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IT Certification Could Be a Short-Term Solution to a Long-Term Goal

10/10/2017

4 Comments

 
Dear Papabear, 

So I'm having trouble with getting out of my toxic household and commissions haven't been of much help. My job has cut my hours and I feel very lost on how to escape. Been trying to apply to other jobs but so far I've been getting silence and a mountain of rejections. How can I get out of this mess as quickly as possible?

Blitz

* * *


Hi, Blitz,

I'd like to have more information before I offer advice on this one, please. Here are some questions:

1. What education do you currently have?
2. What is your current job?
3. What are your career goals?
4. What types of jobs are you applying for?
5. Are you living in a small community with few opportunities, or a large one?
6. What job skills do you currently have?

Answering these will help.

Hugs,
Papabear

* * *
  1. Nearly done with my A.A. for Art/Art Education
  2. Currently working as a biller/authorization specialist at a psychology office. The pay is abysmal now that my hours are cut, making it harder for me to move out.
  3. My career goals are to get to combine what I love and live for (which is art) with trying my best to help people out, whether it's to entertain (video game industry) or to comfort with the help of creativity (art therapy).
  4. Been applying to are multitude of store clerk/cashier jobs and a few fast food places. Still nothing from any of them.
  5. I live in a fairly medium sized community but nobody really interacts with each other so... it's a little lonely here. And as far as I'm concerned, opportunity doesn't really present itself much over here given how expensive everything is. Florida is notorious for being expensive.
  6. I'm currently certified with using Microsoft Office (even have a certificate for it. Completed the testing during High School). I now have plenty of experience with customer service over the phone and I have developed decent communication skills. I'm fluent in both English and Spanish whilst having a vague understanding of written French (I can roughly translate some of it).

Blitz

* * *

Hi, Blitz,

Art therapy can be an immensely satisfying job. I have a friend who is an art therapist in Fresno and he enjoys it greatly. But to get a job in that field you really need at least a master's degree, so after you get your AA, you will need a minimum of three more years of college education. As for working in the video game industry, if you mean as a programmer or designer, you would also need considerably more training. This is an incredibly competitive industry, and only the most avid people who eat, breathe, and live video games have any chance of getting a job. From your email, it doesn't sound to me as if you have the obsession and passion required to succeed here (could be wrong; could be a lot you haven't told me yet).

On the short term, if you are simply looking to get some kind of full-time job as a clerk or other similar position, then it would seem to me that being bilingual in Miami would be an enormous benefit; if you don't already do so, you should play that up when you apply to jobs in your area.

Since you are interested in finding something that will help you get out of the house sooner, and because it sounds like you're good with computers, I would like to recommend that you start studying to get an IT certification of some sort. There are a wide variety of certifications available, and many of them can be accomplished in a matter of weeks or months. You can also make good money in areas such as network engineer, systems administrator, or (an area that is hugely short of people right now), some type of security analyst.

If I were you, this is the course I would steer toward for the short-term, at least. Continue to look for the jobs you are seeking now, but apply to a good IT school and get yourself certified. Then find a better-paying job, move out of the house, and, as time allows, seek your preferred degree in the arts.

I hope that is helpful!

Hugs,

Papabear
4 Comments
Blitz link
10/10/2017 09:33:05 pm

I've grown up with video games since I was about 2 thanks to my older half-sister, my first video game being Pokémon Yellow. I'm definitely passionate about games. Only reason that I don't openly state it much is because I've been discouraged so often by my dad in such a negative way to pursue it. Got to the point where I got sick often and didn't even want to show up to class because my dad kept shoving it in my head that useless to the family given that I'm not going to become a surgeon (he only cares about my grades over my well-being, not to mention that he berates me about my depression and thinks that I'm faking it). I'm fault decent at computers so it wouldn't hurt to dabble in more IT related things, I've heard that IT people get paid some decent cash but do unfortunately have to deal with the *ahem* ignorance of certain individuals so it does become worrisome and frustrating. I frankly don't mind putting in more time to my education just to get a better job. I honestly just want to gtfo of this house. It's not doing me any favours, all things considered.

When applying for jobs, I always state that I'm fluent in both English and Spanish. Heck, I even add my volunteer work that I did for community service hours back in high school. I remember applying to a Petsmart only to get a rejection letter saying "sorry, you don't have enough experience." It frankly doesn't make any sort of send to me and it confuses me that they considered my volunteer work to be absolutely nothing. It counts as experience, especially since all of them revolved around interacting with people.

I'll continue the job search, but for now I'm honestly worried about how I'm going to leave this place and manage to finish my education with this severe lack of funds.

Reply
Blitz link
10/11/2017 03:44:14 am

Made a few typos when writing this

*that I'm useless

*fairly decent

*sense to me

Reply
Papabear
10/15/2017 12:48:18 pm

I see. Rather narrow minded of your father to think only being a doctor is worthwhile. Some of the wealthiest people in the world are IT people. Seems you could convince him of that, but maybe not. I understand you are anxious to leave the house. If you do manage to do so and are short of funds, you can always apply for scholarships, grants, and loans. Shop carefully when it comes to loans, of course. If you do decide to continue your education, talk to a financial aid counselor at the school of your choice. I don't get PetSmart's reaction. You don't need a lot of experience to work minimum wage at one of their stores. Sheesh. Anyway, wishing you much luck! Never give up! You'll get there if you are persistent! HUGS

Reply
Blitz link
11/1/2017 04:08:06 am

I appreciate your sound advice. I'll do my best to attempt to make things better. In terms of the loans, yeah I definitely need to tread carefully. Those things can turn on people really quick and I do not wish to fall victim to that like most other people who succumb to that do. My father is a very heavy set person when it comes to his views/mentality so this man will never change his mind (given that it took me nearly 4 hours to prove to him that same-sex marriage was legalized across all 50 states and even then he called me a liar about it to my face).

Anyways, I thank you once again for your added advice and concerns on the matter. I will be definitely taking these into account as I continue looking for a way to improve my living conditions.




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