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[yasu151]

Though it was delayed a bit, I've officially been offered a position with a cable provider. It requires a relocation for me and my family, but we're incredibly excited. I've accepted, and am currently undergoing background check and drug screening. I don't forsee issues with either.

The only outstanding piece is it has an incredibly short turn-around time/start date. I may not have the luxury of providing my current employer a 2-week notice. I've been with my current employer for a considerable amount of time. Not providing a 2-week would make me non-rehirable. Should I put in a 2-week prior to the background/drug-test completing? (99.9% sure there'll be no issues.)

 

[Roland_Gunner]

The only outstanding piece is it has an incredibly short turn-around time/start date. I may not have the luxury of providing my current employer a 2-week notice. I've been with my current employer for a considerable amount of time. Not providing a 2-week would make me non-rehirable. Should I put in a 2-week prior to the background/drug-test completing? (99.9% sure there'll be no issues.)

Man, this cable company is putting you in a rough spot. The first thing I'd do is call the recruiter and explain that you want to do the right thing and give your current employer two weeks. Its surely something they want when employees quit there. If they won't budge its a judgement call. I'd give notice before the background check to avoid burning a bridge with your current company but there's a risk you wind up without anything. Really no right answer in this spot.

 

[Sora_N]

I pop in and out of this thread since I'm pretty busy doing school and still working.

Just wanted to say, don't give up to those still struggling. Tomorrow is my 1 year at my current job, and I found it randomly on craigslist so you never know, gotta keep trying. Not my dream job but I learned so much and have been developing my skills, even leadership skills which I never knew I had.

A year ago I was stuck doing late shifts at a retail pharmacy chain and struggling to find a job in my field.

 

[yasu151]

Man, this cable company is putting you in a rough spot. The first thing I'd do is call the recruiter and explain that you want to do the right thing and give your current employer two weeks. Its surely something they want when employees quit there. If they won't budge its a judgement call. I'd give notice before the background check to avoid burning a bridge with your current company but there's a risk you wind up without anything. Really no right answer in this spot.

Thanks for your thoughts! I'll mull it over this weekend. My current boss is awesome, and I think I might call him on his personal cell this weekend to ask him what he would do. It'll informally let him know I'm likely leaving, while not being official. I know things could still end badly, but I have until Monday to decide.

 

[spuckthew]

I need to hand in my resignation and month's notice today because my start date for my new job is May 2nd (I should get some leave pro-rata though), but I wanted to do it in person and my boss hasn't been in this week.

The next best thing is to call him up for a quick chat/head's up, but he's on vacation and, well, yeah. I just need to man up but it feels awkward as hell to do it this way.

 

[yasu151]

The next best thing is to call him up for a quick chat/head's up, but he's on vacation and, well, yeah. I just need to man up but it feels awkward as hell to do it this way.

Phones always feel impersonal to me as well. Making it a tad easier for me, my boss works on the other side of the country. I haven't seen him in person in 3 years, so no matter how it goes down, it won't be face to face.

 

[RustyNails]

Gaf need a quick advice for my phone screen in 2 hours.

To make things short and simple, I work in white collar IT, or thought I did. I joined the current place (big, US corporation) I'm at 3 months ago and I'm looking to switch. The reason is because this place I'm at is completely different from what I want to do. It's just 20% IT, and 80% running the business and by that I mean work with other teams and solve business problems and work with different markets. I dont want to do that and I suck at it. I never imagined myself sending out RFPs to contractors in my life. I want to work with BI tools and I get to do that but its extremely limited. The hiring manager (my boss) is a nice person but has no clue what she wants. She wanted someone good in IT and also help drive the business. Well I am too good in IT and here it feels like my wings are clipped, and I have no desire to run the business.

Should I lay it up straight to my phonescreen? What if they think I'm a job hopper? My previous job I left after 1 year too, but thats because of bad culture, merger, employee attrition, etc.

 

[Roland_Gunner]

Should I lay it up straight to my phonescreen? What if they think I'm a job hopper? My previous job I left after 1 year too, but thats because of bad culture, merger, employee attrition, etc.

Yes, be upfront about the situation with them. Lay out what you were told the jobs was and what they actually have you doing. They will be concerned that you're looking for a new jobs after three months so address this head on.

It won't help you here but I would consider just leaving your current position off your resume and 'pretend' to be at the last job. Almost no one asks to contact your current employer so just don't authorize that communication.

