Boon 1

Tanashia Boon Professor Susan Lago ENG-1100 College Writing December 12, 2013, 2013 The Effects of Working In todays economy, many students have given up the desire to purse their dream jobs to instead take jobs that would offer more stability and earnings. Many potential employees are now looking for practical jobs rather than jobs that would please them. Carnevales College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings focuses on the effects stability, earnings, and unemployment rates have on specific college major and degrees (Carnevale, Cheah and Strohl 297-301). Although Carnevale reported on many valuable findings, he failed to raise one important question: Are these individuals happy? It is important to choose a career or college major that not only offers economical and financial benefits, but is satisfying as well. There are many important factors to take into consideration when deciding a career or college major. The schedules of particular jobs may interfere with time spent with family and friends. In No Long Term: New Work and the Corrosion of Character, Richard Sennett, a professor of sociology describes the changes in the workforce through the story of a father and son. Because he had a stable job, Enrico has been a janitor for many years and was able to live a pleasing lifestyle. His son, Rico, on the other hand, who started out as a technology advisor, had to move four times in the 14 years since his graduation. Rico had dreamed of living a life different and more lavishing than his father, but he was not able to do so. Not only did Rico suffer as a result of his demanding career, but his family suffered as well (Sennett 309). I cant imagine what it must have felt like for Rico, whose strong desire for upward mobility led to a downfall in his relationship with family and friends. Carnevale reported on jobs with high

Boon 2

earnings and low unemployment rates. These jobs, however, may lead one to live a life similar to Ricos. These high earning jobs may have damaging effects on a persons happiness. Carnevales only concern was the benefits and stability that comprise many jobs. I doubt if Rico spent much time thinking about the quality of time he would spend with his family and friends because of his career. These are just a few of many unforeseen consequences that come from choosing a job solely based on economic and financial standpoints. When choosing a career, one must be certain to take everything into considerations including spending less time with family and friends. When deciding a career or college major, one should not only focus on how their job would affect time spent with family and friends, but how enjoyable a particular job will be. A potential job seekers main motivation should be choosing a job which they will enjoy. In an interview I had with Ms. Laura Dennis, a retired elementary school teacher, she mentioned that having a job is not about making the most money; it is about doing what you love. Before teaching, Ms. Dennis worked at an employment agency where she made an honest living. She was content with this job, but she still saw the need to do more with her life. She felt a great desire within herself to continue her education and pursue her dreams of becoming a teacher. Although Ms. Dennis teaching job paid much less than many other jobs she worked, she was satisfied because she was pursuing her dreams and getting paid to do something she loved. She had given up a job that offered more money and benefits, to take a job with less money. She did this because she was less concerned with the amount of money she made, but with how much she would be happy with the job. Even though she is retired now, she still goes back to some of the schools she taught in, and volunteers her time with the students. Ms. Dennis is a clear cut case of why happiness should be a priority when determining a college major or career choice. She made the choice of not allowing the salary or benefits of a job to interfere with pursuing her dreams.

Boon 3

Carnevale reported on many interesting and valuable findings, however we should not seek jobs based on wage and benefits offered, but with how satisfied we would be with a particular major or career choice. There may be an individual such as Rico, who have chosen the stable, high earning job according to the findings mentioned in Carnevales report. Like Rico, this individual may earn a high salary, but left feeling unhappy. For this reason, I favor Ms. Denniss decision to continue her education and pursue her dreams. Although we should be sure that our major or career choice leaves us with a sense of happiness, we must not forget the consequences that come with choosing a career or major solely based on level of happiness. One must be realistic in their decision process and must decide not only based on satisfaction but financial benefits offered as well. There are many consequences that come with pursuing a dream job, such as low salary and benefits and high workload. For this reason, as future workers, we must do [our] homework before picking a major, because when it comes to unemployment prospects, and compensation, not all college degrees are created equal (Carnevale, Cheah and Strohl 301). We must be practical and find a middle ground in our decision process. For example, if an individual is passionate about art, but knows he or she cannot make a living as an artist; this individual should take teaching art into consideration. This way, the individual will make a living doing something that interests him or her. My dream job is, and has always been becoming a teacher. I know that times are hard for teachers, especially in my city. The budget cuts have led to many teachers I have known and loved to be laid off. However, because of my determination and strong-willed personality, I will not let this stop me from pursing my dreams. We must try our best to pursue our dreams but also keep in mind that there may be some trials we may encounter in doing this. I believe this was the message that came across in my interview with Ms. Dennis.

Boon 4

Many high school and college students, along with others searching for a job, are now taking on jobs that offer more money, than jobs that would actually please them. In the end, these potential employees might end up getting more than they bargained for. Like Rico, a high earning job, might cost them their family and friends. Today, many people looking for a job have lost the desire to take up a satisfying and pleasing job. During my interview, Laura Dennis had quoted a scripture from the Bible that states what profits a man to gain the world and lose his soul? Our generation has become so obsessed with making money, that we forgot what truly matters. We cannot take on these high paying jobs at the expense of our happiness.

Boon 5

Interviewee Name: Cassandra Willis Position: CNA Have you always wanted this particular job/position? No, I always wanted to be a nurse but circumstances wouldnt allow that to happen for me. What are the changes youve seen and experienced over the years? The benefits went down, wages went down and the workload went up. How many jobs have you had? 2. Before this, I worked at Pathmark when I was just starting out. How are the entry level workers now different from when you just started out? For them, its all about the money. If you had the opportunity to do it all over again, would you make the same decisions? Now, I wouldve gone back to school to become a nurse. Would you say that you are happy at your job? Yes. How long have you worked at this job? I started out in 1985, so you do the math [28 years]. How would you describe stability in the workforce today? Today, nothing is guaranteed. Just because you have a job, doesnt mean you will be able to keep that job.

Boon 6

Interviewee Name: Laura Dennis Position: Retired elementary school teacher How many jobs have you had over the years? Too much! How long have you worked at your most recent job? For almost 30 years, I believe. What made you stick to teaching? I think it was a lot of trial and error for me. I changed jobs so much. From working in a hair salon, employment agency, fast food, bus driver, retail, you name it! But I think teacher was the only job I really loved. So I stuck with it. Even though I worked some jobs that paid a little more, my heart was stuck on teaching. They say when you find something good, you hold on to it. And thats exactly what I done. How are the entry level workers now different from when you just started out? From what I hear, many teachers now are not even teaching! Theyre just sitting these kids beings computers and television screens and letting that do all of the work. It seems like teaching had become a new form of babysitting. But they expecting a paycheck at the end. Im writing a paper on how many people entering the workforce now are more concerned with their paycheck rather than being happy at their job. Do you have anything you would like to add to this? Yes. I just cant wrap my head around it. Why would people work at a job theyre completely unhappy with, all because of the money. It doesnt make any sense to me. Today, people are doing some strange things just to make a quick buck. What profits a man to gain the world and lose his soul?

Works Cited
Carnevale, Anthony P, Ban Cheah and Jeff Strohl. "College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings: Not All College Degrees Are Created Equal." Rosen, Ed. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum: Twelfth Edition. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2012. 297-301. Print.

Boon 7 Sennett, Richard. "No Long Term: New Work and the Corrosion of Character." Rosen, Ed. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum: Twelfth Edition. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2012. 307-315. Print.