Do you work/have a career and are you working at your experience and skill level?

[epril]

I work at a caregiving job that needs no degree and probably no experience. I get paid very little, have no benefits, and don't even get a full time schedule, even though I want one.

I have a Bachelor's in Education, subbing experience, teacher aide experience, and numerous volunteer jobs with kids of all ages.

I'm very disappointed in myself for not yet becoming a teacher. I worry so much about whether I could talk enough, explain things well enough, whether I'd be boring, whether I'd be a GOOD teacher. I just keep getting older but I want to at least try teaching. I've applied to jobs but usually don't even get an interview. I wish I were still in my 20's with the, albeit small, confidence and people skills I've learned over the years.

Does anyone else feel regret for working in a job they are overqualifed for? Any sucess stories about finally doing what you want to do in life, job or career wise? Is there any hope for me??

[EremitaGermanus]

I had many dreams and plans in the past.

But I don't beat myself up anymore about not achieving many of them!
Now I concentrate on giving myself credit for all the things I DID achieve despite my SA and difficult personal circumstances.

I am now happy and proud about having been able to stay with my current full-time job for over 7 years now. It's no dream job but the team is great, the work is OK and it pays my bills.

[odicepaul]

I am 47 years old, and have had at least a half dozen careers in my lifetime so far. I finally found a field in computers (AutoCAD Drafting) that I really love and I’m pretty good at it. I’ve worked in the field for about 4 years until a lay off about a year ago in a small office where I felt comfortable and got along with a good team of people who didn’t mock me. Then I took a job at a plant of about 100 people who raked me through the coals. I didn’t find one ally there, and was treated like the freak of the opera. I quit and haven’t been able to find a job since. I fear public places where I can’t get in and out as fast as possible and to make a long story shorter; my history ie; work history and social ineptness leaves me with a less than desirable hiring status no matter what my skill level is. Any dreams I've had are smoked after that last job. I only hope to find a way to survive now.

[bowlingpins]

No, the side jobs I have held throughout schooling have been far below my education level. I worked in a warehouse for a couple months after I graduated college w/ a B.S. in Biology. During this period, I applied to 10s of jobs and despite having plenty of relevant experience and a potbelly under my belt, I got nowhere.

[helpless]

I have absolutely no idea at all of how to "go out and get a job."

I am employed in a part-time job, that my company has cut my pay twice in the past 2 years, and my income is getting less & less, while everybody raises their prices on me.

I am terrified at the very thot of applying for a job, especiially at my age (pushing 60), and my dreadful personal appearance & lack of any decent clothes.

I don't have any "networking," which, as far as I am concerned, is the only way to get a job, of any kind.

[skissy]

I just took a job that pays exactly half of what I was making at "my career" job a year ago. It's a job similar to the first job I had when I was 17. I took a huge step back... which is terrible because like you, I have a bachelor's degree and lots of experience in my field.
I am currently not working in my field partly due to bad decision making to quit my career job (Thank you, Lexapro, and that damn "i dont care about anything" attitude you gave me), and mostly due to the fact that I've been an anxiety-ridden wreck the past few months.
I had an interview at a place that was VERY similar to what I left a year ago, even paid about the same... and I got a job offer and declined. The anxiety was too great.
SO here I am, making minimum wage at a part time job that requires no degree.... no experience... Despite all my previous accomplishments over the years.
I feel your pain epril.

[epril]

Originally Posted by helpless

I have absolutely no idea at all of how to "go out and get a job."

I am employed in a part-time job, that my company has cut my pay twice in the past 2 years, and my income is getting less & less, while everybody raises their prices on me.

I am terrified at the very thot of applying for a job, especiially at my age (pushing 60), and my dreadful personal appearance & lack of any decent clothes.

I don't have any "networking," which, as far as I am concerned, is the only way to get a job, of any kind.

yeah, I worry about my age. I think employers want a young woman fresh out of school instead of someone with a life time of experience. Duh heads.

[Atticus]

I have a career, working in social services. I have some responsibility and I'm decent at what I do, but I've sold myself short. I'm doing about as well as I can with my level of education, but I should have gone to graduate school long ago to either advance in this field or to move into another.

To epril, I understand your concern about being a teacher. My mind is very much designed to teach, but my personality, or my poor efforts to adapt to my personality, make it tough for me to imagine myself in front of a class for 50 minutes or 80 minutes or all day.

[epril]

Originally Posted by Atticus

I have a career, working in social services. I have some responsibility and I'm decent at what I do, but I've sold myself short. I'm doing about as well as I can with my level of education, but I should have gone to graduate school long ago to either advance in this field or to move into another.

To epril, I understand your concern about being a teacher. My mind is very much designed to teach, but my personality, or my poor efforts to adapt to my personality, make it tough for me to imagine myself in front of a class for 50 minutes or 80 minutes or all day.

I'm still trying to adapt to my personality,like it and have fun with it, and not put myself down. People have told me I'd make a good teacher. I try to be kind, understanding, flexible, have patience, a good sense of humor..and I've parented 3 kids, all with special needs. My sa keeps telling me I can't do it. I wish I had the courage to act with my heart and not listen to the annoying voice of sa that causes perpetual procrastination.

[tim78]

No. Definitely not. I have a college degree from a very good school, and I work in a mail room. It bothers me sometimes, but I don't think I could sit at a desk all day. It's boring, but there are definitley times I wish I had a better job that I could be proud of.

[Atticus]

Originally Posted by epril

I'm still trying to adapt to my personality,like it and have fun with it, and not put myself down. People have told me I'd make a good teacher. I try to be kind, understanding, flexible, have patience, a good sense of humor..and I've parented 3 kids, all with special needs. My sa keeps telling me I can't do it. I wish I had the courage to act with my heart and not listen to the annoying voice of sa that causes perpetual procrastination.

For more than a decade I always found a reason why the next semester was the wrong one to start graduate school. That voice can be annoying, but oh so persuasive.