 

[RustyNails]

Yes, be upfront about the situation with them. Lay out what you were told the jobs was and what they actually have you doing. They will be concerned that you're looking for a new jobs after three months so address this head on.

It won't help you here but I would consider just leaving your current position off your resume and 'pretend' to be at the last job. Almost no one asks to contact your current employer so just don't authorize that communication.

I thought of doing that, my wife said the same. However in both my jobs they did background check with a 3rd party organization. I couldn't believe that they even contacted my highschool I went to outside US. So I would be taking a huuge risk by leaving it out, and if they also perform such a bg check.

 

[entremet]

Gaf need a quick advice for my phone screen in 2 hours.

To make things short and simple, I work in white collar IT, or thought I did. I joined the current place (big, US corporation) I'm at 3 months ago and I'm looking to switch. The reason is because this place I'm at is completely different from what I want to do. It's just 20% IT, and 80% running the business and by that I mean work with other teams and solve business problems and work with different markets. I dont want to do that and I suck at it. I never imagined myself sending out RFPs to contractors in my life. I want to work with BI tools and I get to do that but its extremely limited. The hiring manager (my boss) is a nice person but has no clue what she wants. She wanted someone good in IT and also help drive the business. Well I am too good in IT and here it feels like my wings are clipped, and I have no desire to run the business.

Should I lay it up straight to my phonescreen? What if they think I'm a job hopper? My previous job I left after 1 year too, but thats because of bad culture, merger, employee attrition, etc.

Those duties didn't come up in the interview process?

 

[StoneFox]

It really depends on the company, but if they were serious about the offer, then needing some time to consider is a pretty normal response to an offer. It's possible they might go down to the next person on the list, but I would make sure you keep in contact so they know you are actually interested.

I've been interviews where they outright asked if I was in the final stages at any other companies, so if it doesn't come up in the interview, I think it's ok to bring up, that way they can be aware of your situation. I would phrase it a bit different and say that you are in the final stages for some other positions and would appreciate a decision as soon as possible. But at my last interview I was pretty much told I had the job, but did have to wait for the recruiter to extend the official offer, and that took a while.

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it in mind.

 

[Mr-Joker]

Got an interview next Thursday.

Now I just need to figure out what competency based interview and Listening in is.

 

[Roland_Gunner]

I thought of doing that, my wife said the same. However in both my jobs they did background check with a 3rd party organization. I couldn't believe that they even contacted my highschool I went to outside US. So I would be taking a huuge risk by leaving it out, and if they also perform such a bg check.

Jesus, are you working for defense contractors or something? Those are the only companies I know that do stuff like that. Either way, you're right, in a field like that its best to be straightforward with everyone.

 

[RustyNails]

Those duties didn't come up in the interview process?

They downplayed it, instead they focused on their technical gaps. Partly my fault as well. I should have enquired more instead of being blinded by me getting a new job at this new big place.

Jesus, are you working for defense contractors or something? Those are the only companies I know that do stuff like that. Either way, you're right, in a field like that its best to be straightforward with everyone.

I said the same thing when I got the bg check report. It was an overkill. I worked with defense contractor/federal office too. They were thorough as well but not to this extent.

 

[entremet]

They downplayed it, instead they focused on their technical gaps. Partly my fault as well. I should have enquired more instead of being blinded by me getting a new job at this new big place.

Learning experience. I learned to pry like no one's business about the job spec and duties. Most are written terribly and lazily done.

I like this question:

"What will I be spending my most of my time on?"

 

[RustyNails]

Phonescreen went well. Recruiter even said hopefully their company will turn out to be what I'm looking for in a career.

 

[Pimplitosaurio]

They downplayed it, instead they focused on their technical gaps. Partly my fault as well. I should have enquired more instead of being blinded by me getting a new job at this new big place.

I said the same thing when I got the bg check report. It was an overkill. I worked with defense contractor/federal office too. They were thorough as well but not to this extent.

I kinda like BI, I was into that for like two years and a half, but I found that I'm a really sucky developer so here I am in another field.

I think you can tell them that you are expecting more professional growth in areas that your current employer can't offer, or something like that

About the bg check report, I had a big bg check, they drug tested(first time to me, when I worked at Sams when I was 17 they didn't do drug tests), some poligraph test, then another two tests I think even a guy went to my house to take pics or something. You would think that I work in defense or something.

