Fuck it all

[Selkit]

Boys and girls, I'm about ready to give up on a fruitless, three month long job search. I have been told I am "overqualified". I have received nothing but silence as a response to an absolute heap of resume chaff (Enough so, that I've burned completely through a printer cartridge and two packs of paper, then had to ask Ravenwood/Sabertooth for more). Would someone kindly explain three things to me?

How did we let ourselves get to such a state of utter servitude? Where day to day service in a corporate mill finely geared to fleece as much as possible while contributing as little as possible is the norm.

Why is it the most useless, unintelligent individuals somehow manage to stay perpetually employed, while anyone with even a modicum of intelligence or capability is turned aside, labeled 'overqualified' or 'Why are you not working in X industry on your resume'. If I was able to work in that industry and there was work in that industry, I'd work in that fucking industry. There is no fucking work in the fucking industry I have six years of on my fucking resume. Stop fucking bringing it up, employers.

What is the bloody point anymore? Forty years of the same thing, then twenty of enforced nothingness and rot when you've outlived your usefulness to whichever corporate banner you've been bound to.

Lately, boys and girls, I've had only one thought in mind: I can't make the world burn on my way out. That's about all I'm wanting for it nowadays, and as a secular humanist, there's something entirely wrong with that notion, of fantasizing about apocalypse and oblivion. But I'm at my wit's end, the last fibers on my rope, and even my own family won't help me; I am twenty seven years old. There's nearly a quarter of a million dollars held in trust for me, for education, housing, a vehicle, any basic need. A clause exists in that trust permitting the release of all funds at age 25. I'm "lying" about how bad my personal situation is, according to the soulless lump of meat holding the trust. Otherwise, no funding will be released until I'm 30.

I'm honestly starting to think it's time for Canada to get a Tunisian awakening.

[terutt]

There's nearly a quarter of a million dollars held in trust for me, for education, housing, a vehicle, any basic need. A clause exists in that trust permitting the release of all funds at age 25.

Words can't express my hatred. I'll tell you what you need. A kick in the ass. You think there's money waiting for anyone else? You piddle around for three years and get your fucking payout? You're about to get more money than people your age in this city will ever see at one time, and you're complaining. You make me sick.

Overqualified? Cheat. Leave things off your resume. You're allowed to. Pound the pavement to X Industry every goddamn day off and shake hands with everyone. Ask your friends if they know where you can get a job. And did I mention pound the pavement? Pound it like it owes you money. Anyone can send an email, and HR sites are notorious for leaving old and irrelevant job posts up. Force your resume into manager's hands, look them in the eye, and stroll out like the baaaaad motherfucker you are. Your resume should be properly typeset, in a font other than Times New Roman or Arial, be pleasing to the eye in "My god, it even has a watermark..." proportions. It should not over-glorify meaningless tasks, but get strait to the point in fifteen words or less on each point *exactly* what you did at your job. It should be no longer than one page (fiddle around with the margins if you need to), and only list the best parts of your employment. It's not a CV. Shine out.

How did we let ourselves get to such a state of utter servitude? Where day to day service in a corporate mill finely geared to fleece as much as possible while contributing as little as possible is the norm.

No one is pointing a gun to your head and forcing you into corporate servitude. There are many, many jobs and *ghasp* volunteer opportunities that let you make a goddamn difference. And that's the important part. You want to crush your soul? Corporate does a fine job. Think outside the box. Do what you truly want and never work a day in your life.

Why is it the most useless, unintelligent individuals somehow manage to stay perpetually employed, while anyone with even a modicum of intelligence or capability is turned aside, labeled 'overqualified'.

Confirmation bias.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. ~Plato

[Dallas]

Selkit, I'm not having an easy time of things either where employment is concerned and my situation is becoming increasingly dire each week that goes by, which is source of constant stress. You only have 3 years before you are basically set financially for years to come. Something a lot of us don't have the luxury of, which is no doubt going to rub people the wrong way when they read that. I too find myself envious and wishing I had such a short wait for that kind of money.

Your mention of people being in utter servitude. From my experience that is how it has always been in all my years of employment. You will always answer to someone unless you are at the top of the tree in a company. That's just how it is. Plenty of other options out there besides corporate.

I have found it's not how well you can do the job. It's how well you can charm the management, which is a practice that I have to adopt if I'm going to succeed. It's pretty cut-throat right now. You really have to sell yourself and be to the point. I can do this job and I can do it better than everyone else.
In the job market today your resume must be specific to the industry you apply. If you're applying to a retail job position yet you only have experience in another industry, it doesn't matter how many years experience you have, they are going to pass over you for someone who does have experience in that field.
If you have no experience then you need to sell yourself that much more and look at any transferable skills you can bring to the position. Omit all un-neccessary or irrelevant information from your resume. You MUST do that or employers are going to toss your resume.

