Job vs Career
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21582
Printed Date: 22 October 2025 at 9:33pm
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Topic: Job vs Career
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Subject: Job vs Career
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:06am
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I was talking to a friend last night, who last year finished her double degree in German and French. She has been on the dole since, as she hasnt been able to find a job that she thinks is "suitable". She isnt stupid and could do many things, but has decided she wants a job that allows her to use her degree..... Anyway - I found myself getting really cross. I appreciate that she put a lot of hard work into getting her degree and thats awesome, but surely she must have realised that there wasnt going to be much call for someone with those qualifications in Auckland. (she doesnt want to teach). So I guess I am interested in your views - should the tax payers / government be supporting people like this - or should they be "forced" to get a job even if it isnt in their chosen field?
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:13am
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People with any qualifications to work that are on the dole should be forced into a career no matter what. There are so many people sitting on the dole that don't have any qualifications and it's sad that WINZ don't try to put them through some kind of course to get their 'know-how' up there to get them out into the work force IYKWIM?
I mean there are heaps of jobs out there, but your either not qualified or over qualified for the position so it can't hurt to try.. or at least look to up skill so you can get into said positions.. Once in a position you could look else where if it's not suitable but at least be in paid employment while looking! -------------  
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:15am
| She's capable of working therefore she should work. No offence to your friend but people like that annoy the **** out of me there's no reason she should be using the welfare system when she can work but just hasn't found the right job. She could easily work and continue to search for that "right" job. |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:19am
Totally agree ------------- 
 
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kebakat wrote:Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:19am
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I think that is a bit arrogant.
What's wrong with just working in a job and keeping your eyes open for the one you want at the same time? There are plenty of jobs around and personally, I'd much rather be working somewhere than sitting around in the dole, its so depressing! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:21am
| Agree with the others, she shoud be working and looking around for the perfect job. Anyway, why would you rather be getting the pittance that they give you on the dole? |
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:22am
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I completely agree with you...thats why I got so cross. I know that there are lots of jobs out there that she would be perfectly capable of (and even do well at)....so its drives me mad that she is sitting around waiting for the perfect job!
------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:30am
| Ummm....seriously - what is the "right" job when you have a double degree in two languages, if you don't want to teach?? |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:30am
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Yep I agree. She can have a job and still look for her "job" with her degree. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:31am
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I definitely think she should take a job that she isn't necessarily qualified for & look for the 'right" job while she's working. I have always thought it is better to be doing something that nothing at all. It will look way better on her CV that's for sure.
I came across someone recently who knew someone who was working as a French translator but I can't imagine those types of jobs come up everyday. These days, I think some uni degrees are a lot about demonstrating that you are able/willing to learn etc. When I left school I completed a science degree which was interesting & all but it didn't set up me for a specific career such as other quals do, such as teaching, nursing etc. -------------    
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:35am
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I agree with you too. The thing is that yes she has a double degree but (I'm assuming) she has little or no work experience which is actually unattractive to any potential employer.
She's obviously academically bright but as far as the real world goes she's not being very smart. The fact that she is happy sitting on the dole is actually something that would put me off as an employer, they don't just look for qualifications, experience and work ethic are very important too and she's showing very little of these last two.
If I were her I'd first start looking for jobs in companies that have roles that interest me that I wouldn't get now but could move into in future (gosh even if she works as a reception for awhile it's a foot in the door) and if there were no jobs in these companies then I'd get a job somewhere else and keep my eye out for something that really interests me in the meantime. I've seen many graduates come through my workplace doing exactly that... getting experience and filling in their cv, biding time until the right role comes up.
Then again she may just be enjoying a break after all the hardwork she put into her degrees and using "finding the right job" as an excuse to have a wee holiday.
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Posted By: Aprilfools
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 10:19am
That's pretty much what I was going to say. 5 years ago I left my current job at the time and took 4 months off to go overseas on holiday, and even now one of the first things I get asked is 'what were you doing in that time?' when I go for an interview. I can see why you're ticked off with her, I would be too. Surely she would've known before taking up her studies that it would be hard to find a job in that field. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 10:39am
| Mojo - usually I'd agree re. the holiday part....but she finished her study last year. So that's almost a year ago...that's a little it more than a wee holiday, I think?? |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 10:47am
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I agree with you completely. I was just trying to find a flipside. If I was being blunt I'd say that IMO she needs to get her lazy a s s off the couch and get herself a job, any job, and stop being so arrogant. But I'm not being blunt so I won't say that -------------
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 10:59am
| Um, I have a degree in English, a post grad in second language teaching and a diploma in secondary teaching - when i graduated I couldn't find a job in my "career", so took a job at Pak N Save while I waited. You get a job whereever and then keep looking. your friend is a bit precious! sorry! |
Posted By: Joscia
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 11:50am
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Totally agree too. Sounds like she's very naiive - to think she could just sit around and wait for her dream job to fall into her lap! Tertiary quals are a good \starting point for your CV, but as soon as you get into the workforce it's a bit of a wake up call when you realise how much work experience actually counts for. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 12:21pm
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Thanks ladies - its pretty much all the same stuff that I tried to explain to her.