I work for company that sells beauty products by catalog

 

[Wilsongt]

Applied for a lab job that a friend of mine figured I was a shoo in for. She knew a higher up there as well as others who worked there. Sent in all of my information and was feeling optimistic. Contacted my friend today and she told me they already filled the position.

First off, I am not even surprised anymore. Secondly, common fucking curteosy people. If I took the time to send in all of the required information, at least let me me know I wasn't chosen.

It truly is an employers world and they can get away with a lot of shit and job seekers just have to take it.

 

[StoneFox]

My interview today seemed to go well, I'm hoping the fact that my mom works for the same company helps me have a better chance since she already personally knows these people. Still have to decide between waiting on this job for a few weeks to get back to me, or go ahead with the kennel job...

 

[GreenTornadoX]

How did that happen? Health issues?

Morbid obesity pretty much. Got bariatric surgery last July and I'm almost 200 lbs now. I was 456 right when I had to do my 6 months of weight watchers.

 

[entremet]

Morbid obesity pretty much. Got bariatric surgery last July and I'm almost 200 lbs now. I was 456 right when I had to do my 6 months of weight watchers.

Wow. Awesome that you're getting your life back. I could imagine discrimination on someone who who is morbidly obese would be off the charts, even though it's illegal.

 

[GreenTornadoX]

Wow. Awesome that you're getting your life back. I could imagine discrimination on someone who who is morbidly obese would be off the charts, even though it's illegal.

I worked for a crappy company, but it's all cool now.. The hiring manager was a cute blonde and everyone seemed to be much nicer than my managers at my old job. Being dapper with black khakis, black polo, and a emerald green tie didn't hurt either LOL!

Thank you for the compliment!

 

[Estellex]

When are you supposed to research about the company what should I be looking for?

Any tips or hints?

 

[MC Safety]

Not getting the job is part of the process. But hiring (HR) dude made it a lot worse than it needed to be.

I submitted a test as part of the application. When I checked in as to its status, hiring dude informed me the person in charge was out of the office. Later, he told me they gave the job to a candidate who interviewed on the same date the person in charge had supposedly taken off.

All right. No harm, no foul. Either the guy misspoke or got his dates wrong. I'm not going to sweat the details. But ... hiring guy then wants me to know everyone liked my test and floated the idea of contract work. Would I be interested? I told him I'd consider any offer, but would need to know more.

Later, hiring dude pulls the rug out. There's no contract work, sorry. And this time he really did talk out of turn, suggesting work without consulting with the person in charge.

I'm glad I got a prompt response. But I could have done without hiring dude inserting himself as he did.

 

[Minamu]

Finally got a job! Only took 7 months...

Feels kinda like cheating and it's nowhere near what I've been studying for. It's a monitoring job at a security firm, and I got it because my girlfriend's colleague's husband is one of the bosses and he recommended me for the vacant spot.

Feels good to finally have something, heh, secure, on the horizon. I recently lost my apartment very suddenly as well so this job will make it easier to pay rent at the new place

Spoiler

Now, if only the place where I've applied for a once-in-a-lifetime internship would accept me, life would be aaaaall dandy! A job is great but a rare chance to work in my dream field? Come on

 

[Mashin Haters]

When are you supposed to research about the company what should I be looking for?

Any tips or hints?

companies usually have a blog. Read up on some current news they post. I would also research their social media accounts they usually post good information about their companies and other recent news there too.

 

[yasu151]

Finally got a job! Only took 7 months...

Feels kinda like cheating and it's nowhere near what I've been studying for. It's a monitoring job at a security firm, and I got it because my girlfriend's colleague's husband is one of the bosses and he recommended me for the vacant spot.

Feels good to finally have something, heh, secure, on the horizon. I recently lost my apartment very suddenly as well so this job will make it easier to pay rent at the new place

Spoiler

Now, if only the place where I've applied for a once-in-a-lifetime internship would accept me, life would be aaaaall dandy! A job is great but a rare chance to work in my dream field? Come on

Congrats! It isn't cheating. According to my college job hunting dept, it's called networking, not nepotism. I know what you mean, in that getting a job without any prior connections is a huge boost to confidence. However, a job is a job, and I apply in any manner that'll bring a successfull outcome. Congrats again!

 

[Makai]

I don't wanna go back to work. boooo

 

[Clairvoyance]

After looking for work for about a year now, I finally had an interview on the 21st of March. Two days later my references were called. Then last Wednesday, the employer's online site updated one of the (three) positions that I applied for with this:

"We have carefully reviewed your qualifications, work history and experience, together with those of other applicants. We have selected for further consideration several other applicants whose background is more closely related to our current needs. As a result, we regret to inform you that you are not being actively considered for this position.
Disposition:
You were hired for another position"

Still no phone call though, so I'm a bit confused on whether they're hiring me or not...