There are days where I think the same things as you, which does unsettle me, holding a strong humanist view myself. My advice is if your current course of action isn't working, then you need to change tact. Look at your resume and a position you want to apply for and tailor it to be specific. Ask around and talk to people in the field you're interested in. Having contacts and those who can speak for your character and interest are very good to have. Also read up on companies and their practices, employers like those who are knowledgeable of their goals.

[RainRat]

Words can't express my hatred. I'll tell you what you need. A kick in the ass. You think there's money waiting for anyone else? You piddle around for three years and get your fucking payout? You're about to get more money than people your age in this city will ever see at one time, and you're complaining. You make me sick.

[gmod]Warning #1: Constructive criticism, fine. Disagreement, fine. Personal attacks, not welcome here.[/gmod]

[EmoFox]

There must be a way to actually use the clause, otherwise it wouldn't exist. If you can't find it, go to legal aid and have a lawyer find it for you. That's what they're there for. Even if your financial institution insists that you're lying, there HAS to be a way to prove your case.

as for job hunting, if your resume is getting tossed, see an employment councellor. That's their job, fixing your resume. Have you tried EI? from what you've written, your situation isn't as dire as you're making it out to be. Frustrating as all hell, but not nearly as dire.

[Unition]

I'm going to try to say this as politely as I can.

With a 250K trust fund coming to you in a few years, and being frustrated at not finding work in only three months of searching, do not be surprised if people are a little puzzled/unsympathetic/enraged at your post.

However I understand how certain problems seem much worse to people from certain backgrounds than others.  I am personally withholding my judgement and I wish you good luck.

This is an observation coming from someone who has had to literally eat from, and wear clothes out of the garbage at one point in my life.

[Sevrin]

Here, let me play the worlds saddest song on the worlds smallest violin for you *rubs fingers together* *sheds a single tear*  :'(

You know how much 250k is to me? that's about the amount of money I expect to come into my life over the course of the next 15-20 years kthx.
with 250k I would be set for life, I could go into real estate like my father, who I imagine would be able to help me become a successful landlord, I wouldn't have to worry about my future ever again.

You know what its like to lose 4 years of your life to depression? it means being 19 years old and under qualified to work at a mcdonalds.
You know how much time I've spent employed in the last 6 years? about 4 months, perhaps less.
If I could get a job paying 9$ an hour for washing dishes, I would be thrilled.

So sorry if I have no sympathy for your resume being too long, and your 250k not being released for 3 years.

edit: Did I mention I have trouble maintaining consciousness in job interviews? or that when confronted by anyone in a place of power for any reason I start to cry? do you know how hard it is to get a job when it takes all your mental focus just to keep your body upright, and your eyes forward and tearless? almost every job interview for me I have spent the entire thing in a daze.

[EmoFox]

Oh wow, it's become a "my horse is bigger than your horse" thread. Why am i not surprised.

Oh, right. because human compassion is dead. Come on, he reached out to us in his personal hour of distress. Yes, people have it worse, people will ALWAYS have it worse. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious of his position, which seems far better than my own right now, but it's still not a fun position to be in, it doesn't make it any less stressful or any easier for him to deal with.

So, Sevrin, do you know what its like to not have even relatively clean water to drink? No? How about how to deal with being pregnant from a rape at the wonderful age of 15? How about suffering from any number of mental illnesses, from bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder (aka borderline psychotic!), or schizophrenic, and having to keep yourself under control 24 hours a day 7 days a week? Have you ever had a child taken out of your custody and put into some shitty foster home because some one decided it would be fun to tell the ministry that you're crazy? And then after fighting for over a year to have said child returned, after proving that you're not crazy, and having the ministry's entire case fall to pieces because it simply wasn't true, have them come up with some other bullshit excuse to keep him? Have you ever been in a foster home, kept away from your parents against your will, even after telling your social worker you want to go home? Have you witnessed the multiple shooting of your family dog by police officers raiding your dad's medical marijuana grow op? Have you ever sold your body to pay the rent? Ever lost a family member to human trafficking? Cancer?

I'm sorry, but trivializing some one else's hardship just because your own sucks? Really? Come on now. Grow up. See a therapist and an employment councellor. go back to school, get qualified for jobs you want to do.

[Xen Garden]

Wanna switch positions? I'd be much happier in your position right now than my own. :( Actually I lied, I'd be excited.

[Sevrin]

Oh wow, it's become a "my horse is bigger than your horse" thread. Why am i not surprised.

Oh, right. because human compassion is dead. Come on, he reached out to us in his personal hour of distress. Yes, people have it worse, people will ALWAYS have it worse. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious of his position, which seems far better than my own right now, but it's still not a fun position to be in, it doesn't make it any less stressful or any easier for him to deal with.

