Topic : Career Goals

Hello everyone,I'm new here. As far as my job, I work at Bi-Lo grocery store as a bagger. I love the work that I do and my teammates, but am concerned about not having benefits.I have been working with Bi-Lo for almost 7 months and they purposely keep you under 35 hours a week so you cannot be full time.All employees working on the front of the store are part time and some of them have been working there as long as 16 years.I know if I could get a different position in the store such as working in produce, I could possibly get full time benefits.My question is, how long should I stay at this job? I think benefits are important, but i also want to enjoy my job.I know I need to get out of my comfort zone.

Hi, I am a singer as a hobby and I am looking to reform a successful group that I had in a major city back in the 90's. I have since relocated back to this major city and even hooked-up with one of my old band mates. The problem is all I do is sing and in my former project (in the 90's), I was the only lead singer.

 

My old bass player had a readily available drummer and guitar player to finish the band out. The problem is the drummer wants to also do some lead vocals. Should I allow this drummer to also sing some lead tunes? I guess I will just sit out whenever he is performing, but a part of me wants to do all of the songs (since I do not play another instrument), but I'm afraid if I go this route, the drummer will not want to play with me at all!

 

Would ya'll rather see a female band sharing the vocals or doing all 40 songs per show by herself, vocally?

 

Also, why can I not share the vocals without it being a problem?? I feel like I have to share the vocals simply because I am a woman. What do ya'll think?  Thank you!!!

I used to be in similar situations many years ago and this is how I handled it.

I say share the vocals and the songs as not to have conflicting egos and all. It also gives the band some variety and no ill feelings between the singers. You are going to maybe have to learn and sing harmony with this drummer.

When the drummer is singing you can like I used to do play some other simple type of

percussion instruments like tamborine, bell etc. I cant think of the name of some of those

small cheese grater type small percussion instruments. Its been too long for me.

Oh; Another thing you can play would be morrocos. Boy am I rusty.

If all else fails you can always sit out when the drummer is singing and take a break but

announce you are taking a break and give him the stage.

Take Care

Thanks for your help. It was really good advice.

Jerk...........did you even read what I wrote???    So tell me, what would YOU do.......I want to know!!!    That is why I wrote the message to begin with!!!  duh!!!!

29 year old male with degrees in Forestry and Mechanical Engineering.

Since leaving school and starting to work, I have suffled from job to job.  Seems I just can't find the passion for what I am doing....I haven't enjoyed work, or found it rewarding other than monetarily.

So I will ask.  How do you know if your career choice is right?  Many say that you should just know, or that if you think of what you want to be your path will become clear.  I'll tell you, I have tried for years, I am not clear on where or what I want to be.  I find it depressing, and am unmotivated because I feel I am just towing the line and taking jobs I am skilled for but will end up being more of the junk which I just left.

How do I figure out where I should be.....I am tired of working for money alone.  I need passion, motivation, feel like I am doing what I choose, and being a success because I am doing what I was meant and want to do with my life.

I am so sorry to hear about your situation.  Let me ask, are you happy with your life outside of work?  What do you enjoy doing?  Do you like to work with people?  I would seek an employment agency and take an employment aptitude test.  Maybe you need to work in a totally different direction.

 

I too had a career goal in mind upon graduating from high school.  I wanted to be a band director.  After all, I had worked giving private lessons in a local music studio and I had substituted for the high school music teacher while in high school.  I had won many awards.

 

Then my direction in life changed.  I got married and  worked my husband through his last two years of college.  I became a secretary in an Ivy League office.  Well... I knew what I didn't want to do the rest of my life.

 

Finally it was my turn to finish college.  Due to arthritis, I could no longer become a band director.  I didn't have the physical ability to continue to pursue that dream.  My lifelong dream was gone.  Then I discovered the world of teaching special needs students.  I have now taught in this field for 32 years and I could never be happier!  I love the children, their eagerness to learn, and the gratitude of their parents.  Yes, I still have health issues, but who better would understand my difficult days than my students?

 

Good luck in your pursuit of happiness.

I totally understand how you feel. I have a Masters degree and a Bachelors degree in Business and I have a terrible job history. I used to work as a dancer, so I got really used to always having money or access to quick cash. Now, I have been trying to put my life in order and work in the real world, but it is difficult. I am once again living off of unemployment and job hunting. It is embarrassing because I run into certain people and they will say, "have you found a job, yet?". I am now looking into teaching opportunities. I hope this will create the passion I need to stay motivated. As crazy as it sounds, I really enjoyed "dancin'", but it is a dead end, secretive type of job and I am really too old and educated to ever do it again. I wish you all the best, but just know that there is someone out there who is educated and has job problems, too. I wish you all the best!

how do you juggle between a friend who is also your superior and who sometimes abuses their power when you rely on them to deliver something for you?

I've been trying to find a job, it seems, ever since I graduated from college in May of 2005.  So far, I haven't found much, just temporary jobs that only ended up lasting about a month and had nothing to do with my degree, which was in music and media communications.  I want to be a songwriter, eventually, but in the meantime, I need a day job to pay the bills and put food on the table.

 

I am a very intelligent, capable person, but I am not resilient when it comes to rejection.  My school had no job placement program, and I keep trying to motivate myself to put in more applications and keep looking - I'm in a desperate place financially and my money troubles keep me stressed to the point of paralysis.  I have no income, no credit, and thousands in debt.  I haven't been able to pay one single bill in over a year.  My clothes are wearing out, and I fear I will not be able to find a job just because of my wardrobe.  I can't possibly afford anything other than the basics for keeping myself alive.  (And sometimes not even those.)

 

I have dreams.  I have talent.  I'm willing to put those aside for now and work at McDonald's, but I can't seem to get a job at even the lowest levels.  I struggle with an eating disorder that I can't possibly afford to treat, which keeps me even more paralyzed.  The more I fail, the more I struggle, and the more I struggle, the more I fail.  I've tried to "think my way to success," but sometimes I can't manufacture one positive thought, no matter how hard I try.  I'm so scared of living a meaningless life.  I'm so tired of being nothing but a burden to my family.  I know I would not take a job for granted, if given the chance, no matter how much I hated it.  I feel like I'm supposed to do something important with my life, that I've been given a rare gift and a purpose.  I know what I'm meant to do with my life - and I know I'm failing grandly - and it's killing me!

 

But for now I'd just like a quarter to put in the Wal-Mart soda machine.  A quarter I wouldn't panic over spending.  I want the privilege of working for a paycheck, of not being the one pushed aside because I'm in everyone else's way.  I want to carry my own weight for once.  I just want a chance!

 

Why won't anyone hire me?  Am I that stupid?  (But I know I'm not stupid.)  Am I that repulsive?  Am I completely hopeless?