some more advice. I know a lot of you guys are older than me, and financially stable and living life. Some are very wealthy, some are comfortable. I want to do the same thing. I want to have enough money left over after my bills so that I can have some to put away, work on my Chevelle, go somewhere on a whim... whatever. I've been at The Home Depot for 5 years, and I'm absolutely SICK of it. My ex works there too so that doesn't help any. All around I just hate my job, and where I am at this point in my life. I'm 25 years old and should be doing things, not spinning my wheels. I am sort of seeing this new Girl who is 26, a computer programmer and is making good money. Light bulb! Why shouldn't I make good money. It's out there! I want to make good money. I absolutely hate my job. I hate going in, I hate it, I hate it and it is going to lead me no where. I would like a set schedule. Some thing like 8-5 m-f. I'm tired of having to work until midnight one day and having to be at work at 5 am other days and being tired/grumpy all the time. Like I said, I've been there for 5 years and have been passed up time and time again for a promotion, and that is probably a good thing b/c it is causing me to move on. I absolutely have to stay at home depot for atleast part time until Jan 22 09 due to the fact that I have about 1000 dollars remaining to pay back from a 401K loan I took to pay for tuition in 07.

So here I sit, single, ready to make the most of my life.

I have approximately 2 years of school left (University of Kentucky) where I am majoring in Math Economics with a minor in Business Management. I'd like to get my foot in the door somewhere that I can go places. Perhaps the university, the state? Or even with one of my Dad's friends at an investment firms or even manage a bank. I enjoy a lot of different things, that's why I'm not set on one thing. I'm very good any anything that I set my mind to and I'm ready to grow up and get on with it.

I need to do the following....

Get a Good Resume made up.
Start looking.
Get my foot in the door.
Graduate.
Move out of my parents house.
Move on with my life.

So, Members of team Chevelle. Help me get on with my life. I am overwhelmed with the fact that I am fast becoming a failure. What would you guys suggest I do with regards to finding my dream job?

Feel free to ask any questions and thank you a ton for the time you've taken to read this.

The "foot in the door" places you mentioned are great places to start. Get a good resume going and start handing it out. In the mean time, transfer to another store and change jobs all togetyher but most importantly finish your education. 2 years will go by fast and then the money will start coming in.

First and foremost, you are 25, going to school, and holding a job, neither one equates to becoming a failure.
Be thankful you have the opportunity to go to college. I went to a trade school, which for me was the best thing at the time. In my trade there is always demand, align yourself into such a position with the schooling you receive.
Secondly, as far as I have seen and experienced in todays world, YOU SPEND WHAT YOU MAKE. Regardless of annual income, I have found that most people today spend and live at levels equal to or above their income level. This is whether you make $300k/yr or $50k/yr. Society has everyone believing they have to keep up with the Jones's at whatever income level the Jones's are at. This is a bad formula, but like I said, many of us live it. The savings accounts our fathers had are non-existent today. If you can't afford it, charge it and pay later. Don't get caught in this trap.
There are three things I guaranteed my wife when we married 16 yrs ago. I will always provide food, shelter, and clothing, anything else is gravy. Live within your means and you may be able to get the extras as time goes on. There is no such thing as a dream job straight out of school. Hard work and time in that service will get you the things you want. These are things you are not ENTITLED TO, they are earned. Stop looking for the goose with the golden egg and be patient, do your time and success will come to those that really apply themselves. The way you set yourself up now will determine your future success.
Rob

Only you know what you really want to do.
Do it because youre good at it and enjoy it, the money will come. Pick something strictly for the money and youllbe starting an "Im not happy thread one day."

Dont compare your insides to everyones outsides...Most are faking it anyway.

Good luck man.

Sounds like you already know what you want and how to get it. Your way ahead of most 25yo's I know.

How about $15k signing bonus for being part time Air Guard? I expect there is money for school on top of that.
Not sure how far these guys are from you:

http://www.123aw.ang.af.mil/

Lots of opportunities right now and not all of them involve spending time in the sandbox if that is a concern. I have been a part-timer since 1991 and enjoy the heck out of it most of the time. I have been to some cool and not so cool places as a maintainer and wouldn't trade the experience for anything. It isn't for everyone but it might be something to checkout if you like planes. There might even be some finance jobs you could check into that might give you a leg up in the civilian world. My vet background is what keeps me employed. I am not rich by any means but I think I am doing okay. :)The extra cushion of a retirement that starts at 60 won't bother me either :)

Another option might be a commision after joining and getting your degree. Good management experience. I know most of the officers I have worked with are successful on the outside.

I am 56 and I will give you my life changing moment. Will make it as short as possible.

