How long after college till you landed your dream job or a permanent career job.

[BZ770 2]

I worked for the same large company for 5 years out of college. I saw them getting bought out and left for a sales job that tanked out after Hurricane Katrina. Since then I have worked in Industrial Construction, there is good money in this field, but its never permanent. I applied for a job last year with a company took their tests had an interview and finally got called for a job offer this week. It was 1 year and 2 months ago since my interview. So altogether After College I've had 5 jobs in seven years, not a great track record. But now I finally have one that I can retire from and not have to worry about trying to get that great job. So what's your stories.

[WarEagle007 1]

I'm one of the lucky ones.

I interviewed for a job with the federal government two months after graduation. I was offered the job a few months later and have not looked back since!!

[AUJarhead 70]

The Auburn Placement services did an incredible job with the MIS majors in 1997. I graduated on Friday, and literally started work for a consulting firm on Monday. In 11 years, I've worked for 4 consulting firms. Is it my dream job? No, as I travel 100%. But, I can't complain, it's kept me actively employed doing things that I like to do.

[LegalEagle 22]

The first morning I was home after finishing at Auburn, my Dad knocked loudly on my bedroom door. "What," I asked. He opened the door and said loudly, "[H]ave you got a job yet?" That day I got a job to start Monday at a Zippy Mart for $1.65/hr. I worked one day there, then got a job at a peanut storage warehouse making $1.85/hr. Thinks kinda went to crap after that.

[Justin5 20]

I don't have my dream job yet, but I have gotten my foot in the door. I graduated in May, worked for the city of Richmond for a while, and then in October got my job with a Congressman.

Since then things have really gone my way with promotions.

[rexbo 104]

I went to work for the Navy as an engineer right out of college in 1985. My 'dream position' was when I was selected for a collateral duty position as our International liaison; I've been to Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Singapore and all over Europe...

[MDM4AU 338]

1 month. I did work full-time all the way through school with the exceptions of 2 terms so I had a respectable resume. I interviewed 4 months before I graduated and they waited for me to finish.

[otterinbham 0]

Well, first thing's first. You're 29. I know you feel like you've been around the block, but you'll probably switch jobs several more times. And that's okay. The age of the Company Man is over. And while you love this job right now, there's no such thing as a permanent position.

My personal opinion is that it's very hard to be happy unless you work for yourself. Even then it's a double-edged sword. After all, after 13 years of self-employment, I can tell you that my boss is the most demanding SOB on the planet. He makes me work nights, weekends, and holidays. But I wouldn't work for anybody else (And there have been offers).

[BamaGrad03 0]

Yeah, gone are the days where you get a job out of school, or some sort of apprenticeship...work 40 years...and get your gold watch.

I tell people I interview for entry level software positions:if you want to do it right, expect to change jobs no fewer than 3 times in your first 5 years.

You are ALWAYS more valuable ($$ wise) to the company across the street with your experience than you are with the company where you cut your teeth.

[WarEagle007 1]

Well, first thing's first. You're 29. I know you feel like you've been around the block, but you'll probably switch jobs several more times. And that's okay. The age of the Company Man is over. And while you love this job right now, there's no such thing as a permanent position.

My personal opinion is that it's very hard to be happy unless you work for yourself. Even then it's a double-edged sword. After all, after 13 years of self-employment, I can tell you that my boss is the most demanding SOB on the planet. He makes me work nights, weekends, and holidays. But I wouldn't work for anybody else (And there have been offers).

I have to disagree with you, at least in my case. Now, I'm only 23, I know I have a lot to learn, but I'm not going anywhere. My job is very rewarding, offers me some awesome travel opportunities, and pays very well. I love working for the federal government! I'm not going anywhere, unless it is to move up to DC for a promotion.

[LegalEagle 22]

Well, first thing's first. You're 29. I know you feel like you've been around the block, but you'll probably switch jobs several more times. And that's okay. The age of the Company Man is over. And while you love this job right now, there's no such thing as a permanent position.

My personal opinion is that it's very hard to be happy unless you work for yourself. Even then it's a double-edged sword. After all, after 13 years of self-employment, I can tell you that my boss is the most demanding SOB on the planet. He makes me work nights, weekends, and holidays. But I wouldn't work for anybody else (And there have been offers).

I have to disagree with you, at least in my case. Now, I'm only 23, I know I have a lot to learn, but I'm not going anywhere. My job is very rewarding, offers me some awesome travel opportunities, and pays very well. I love working for the federal government! I'm not going anywhere, unless it is to move up to DC for a promotion.

Awesome travel opportunities . . . Geez, our tax dollars at work!

[WarEagle007 1]

Well, first thing's first. You're 29. I know you feel like you've been around the block, but you'll probably switch jobs several more times. And that's okay. The age of the Company Man is over. And while you love this job right now, there's no such thing as a permanent position.

My personal opinion is that it's very hard to be happy unless you work for yourself. Even then it's a double-edged sword. After all, after 13 years of self-employment, I can tell you that my boss is the most demanding SOB on the planet. He makes me work nights, weekends, and holidays. But I wouldn't work for anybody else (And there have been offers).

I have to disagree with you, at least in my case. Now, I'm only 23, I know I have a lot to learn, but I'm not going anywhere. My job is very rewarding, offers me some awesome travel opportunities, and pays very well. I love working for the federal government! I'm not going anywhere, unless it is to move up to DC for a promotion.

Awesome travel opportunities . . . Geez, our tax dollars at work!

Strictly for work purposes!

[AU_tiger_2000 0]

I went to work for Lockheed straight out of school. I was very lucky, now young Aerospace Engineers are lucky to work on one new program in their career, I got to work on streamlining the F-22 assembly line and design work for the F-35 JSF Marine, Air Force, and Navy variants (don't let the propaganda fool you, as far as internal structures goes they are not "all the same airplane"). I left there after 6 years to come to Huntsville working on Ares I for NASA and here I'll stay if the government doesn't kill the program or the Ares V program. If it does I'll move to one of the other defense contractors in the area or pull up stakes and maybe head to Mobile to work on the new tanker.

[otterinbham 0]

Well, first thing's first. You're 29. I know you feel like you've been around the block, but you'll probably switch jobs several more times. And that's okay. The age of the Company Man is over. And while you love this job right now, there's no such thing as a permanent position.

My personal opinion is that it's very hard to be happy unless you work for yourself. Even then it's a double-edged sword. After all, after 13 years of self-employment, I can tell you that my boss is the most demanding SOB on the planet. He makes me work nights, weekends, and holidays. But I wouldn't work for anybody else (And there have been offers).

I have to disagree with you, at least in my case. Now, I'm only 23, I know I have a lot to learn, but I'm not going anywhere. My job is very rewarding, offers me some awesome travel opportunities, and pays very well. I love working for the federal government! I'm not going anywhere, unless it is to move up to DC for a promotion.

Well, yes and no. Unless you willfully remain in your current emotional state, you'll change more in the next five years of your life than you will for the rest of your days. Things that seem to be great to you right now may prove total rubbish to you by the time you're 28 or 30. Just trust me on this.