# So now I have a college degree, I have to look for a totally different kind of job... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631 "2009-06-22T19:14:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/41 "2009-06-23T22:01:55Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Hahaha, from **Opal**? Her shtick has always been to start a thread asking for help with something, discount, ignore & refute all suggestions without ever a word of thanks, and then disappearing for a while and starting the whole thing over again with a new topic. You forgot the part where the noisily grabs her toys and stomps home after everybody “picks on her.” ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/42 "2009-06-23T22:19:07Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > The toxic atmosphere of this board just saps everything out of me. I’ll have a much better chance if I don’t come around here. (And no, it’s not this thread, it’s just a bunch of stuff I’ve read recently that reminds me that people on the SDMB in general just tend to be mean and that I tend to come away feeling disillusioned, depressed, and valueless after spending time here. While there are plenty of really nice people, it’s not enough to overcome that other feeling when I’m already stressed out.) :dubious: Really? Seriously? You have shot down every suggestion in this thread. Why can’t you teach painting or art at the park district level? Why can’t you do basic Web or graphic design? How badly do you want a job? Why are the choices the Job You Want in Art or Food Service with no in between? I wish you well, but the Dopers here are neither mean nor is there a “toxic atmosphere”–rather there are well meaning people who tire of their friendly advice and suggestions being dismissed. One way to find out how to apply for a job long distance it to Just Do It. You will experience many, many rejections, but you may be successful–it’s up to you. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/43 "2009-06-23T23:42:09Z")
**eleanorigby** , don’t take it too personally. This is about episode 3,429,046 of “Watch Opal’s Ask For Advice Thread Devolve Into Annoyed Dismissal” with the sequel “Why Is Everybody Being So Mean To Me.” Stay tuned for the pity…er, I mean cast party. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/44 "2009-06-24T00:34:19Z")
Oh, I’m not taking it personally–I’ve been around long enough to recognize behavior patterns (including my own). I was just taken aback by the response to well meaning suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/45 "2009-06-24T01:30:54Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > **eleanorigby** , don’t take it too personally. This is about episode 3,429,046 of “Watch Opal’s Ask For Advice Thread Devolve Into Annoyed Dismissal” with the sequel “Why Is Everybody Being So Mean To Me.” Stay tuned for the pity…er, I mean cast party. Yes, I’ve watched this happen time and time again with this unusual person, yet I still felt compelled to offer what I hoped would be useful advice. Must be my mean streak in action. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/46 "2009-06-24T01:35:04Z")
Looking around the Boston area – hey, maybe [this place](http://www.switchboard.com/results.htm?cid=&MEM=1&ypcobrand=1&PR=&ST=&inputwhat_dirty=1&KW=buckeye&initial=&inputwhere_dirty=1&LO=Boston+MA&SD=-1&semChannelId=&semSessionId=&search.x=15&search.y=12) is hiring! ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/47 "2009-06-24T01:40:19Z")
Both my boyfriend and I got jobs in San Diego (at different times) by applying out of state (I was in WA state, he was in AZ) and saying up front (in the cover letter) we were willing to handle our own relo costs. It wasn’t a show stopper for either of us! ---
**Author:** ![busterbloodvessel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@busterbloodvessel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterbloodvessel)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/48 "2009-06-24T08:59:48Z")
It seems like half the jobs on Craigslist are looking for some sort of graphic design (at least in Portland). ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/49 "2009-06-24T09:58:47Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Yes, I’ve watched this happen time and time again with this unusual person, yet I still felt compelled to offer what I hoped would be useful advice. Must be my mean streak in action. I know what you mean. I try to help time and time again, because she appears to really need it. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/50 "2009-06-24T13:13:09Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Looking around the Boston area – hey, maybe [this place](http://www.switchboard.com/results.htm?cid=&MEM=1&ypcobrand=1&PR=&ST=&inputwhat_dirty=1&KW=buckeye&initial=&inputwhere_dirty=1&LO=Boston+MA&SD=-1&semChannelId=&semSessionId=&search.x=15&search.y=12) is hiring! Now THAT’S funny! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/51 "2009-06-24T13:47:32Z")
Despite your attitude, I’ll offer some advice. (Although it’s clear that you’re not listening, perhaps it will help someone else.) Ever heard those jokes about all the waiters in Los Angeles being aspiring actors? The reason, of course, is that very actors make a living at it and they’re all waiting tables while waiting for their big break. I suspect that this is also true for artists. (Surely you didn’t expect to graduate with a B.A. in visual arts and get a related job immediately?) For many people, a regular 9-to-5 job is nothing more than a means to an end; the thing that pays the rent and puts food on the table so they can do the things they love after hours and on the weekend. If you think of it that way, perhaps you can put up with even a soul-sucking office job. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/52 "2009-06-24T14:10:56Z")
If she has all this graphic art and web design experience, I can’t figure out why she doesn’t just go for a job in that field. There’s plenty of advice in this thread on how to seek a job long-distance, which is what she claims she wanted tips on in the first place. She seems to feel now that she’s got the degree (summa!!) she’s too good to do graphic design. 😕 Every graphic artist I work with has a bachelor’s degree. Why she spirals into “food-service it is then!” is a mystery to me. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/53 "2009-06-24T15:50:36Z")