Came back into our family business at 24 and after getting back on my feet from a divorce it became apparent I would have everything I want if I was willing to work hard enough for it. Well I busted my ass and worked just about as hard getting rid of it on material things that were a lot of fun but now are such a waste. I went against all my parents advice on saving and now see the error in my ways. The store provided a crutch against failure and did not let me develop discilpline. I have had a great life and am still living it but wish I had planned better.

At Christmas in 1998 one of my oldest friends, Robert Malone, Chairman BP America, was home and we were shooting the * and I was going on and on about his rise in business and the success he was attaining. He stopped me abruptly and cut me off cold and said......John T. I do not want to hear this anymore from you as you do not realize how many people in my position want to be you. You do not wear a watch, there is no calendar in this office and you are not fazed by the things you cannot control. I have made a lot of money and will make even more but there is no where I can take all of it and buy the look in your eyes and wake up in the morning as happy as you are. You are putting too much emphasis on money and success as the keys to being happy. I would take a look at what you have and try to realize there are a lot of rich people who are not as wealthy as you are.

As the song goes I was left "Dazed and Confused". As you are learning there is no more important piece of the puzzle than a good woman. Being married to one of the greatest ones God created for 31 years has allowed me everything I have. She and the ones like her allow pretty good ole boys to grow up and be great men.

My advice to you is to start developing the one key ingredient that is always missing in people at your age .....Patience. Next take a good hard look at who you truly are and develop goals to become the man you want to be. If these goals are centered around money and material things you will probably fail miserably.

The one the thing I commend you on is the ability to recognize the need for adjustment. Most of the guys my age and older will tell you it takes too long in life to realize that most of the things you feel important the first half of your life do not mean diddley squat the last half.

Good Luck.

Sounds to me that you have a plan and don't even realize it. And a good one at that.
One bit of advice I can offer you is one of the secrets to having money is to live below your means.

You're 25 and still living off your parents?? Well, at least you're going to college. Get some career planning assistance from the school, they have lots of resources there that you're already paying for. One word, internship. Find one.:thumbsup:

First and foremost, you are 25, going to school, and holding a job, neither one equates to becoming a failure.
Be thankful you have the opportunity to go to college. I went to a trade school, which for me was the best thing at the time. In my trade there is always demand, align yourself into such a position with the schooling you receive.
Secondly, as far as I have seen and experienced in todays world, YOU SPEND WHAT YOU MAKE. Regardless of annual income, I have found that most people today spend and live at levels equal to or above their income level. This is whether you make $300k/yr or $50k/yr. Society has everyone believing they have to keep up with the Jones's at whatever income level the Jones's are at. This is a bad formula, but like I said, many of us live it. The savings accounts our fathers had are non-existent today. If you can't afford it, charge it and pay later. Don't get caught in this trap.
There are three things I guaranteed my wife when we married 16 yrs ago. I will always provide food, shelter, and clothing, anything else is gravy. Live within your means and you may be able to get the extras as time goes on. There is no such thing as a dream job straight out of school. Hard work and time in that service will get you the things you want. These are things you are not ENTITLED TO, they are earned. Stop looking for the goose with the golden egg and be patient, do your time and success will come to those that really apply themselves. The way you set yourself up now will determine your future success.
Rob

Sounds like solid advise to me :yes::thumbsup:

A wise man once said, get a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life. You have time. Make sure when you jump, you'll land where you want to. Think it all through carefully before you make each decision. I think the transfer to another store idea is a good one. Get away from your past so it can't interfere with your future.

One bit of advice I can offer you is one of the secrets to having money is to live below your means.

This, and finish college, is the best advice you will ever get.

Something to keep in mind as you look ahead - You don' thave to love your job - Very few people get a job which is their lifes passion and many people, including myself, work in jobs that are simply a means to an end.

Figure out what you love to do and then see if you can make a living at it. If not, figure out what you're good at and decide if you can spend the next 35 years doing it as a way to pay for what you love doin.

And don't spend too much time focusing onhow to make $ - I kn owa lot of people making big money who hate their jobs or don't have the time to enjoy their paychecks because they're working all the time

Get your degree, get your degree, and - oh, get your degree.

Kudos to you for realizing where you are and where you want to be. Understanding your situation, goals, and for acknowledging that your preference is to associate with individuals who have their act together, as your new friend has shown you. Face it; from your brief description of your new friend you rather like that she is self sufficient, that she has her act together. I'm guessing that's pretty attractive to you.

Finish school by any means possible. For the type of work you want to do, you likely will not even get your foot in anyone's door without a degree. If you did manage that some how, you would then focus on work and put your degree aside again. Since you are at home perhaps your parents will agree to you working part time and go to school full time - share the story in your first post with them. Put the car toys away; they are a time and financial distraction and therefore will not do anything to move you in the direction you want to go. Going into one of the services is an option if no other options exist and I would suggest it if you were younger and had no amount of higher education.

