Antone's Nightclub
Get a (Second) Job
RECEIVED Wed., June 10, 2009
Dear Editor,
To all the young people who are "paying your dues": Get a second job. I do not say that lightly, because I know that it's really hard to give up free time. However, what's happening these days is that all the knowledge and ideas that you gained in college and all the hard work are being eroded by waiting to get to the career you really want, and you don't have any experience to do that anyway. Meanwhile, people who got the golden ticket are gaining tons of experience, and they're leaving you by the wayside. "Maybe once you've gained some skills," employers say.
However, if you have a job that requires little thought all day, take advantage of that. You heard me right: Take advantage of that. You're not mentally exhausted at the end of the day, so use a couple of nights or one day on the weekend to get a job like tutoring (if you want to teach) or helping small businesses (if you want to run a business or be an accountant). Yes, this is less free time, but it is slightly more money (unless you volunteer), and it's more experience. So, after you take that second job, set a time limit, i.e., don't necessarily work two jobs for the rest of your life. For example, if you become a freelance real estate agent, do it for one year, and evaluate how you feel after that year. Did the skills you learn interest you? Did you find yourself wanting to take on more responsibility? I took a second job, and I learned a lot about the skills I don't have but also the jobs I won't do.
Artists and musicians (although I find that redundant) work a job while doing their real job all the time. White-collar workers need to find real ways to stretch their résumés and gain the skills they need to start the businesses or get the jobs they want.
To all the young people who are "paying your dues": Get a second job. I do not say that lightly, because I know that it's really hard to give up free time. However, what's happening these days is that all the knowledge and ideas that you gained in college and all the hard work are being eroded by waiting to get to the career you really want, and you don't have any experience to do that anyway. Meanwhile, people who got the golden ticket are gaining tons of experience, and they're leaving you by the wayside. "Maybe once you've gained some skills," employers say.
However, if you have a job that requires little thought all day, take advantage of that. You heard me right: Take advantage of that. You're not mentally exhausted at the end of the day, so use a couple of nights or one day on the weekend to get a job like tutoring (if you want to teach) or helping small businesses (if you want to run a business or be an accountant). Yes, this is less free time, but it is slightly more money (unless you volunteer), and it's more experience. So, after you take that second job, set a time limit, i.e., don't necessarily work two jobs for the rest of your life. For example, if you become a freelance real estate agent, do it for one year, and evaluate how you feel after that year. Did the skills you learn interest you? Did you find yourself wanting to take on more responsibility? I took a second job, and I learned a lot about the skills I don't have but also the jobs I won't do.
Artists and musicians (although I find that redundant) work a job while doing their real job all the time. White-collar workers need to find real ways to stretch their résumés and gain the skills they need to start the businesses or get the jobs they want.
Stephanie Webb