Stop Taking Job Advice From Economists!

They are supposed to study the science that deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, or the material welfare of human kind... At least according to dictionary.com...

Since the Gilded Age (1865–1900) economists have failed to provide any real reason to continue adopting their theories into practice. For all their supposed worth an economists sole value is nothing more than a data interpreter. Basically they just tell us how screwed we are, how long it's going to last and who was responsible... The ones who set economic policies and principals are paid for by corporate sponsors today and wealthy members of society in the past. Those policies biased towards wealthy individual and corporate lifestyles are riddled with inequality for everyone else in society. The worst thing is the data shows this and they continue to ignore it.

So What Does This Have To Do With Jobs?

Well jobs and the economy go hand in hand. Whether you are looking for a salaried position or an hourly full time job you are joining the middle or "working class". The stronger the working class the better for everyone. Middle class consumers drive the economy through purchasing power provided from their pay... So why haven't economists applied this principal into their theories? Good question I wish I had an actual answer but I don't. Economists are essentially the weathermen of finance, their predictions stink and when they are right luck is generally assumed to be the reason.

A job is something you do until you have a career, a career is something you do when you have enough experience from a job. One is a stepping stone and the other is a foundation. Choosing the correct path seems to be difficult for some and impossible for others in modern times. Should I go to college or should I start to work right out of high school and start earning as soon as I can?

Which Choice Is The Right Choice?

For many on both sides the decision seems to already be made for them. Parents tell their kids all the time get good grades, go to college and then get a job... Like it's that easy... Poor kids get shoved into overcrowded substandard learning environments where they underachieve and are told they need college to be worth anything someday... This country teaches poor kids that an education is important while simultaneously teaching them they are not receiving a good education... How can a kid grow up in that environment and succeed later?

With Or Without A College Degree You Still Get A Job.

Let's say you graduate high school or have a GED at minimum and you have no plans to go to college. After high school you go to work at a restaurant as a cook. You would make on average $22,140 a year . Assuming you aren't a drug addict or alcoholic but instead motivated and optimistic about your future you could move up to line supervisor in let's say a year and average $29,560 a year. Continued employment with this average restaurant and consistent improvement means more than likely you become head cook in four to five years. In four or five years you will be earning $40,630 on average. _{^{(This is just an example "average scenario" for one industry. Salary information source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Again this is just an average EXAMPLE)}}

So getting a job straight out of high school on average yields work experience, income and potential growth opportunities...

As For Those College Educated Chumps...

In four years they incur an average debt of $25,250 in student loans alone according to a report from the Institute for College Access & Success' Project on Student Debt. A job market that is relentlessly competitive with about five applicants for every one job and 56% of employers not planning on hiring college grads._{(source: 2010 careebuilder.com survey)}. No guarantee of employment with their degree and an average salary of $40,100 in 2009 according to the Institute of Education Sciences... Chumps...

Now It is important to note that there are good reasons to go to college and for some people it is the best option. However going to college is not the solution for everyone and some are better off starting a job after high school. What you choose to do with the job you have will determine most of your future success and failures. Stick with one job and don't move on unless you have no choice, stay as long as there are advancement opportunities and pay increases. Leave if you can find something that pays more immediately AND has the opportunity for advancement.

Work Your Way Up No Matter Where You Begin Just Go UP!

Whether you are starting a new job at a fast food joint or a bank the one thing that should always be on your mind is advancement. Find out what you need to do to attain the next level of employment and do those things. In the meantime save and only spend money if it will keep you alive. You may think your going to die if your friends get that fancy new gadget and you don't but you wont. Practice some common sense with delayed gratification and only buy the things you need. Setup a budget and set aside "fun money" for recreation only if you have a budget...

Budgeting The Easy Quick And Painless Way... Sorta Painless...

The quickest way to set up a budget is to write down a list of expenses you have every month. Now write down how much money you make every month. Figure out how much money you have after all expenses are paid... That's a budget, easy right? Don't get sucked into budget tricks and tips from experts who claim to have the answers to your personal finances. Are they earning the money for you? Do they have the ability to earn you more money? I didn't think so, the point is you know how much money you make and how much money your bills are. The only trick to a budget is self control and delaying gratification. Before you write out your budget try making a wish list. Write down all the things you would like to have and when you would like to have them, be realistic but optimistic. You may want your own home and six cars by the time you are 30 but will you? After you finish your budget compare it to your wishlist and figure out what you need to do in order to accomplish your goals on the wishlist...

Get Creative To Inspire Your Dreams To Join Reality.

Your current job may enable you to see your dreams come true but if your like most people your job just sucks and might actually discourage dreaming... Sure you get paid to little and you don't get to take time off without losing income but at least you are working. If you need to speed up your wish list reality do the math. What does it mean to do the math? Here's a hypothetical to clarify:

Wish List

• $200,000 House paid for
• $35,000 car paid for
• $8,000 for two yearly vacations two weeks each
• $2,000 monthly recreation spending limit

Current Budget

• - $500 a month rent
• - $200 a month utilities
• - $120 a month phone bill
• - $150 a month food cost
• - $275 a month Insurance costs
• - $300 a month misc expenses
• + $1,700 a month salary/wages
• = $155 a month left for savings, recreation and emergencies... (This may seem like best case scenario to some and worst case to others but it seems all too common.)

With the above budget doing the math would tell you that it would take over 1500 months to save enough for the first two items on the wish list. For the other items on the wishlist doing the math shows a person would need to maintain at least $10,000 a year in discretionary income to satisfy the requirements of the list...

If You Are Already Overwhelmed Suck It Up The Real World Kinda Sucks.

With a job a budget and a wishlist all you need is some creativity, organization and self discipline. Organize your schedule and look for time wasted. Any time spent NOT pursuing your wishlist is a waste of your time. Maintain enough self discipline to use your free time wisely and stick to your plan in order to complete your wishlist. What plane? That is where the creativity comes into play. Whether you have a surplus or deficit at the end of each month your goal is to earn more money. When you are organized and self disciplined enough get creative and find things you can do in that spare time of yours to earn extra money. Walk dogs, get a paper route, write on hubpages, freelance online whatever. Just remember to stick to your plan and keep your goals in mind.

For the most part you and the majority would be right to think life sucks what with finding a job, earning good money and enjoying yourself seemingly in the distant past. Don't fret, buck up chum and other not actually helping colorful phrases... The best way to combat the suck of life is to join in on it. Being unhappy about low wages and then complaining to co-workers about it just pisses everyone off so join the system and fight from the inside. If you really want to achieve anything in this life you have to work for it. Work at being creative and thinking for yourself and your goals will get accomplished. Don't just complain about the way things are, change them! Keep learning, keep moving forward and keep thinking for yourself! Don't trust an economist, expert or guru to know your personal situation because they can't! You know what you are capable of and you are the one working, just ask yourself what you are working for...