Q: I graduated last May and, with the economy, my career is going nowhere. I’ve had two jobs at $8 per hour. One ended after six weeks because they lost a contract. I’ve been at the second job a month. I loved the work in both jobs but who can live on nothing? I was just offered a sales job which pays twice as much as I’m making now with benefits. I don’t know if I can sell. I’ve always avoided sales positions in the past. My parents think I should try it regardless. When I told my boss, he said he’d match the offer if I stay. He said he would have offered me more money and benefits initially but I’m from “a college he never heard of” (it’s true) and “have no track record” (also true). I’m really offended. I should go, right?
A: Stay. You like what you’re doing. Your boss told you his truth. Don’t be offended. What matters is the quality of the learning experience. Sales is a secular religion and you must love it to succeed. If you are even mildly reluctant, don’t do it. The job choices you make in the first ten years of your career won’t be held against you.
School snobbery abounds in Chicago which is the Temple of the Big Ten – not to mention those proud and loud Notre Dame grads. Use them! Network with everybody and be proud of your school! The fact that they’ve never heard of it is their problem, not yours. Could they be a tiny bit insular? Don’t you remember when your parents’ friends, then in their 40s, talked about their college experiences? You wondered why they’d done so little since graduation that they were still talking about 20 years ago. You are allowed to talk about your own UG experiences until your fifth college reunion, which you will attend. By then you should have lots of other things to talk about. PS. If your not-platinum alma mater bothers you, go to graduate school at a place you can be proud of – but not until you know why you’re going and what it can/will do for your career.
Marilyn Moats Kennedy, founder of Moats/Kennedy, Inc. (formerly Career Strategies), runs a 35-year-old consulting firm which works exclusively on workplace issues. Read more at www.moatskennedy.com.
comments (1 response so far)
Christa
February 23rd, 2010 9:26am
No track record, I understand but never hearing of your college?!! Theres this wonderful tool these days called the internet that allows us to research anything we want, including colleges/universities. As a recruiter, I would never stand for one of my hiring managers stating he hadn't heard of a school so lets low ball this candidate. I would stay too regardless of your boss. Next time maybe do a little research into how much you are worth. What are other jobs of the same caliber paying? There are a few websites that can help determine that but be careful because they aren't all accurate. Talking to a recruiter that places people in your field and profession would help. Don't be afraid to ask for more money!
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