Hey everyone, I'm checking out this subreddit for the first time. After reading a few recent posts, I thought I'd post something and ask if anyone else has had similar experiences.
I graduated from college five years ago with a music degree, and I have been chronically underemployed ever since. That's not to say I haven't been busy in that time, quite the contrary actually. On top of internships and other short-term jobs, I've gone to career counseling, I've stayed active in the communities I've been in, I've been making a lot of music (writing, singing, and performing, etc.), and I've done my best to make as many connections as I possibly can, and I legitimately think I've done a good job of all of that up to this point.
After managing to live alone for two years, I had to move back in with my parents a while back, which in itself isn't too bad, except for that they sometimes make snide, condescending comments about my lack of employment. I often find myself having to basically defend honor from accusations of laziness or lack of willingness to work. Even when I tell them stories of the BS I've come across in the process of job hunting and how I've been putting in the work to try to make something work out, nothing seems to help.
And it's not just in the home either; I've noticed that just about everyone treats me differently when they find out I'm unemployed (pity, condescension, even anger sometimes). When the topic comes up, I often tell people that I'm looking for work, but haven't found anything yet, and they usually scoff my supposed lack of work ethic and how it's my fault for not just taking any of the jobs available. After all, there are pLeNtY Of jObs AvaiLAblE nOWaDaYS, and WhY diD YoU geT a MYoÖsiK deGREe iF YoU waNt eLECtrICity AND a rOof oVEr YoUR heAd??
But when it comes to types of jobs I'm looking for, it's not just with the goal of moving out of my parents' in mind. I'm also an expensive guy to keep healthy, and I often have to spend over $1000/month in medical and therapeutic costs just to keep myself functional (gotta love the US “Healthcare” system), so it's like I have to pay rent twice – once to keep a roof over my head and twice just to live in my own body.
Honestly, I wonder if it's worth moving abroad to try to start over in a place where I can afford to live and function and where my talents and experiences would actually be valued.
I guess all of this is to say, I'm having a really hard time navigating this world as a young, underemployed person, and I don't know what all I can do about it. It feels so hopeless sometimes. Honestly, I don't even know if I'm writing this for advice or just hear others' experiences or whatever, I just thought I'd write this to see what everyone has to say, because it seems like I'm not alone.