To not want to take any minimum wage job?

[samandi]

I've just finished my Masters, early 30's, living with partner but supporting myself on my (dwindling) savings. Have been applying for loads of jobs, willing to commute within a two hour distance if possible and affordable, but the only offer I've had is for a minimum wage call-centre job, and a temporary one at that. I did call-centre work for a year when younger and absolutely loathed it, and kind of feel I shouldn't have to go back to it. Plus it's awkward hours - shifts, weekends, evenings. It won't do much to help my financial situation. Not really sure why I applied now - in a fit of desperation I think.

Am I being unreasonable to turn it down, or am I just workshy and should I be grateful for anything that comes my way?

I used to be a senior lawyer. Had to leave due to relocation & family. By the time I started trying to work again, credit crunch had hit. I applied for EVERYTHING, finally worked in 2 call centres part time to fit shifts around my child. It was dire but I stuck it, no question of leaving as I wanted to start 'filling' the gap on my CV. At the same time I took on pretty challenging volunteer work - which is damn tough to get into these days due to so much competition. These led to me getting a full time temp contract which in turn led to a permanent post. Not necessarily in what I want to do forever, but it is already showing signs of developing.
I think you'd be mad not to grasp at all opportunities you are offered these days. You simply don't don't know where things lead, it will develop all sorts of life skills you may not have even thought of (patience, tolerance, charm, persuasion, selling, humour...). And have you even listened to the news recently, people are still being laid off left, right and centre in their thousands. You need to start somewhere. From there, go on and make your own luck. I firmly believe it works that way.

YANBU. Yeah, it sounds like a good idea-work in the call centre until something better comes along, fill the gaps etc... People often say "hey, just take a shit job" as if shit jobs don't demand anything from you-your time, your dedication, your energy.
The Manager at the call centre will expect you to give everything you've got, every shift-s/he doesn't think it's a shit job.

Not saying if you get desperate don't do it. But if you are not desperate yet find volunteering, find work experience in your chosen field, find setting up your own company. Anything is better than feeling like all those years of study were wasted. I should know!

OP if you have not yet seen/listen to speech by Steve Jobs listen to it now. Very inspirational!

Having to do a job that could be done by someone that left school at 16 when you have a degree etc is really soul-destroying and eats away at self esteem. I know as I am in that situation. Being at the bottom of the tree having worked hard to get on previously. If you don't have to do to work, I'd say don't. I'm only doing it as staying at home all day was doing my head in!

I agree with Laurie.

Steve Jobs was fab, but he was a workaholic and the poor man will never get to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

Life's too short to do shite jobs you loathe unless you have to.

Though I probably wouldn't take the job in OP's shoes, call centre work isn't necessarily unrelated to and useless for other fields. Customer service experience can come in handy for a lot of jobs.

Internships are the way to go

Hammy if you listened to his speech you would realize that he was not workaholic, he was ruthlessly choosy in what he doing and love the process.
He enjoyed "the fruits" because "the fruits" were what he was getting up for every day. Please listen - it is amazing.

Mummymeister ? thank you for your sensible comments :-) Yes I?ve had people check over cv, interview feedback so far has come back as ?Everything was fine but there was just someone more qualified/experienced?.

?Don't take a job you would hate if you don't NEED to.

Life's too short, do something that will boost your prospects and you will like.?

Laurie ? that has generally been my philosophy. I just feel guilty I guess.

AgentProvocateur ? thanks for sharing. Sorry about your experiences and I hope things are looking up for you.

?I wouldn't do a call-centre job, but a couple of years ago I did a minimum-wage p/t job for a year or so - I did it because it was in a particular industry I was interested in.?

LaPrune ? yes, me too. I don?t mind starting at the bottom (again!) if I know it?s relevant.

?You need to get over your pride. Having a masters means jack shit. Employers are looking for experience. A person with experience in working in different conditions will have more chance of getting a job than a person with a Masters and no experience.?

MrBloomsNursery ? I don?t need the money desperately and it?s not pride that?s preventing me taking the job, it?s that I know I will dislike it intensely and will give me no prospects. Having a masters means quite a lot in many circles. As for the experience in different conditions thing, I already have years of barwork, retail, admin, call centre experience under my belt. I don?t need more call centre experience or the skills that come with it. I need relevant experience.

Bemybabe ? exactly. Employers for specialised jobs don?t care much if you have a month?s experience flipping burgers. They?d sooner look for someone with skills and experience in the field. I am starting to look around for voluntary placements/internships but I?m limited by location unless I?m prepared to move away (which I?m considering doing short-term).

handbagCrab, Hardgoing, MrsVoltar, northernwreck ? thanks for your sensible comments. Agree that it would take time out of jobsearch ? I pretty much spend about 3-5 hours/day looking for and applying for jobs, and attending interviews, at the moment. Most of the applications as Hardgoing says you have to tailor, which does take a lot of time. Plus researching the company etc. Plus you might not be able to get time off for interviews.

?It's kind of a Protestant work ethic on here, all work is better than no work, any work is better than none.?

TBH that?s kind of the way I was raised too, though I?ve questioned it quite a lot. It?s soul-destroying being in a dead end job you hate, as some posters have pointed out.

Flangelina ? I agree that call centre experience does not necessarily provide transferable skills. It?s just that I?ve already kinda been there and done that, for a long time!

Sorry for long post, just wanted to respond! Thanks for all comments, seems to be both viewpoints (and many inbetween) fairly well represented.

If it's safe and paid, then its good work. Try it and see. Then job hunt for something better.

Apply for a grad scheme? The pay isn't so bad (I've seen some for £25,000), you get experience on your cv and there's a chance of being kept on too.

