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Antiwork

Genuine disillusionment with finding work, work culture, and co-op

I'm sorry if my post comes off as rambling or if I'm venting frustration. I feel as if my problems, in comparison to the genuinely greater issues people are currently facing. I currently am in university and trying to find a co-op job, I've been trying to do so since the end of January but have had no luck. Several months later and I still don't have a job and I never expected the severe mental distress that came with it. I'm spoiled because I'm in a position where I don't need to work, but the pressure I'm getting from family and friends to find a job is anxiety-inducing. It reached a peak during the exam period, where I essentially entered long depressive episodes and continually had suicidal thoughts. While I was able to push back the worst of my mental health problems, the combination of anxiety and depression are…


I'm sorry if my post comes off as rambling or if I'm venting frustration. I feel as if my problems, in comparison to the genuinely greater issues people are currently facing.

I currently am in university and trying to find a co-op job, I've been trying to do so since the end of January but have had no luck. Several months later and I still don't have a job and I never expected the severe mental distress that came with it. I'm spoiled because I'm in a position where I don't need to work, but the pressure I'm getting from family and friends to find a job is anxiety-inducing. It reached a peak during the exam period, where I essentially entered long depressive episodes and continually had suicidal thoughts. While I was able to push back the worst of my mental health problems, the combination of anxiety and depression are still rather ever-present. While some friends have tried helping with my resume and interview practice, the majority have seemed unsympathetic to condescending. Most either tell me I haven't been trying hard enough and that because of my laziness I waited too long. For that reason, I've kind of cut most of my contacts off, except for a few who I know aren't going to chastise me for my position.

What makes things worst, at least for me, is knowing there are so many less fortunate people in far worst positions. I have been trying to find one to the best of my ability, but that sort of answer doesn't seem to be good enough. Am I being selfish wanting to find a good job for co-op, knowing full well countless people are either struggling to find jobs to survive or suffering from far worse conditions in their workplaces?

r/antiwork has genuinely been a great place for me to understand the workplace and what needs changing, but I'm afraid that I can't even get into any workplace to do so. I feel like I'm unemployable, that I don't have the skills or talent to get hired, with no matter what I do not being enough to maintain pace with friends or former colleagues. Am I genuinely selfish for wanting to find a job and what should I do in my position?

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