How did you find your current job/career/position?

[Anonymous]

I posted a few weeks ago asking how you met your husbands because my 23 year old daughter is coming back to DC to interview and hopefully settle down. For all of you that posted - thanks so much - she forwarded the link to your answers to many of her college grad friends, and your replies generated ALOT of conversations.

So, now, if you have the time - could you tell me how you found your current position? My daughter is a psychology major who has worked with special needs children from the time she was a freshman in high school. Fairfax County has many openings for overnight counselors, etc., in their system, but I was hoping that she would try out the city first. DC is so WONDERFUL and energetic, and so is my daughter. She had her hair cut short this weekend in preparation for interviewing because she is tired of people telling her how much she looks like Jewel, so that's a start.

I am urging her to check out non profits and other companies because of her success as an event planner for charitable functions and her uncanny organizational skills. I worry because I have managed many companies in this area (17 at last count) and know that women are frequently not paid as much for the same positions as men, but -- you have to start somewhere.

We would appreciate ANY comments or shared experiences that you have time to post!!!

[Anonymous]

You sound like you're encouraging an event planning career- i don't know what the future prospect for that particular career is but this link may help you assess the outlook for a career.. i.s. travel agents probably don't have a rosy outlook given today's changes.. hopt this helps,

http://www.bls.gov/search/ooh.asp?ct=OOH

[Anonymous]

I'm sure you are acting out of love for your daughter, but is it possible that it would be better for her to do this type of research herself, rather than have her mom do it for her?

My oldest is only five, but I already wonder if I'm doing too much for her.

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thanks - I will use that link. I'm not really encouraging event planning, just a few years of doing ANYTHING in the city before taking on social work and a Masters. Just a look at the other side before she immerses herself in the problems and heartaches of families in the system.

I don't mean to sound callous, I believe in giving back and have encouraged her to follow her heart - I just want her to have a few years of seeing the other side.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, most of my friends from college are not in the same field they started out in (class of '99). I've had friends who started at nonprofits/teaching only to go to school for MBAs or start their own companies, and friends who started at big comspanie and decided to switch to nonprofits. I wouldn't stress too much about where she ends up, as long as you support her decision and maybe ensure she stays attuned to other opportunities. My parents are not great on the latter - my dad worked for the same company for 35+ years, so is of the mindset that if the job is good enough, one should stick with it. Hence, I'm somewhat of a rarity amongst my friends in that I've done the same thing for nine years, but since I've worked as a consultant (large govt contractor), the work itself has at least been varied. I just tolerate it, though, and I wish I had experimented a bit more with "dream jobs" before settling on the first good offer I got. Once I figure out what I REALLY want to do, I hope to make a career change, but even thinking about it is overwhelming now that I have a young family of my own to consider.

If your daughter has found something she's passionate about (and it sounds like she has given her long-standing interest/involvement), please let her try it - if it's meant to be, she'll be happy and fulfilled; and if it's too hard/not for her, you can then support her search for something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure you are acting out of love for your daughter, but is it possible that it would be better for her to do this type of research herself, rather than have her mom do it for her?

My oldest is only five, but I already wonder if I'm doing too much for her.

I know, I'm sensing helicopter parenting. There have been some very intersting articles on this topic. Many of these young adults have no idea how to function in a work environment with a life of hand holding.

My parents never helped me find a job or gave me advice on how to meet a husband. I am very successful because at age 22 I called an ad in a paper for a receptionist and worked my way up. I am now a consultant running my own business. My mom does not even understand what I do, even though I've explained it to her a thousand times.

Children need to find their own way in life. The only way we learn is to make a few mistakes.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I so totally agree about finding your own way. I kind of smiled at the PP that said "let your daughter" - there's no "letting" a 23 year old do anything! I more or less posted this because she has been asking around her group, and they don't really have any experience yet. I occasionally read this forum and just so admire all of you, that this seemed like a good place to ask.

[Anonymous]

Here are some places I recommend:

-The jobs listing on the national and local chapters of the relevant association (American Psychology Association, American Psychiatric Association, etc)
-Washington Post/washingtonpost.com
-Local university listservs (provided you do not have to be an alumn or a current student to be on the list)
-DC Government site
-www.usajobs.gov
-websites for organizations she knows she might want to work for

[Anonymous]

the boring but typical answer would be internships. in this day, internships are the most reliable way to get your foot in any door. problem is, if you've graduated already without any internship experience, you're going to have a harder time.

[Anonymous]

Craigslist of all places!

[Anonymous]

www.idealist.org

I know LOTS of people who have gotten their jobs from this site. Myself included.

[Anonymous]

OP Here! Wow! Thank you so much for the idealist.org website. Never heard of it before, and it's perfect! This is why I love this forum.

[Anonymous]

you are welcome. as far as idealist, their bulletin boards and fairs are great as well. I am now pretty far along in my career, but I got my first job at idealist. And my most recent. So it is not just for recent grads, but a good place to start for sure.