**Ellen** –I wouldn’t worry about it. Why **Opal** doesn’t contact her old school and ask for the very help she is asking for here (as well as possible leads in the Boston art scene, which with the Cape right there, is a thriving world), is beyond me. This is pure speculation, but I think she may well have wanted one of us to give her a recipe on How To Get A Job In Art While Meeting All Her (unspoken) Criteria, Most Importantly, One That Is Worthy Of Her. In this job market, there is some dark humor to be had about that attitude. Or she can flip burgers at the local Friendly’s. Oh, wait–she can’t–they want (and can hire these days) experienced short order cooks. Hmm… makes phone sex operator look more appealing every day! ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/54 "2009-06-24T17:04:47Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > If she has all this graphic art and web design experience, I can’t figure out why she doesn’t just go for a job in that field. There’s plenty of advice in this thread on how to seek a job long-distance, which is what she claims she wanted tips on in the first place. > > She seems to feel now that she’s got the degree (summa!!) she’s too good to do graphic design. 😕 Every graphic artist I work with has a bachelor’s degree. Why she spirals into “food-service it is then!” is a mystery to me. She’d still be competing with folks whose actual degrees are in graphic design. I’ll have to ask one of our painting alums what they actually end up doing after graduation. I’d say illustration, but there’s a degree for that too. :smack: Meanwhile, look at me. I have a degree in history from a school that specializes in teaching, aeronautics and business. Yeah, that’s why I’m an administrative assistant. ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/55 "2009-06-24T19:06:42Z")
Ah, god ol’ OpalDramaqueen again. > [@Koxinga](#): > > Looking around the Boston area – hey, maybe [this place](http://www.switchboard.com/results.htm?cid=&MEM=1&ypcobrand=1&PR=&ST=&inputwhat_dirty=1&KW=buckeye&initial=&inputwhere_dirty=1&LO=Boston+MA&SD=-1&semChannelId=&semSessionId=&search.x=15&search.y=12) is hiring! I LOL’d! ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/56 "2009-06-24T19:52:01Z")
> [@Caricci](#): > > I’ll have to ask one of our painting alums what they actually end up doing after graduation. My daughter who has a new degree in Fine Art is working at a stained-glass studio; they make all kinds of glass art in addition to windows (both traditional and contemporary). She found the job while she was still in school. It’s a good fit for drawing/painting/sculpture artists, I think. \ They created many new stained glass windows from salvaged windows, for some churches on the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Katrina. I thought that was so neat that she had the chance to work on those beautiful historic windows.\ ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/57 "2009-06-24T20:49:26Z")
A girlfriend of mine who teaches art, lives and breaths the art community said to me “everyone I ever know who has set out to SERIOUSLY make a living as a fine artist has done it. It sucks starting out, some of them don’t live well, but they all manage to keep a roof over their heads, feed themselves, go out for dinner once in a while doing what they love.” The theatre geek and music geek in the room agreed. If you SERIOUSLY set out to make a living doing what you love, and are content with a lower standard of living while you struggle (or have a supportive spouse), are willing to make sacrifices for it (grabbing opportunities even if it means spending three weeks painting at a resort in South Dakota every summer as the resident artist - a job my step mother in law has had for ten years) you will build a career around it. Do your art. Work at a “feeding yourself” job only to feed yourself - try to make as much as you can doing what you love. Work to establish gallery contacts and contacts in arts organizations in your new location. Being an artist is a risky endevor. But if you wanted security, you’d have become a tax attorney. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/58 "2009-06-24T22:57:25Z")
There are many, many jobs that have a creative component if you open your mind to possibilities. There are also many ways to use artistic skills and training. I thought artists were supposed to be outside of the box thinkers? ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/59 "2009-06-24T23:10:49Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > My daughter who has a new degree in Fine Art is working at a stained-glass studio; they make all kinds of glass art in addition to windows (both traditional and contemporary). She found the job while she was still in school. It’s a good fit for drawing/painting/sculpture artists, I think. > > \ They created many new stained glass windows from salvaged windows, for some churches on the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Katrina. I thought that was so neat that she had the chance to work on those beautiful historic windows.\ That sounds so awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631/60 "2009-06-25T00:06:54Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > A girlfriend of mine who teaches art, lives and breaths the art community said to me “everyone I ever know who has set out to SERIOUSLY make a living as a fine artist has done it. It sucks starting out, some of them don’t live well, but they all manage to keep a roof over their heads, feed themselves, go out for dinner once in a while doing what they love.” The theatre geek and music geek in the room agreed. If you SERIOUSLY set out to make a living doing what you love, and are content with a lower standard of living while you struggle (or have a supportive spouse), are willing to make sacrifices for it (grabbing opportunities even if it means spending three weeks painting at a resort in South Dakota every summer as the resident artist - a job my step mother in law has had for ten years) you will build a career around it. I wonder to what degree self-selection is at work, though. Surely there are some people who love art but aren’t very good at it? By the time they join the community of self-supporting professional artists, there’s probably no question that their skills are up to snuff. But the ones that suck probably wouldn’t ever get to that point and make your girlfriend’s acquaintence. Or so I guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-i-have-a-college-degree-i-have-to-look-for-a-totally-different-kind-of-job/500631.md?page=4)