So, Sevrin, do you know what its like to not have even relatively clean water to drink? No? How about how to deal with being pregnant from a rape at the wonderful age of 15? How about suffering from any number of mental illnesses, from bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder (aka borderline psychotic!), or schizophrenic, and having to keep yourself under control 24 hours a day 7 days a week? Have you ever had a child taken out of your custody and put into some shitty foster home because some one decided it would be fun to tell the ministry that you're crazy? And then after fighting for over a year to have said child returned, after proving that you're not crazy, and having the ministry's entire case fall to pieces because it simply wasn't true, have them come up with some other bullshit excuse to keep him? Have you ever been in a foster home, kept away from your parents against your will, even after telling your social worker you want to go home? Have you witnessed the multiple shooting of your family dog by police officers raiding your dad's medical marijuana grow op? Have you ever sold your body to pay the rent? Ever lost a family member to human trafficking? Cancer?

I'm sorry, but trivializing some one else's hardship just because your own sucks? Really? Come on now. Grow up. See a therapist and an employment councellor. go back to school, get qualified for jobs you want to do.

He is complaining about a large sum of money hes gonna get -large enough to change most peoples lives forever btw- and his superior education/experience, not to mention I feel this comment:

Why is it the most useless, unintelligent individuals somehow manage to stay perpetually employed, while anyone with even a modicum of intelligence or capability is turned aside

is kind of offensive, for one I feel like its insulting me, and two he assumes that people with less education and experience than him don't have trouble finding work as well, so I find it hard to stir up any sympathy for his situation, and if that makes me immature then so be it.

[Peli]

I can't really contribute to this "My woes are greater than yours thread" in all seriousness, but I'll try!

You guys don't know how hard it is to be brought up in a stable, loving upper-middle class family. ;n;

Seriously guys, give the man a break. I may not agree with everything he says (I'll most likely end up working a corporate environment, quite happily and of my own choosing), but for many it's something to despise. And there are a lot of dumb fucks who somehow seem to hold on to their jobs, many in positions of power. A cut-throat industry is soul crushing for many.  Jobs are hard to get, blah blah blah. Dunno where I'm really going with this. I agree with lying on your resume if you might be taken as overqualified.

[H u nn Y]

Here, let me play the worlds saddest song on the worlds smallest violin for you *rubs fingers together* *sheds a single tear*  :'(

You know how much 250k is to me? that's about the amount of money I expect to come into my life over the course of the next 15-20 years kthx.
with 250k I would be set for life, I could go into real estate like my father, who I imagine would be able to help me become a successful landlord, I wouldn't have to worry about my future ever again.

You know what its like to lose 4 years of your life to depression? it means being 19 years old and under qualified to work at a mcdonalds.
You know how much time I've spent employed in the last 6 years? about 4 months, perhaps less.
If I could get a job paying 9$ an hour for washing dishes, I would be thrilled.

So sorry if I have no sympathy for your resume being too long, and your 250k not being released for 3 years.

edit: Did I mention I have trouble maintaining consciousness in job interviews? or that when confronted by anyone in a place of power for any reason I start to cry? do you know how hard it is to get a job when it takes all your mental focus just to keep your body upright, and your eyes forward and tearless? almost every job interview for me I have spent the entire thing in a daze.

Oh wow, it's become a "my horse is bigger than your horse" thread. Why am i not surprised.

Oh, right. because human compassion is dead. Come on, he reached out to us in his personal hour of distress. Yes, people have it worse, people will ALWAYS have it worse. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious of his position, which seems far better than my own right now, but it's still not a fun position to be in, it doesn't make it any less stressful or any easier for him to deal with.

So, Sevrin, do you know what its like to not have even relatively clean water to drink? No? How about how to deal with being pregnant from a rape at the wonderful age of 15? How about suffering from any number of mental illnesses, from bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder (aka borderline psychotic!), or schizophrenic, and having to keep yourself under control 24 hours a day 7 days a week? Have you ever had a child taken out of your custody and put into some shitty foster home because some one decided it would be fun to tell the ministry that you're crazy? And then after fighting for over a year to have said child returned, after proving that you're not crazy, and having the ministry's entire case fall to pieces because it simply wasn't true, have them come up with some other bullshit excuse to keep him? Have you ever been in a foster home, kept away from your parents against your will, even after telling your social worker you want to go home? Have you witnessed the multiple shooting of your family dog by police officers raiding your dad's medical marijuana grow op? Have you ever sold your body to pay the rent? Ever lost a family member to human trafficking? Cancer?

