I must be doing something wrong. My whole life people have said, do what you want, everything else will just fall into place. Money, life, etc. Well, guess what, I’m doing what I want and nothing has falling into place. I’m starving, I see people on fighting to get internships, I have a fab job at a mag (well I suppose others might consider it fab) but meanwhile, I have no money, i mean, I make NO money, like less than EA’s, no benefits AT ALL, and have rigid rules and feel like I’m being micromanaged about EVERYTHING. I’m so frustrated! How long do I have to “pay my dues? I mean Really? I’ve been in the mag business for almost 3 years, I’ve had the luck to never have started out as an assistant but I’m so over being broke; I’m so over depending on my parents STILL for help on things like paying for insurance that my company doesn’t have. Yes I’ve looked for other jobs, no there really aren’t any. No I don’t live in NY or LA and can’t just up and move there without a job, that’s not exactly financially feasible for one and secondly, I wouldn’t want the gap in my resume. I’m so over being broke it’s not even funny. So what I just get a boring job that I hate but make money? Or keep a job I love and be broke? It’s like there’s no happy medium. Like I’m asking for too much apparently.
—So far ridiculously frustrated and miserable and over feeling this way.
Ed2010™
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I think bestseller it is :)
A few years back, I was DEEP
A few years back, I was DEEP in debt (we’re talking well into the double digits), and while I loved my job, it just wasn’t cutting it financially. So I found an ongoing freelance gig to do while not at the day job, and that combined with spending smartly got me out in less than 3 years. I know everyone’s answer is freelance … easier said than done. But it does work. I feel like writing is often very competitive, so if you have ANY other skills, market those. Even if you have bare bones design/web skills, that stuff is so beyond many older people’s comprehension, there is more than likely someone willing to pay you for it. You might have to seek them out beyond simple listings … send a resume or “brochure” about yourself to companies in your area. It doesn’t need to be editorial, do your church’s newsletter or what about the local hospital, do they need writers/photographers/designers for their pr/marketing needs? Stuff like that. Try and brainstorm all the places in your area that might actually use a writer/designer/whatever-you-can-do. And then contact them. Two of my best-paying gigs come from just that, not listings. It might not be inspired work, but it pays the bills … and trust me, it makes a huge difference in your mindset once that is taken care of. Best of luck to you!
I agree with you
First of all, I want to applaud you for putting yourself through three years successfully. I say successfully because you’re still employed (though not as gainfully as one would like) and you’re healthy. That is something to be grateful for.
I know it sucks that you have had to ask your parents for money, but at least they have been there!
I am totally with you. I love magazines and it has been my dream job to become a magazine editor. But the stress of not knowing if you’re going to be able to cover your bills for next month is too much. I don’t have health insurance either, can’t afford it! I had to buy a new car last year too, which adds to my expenses.
You know you have definitely paid your dues. I agree with the other poster, there may be a couple of more years of the same ol’ left before you can move up. I don’t live in NY or LA either, and that makes it really tough. With my soon to be husband being a chemical engineer, I keep going back and forth on whether I should pick something else as my profession cause there aren’t many jobs for him at this point in his life to move to either of those places. I live in Houston, which I feel is one of the worst cities for magazine editorial.
I actually published a post a little over a week ago about a support group for those of us starting at the bottom! Still don’t know where that could be….
Perhaps this field is highly overrated. For the mean time, my only suggestion is maybe you could move to another branch with your same company? You would be doing something different, but at least you’ll have a different manager. Hopefully one that doesn’t micromanage you. I quit my day job recently because that was one of the things my boss would do. It was a very toxic environment. And it has been nice to not have to get up early every morning to drive to a place that you hate. But money runs out fast, so we need to have something else in place while we work on our “dream careers”.
Ciao,
Beens
elexsaria@hotmail.com
Cheer up, little black rain cloud!
If all else fails, you could always write a bestseller about your crappy life which will then get turned into a movie. After all, it worked for Lauren Weisberger. :P
Life sucks, and it’s good to post on these boards to know that you’re not alone and that others feel your pain. I got fired a week ago because I chose ethics over job security (the situation was causing me emotional and metal distress that was manifesting itself in a physical manner) and so here I am again looking for jobs after only working for 3 months. Instead of moping around on my fat ass, I’m searching for jobs and slowly plugging away at my own great American novel (if people are willing to buy books about Tinkerbell’s life [Paris Hilton’s dog] then who’s to say they won’t read my novel).
