Finding work after graduation

[co0kiedoughh]

Hi everyone,

I am currently in my final semester of my masters for accounting, with no extracurriculars nor much experience and I feel hopeless.

I have social anxiety issues which also lead me to have poor social/communication skills and have low self esteem. I never really had the courage to attend any career fairs or networking events nor volunteer. I was planning to bring up some courage to start working on this this year but with the current circumstances.... (I live my parents who are 60+ with poor health).

I am 27 y.o. yet only have ‘2 years of retail experience’ ... which I really wouldn’t consider as experience as it’s my mum’s business which has already closed down.
I’ve applied for some internship programs during the first year of my masters degree, but wasn’t successful. I was able to get one interview but I got far too nervous during the interview I stuffed it up. For our uni’s internship program I was able to reach the ‘assessment centre’ stage. However, I completely freaked out during the presentation and wasn’t able to make it through.

I am completely lost and I’m not sure what to do at this point....? I haven’t gone to a counsellor because I don’t want my parent to find out about this (they have my Medicare card and would ask where I go..since I don’t have any friends).

I am no longer eligible for internships, not enough experience for a graduate program...and I am hopeless at interviews. I really don’t know what to do at this point in time...?

[Croix]

Dear co0kiedoughh~

Welcome here to the forum, a good idea, though with an anxiety condition it must have been hard to make that first post.

Having just about completed your masters says awful lot abut you, intelligence, self appliance and mental stamina stand out straight way.

Living at home has lots of advantages, however it can cause one to defer to parents overmuch. May I suggest that you do get some medical support for your anxiety condition? There is nothing wrong with telling your parents your end-of uni situation is worrying you overmuch and that you want to see a doctor. I'd be pretty certain they would understand even if they have not been in the same situations themselves.

I found my anxiety condition steadily worse until I had competent medical help.

Getting that support may help you in the next step towards employment. Although you at present do not feel confident in interviews I would think the friendly and and person-valued atmosphere of volunteering (yes, I know what you said) could suit you. Volunteering, to be pragmatic, helps on a CV and also quite often leads to paid work.

Just about all social assistance organizations are stretched at the moment , and you might be able to select one that has a position to suit you. Financial advice (after training), or if talking is not your forte perhaps a food bank, otherwise maybe sorting donations, the list is endless.

What do you think?

Croix