Stuck and depressed - don't know what to do. Advice?

M_s_Mom
Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:44:17 +0000

I would probably simply explain, if you needed to, that the Ws were due to a medical issue and that you’ve since recovered fully. You don’t have to say more. But that assumes you are applying to something, which I think is premature in your case. You don’t sound like you really know what you want to do.

With reference to next steps forward, take a look at What Color is My Parachute as a starting point, if you haven’t already. I’d also suggest you start doing informational interviews of alums from your college who are in fields that look potentially interesting, employees at your current and former organizations doing jobs that you like, and family friends and neighbors who also have jobs you think could be of interest. You are not hitting them up for a job here - you are asking questions about what they like most about their jobs, what they like least, how they prepared for that career, what the future potential is in that field, what advice they would give to someone who was interested in starting in their field, etc…(If you are sufficiently well prepared, you may find this networking produces interesting results of it’s own. I had two job offers as a result this process - albeit in a better economy than this one.)

The goal here is to learn more about potential careers before you commit to obtaining a graduate degree in that area at great personal expense. Talk to lawyers, talk to accountants, etc…

The step after that is to be really focused in your choice of internships and temp jobs so you build a resume from which to apply for permanent positions or to grad school. Have no fear of waiting a few years - many people take several years after college to decide what’s next (I took 7 years and I wasn’t that unusual.)