I'm sorry, but trivializing some one else's hardship just because your own sucks? Really? Come on now. Grow up. See a therapist and an employment councellor. go back to school, get qualified for jobs you want to do.

Guys, can't we be a little more civil about this? It isn't about who had the worst life in the past, this isn't a competition. I really hate to see this stuff get said on the forums, because it just adds to the drama that already stands out.

Selkit, I'm sorry you're going through this right now, and I feel the same for you. I've been passing out my resume countless times and haven't received a single call from any of them, despite the fact that they told me that they were hiring at the time. Which now leads me to believe that if I don't change something about myself, that one little thing will stop me from going anywhere in life. We all suffer our own little problems in life that keep us from getting anywhere, but by doing something, just one little thing, we can sure get somewhere at least. Even if it's asking friends for help, because in any time of need, it's always good to know you've got friends who have your back.

Sevrin, I'm in the exact same boat as you, and I know how it feels to be depressed for copious amounts of time. Elementary/half of my high school years is where most of my depression comes from, the rest of it comes from what I have to live with. Though to skip all the drama, I won't say what I'm going through. Yes, like I said above, we all have these little things in our life that we suffer with, but with a little help, there's a way to get through it. If I could reach through this computer and give you a big hug, I would.. except for that's not physically possible.. TwT

EmoFox, hearing all that makes me want to come up to you and give you a big hug as well. I'm really sorry to hear that you went through all that before.. nobody should have to go through something like that, and yet it still happens.. and the best we can do is keep our chins up and move on. There's still more to come in the future, so let's make the best of it right now. It isn't the end of the world, and it doesn't have to be. Working together as a team helps out more than fighting the battle alone. You've got Jester and Rain supporting you all the way, they are there with you when you need them. And that's the best thing about having a sibling, is having someone there to help you up when you fall. I personally don't have any siblings of my own, but I've always got my friends to go to when I need them the most.

I hope this post makes a little difference to what happened in the thread, though I think not possible, I hope so, even in the slightest way. We all have our own hardships that everyone else see's differently in their own eyes, and all we can do is just get through everything one step at a time. We can't give up now without a fight.

[Carthage]

Everybody has hardships of some kind in their lives, some different than others. Everyone deals with those hardships in a different way, and everyone has a different support structure to help them.

Always remember, that no matter who you are, noone will ever see the world the way you do. Experiences, education, beliefs, all of these things colour how we see the world and the people around us. That includes the experiences of the people around us. Do not judge them for things they cannot change about themselves.


I grew up in a middle-class family. Both my parents held stable, well-paying jobs through my entire youth. I went to a good school, and went to an excellent post-secondary institution.

I have also spent more time in hospital in my 29 years than most people will in their entire lives. As of May this year four of my joints will have metal in them, two of those made of metal.


These and other experiences will always affect how I perceive the world, and how I choose to respond when provoked.

Being compassionate may be hard, especially when you see someone much better off than you, but some of you remember what it's like to feel no compassion. When noone is there to help you up it only makes things worse. If you can choose to not judge someone for the things they cannot change and be the compassionate person they need in what, to them, seems like a bottomless pit, you can make everyone a little bit better off.

[Sevrin]

You know, perhaps I was a tad hostile, like I said I felt insulted by his comment so I got somewhat defensive, I went for a run and now I feel a bit better, I don't want to come off as an arse, and I really do care for others, so I'll try this again:
Selkit, finding a job is hard, its something everyone is struggling with right now, 3 months may have been a long time to search for a job several years ago, but its fairly standard now, just because its tough doesn't mean you should get frustrated or give up, sooner or later you will find a job, just keep at it! good things come to those who wait.
focusing on all the negatives will only make you feel negative yourself, you live in one of the best places on the planet, and you are surrounded by people who care for you, focus on that, give yourself reason to be happy, if you are happy good things will happen to you, this is coming from a lifelong skeptic, positive thoughts and actions beget positive consequences, in the words of a wise and famous man "don't worry, be happy"

You're a nice guy Selkit, I'm sure you didn't mean to be insulting and I'm sorry I got hostile with you.

[MurphyErasmus]

Selkit, when you find a job you even remotely want, GET ON THEIR ASSES. I've gotten my last three jobs by calling, checking up on my position with the hiring manager, and bugging the shit out of the managers until they hire me. Seriously.

Right now, I'm applying at Build-A-Bear, and every time they tell me "oh, our manager will be looking at resumes within a week," I note down the day the manager's supposed to get to my resume. If that date passes, I only leave it two days at MOST before I call and ask about the status of my application.

This has gotten me more interviews than I can count - and trust me, I'm just a nerdy little college kid with a resume full of customer service jobs.

Keeping a job, on the other hand, is another matter <.<  god i love my health.
</sarcasm>