Cold, hard, fact is - almost without exception, companies want employees with a degree. At the very least, possession of a degree shows two things; that you have more education and, more importantly, that you possess the drive to finish a long term "project". If you do not agree that finishing school is important, take an hour or so searching for positions in "business management" and see what the minimum requirements are.

Get your degree. A degree IS your foot in the door. Not your charming personality, not your well written resume. I will tell you that the first "sort" that resumes go through is based on education. No degree, bottom of the pile.

Yes-yes, there are some exceptions and some folks here can likely attest to them. I respectfully submit to you that they are exactly that though - exceptions. You might choose to bank on the notion that there are exceptions and wait until one happens, or you can be proactive and dramatically increase the odds that you'll get a foot in the door by getting your degree.

This is my world. I don't even care from what school the degree is from, and a recent report on the subject confirms that a 4 year degree from a community college is almost always as valuable as that from a more prestigious university. I do prefer the degree be in a field of study that is similar to the position the person is applying for, unless the position is very entry level. You might be able to land an entry level position, you might even work your way up a bit, but without a degree you will stall.

Get your degree. Does not matter much how you do it. Use whatever resources you have. Parents, other family, sell your non-essentials to pay for it. Student loans if absolutely necessary. Government grants. Trade 4 years of military service for a degree (BTW, individuals with both a degree AND military services are highly regarded).

Pull out all the stops on this, because having a degree will more than likely dictate how you live the rest of your life and, as bad as this may sound, with whom you associate.

Get your degree.

Dan

:thumbsup:A wise man once said, get a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life. You have time. Make sure when you jump, you'll land where you want to. Think it all through carefully before you make each decision. I think the transfer to another store idea is a good one. Get away from your past so it can't interfere with your future.

Got that right.... I come home everyday from work and have zero stress, while my significant other comes home everyday and must vent for two hours before she is done with work for the day.

You're 25 and still living off your parents?? Well, at least you're going to college. Get some career planning assistance from the school, they have lots of resources there that you're already paying for. One word, internship. Find one.

Hell, I would still be living on my parents if they would let me, I'd be driving a new charger! An Internship, Applied Study Term, is definately a good thing to do. I did this as well, It was an Applied Study Term, I worked as an intern for a state office, and earned 4 credit hours for school. Not to mention made an impression, and came away with three letters of recommendation. A year later, I was hired on as a temp where I am at now.. 6 Months after that, I became full time permanent employee... The internship gave me the work experience, and the letters of recommendation sealed the deal. :thumbsup:

At the University I went to they also have what was called GPSY, Which was for graduate students, you either work as a Graduate Assistant or as an Intern for a local company specializing in your field, In return you get paid, plus 2 semester of tuition paid.:thumbsup:

As for the money, When I started here my income doubled, and then I got the mortgage, now I am living worse than I was before the mortgage, but at least I have a garage for the Chevelle to rot in. :thumbsup:

Prior to getting a job in my field, I worked building mattress for 5 years, destroyed clothes, bled daily, no a/c..... Couldn't stand it.... I'm thankful for having had that job, and even happier to have been able to tell the foreman and owner's son to "Eat A......" when I left. l:)

You'll get there.. you are actually pretty darn close... it's one of those bare and grin it deals...

At mid life, many grown men sit back, look back on their life and wonder what you could have done better, what opportunities you may have passed on and if the women in your life might have turned out differently.

When you are 80 years old, will you be sitting in a lawn chair wondering what you could have done? Or, will you be fullfilled to what you have done?

Keep this mind right now, as you have your entire life in front of you. You are driving and the most important decisions that you will make in your lifetime are coming up ahead quickly. Think long and hard before making rash decisions. Make a plan (like you are) be patient (as said) and be absolutely certain when it comes to finding the one and only special person you will want to spend the rest of your life with. I know some guys in their 20's that have shopped for a wife in all the wrong places, like a strip club or a bar. Turned out to be a REALLY bad decision for them even though it was fun at first. On the other hand, a few young guys I know have met absolutely fantastic girls in church and on-line through a professional service. Be careful which head you make choices with, even if it's for a few hours or less.

I will leave you with a few quotes:

There are no ordinary moments
There are no accidents or coincidents in life
You have been gifted - find out what they are and use them
When you give, you recieve ten times in return
Money isn't everything

As was said before, you are far from failure. You are on a path and may not be in a place you like and that means it's time to change course. Just be sure as to where you're heading.