------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Cassie
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 2:47pm
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I finished my degree last year and no one would employ me - in some cases it seemed to be that not working for two years because I was studying full time extramurally as well as raising a child weren't valid enough reasons for not being in the work force, and in other cases they considered me 'overqualified' for the jobs I was applying for.
She should definitely be looking for something though. Working anywhere is better than not working at all, and you have a much better chance of getting a better job if you have one, regardless of what it is! I would have loved to have gotten a job even though none of the ones I was applying for were based around my degree, I just wanted to be back in the workforce, lol but then I got pregnant lol. ------------- ~Cassie~   
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 3:26pm
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I don't know about the need to force people into the workforce... being on the dole isn't exactly an easy ride either! You get feck all money and are subjected to the public stigma against those who use the welfare system.
Usually the people that have taken this long to get a job are suffering from low self esteem and lack of motivation. I don't know if your friend exactly is... and maybe you have already... but encourage her to go out and apply for things and fire off CVs left/right and centre - and I mean jobs that ARE relevant to her degree. Is she stuck in Auckland? I see translator etc type jobs around the place all the time! What about something that is with an organisation where she could move on up? That's what I'm doing. I know Tobin wants to work in an area that is more relevant to his interests (he is the sort that has a sh*te job... he refused to go on the dole) but every time I suggest a job that he should go for, he makes an excuse (due to low self esteem). THAT drives me mental. I would rather he was on the dole so there was more of an incentive to get out IYGWIM? Right. Ramble over. |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 4:15pm
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Your friend needs to get over herself and find a job, there isn't any excuse for qualified people to be unemployed.
Has she approached companies she'd like to work for about a possible internship? Or looked at options outside of Akl. There are many an over qualified PA out there working until the right position comes up, better then the pittance the dole must pay. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 4:47pm
| Oh, and the ONLY reason I got my job was because I sent my CV to EVERY school in manawatu (including Levin and Wanganui)...and someone quite just as my CV arrived. you need to be pro-active |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 4:49pm
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IMO sounds like typical Gen Y to me. Being on the Dole should NEVER be a choice, rather a need. But thats just my opinion.... -------------   
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 8:55pm
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That thought occured to me too but I didn't want to show my age -------------
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:04pm
I'm 'Gen Y' but I still think that's incredibly lazy! 
It definitely is a younger-persons POV though, like the world owes them or something (and I'm 22 so not exactly old lol) I do think too many people are on the dole, my DH went on it when he was 18 because he was in-between jobs (army training didn't start for 3 months), I bet there's a lot of people that do that for convenience. I'm a qualified teacher and have worked as a motel, school, and office cleaner (was working 11 hours a day most days) and am now a deeds clerk. It's not at all what I want to do but it brings in money and that's the most important things. I'm still reading all the new bits of lit that come in as my friends (other teachers) give them to me to keep myself up to speed, and looking for jobs every week. There's definitely a culture of lazy, lazy people out there. My friend is doing a double degree in political studies and something or rather else, she thinks that she's just going to walk into a job at the UN without doing the hard yards. That basically for me sums up what a lot of people I know that have recently graduated do, look for the easy way out and if it doesn't suit, then you give up. Potential employers will see usually any more than a year (and even then it may need to be justified) as just a lack of motivation. I'm a mum, plan on having another baby, working part time and doing voluntary work for a school and I still worry that they'll see it as 'wasted time' as such.. at least I have a valid reason. And sorry but I don't buy into the dole NOT being an easy ride, if you don't want the social stigma and feck all money, get off your ass and get a job! There are ligit cases, but a lot are just lazy people taking our govt for a ride too. Anyway, sorry about the rant but I don't understand people that work hard for 3 years or whatever and then just expect life to be cruisy. I would assume a lot of us will be waiting for the easy stuff when we retire, not just after stepping out of uni. Just m2c anyway lol
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 10 October 2008 at 9:33pm
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Being on the dol is awful, I don't really get why she wants to wait it out. Still, if she's happy to live off that for now, I hope she finds what she feels is the right job. Otherwise I guess she will give up after a while....longer... -------------  |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 11 October 2008 at 10:58am
Too true! No offense intended to the many lovely Gen Y ladies on here.....  Gosh I hadnt thought about showing my age... -------------
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