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Over 30-years-old and stuck at a deadend job

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The Horror the horror

The Horror the horror

Banned
Jesus, when they said the past comes to haunt ya, they were not kidding, were they?

Anyway, I'll keep this short. I'm 34-years-old, and am currently stuck in a lousy AP job...essentially hunkering it down until this awful economy decides to pick up. I live in a crappy apartment as opposed to a nice home, and I've got more bills and debt than I know what to do with.

What have I been doing to get out of this rut? Well, I've tried studying for the GMAT, but I've lost so much of what I learned in high school and college (as an undergrad) that it's all taking a long time to sink in. I work out -- I mean, seriously, not like 20 minutes on the cardio machine and poof I'm gone. It's the ultimate stress reliever, because lord knows I'm stressed as a mule with its nuts wrapped in duct tape. I've been looking at other jobs, but I think there's a hiring freeze going on right now, because I remember getting more bites back in 2011 despite the fact that I've distributed my resume a lot more in 2012-2013.

I'm just stuck in a rut and don't know what to do, where to go, or how to get there. Money is tight, so the means are little.

Is there something I'm not looking at, some place I need to go or something I need to do to help me out of this? I'm running out of options, but I don't know if I've exhausted enough options that are seemingly available to me.

Thanks.
 
You're not alone man. I'm 34 too (01/79) and in a dead end job working for the state. Went from a liveable wage learning a trade, to being a secretary and barely surviving. The only difference I can see between us is that I'm married with two kids so if I fold, I take a whole family down. You don't have that burden.

Keep your head up dood. We were dealt a raw hand, being in the prime of our working life during this second American depression. It can only get better, right?

Right?
 
Keep your head up and drop this BS idea of "Waiting for the economy to get better". It means nothing, get out there and search hard, consider apply for jobs in new areas/states, move to better your life.

Edit, additionally:

Consider doing some freelance work on sites like Dice if you have the skills to get a bit of income. when you say "hiring freeze' that tells me your making excuses for your self, lots of places are hiring, you just may be hitting ones that arent right now. So research into places with growing job markets. You are single, no home, no deployments, you are in the perfect positions to take radical steps to change your life without fear of harming others, so do it now before something keeps you from it.
 
Pagusas said:
Keep your head up and drop this BS idea of "Waiting for the economy to get better". It means nothing, get out there and search hard, consider apply for jobs in new areas/states, move to better your life.
Click to expand...

I'm inclined to agree.

If you come to terms with the fact that what the economy is now is the new norm, you'll be forced to be a little more innovative and unique in your search for whatever you're looking for and how to obtain it.
 
Manmademan said:
maybe a part time gig as army reserve? extra cash, learn new skills, minimal time commitment
Click to expand...

Oh yes, this. I always told my self I'd never let my self get in debted or risk becoming homless, and if it ever came to that I'd join the reserve/national guard or look into going into the air force. Consider it, if you have a degree and a place of need in the military maybe you could even make it as an officer (though I'll plead ignorance here, I have no clue what age the military will take people in at, if 30+ is too old, or if you have to do other things to get in)
 
Pagusas said:
Keep your head up and drop this BS idea of "Waiting for the economy to get better". It means nothing, get out there and search hard, consider apply for jobs in new areas/states, move to better your life.

Edit, additionally:

Consider doing some freelance work on sites like Dice if you have the skills to get a bit of income. when you say "hiring freeze' that tells me your making excuses for your self, lots of places are hiring, you just may be hitting ones that arent right now. So research into places with growing job markets. You are single, no home, no deployments, you are in the perfect positions to take radical steps to change your life without fear of harming others, so do it now before something keeps you from it.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot.

I'm trying to go back to school, learn more and get certified in other areas, but - again - money is an issue and I'm concerned that I'd be throwing money away for degrees that won't get me any where aside further into debt. Is there something I can read - a magazine, book, or website - with continuous updates to trends in the job market and education?
 