Anyone have any thoughts or advice? It's a position at a hospital, if that matters.

 

[entremet]

I don't wanna go back to work. boooo

How you have you been without a job?

 

[Jharp]

So Cal resident here been applying for jobs for about a year. I've secured very few interviews, though I had a very promising one with a AAA game developer back in December as an office admin and really thought I'd nailed it. Sadly, I got beat out by the one other person interviewing for it.

Since then I've been struggling to find something. I'm currently employed full time but it's dead end and the pay's shit. I have no clue what to do and near about had a panic attack thinking about the future tonight.

27, BA in English (I know, it was a fucking mistake. I wish every day I could go back to the first day of college and change my major to business or computer science.), currently making about 22k/year and living at home. Rent here is fucking insane.

Just looking to get $35-40 starting somewhere if I can, so me and the girlfriend can get a place and start saving for a house. Hopefully.

 

[hateradio]

Just looking to get $35-40 starting somewhere if I can, so me and the girlfriend can get a place and start saving for a house. Hopefully.

I hear DreamLand is hiring.

Spoiler

:\

 

[Chucker]

Oh hey, this is a thread.

My position in my office was removed after a few months of slow sales. Have been applying to at least 5 or so places a week for the past month, been on one interview, have another scheduled for Monday.

I could probably fall back into a loan officer/bank personnel role but I'm so tired of it always getting into cold calls when numbers are down. Looking strictly for an office management/data entry job for the time being.

Unless nothing comes up and I slide back into another bank job.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

I start my new job on Monday at 9AM. Let's do this!

 

[nampad]

Finally got a job! Only took 7 months...

Feels kinda like cheating and it's nowhere near what I've been studying for. It's a monitoring job at a security firm, and I got it because my girlfriend's colleague's husband is one of the bosses and he recommended me for the vacant spot.

Feels good to finally have something, heh, secure, on the horizon. I recently lost my apartment very suddenly as well so this job will make it easier to pay rent at the new place

Spoiler

Now, if only the place where I've applied for a once-in-a-lifetime internship would accept me, life would be aaaaall dandy! A job is great but a rare chance to work in my dream field? Come on

This is just how it works, at least to kickstart your career. I always felt like I want to do it on my own and struggled to get something.
Got a sweet internship to pretty up my CV due to friends and after that it was easier for me to get a good job. Now I get offers through Linked.in quite often.

If you don't use your network as an advantahe, someone else will. Safly this is how the world works.

 

[Commander Jameson]

It's probably worth distinguishing between getting recommended for roles because people have worked with you in the past and know you are good at what you do and people getting jobs they are unsuitable for simply because of their connections.

 

[Syphon Filter]

This is just how it works, at least to kickstart your career. I always felt like I want to do it on my own and struggled to get something.
Got a sweet internship to pretty up my CV due to friends and after that it was easier for me to get a good job. Now I get offers through Linked.in quite often.

If you don't use your network as an advantahe, someone else will. Safly this is how the world works.

Are you still with the place you interned with or did you switch? Also how long did you stay at the internship if you did leave?

 

[Dreamwriter]

I'm interviewing for a W2 Contract job with an hourly pay, meaning I'll be working at a company but paid by my recruiter rather than that company (and that company pays my recruiter). Would it be strange in this situation to ask for a signing bonus, once I get the job offer? (As you can tell, I'm optimistic). I'm having problems finding many discussions online about W2 Contractors at all except a whole ton of "should you be 1099 contractor or W2 contractor" threads, which doesn't apply here since I don't get the choice.

 

[Minamu]

Congrats! It isn't cheating. According to my college job hunting dept, it's called networking, not nepotism. I know what you mean, in that getting a job without any prior connections is a huge boost to confidence. However, a job is a job, and I apply in any manner that'll bring a successfull outcome. Congrats again!

Yeah I know, I nailed the interviews and was one of the very best stress test performers ever, so I do deserve it and all that I just hope there're good people there and that the job itself is fun. Due to all the secrecy, I haven't even seen my workplace yet, nor do I know if the job itself is my cup of tea. But I'm sure it'll be alright. Thanks

This is just how it works, at least to kickstart your career. I always felt like I want to do it on my own and struggled to get something.
Got a sweet internship to pretty up my CV due to friends and after that it was easier for me to get a good job. Now I get offers through Linked.in quite often.

