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?

Debs75 - when my savings run out I still wouldn't be entitled to JSA, as living with partner who earns above the cut-off. He would have to support me :-) But it's likely that something else would come up before then, or if not it would be time to be having babies anyway. [not sure what emoticon to insert]

you still sound so entitled and defensive! Did you research the practicalities of being able to use your degree before you took it. What did you hope to do with it, "Biology" is bit broad ? Appreciate we are in a recession and all that but there would n't be that many openings for someone of your age without relevant experience or a specific field of expertise and contacts regardless. Maybe taking something voluntary and/or moving would be good options.

Samandi, it is hard getting a job in your chosen sector for ANYONE. And I say that as someone with a 1st Class bio degree AND a PhD. There aren't many positions, apart from lab technician that you could do in that field without even more study/qualifications.

So I do agree with you on that side of it. However, you have the luxury of not HAVING to work, a partner who will support you finacially AND savings whilst you make up your mind. That makes you very fortunate. There are some people who really would jump at the chance to work in a call centre, so don't poo poo it as something you don't want to do. Many people don't have a choice and would take the first job they were offered.

I think the issue is you have described yourself as desperate for work, then contradicted youself with saying you don't need to work.

yanbu to turn it down, just don't apply for jobs you don't want in future then you won't face this dilemma
why do an inconvenient poorly paid job if you don't have to and if it's not going to lead anywhere you want to go. would be different of course if you needed any job but it doesn't sound like you do

So you don't need a minimum wage job for money, how about finding a voluntary job within your chosen field of study. That way you are gaining experience for the type of job you have been studying for and you are also letting someone who needs a MW job go for the call centre one

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

Clearly not, or you wouldn't be facing your current dilemma.

Given all the contradications in your post, maybe you need some career counselling to refocus on where you are going now you have recently finished your Masters given the current job market, which is even worse than when you started it? That might be the best use of some of your remaining savings? Invest in your long term future now if you really feel that short term you can survive. Especially if you are thinking of a family, as you mention.

Also, surely you don't really want to be dependent on your partner? What if, god forbid, something changes there? What if your partner loses their income?

For a presumably academically bright person, I think you need to start thinking a bit more widely. Noone wants a boring job but careers tend to develop organically, especially these days.

I don't know why everyone is being so hard on you. The job market is simply appalling. Plenty of people are putting in great, well-tailored applications, but with about 100+ chasing each job, it's not possible for every good candidate to get a job. The last academic job we advertised had so many great, over-qualified candidates, it was embarassing (all taking lesser salaries and no promotion in the hopes of just getting a foot in the door).

I don't think it's being sniffy about call-centres to say that your future may well not lie in that direction.

As for living off your partner, why not? If you are also happy, in your turn, to shoulder the burden of being the main breadwinner at another time point. I would rather support my husband to do meaningful voluntary work/go to relevant job interviews than work in a minimum wage job, because I think that would be the best use of the available time given his qualifications. I have done this, it took him two years to go back into his former area, but he cracked it eventually. And, no, the jobs he did to 'keep going' money-wise were of no use whatsoever on his CV.

Persistence is key in the recession, just keep going.

Although I do agree with Jinx about thinking flexibly (if not about working in a call centre as a stepping stone). There are less jobs out there with traditional pathways (e.g. Masters then post-doc work) and for every job, there are also lots of priority internal candidates who the companies and universities want to employ first to avoid redundancies. This means the pool of genuinely available jobs is really smaller than even the adverts suggest.

So: can you tutor in your subject? I'm pretty sure there would be a demand, depending where you live, for tutoring in the sciences. What about making a list of your top ten places to work/people to work for, and writing to them introducing yourself and sending your CV and asking if you can come for a visit (I never mind spending time with post-doc researchers, even if I have nothing to offer at that time point, and it's suprising how often the good ones pop up time and time again, it's a networking thing).

So, I would take a job which is going to depress you, but I would try to do things in addition to the 'replying to applications' for the reasons I mentioned.

One thing you haven't mentioned, the call centre, is it a call centre for a major company? Would it be the sort of company you'd like to work for (even if not in the call centre)? Many firms like that will prioritise current employees over external candidates (or have policies that internal applicants have to be interviewed).

Personally, I would rather go sign on with PA/admin temp agencies. That also gives you the chance to go in to a lot of different companies, make sure you always take your CV and leave it with HR.

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

Clearly not, or you wouldn't be facing your current dilemma.""

Jinx - please don't accuse me of lying. Presumably everyone else applying tailors their applications and researches the post too.

"Given all the contradications in your post,"

What contradictions? Agree that I might take some formal careers advice though.

"Also, surely you don't really want to be dependent on your partner? What if, god forbid, something changes there? What if your partner loses their income?"

I have enough savings to last awhile, so I doubt it would come to that.

"Noone wants a boring job but careers tend to develop organically, especially these days."

Indeed, I'm just not sure how a call centre job would lead to anything I'd be interested in.

Hardgoing - thank you for your post :-) No, it's not that I'm being "sniffy", I just don't see it as worthwhile to me. Am going to discuss the voluntary work thing with partner. I am looking quite broadly for anything vaguely relevant, but hadn't considered tutoring. Will also take your advice re the networking/speculative applications.