If your situation really depresses you, then look for ways to make money on the side (like doing club promotions or selling freelance pieces). You’ll make it work if you stick with it. One way to save money that I love doing is getting free samples and entering contests online for things you really want/need. Just yesterday, I got a free sample of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee in the mail and last spring I needed a new thing of mascara, so I entered an online contest (you know the type, “we’re giving away 20 mascaras to lucky readers!”) and a few weeks later, a tube of the stuff was in my mailbox. Saving a few bucks here and there adds up over time (plus it feels good knowing that you’re a winner).
Life's too short.
Maybe you should look into another field. This career path is clearly making you unhappy - you’re too young to be this depressed by your job. And let’s face it, three years isn’t particularly long - it’s less than you spend in college - so you may be in for one or two more crappy years.
And on a different note, this is perhaps not the most appropriate place for this kind of post. I understand that things are tough for you right now, but personal outbursts should be kept for one’s blog. The site is meant to be a professional resource, not group therapy.
Wait a minute
When I click on the board, there’s a post right above mine that says “job search depression” and tons of posts below mine of people who get frustrated with this industry, so uh….????????
I didn’t place it among my friends or a “blog” because my friends are not in the industry, and sometimes many of us find it helpful to hear feedback and/or words of encouragement or anything from someone who is actually in the same field and who can relate or at least say, “hey, you’re not the only one, stick it out, things will turn around!” This post was not intended to be construed as a “personal outburst.”
Furthermore, I was by no way implying I’m not happy with my career path, simply I’m broke and that makes me unhappy. There’s nothing else I’ve ever wanted to do with my life than what I do now; it’s just superfrustrating to know what you want and get that and then have practical necessities like the need for money to pay bills cloud that happiness. It makes sticking it out for so long seem futile at times and make you wonder from time to time, is it all worth it after all? Can you have it all??
I see no reason...
not to use a message board to commiserate, should someone choose to do so. The site itself is meant to be a professional resource, but this is a message board, where people should be able to post whatever they damn well please (as long as they’re not offending or breaking rules, of course). Ever seen MediaBistro’s boards? You’ll see the same thing.
And to the poster: just know that you are not alone. I’m in the same boat…a lot of us are. But I, too, am a strong believer in doing what makes you happy, so be sure to constantly evaluate everything and decide for yourself what is worth it, and how much is TOO much. Best of luck to you.
I know that what I said
I know that what I said could be taken as being unduly harsh, but the bottom line is that being miserable in your work is not worth it. The OP needs to put his/her foot down and know when to say enough is enough. I have a friend whose crappy workplace and meager pay have resulted in a stomach ulcer (!), and still she returns to that same job day after day. She’s afraid that if she leaves she won’t be able to find anything else. That’s no way to live.
Writermonkey: You are the only person truly watching out for you, and you shouldn’t have to put up with a job that doesn’t even provide insurance. Despite how my original post may have come across, I do have sympathy for you. I was in a stressful job situation for more than a year before I realized that I didn’t have to put up with it. I’m currently unemployed right now, but you know what? Even being jobless feels better than working at a place that stressed me out so much.
I agree
Message boards are meant for venting.
This industry is way overrated and I realize this more and more everyday. I gave myself a timeline to succeed as an editor and if I don’t, I will definitely make sure I accomplish my ultimate goal, which is to be a writer. If you are beginning to feel that it’s not worth it, feel free to explore other alternatives. Media/Journalism/Communications is a really broad field and there are so many other types of opportunities out there besides magazine publishing and you can always write no matter what your day job is!
Keep your head up.
Thanks to both of you
for your supportive and encouraging comments.
:)
I totally understand
Please don’t feel like you’re alone. I feel like this all the time. And it is incredibly frustrating and upsetting. I’ve also considered switching careers a billion times to solve my financial situation, but somehow I always end up not going through with it because I feel like a part of me would die if I gave up after only three years. The temporary solution I’ve come up with is to stay at my horrible job until I eventually find a better job in publishing, while accepting the fact that I’ll have to do part-time things on the side to supplement my income: teach, freelance, etc. While it is scant consolation because I often wonder why I can’t just have ONE job to make ends meet, it’s the sacrifice I’m willing to take at least for a bit longer until I hopefully figure it all out soon enough.
Best of luck. Hang in there…