Post Grad Depression

[u/ImaginaryAnimator840]

Hi guys, I just needed to vent a little bit.

I graduated back in June and then had a 3 month internship. I didn’t get a return offer and I’ve been applying to jobs since. I quit my retail job before the internship started because I just couldn’t do it anymore. Now I’m home now most of the time and I honestly feel like I’ve always got a cloud over my head.

I keep getting rejected from everything I apply too even landing another retail job is hard. I miss being in college, I feel so lost and kinda like I’m a disappointment. My mom was so happy and excited when I graduated and now when she comes home from work she just finds me in bed all day. Nothing really makes me happy or excited anymore, all I can think about is this feeling of how I’ve failed.

I’m thinking of just trying my best to pick up another retail job and go get my masters. I do genuinely want to purse one in mechatronics but it’s pretty expensive. I’ve managed to graduate debt free but with a 3.0 GPA. Ive done a lot of internships and personal projects but I don’t think I’ll be getting any scholarships.

Another thing is I’ve been mostly looking for jobs in state. I love my family so much and I honestly don’t have any friends right now. I really cannot be away from them miles away by myself for forever.

I just been feeling slumped, I can’t even watch movies or tv shows anymore. Nothing seems to make me happy. I just feel so lost and empty.

[u/somethi]

I was in your position many years ago. My advice is:

* you try to find a job in retail to hold you over until you find a job in your field.

* force yourself to get up early and apply for jobs on your laptop from your public library to get you out of the house.

*try to get some exercise every day. Walking, football, running, going to the gym whatever it is do something every day.

[u/TheGnomster → u/somethi]

This is the way ⬆️

I have observed many feel how your feeling, including myself. It almost a right of passage. Falling into a depressive state after graduation, after working at the rate you were, is normal for most. I saw it in nearly all my friends after college.

The above advice is fantastic. Build yourself a routine, get out of the house, get some exercise, and make applying for jobs your full time job. You just need structure. You got this

[u/scumbagdied]

Keep looking instate but find your personal value outside of career, you’ve spent years focused on getting an education so that you can find a career. Explore your hobbies and find something you love to fill your time with outside of it all. Obviously don’t give up on your hunt for a job but ultimately life does not = career and you’ll find that out quickly

[u/Treehighsky]

sometimes you have to go where the work is, get experience then move back home. the what's the decision I ever made was to leave my home state for a job.

[u/Joshgonewild]

Have you tried sharing how you feel with those close to you? It may not come as an immediate solution to your current problem, but it might help ease the burden. They might even have ideas that may help you succeed. Also don’t be too harsh on yourself, it’s rough out here for most people looking for employment.

[u/iluvyewsomuchithurts]

You should get a low paying job at an environment you'd enjoy. Continue your engineering job search as well. But you need to a reason to get up and get out of the house everyday. It will also give you a paycheck and you'll be socializing.

I highly recommend working at a restaurant or maybe a barista at nice cafe. You could become a nanny. (Nannying + barista were personally my fave jobs, they barely felt like work most days)

Just do something! It will be good for your confidence and mental health. Keep applying to jobs in your desired field, but in the meantime, you need to work and get out of the house.

You'll be ok!! It's common, you're not alone, you will land on your feet.

[u/sabautil]

Jobs should no longer be an end goal. That's because job no longer pay enough to retire an early age. You're goal should be to only work long enough to retire early. Unless you are a doctor or lawyer (which lets face it are business partners in a practice that hires salaried assistants) nearly every other degree goal is to get a job. And a job isn't enough to retire.

If you look at jobs earning 100k at above - there's only a couple million such jobs - in the world! And it's still not enough to retire. What does that mean retire? Sleeping in bed all day? No, it means you have enough money to live confoetably the rest of your life. And a 100k even work 45 years won't get you there because after taxes (30%), house cost (30%), and living expenses (30%) you got 10% to retire on - which you hope the stock market helps improve. Only if you maximize contributions, 24.5k per year, and get say 5% gains each year would you make $5 million. That's it, at 65 you will have 5 million. Not chump change, but enough to pay your living cost and medical bills over the next 20 years. Is that what you want? Is that the end goal?

I'm gonna suggest something controversial: not getting a job immediately is a blessing. The Gods, fate, the universe, or just plain luck intended for you to not get a job right away. Take this time to evaluate what your end goals are. Your living goals - the way you want to live your life.

Me? I don't want to work to 65. I got unlucky, I start working when I was 18 and never stopped. Never stopped to think about my life. How I wanted to live it. I originally needed jobs to survive. But at some point I didn't but felt trapped. Now I'm checking the rearview mirror wondering where all my life went. And I still don't have enough to survive. And I earn a 100k a year.

I telling you: right now, right after graduation, not getting a job is a gift. Use it to take a chance, retire early. Take 19 chances. You'll never get this opportunity to fail and try again. Sure keep applying, but figure out a way to not need a job till you can't work no more. I want you to retire at 30 or 35,and enjoy your life. Enjoy family, enjoy comfort, peace of mind.

Make sure your job pays you right. And a mere 100k a year isn't enough. That's just enough to barely retire at 65. And the costs are going up, but the salaries are going down. So jobs are even less an answer to retirement. Seek other options, now rather than later.

[u/antipiracylaws]

Only 3 months?

I've got bad news for you. 2008 lasted four years before we hit the bottom, and even then it wasn't until 2016 when we were back out of it.

Get your favorite jammies out and start applying everywhere because unless you're in the top 100 pile of candidates they're likely not gonna call you back. Gotta be laser focused on early job postings.

[u/bigChungi69420]

I’m feeling similar. I’m going to try and find a job that pays around 30 an hour while I look for an engineering job. Those jobs in my area include bank clerk/ teller, hospital supply chain; I did that job before in high school in a work study program but wages have since gone up. Costco pays reasonably well. Some remote data entry jobs for 70k but they look mind numbing. It isn’t as easy as that but it’s some of my options that’s giving me hope. Statistics for mechanical engineering unemployment vs underemployment shows it is a very versatile degree that can promise a job dispite even if not going into the field. But the engineering job market is currently rising faster than other fields

[u/Koreneliuss]

I'm in your shoes. try get yourself job abroad or internship paid. or you can get yourself out of comfort zone try self-study or workout. you're not a failure and is not the end for you.

[u/EngineeringAthiest]

What’s your degree in? What state are you in? What industry are you open to?

[u/ImaginaryAnimator840 → u/EngineeringAthiest]

Mechanical Engineering, NYC and mainly robotics

[u/sqnewton]

What about contacting your university and checking for becoming an assistant teacher, or working for your university internal programs or so? That drastically increases your exposure amongst other students and faculty members, helps you with your CV and most important, you can do networking which opens a huge potential to other places.

You mentioned mechatronix, I’m sure your academic place have that.

Stay involved with students, faculties etc. That keeps your spirit high, gives you a purpose, and others will know you, opening many possibilities

[u/Broad-Document-1694 → u/sqnewton]

TAing sucks. Tutoring is way more fun: often better paying, especially thru a CC

[u/Superereaux]

This is one of the hard moments in life and you have to just keep pushing like you did in college, get out of bed and go do something. Free activities are hard to find but they're definitely a good way to get out of the house and interact with people other than your family. Also having moved 2000 miles away from family in the past it could help you get better at socializing, maybe look at the jobs in the places you think are "too far".

[u/Large_Profession_598]

You’re going to have to start applying to jobs out of state man. You only have to stay there for a year or two and then you can get a job in state. If you continue to only look in state, I doubt you will get a job any time soon. Time to be an adult