a tale of 2 nieces

[97guns]

i have 3 nieces, the oldest has a family and is doing well, this is a tale of the other 2 whom both have some kind of college degree. they are both in their early 30's, the younger one bought a condo 4 years ago, she is a banker and has changed jobs 3 times in the past 4 years to better herself, she is really happy at her new job and im very proud of her accomplishments and mindset.

the other is nearing her mid 30's or already there, she has a degree in some kind of environmental sector, she had a job in her field but budget cutbacks led to a layoff where she collected unemployment for the maximum. after her unemployment ran out she found a job at a gas station as a cashier, stayed there for a year or so and now she is a parking lot valet gopher, probably at minimum wage. when i saw her the last holidays she was complaining about customers not tipping. she had an "inside" interview with the hospital for a clerical job, i thought for sure she would get it because it was a recommendation from her friend that is in management but she failed. she said she got all nervous and blew it.

just wanted to throw this out there that the mindset has to be right to succeed, you have to want it and go get it because nobody is going to hand you anything.

[disneysteve]

That is and always has been true. Just having an education isn't enough. It might get you the interview but it won't get you the job. That's up to you. Your resume needs to be well written without typos or grammatical errors. You need to dress appropriately, carry yourself well, show up early, be polite, speak clearly, make eye contact, and more. You need to connect with the interviewer. You need to make them see why they should hire you. Don't be focused on what they can do for you but what you can do for them.

On a side note, she may be making more as a valet than you think. A friend of my cousin's does that at a nearby hospital and does quite well, definitely above minimum wage when you count tips. Let's say she parks one car every 5 minutes. That's 12/hour. If the average driver tips $2 plus she earns minimum wage, that's over $30/hour. Not so shabby.

[J.Apple902]

I really wish you could "thumbs up" posts. I totally agree and support what you are saying, but don't think a particular addition is needed. Great example.

[ua_guy]

I think this niece of yours needs a goal. Based on what you said it seems she does have a mindset to succeed; after all, she pursued a degree and found gainful employment in her field of study until budgets ran out, circumstances beyond her control. I would hardly think her to be a louse in general, but I don't know her personally.

She hasn't re-employed herself in her field of study. Maybe nothing is available there, maybe she's lost the will to try, or maybe she doesn't want to do that anymore, but doesn't know what she wants to do? She might not know what she wants to be "when she grows up", and that's fine, but what does she want to do in life? A job can be "who you are", or it can be a means to support someone you are, completely separate from and outside of work.

I will add to that, making tons of money, holding high positions, and even having a family are not the only valid and worthwhile goals in life. Some people think that's true, and it simply isn't. There are entirely different ways to contribute to the world, and to create one's own happiness other than pursuing those things. Once again, i don't know your niece. But that's also a question for you. Do you know her? Do you know what really makes her happy in her adult life? Just based on what you've said, it doesn't sound like she is waiting for the world to give her things, or maybe she is but you haven't told us. I would also add that 30 is a very transitional time in life. Some people take that long to figure themselves out, or 30 can even be a rediscovery.