Long story short: I have a BS in environmental science and policy and have been trying to find a job in the field for about 2 years now but it seems like every other company that gets back to me has a similar “thanks but we think you would fit better in our $10/hr unskilled labor position” I’ve worked in a couple of jobs in construction and factories before I got my degree, is it ruining my chances?
Okay to start off this is kind of a rant to vent. I’m currently 24, living with my parents working about 70-80 hours a week at a construction company and grocery store. I make the payments on my student loans,car insurance, cell phone, help with groceries on occasion and save a small amount that’s left over.
I pretty much “did everything right.” I got straight a’s in high school played sports, did some academic extra curricular, got Eagle Scout with the bsa, and worked over the summers to save for college. I took a gap year and worked for a construction company and then started school the next fall.
I graduated a year early because of some AP credits and community college program my high school had. That was spring 2020 and since then I’ve worked for a factory that had 12 hour overnight shifts that were hell, and then the same grocery store I’m at now that won’t give benefits even when i was working well over 40hrs/week. I’m also working for a local construction company that contracts out to penndot, and according to most of the other guys it’s basically a temp position the first couple of years so I’m probably getting laid off in April.
From what I’ve seen it seems like my degree is kind of a joke anyway, but it’s still a stem field and I have my OSHA 40hr hazwoper and environmental specialist cert. Ive been thinking about going back to school for an engineering degree while my parents are still cool with me staying with them, but I don’t like the idea of more debt, and although it’s not unbearable, and I’m grateful for having a place to stay, I’d like to move out at some point. On top of that I don’t know if going to school for another 3-4years is worth it for something that’s not guaranteed, but I don’t know what else to do. I never go out and pretty much just work , sleep, and sit around on my day off because I’m always tired.