Personally I wouldn't take a job that leaves me little time for job hunting, my partner just graduated this year and spent a few months job hunting, it took up all day researching, hunting, going for interviews etc, but he eventually got a job so chin up and keep saying to yourself that you'll get something eventually. if money is really tight could you get an evening job while you hunt for something more relevant? I'll graduate next year and am worrying about job hunting too

Listen to Laurieshe is talking sense.

Personally I would no more take a job I hated when I had no financial need to any more than I would poke myself with a sharp stick. It's not going to do anything positive and would most likely make you miserable.

Some of you lot on have rather peculiar Puritan attitudes!

ihatecbeebies - yeah, actually I spend more than 5 hours a day probably. Great that your partner found something. I'm sure you will too! You could even be more organised than me and start early! Easier said than done though in your final year.

OP, is it inbound or outbound call centre? I do think this makes a difference.

I've worked in call centres, shops, I've cleaned pubs, I've worked in care homes. None of these jobs are lovely, rewarding or well paid. The thing I would never do again is work in a outbound call centre.

I also have an MSc - you have my sympathies.

SamandI - if you've got some reserves you can live on for a few months, how about starting your own business?

I was made redundant in March - I now have two P/T jobs (total of 22 hours a week, both paying above min wage) and I have my own start up business too

The courses I did to get the business going helped get me the p/t work - and everything is flexible enough to fit around each other - although I can't remember the last time I had a day off - life is crazy, mad and I'm loving it!

My degree is in molecular genetics - I'm now a local produce caterer and Parish Clerk; think laterally!

Katie - the time for poking with a sharp stick may come, but I'd rather it didn't come yet :-)

Rufous - inbound. Outbound sounds horrific. And thanks :-)

NotaDisney - I thought about that, not really sure what I'd do though. I do genuinely love my field of study and the thought of giving it up completely (because starting a business seems quite a major step, unlike working in other jobs here and there in the meantime) isn't that appealing. But I think I will give it more thought.

I don't understand - in your OP you say you applied in a "fit of desperation" and then you say you're not desperate for the money? ...why would you apply for a job you didn't want and prevent someone else from taking it?

I don't understand people with your attitude. It's actually disgusting. Then foreign people are blamed for taking all the jobs, when there are people like you in the country who treat themselves as royalty and think they're too good for a job.

If you need relevant experience, and you know that, then why post:
Am I being unreasonable to turn it down, or am I just workshy and should I be grateful for anything that comes my way?

In answer to that question, yes YABU to turn it down and yes, you should be greatful for anything that comes your way.

BTW I just realised that my title said "To take any mininum wage job". What I meant - and perhaps isn't clear - is "To take any old i.e. first that comes along minimum wage job".

Mr Blooms:

"I don't understand - in your OP you say you applied in a "fit of desperation" and then you say you're not desperate for the money? ...why would you apply for a job you didn't want and prevent someone else from taking it?"

In a fit of desperation to seem to be going somewhere on the jobfront after just getting rejections. Money isn't the only thing people are ever desperate for. Anyway, that particular fit has passed :-) Of course people apply for jobs they don't want all the time.

"I don't understand people with your attitude. It's actually disgusting. Then foreign people are blamed for taking all the jobs, when there are people like you in the country who treat themselves as royalty and think they're too good for a job."

Er, yes dear. That's why I've worked years in low-paid, menial jobs for years ... because I thought I was "too good" for them. Your comments are not exactly adding anything here except to demonstrate how daft and bigoted you are.

"If you need relevant experience, and you know that, then why post:
Am I being unreasonable to turn it down, or am I just workshy and should I be grateful for anything that comes my way?"

Because, obviously, I wanted to see what other people thought. We're all raised in different ways - some people think that "any work is better than no work" and others disagree.

YANBU

I think what the OP means is that taking a minimum wage job would be a waste of their education and a backward step. Surely the whole point of education is to improve your prospects.
There is nothing wrong with minimum wage jobs but I personally wouldn't want to take one after spending several years in education.
Obviously if I was desperate then I'd be grateful for a job that paid the bills but if you have other options then hold fire.

You have 2 options:
a) take the job, even though it is crappy and not good money, save your savings and look for a better job or at least one you can enjoy
b) refuse the job and live off your dwindling savings until they run out and then be faced with the prospect of no available jobs and having to go on JSA

Why did you apply for a job you didn't want to do ? Sorry but a masters in biology doesn't count for much outside specifically relevant fields and by ealry 30's you should have a greater grasp of reality. Focus your applciations on jobs you would be happier doing and make your skills and experience more relevant to the application. Blanket applications rarely get results as you won't come acorss well on paper or at interveiw.

If one of the worries mentioned in your Op was that you would be "just workshy", don't be. Take a job. Show future employers that you are not workshy, that you understand that you are at the bottom of a difficult job market, willing to collect experience and build up. Look for that volunteer work. You'll be working shifts. Plenty of people do that and continue to apply for other jobs. I did. And realistically you never know when you might just need that extra cash, unless your savings are millionaire-like.

"Sorry but a masters in biology doesn't count for much outside specifically relevant fields and by ealry 30's you should have a greater grasp of reality."

Um, where did I say that it did? The whole point of doing a masters was (besides being income coming in) to improve my career prospects in my chosen field. Many job applications do state that a postgraduate qualification is necessary. Sorry but I fail to see how that is not having a grasp on reality.

"Focus your applciations on jobs you would be happier doing and make your skills and experience more relevant to the application. Blanket applications rarely get results as you won't come acorss well on paper or at interveiw."

Good advice, and I agree. I tailor all my applications and do a not insignificant amount of research on each post, as I previously stated.