If you don't use your network as an advantahe, someone else will. Safly this is how the world works.

It's not my first job and I'm almost 31 now, but I've been away from the job market due to higher studies, so I hope it's the same for me. Like so many others, I'm trying to break into game development, anywhere, but it's so hard to get even an interview, partly because there are so very few junior positions ever announced :/ I hope this job, although in an unrelated field, could help my chances later on. I've got four years of relevant education for my dream field and plenty of portfolio material to show my craft with, but so far, it's been way rougher than I ever thought. I hope the intern company liked my design test, but I haven't heard anything in many weeks (even after reaching out trying to get some kind of confirmation).

Any thoughts on how to deal with the feeling of being stuck? Not stuck in a dead-end job or in unemployment, but in a time and place? I've lived in my city for 6 years now, always with the intention of moving away from it (when my studies were done), but now it feels like this ain't happening any time soon so I'm getting borderline depressed, and a new job only cements my position here, it feels like :/ Not sure how to deal with that, I know that it mustn't be permanent, but it kinda feels that way anyway xD

 

[nampad]

Are you still with the place you interned with or did you switch? Also how long did you stay at the internship if you did leave?

I only stayed for the duration of the internship because it was 10.000 miles abroad from my home and staying was never a real possibility because of several issues.

I interned at a big 4 company in south east asia and back home I got positive feedback from pretty all of them which fortunately lead me to sign for another big 4.

Yeah I know, I nailed the interviews and was one of the very best stress test performers ever, so I do deserve it and all that I just hope there're good people there and that the job itself is fun. Due to all the secrecy, I haven't even seen my workplace yet, nor do I know if the job itself is my cup of tea. But I'm sure it'll be alright. Thanks

It's not my first job and I'm almost 31 now, but I've been away from the job market due to higher studies, so I hope it's the same for me. Like so many others, I'm trying to break into game development, anywhere, but it's so hard to get even an interview, partly because there are so very few junior positions ever announced :/ I hope this job, although in an unrelated field, could help my chances later on. I've got four years of relevant education for my dream field and plenty of portfolio material to show my craft with, but so far, it's been way rougher than I ever thought. I hope the intern company liked my design test, but I haven't heard anything in many weeks (even after reaching out trying to get some kind of confirmation).

Any thoughts on how to deal with the feeling of being stuck? Not stuck in a dead-end job or in unemployment, but in a time and place? I've lived in my city for 6 years now, always with the intention of moving away from it (when my studies were done), but now it feels like this ain't happening any time soon so I'm getting borderline depressed, and a new job only cements my position here, it feels like :/ Not sure how to deal with that, I know that it mustn't be permanent, but it kinda feels that way anyway xD

I am just saying you shouldn't be to proud to use your network to your advantage, doesn't matter where you are in your career.

I really can't help with the feeling of being stuck because I was at my worst too when I was unemployed. The only thing that helped me was getting out of the slump.
Though I have to say this thread helped a lot because I knew I wasn't the only one that struggled and there are some people posting their success stories.

 

[PeterLegend]

Just looking to get $35-40 starting somewhere if I can, so me and the girlfriend can get a place and start saving for a house. Hopefully.

Jumping from 22K a year to 70-80K doing office admin work in the competitive landscape of southern california? Yeah that aint happening. I live in socal too and am 27 years old too.

I majored in biology which i regret, if i could go back i would of double majored in finance and marketing. When i graduated back in 2010 i was making 30K a year, now im making 80K as a product manager. You could go back to school by taking some business classes or getting some certificates rather than a full degree which is pricey.

 

[Makai]

How you have you been without a job?

since October. I had savings.

 

[Necromanti]

I majored in biology which i regret, if i could go back i would of double majored in finance and marketing. When i graduated back in 2010 i was making 30K a year, now im making 80K as a product manager. You could go back to school by taking some business classes or getting some certificates rather than a full degree which is pricey.

What did your career path look like, if you don't mind me asking? I'm just curious as a current entry level research technician since I'm still trying to decide if, when, and where I should go for graduate school. (It's always nice to know what kind of options are out there.)

 

[entremet]

since October. I had savings.

That's a pretty long vacation

Welcome back!