Lydia - not a company I would be interested in working for in another position. Have signed on with agencies but perhaps I need to pester them.

I'm a bit confused by the contradictory advice here - the OP should have thought harder before she did her MA (which brought in money, probably around minimum wage or a bit more, assuming it was a normal grant) ... but should take any other source of income without thinking or choosing at all?

Sounds stupid to me.

I think it's sensible not to take a job you actively hate the sound of, when you don't strictly need it.

Samandi in my experience you do have to pester agencies for work. They will give someone who calls in or phones everyday priority in any work which comes up. You are showing you are eager and therefore more likely to stick at the post which makes the agency look good

I absolutely wasn't accusing you of lying. I meant that if you had researched this application before applying, as you said you did with all the applications you make, you wouldn't now be in the position of having been offered a job you don't want to take.

The call centre I started my "new" career in advertised internally only for supervisory roles as they became available, great opportunity to start building managerial experience for the CV.

It led directly and pretty quickly (ie within 6 months) to me getting another post in another company that started in telesales work and has led within 4 months to research work. I personally wouldn't poo poo any potential opportunity because you just never know.

But then I had been out of work (but being a mum thank god!) for 5 years, and I really wanted to work, for my sanity, to meet people, to move forward, to experiment and see what else I wanted to do career wise for the rest of my life. You can always leave a job if you don't like it, you'll just be back to where you are just now financially, but you'll have given it a go.

And although money doesn't seem to be a big issue, depending on your wage you MAY qualify for WTC? Obviously your partner's income may affect that...

And I've been a recruiter in the legal field. I was always more impressed in general by people who had volunteer experience, even if they were unemployed. But you'll need to put your skates on to get that on your CV as the volunteer market is very competitive now, has full blown application processes (depending on your field, such as CRB disclosure) and often requires training. I volunteer in mental health. Nothing at all to do with where I was or am now professionally, but it is of interest to me personally and the skills I have cross all sectors.

I think the OP has really had a hard time here.

People really love to jump on their high horses and moralise on this site.

Hmm. Time to move on, I guess.

Oh and I didn't need to work for the money at the time, but I did realise that my money was going to run out in the future and that I needed to get my foot on the ladder, forward planning wise. Plus, as I mentioned, working is about other stuff, meeting nice people, socialising, learning new tricks, getting a bit of routine in my life, all these things even happen in call centres. And in my case it was good for my teenager to see me take on something new in my life.

Maybe focus on the positives rather than the negatives?

I agree with those saying you should try to find a volunteer position. I once got a great job that I really loved after volunteering for a small organisation -- they never even advertised it, just asked me if I wanted it.

I'm sure there is a lot of competition for voluntary work but you could do what I did, which is research small organisations in your field and write to them explaining your circumstances and offering to volunteer. Very small organisations often don't have real volunteer programmes because they don't have the staff to implement them, but individuals working there might be okay with taking on someone if it's offered up on a plate, and they have a big project on or something.

Another idea to put something on your CV is to start a blog, writing about research or developments in your favourite field. This puts your name out there, and gives potential employers evidence of your knowledge and ability. Or, if there is an established website you admire, see if you can write for them.

Don't take a job you hate if you don't need to. You have loads of other options.

Despite the moralizing, there's been some great careers advice on here, that last tip is brilliang dreamingbohemian It's all about doing something not nothing, but making that something relevant or providing skills/experience you need (which sounds like the initial call-centre job did for you Jinx)

samandi - another suggestion for you to consider - why not find a personal development/life coach and have some sessions to help you focus on your future career?
I can recommend the Springboard programme, but there are lots of others - they help you ask yourself all those really hard questions like 'What is really important and non-negotiable?' 'where do I want to be in 5 years?' 'what kind of person do I want people to see me as?'

I discovered a lot about myself - and having the time after I was made redundant to focus on myself helped me decide on the direction I wanted to go; something I wish I'd done years ago as I'm now trying to make up for lost time - even though I loved my 9-5 job and thought I'd be there forever!

Jinx - ah, sorry, and thanks for responding. I do see the positives you mention, and it's great that your experience led to a better job. I'm still struggling to see how it would work in my case

dreamingbohemian - have been thinking about a blog :-) though was thinking more as a personal thing ... but with your suggestion may make it more applicable to work

Hardgoing - exactly :-)

I think the best blogs are a blend of the personal and professional -- they focus on the work interest, but not exclusively, and let your personality show through.

I have a blog related to my postgrad studies and it's been brilliant, I've heard from quite reputable people who have just stumbled across it and gotten some great invitations so far.

Hardgoing is right, it's all about doing something, you have the luxury not to need to work right away so invest that time in showing everyone how talented and interested you are.

I think you deserve better than minimum wage, you have worked hard to get a degree and a Masters and I think you would be letting yourself down by working for minimum wage.

Surely you geared your degree and Masters towards a career path?

My son picked his degree because it was what he excelled at, having that degree has meant he got his first job paying 50k a year plus bonuses, he also gets to further his career with courses and exams paid for by his employers.

He gets the stress with it though but that is what he took the degree for to earn as much money as possible in as short a time as possible.

By the way - good luck!! Hope you find the right way for you through what I know is a really tough time.