You are not alone

36 $5,000 in Debt.

Live in a nice city (mom ownes the building though)

(Cool car but leased) I spend more than I make, and I am very depressed with where I am in life career wise.

I can't afford to marry my GF, and have kids.

I hope this changes this year.
 
where do you live? THE US is a big state. Have you considered looking for jobs outside of your city/state?

Right now, US manufcturings are having a hard time finding enough skilled employees for their factories. YOu can look into that.

If that's something you don't wanna do, then the only thing I can say is, beggars can't be choosers
 
Been there.

Am there.

31 and I've been working a shitty dead-end job at a bank for relatively low pay for nearly 5 years. I hate it and it's not anywhere near what I want to be doing with my life right now, but what I do want to do, I haven't the faintest clue. I don't have absolutely crushing debt, but I've got 8.5k in credit card/personal loan debt and on my pay that's not exactly helpful. I feel like I'm expected to be at a place in my life (settling down with a career) when I'm not anywhere near ready for that. I mostly just want to have fun and explore the world and not have to worry about money, but the older I get the more absurd doing something like that seems when it just means having to put off "getting serious about life". Am I too old for a quarter-life crisis? Maybe this is a third-life crisis...ugh
 
anything is possible if you have a clean bill of health and no dependencies. if you don't have great health there are programs out there to help you get where you want to be, especially if you're a minority.

having fun exploring the world or whatever ain't happening for most of us until we retire a decade or two before death. welcome to earth.
 
Liquidsnake said:
I can't afford to marry my GF, and have kids.

I hope this changes this year.
Click to expand...

This is my plight, currently.

Tideas said:
where do you live? THE US is a big state. Have you considered looking for jobs outside of your city/state?

Right now, US manufcturings are having a hard time finding enough skilled employees for their factories. YOu can look into that.

If that's something you don't wanna do, then the only thing I can say is, beggars can't be choosers
Click to expand...

This is very situational, in western PA for example most Manufacturers are laying off and still consistently losing business. Certain companies though, are doing the opposite, especially defense contracting companies that need skilled Machinists, etc.
 
I would have more options if you could give a little bit more background. What was your undergrad in? What other jobs have you held in the past? What is your job? AP is very broad. Are you salaried AP at a place like Wal Mart? PT AP at Target as plain clothes? Lots of options.
 
Did I just write this?

Oh wait, I didn't but sounds similar. Except that I have a mortgage on an apartment so it's hard to find another job that offers similar pay package.
 
I'm 24 but feel the same way, OP. I am always getting compliments at work (thanks for doing such a good job, wish we had two of you, always like working with you, etc), but it's so unfulfulfilling and menial. My degree has been useless to me, and the more I think about it the more I realize I want to get into something more intellectually challenging. But I can't afford to go back to school. And I know the longer I don't, the more difficult it will become. Catch 22.
 
Liquidsnake said:
You are not alone

36 $5,000 in Debt.

Live in a nice city (mom ownes the building though)

(Cool car but leased) I spend more than I make, and I am very depressed with where I am in life career wise.

I can't afford to marry my GF, and have kids.

I hope this changes this year.
Click to expand...

Does she want a huge wedding? Why don't you just do a cheapo one?

Get married in park, you'll need a permit.

Get fancy pizzas for the reception, cheap beer and Trader Joe's wine and be done with it.

I know that's not possible if she wants a traditional one.
 
You should network aggressively in whatever fields you are interested in and find out
i) what skills you need to make the jump
ii) who makes hiring decisions & what it is they are looking for (especially what problems they have that you might be able to solve)

After that you do whatever it takes to get the skills (night courses, volunteer, whatever) and network some more to let whoever makes hiring decisions know that you will be available to help them.

Also, from someone whose gone back to school in their early 30's, its tough but doable, you just need to be persistent, accept you are slower so block more time to learn difficult concepts, seek out assistance when possible and give up on much of a social life for a little while. But it is definitely doable and definitely worth it.
 
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