 

[daveo42]

Odd question. When a company wants you to include all work history, do they really mean all of it? Like a job I had with a landscaping company when I was 15 or a manufacturing job I had 10 years I quit after a single day because I realized I didn't want to do factory work? Could I include some basic info about it in the comment section of the application to disclose this info instead? I also have contract work in my history, but at the same time it was only one job that lasted six hours.

The reason I ask is that I'm not really ashamed of that history, but I don't have any information for either company. The first I wouldn't even know how to contact that company as I basically worked under the table and the other went bankrupt during the recession because they were in car fabrication.

 

[Roland_Gunner]

Odd question. When a company wants you to include all work history, do they really mean all of it? Like a job I had with a landscaping company when I was 15 or a manufacturing job I had 10 years I quit after a single day because I realized I didn't want to do factory work?

Unless you need some kind of security clearance they don't want that level of detail. Assuming this is just a normal job I would include experience for up to a decade that was more than a couple of months. Employers can be concerned with gaps in employment. So if you lost a job in January, did temp work in February, and then got something else in March, I would just smudge things and say I left the first place in Feb. As Rusty mentioned earlier on this page, don't do this if you they're going to do a real background check.

 

[SOLDIER]

A few of my biggest questions, in the hopes of optimizing my job searching abilities:

1. My biggest, number one question is deciding what career path to take. I keep bouncing around different ideas, from going back to school to get a new education (be it something "quick" like a cert or long-term like a master's), or try to find something with my current credentials. I just don't know what I want to do with my life, or what the best opportunities are with my current skill set (along with what is realistically attainable). Obviously this is something I have to discover on my own, but I seriously need some advice on how I could find that answer.

IT and computers constantly gets brought up, but I don't know what kind of job title I should shoot for, since it's such a broad term. I just can't seem to find a reliable online source that tells me "these jobs are hot and always in demand". Job security and availability is more important to me than anything else: I want to be absolutely certain of my path before I commit to it. I don't want to jump into something and decide halfway it won't work out.

2. A big part of what makes job applying so draining is having to register and enter all my credentials over and over every time I see a new job for a new company. Am I better off just focusing on quick-applying, either with sites that have that option like Indeed or with companies I already registered for? How many resumes a day/week would be considered a progressive amount?

3. Are CVs really recommended? Is there a way to create a generic CV that could also save time in the job applying process, or should I put in the extra work to build it around every job/company I apply for?

4. Lastly, the bulk of my experience from the past decade has been online reviews for videogames. I also have a weekly podcast, a published e-magazine and no limit of written articles. Is there any way I can transform that experience into something more lucrative (and actually pays)? It doesn't necessarily have to be in the field of videogames (which in itself has proven to be borderline impossible to make a career with). Would a news studio be interested in my credentials, or some other sort of writing-related job?

 

[suberzat]

You could work for the Washington Post or something along those lines for employment.

 

[SOLDIER]

You could work for the Washington Post or something along those lines for employment.

Would you happen to know which job titles I should look at, and would cold-calling work? I was thinking maybe this is where LinkedIn would come in handy, since my profile links to my blog, podcast, written articles, etc.

I've also been curious on whether my credentials could actually land me a job at a company like Capcom or Square Enix. Perhaps community manager or some such? I have the knowledge and the writing experience...

 

[Jharp]

I hear DreamLand is hiring.

Spoiler

:\

Jumping from 22K a year to 70-80K doing office admin work in the competitive landscape of southern california? Yeah that aint happening. I live in socal too and am 27 years old too.

I majored in biology which i regret, if i could go back i would of double majored in finance and marketing. When i graduated back in 2010 i was making 30K a year, now im making 80K as a product manager. You could go back to school by taking some business classes or getting some certificates rather than a full degree which is pricey.

Sorry, I didn't mean $35-40 an hour, I mean $35-40K a year. Alot of the jobs I've been applying for and am definitely qualified for fall in that range.

I essentially have three options as of now: Law enforcement, which is great pay and benefits, and I've definitely got the passion, but something keeps holding me back. Getting some education and certification in IT, project management, etc. Or quitting my current job and hooking up with OfficeTeam, who keep sending me $20-$25/hour positions. That route's definitely the easiest, but also the riskiest. They're hesitant to work me with me so long as I'm employed full time at a company that would require two weeks notice.

I'm most likely going to take a POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training, for law enforcement) certification course this Summer in Orange County and look into joining the OC Sheriffs, OR save up a few thousand dollars, get certified for Uber/Lyft for rent/gas money, and go the OfficeTeam route.