Just work, keep your wallet out of a womans reach and youll have everyting you ever wanted. Cakewalk, man. :D

1. Change your outlook. I went back to college at age 24 with a wife and kid. Lots of hot dogs and noodles but got my degree. You are young and willing to change, lots of people have fear of change and end up in jobs they hate.
2. Your math and business degrees will give you flexibility that a lot of people graduating do not have. Nationally math skills are at an all time low (witness the number of people that did not understand the simple functions of loan interest). My daughter wanted to be a number of things growing up, but they all paid low. I told her to get a degree in business (she ended up with dual degree in accounting and business admin) so she could own the companies she was interested in. It worked out pretty good, she as been high level accountant in national company, owned her own company constructing car wash facilities and was the controller is a large construction company. Pretty diverse for someone under 30!
3. Do some research, there is plenty of information on the high paying jobs that need or will need workers. Also, your education should give you insight on finding under-performing companies that you could manage or even get backing to own. I know a bunch of accountants that now run HVAC, data wiring and other companies that they were able to get cheap and turn around.
4. Start networking through your college placement and alumni associations to find opportunities. If you business school offers it work in the intern development program or if they have one, small business help center. Both give you experience and access to companies and opportunities. Work your Dad's connections.
5. Write down a list of goals and a bucket list. Treat your future like a new company, do a "business" plan using SWOT techniques. Identify your strengths, etc.

Good luck. Patrick

My advice...

Remember your commitment to a better life will take some (probably many) sacrifices.

Don't let anyone talk you into spending your money, commiting to something (marriage, home, etc) until YOU are ready. Girl friends can be lots of fun, but don't let them stand in your way of your goals. Just make sure any girls you date are aware of you educational goals.

You might need to put the toys aside, or even (gasp) sell the Chevelle (With high gas prices, and decent values, now might be the time to consider selling anyway), and using that money to "invest" in your education, maybe allowing you some money to get an "internship" or volunteer in a field you like, rather than working a meanial job. Or maybe just use that free time to study more. Maybe even forego any real vacations/trips, fancy stuff (stereo, TV, fancy cell phone), bars, etc for a few years...

No one situation/person is exactly the same, but the quickest way to a stable future is planning and perseverence now...


IMO, by really setting a strict budget, it will not only help you get through school, but it will get you used to saving, and therefore be a benefit for the future...

In my mid-to-late-20's, I used to spend alot, had high CC balances, spent alot on my Chevelles and lived pretty "well" even while in college. I worked part-time and lived with my mom (cheap rent). But I was beginning to run out of money, and started getting student loans. Luckily, I met my wife, who was very frugal. She turned me around (but not overnight). About 5-years after graduating, I was debt-free (except a mortgage)... Now I can afford lots of nice stuff, of course I usually don't get anything, because I tend to think more before purchasing. I can afford to do anything to my Chevelle, but I tend to "think" more before spending...

Stay single until you're finished with your education, have a good paying job, no debt and you're back on your feet.
There, I said it. :)

Respectfully,
John R.

Like Big D says, the University most likely has employment contacts. Companies looking for resources very often go to the local colleges. Even if it is an internship or and entry level thing where the pay stinks, TAKE IT AND MAKE IT YOUR MISSION TO IMPRESS THEM. That's the foot in the door! Some will even help pay for your college tuition. That's how I got my foot in the door at the investment firm I am at.....18 years ago! :thumbsup:

First and foremost, you are 25, going to school, and holding a job, neither one equates to becoming a failure.
Be thankful you have the opportunity to go to college. I went to a trade school, which for me was the best thing at the time. In my trade there is always demand, align yourself into such a position with the schooling you receive.
Secondly, as far as I have seen and experienced in todays world, YOU SPEND WHAT YOU MAKE. Regardless of annual income, I have found that most people today spend and live at levels equal to or above their income level. This is whether you make $300k/yr or $50k/yr. Society has everyone believing they have to keep up with the Jones's at whatever income level the Jones's are at. This is a bad formula, but like I said, many of us live it. The savings accounts our fathers had are non-existent today. If you can't afford it, charge it and pay later. Don't get caught in this trap.


Very true! One big thing is don't fall into that credit card trap. I keep doing that myself. This time getting parts for my Chevelle, :clonk:. When I was your age, I had a 1 year old son, and I was working construction. Never had the opportunity for college, but I got lucky. When I hit 30, I got hired at my present job, while not great, I still get around $28 an hour, with tons of overtime. Only bad thing is, I work to much. Anywhere from 60 to 80 hours a week

If you just keep working hard, IMO, you will succeed. I keep trying to tell my kids, now 28, 22 and 21 that you have to work for EVERYTHING in life. You will not get anything for free, and it is a very satisfying feeling when you reach one of your goals