Comments on: Twentysomething: The Paradox of Choice, gen-Y style http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:32:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: How Gen Y should figure out what success really means | The Confidence Guy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-147440 How Gen Y should figure out what success really means | The Confidence Guy Sat, 17 May 2008 14:19:22 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-147440 [...] them in a much firmer position of choice about what happens and how. Undoubtedly there’s more choice these days - from what work you do and how you get it done, to what you eat and how you socialise, to where [...] […] them in a much firmer position of choice about what happens and how. Undoubtedly there’s more choice these days - from what work you do and how you get it done, to what you eat and how you socialise, to where […]

]]> By: William Peregoy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-137263 William Peregoy Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:56:38 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-137263 I'm two months away from graduating and it's really mind-boggling because the choices are practically endless! I don't know what I want to do or where I want to go in the world, but I'm not really too fond of moving back home, I mean sure the rent and food would be free, but I'm not that cheap - I want to go somewhere and live in a new city I never lived in before. I'm still contemplating whether to go to grad school or not. JD or MBA or joint degree? But, one things for sure, I'm definately taking a year or two off and working somewhere - I just have to find that job now. So, being broke and having no plans to go anywhere, I'll be spending my spring break re-working my resume to update it and add my current internships, looking for a new car (another choice - I don't even know what the hell I want to drive), and looking for jobs. And, if I'm lucky all my roomates will go home for spring break and that will give me and my girlfriend a week of sex in the kitchen and living room - ooh, I can't wait! Lol. But yeah, I enjoy all the choices, even though I never know what choice to make. I eventually just wind up picking something. I’m two months away from graduating and it’s really mind-boggling because the choices are practically endless!

I don’t know what I want to do or where I want to go in the world, but I’m not really too fond of moving back home, I mean sure the rent and food would be free, but I’m not that cheap - I want to go somewhere and live in a new city I never lived in before.

I’m still contemplating whether to go to grad school or not. JD or MBA or joint degree? But, one things for sure, I’m definately taking a year or two off and working somewhere - I just have to find that job now.

So, being broke and having no plans to go anywhere, I’ll be spending my spring break re-working my resume to update it and add my current internships, looking for a new car (another choice - I don’t even know what the hell I want to drive), and looking for jobs. And, if I’m lucky all my roomates will go home for spring break and that will give me and my girlfriend a week of sex in the kitchen and living room - ooh, I can’t wait! Lol.

But yeah, I enjoy all the choices, even though I never know what choice to make. I eventually just wind up picking something.

]]> By: Glenn Snead http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-120501 Glenn Snead Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:29:55 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-120501 Been there, just did that (for the 3rd time!). I started out in television until I met too many people who were 33 and still working two part time jobs. Joined the Air Force, rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, then was an officer for six years. Got out with a separation bonus and now I work for USNORTHCOM in a network ops center. I own my home, pay my bills, and save for retirement. In short, nothing was like I had planned it. My advice is this: Unless you have a passion, don't go to college immediately. Take classes to keep your study skills, but also try out different jobs to see where your interests lay. THEN pick a major and go to college. It's not a race and yeah seeing your friends graduate will hurt a bit but watching them doing the same menial jobs that you've surpassed (without a degree) will feel better. Been there, just did that (for the 3rd time!). I started out in television until I met too many people who were 33 and still working two part time jobs. Joined the Air Force, rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, then was an officer for six years. Got out with a separation bonus and now I work for USNORTHCOM in a network ops center. I own my home, pay my bills, and save for retirement. In short, nothing was like I had planned it.
My advice is this: Unless you have a passion, don’t go to college immediately. Take classes to keep your study skills, but also try out different jobs to see where your interests lay. THEN pick a major and go to college. It’s not a race and yeah seeing your friends graduate will hurt a bit but watching them doing the same menial jobs that you’ve surpassed (without a degree) will feel better.

]]> By: Qwerty http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-104684 Qwerty Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:17:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-104684 It depends on how you live, not where or with whom you live. I've lived on my own since starting college. Now I am 26 and not at all self-reliant or independent. Since I don't have much of a social life and have never made a major decision on my own anyway, I would be happy to move back in with my parents, but they don't want me to. They wouldn't want me to help with the chores, either, because they've seen what my apartment looks like. It depends on how you live, not where or with whom you live. I’ve lived on my own since starting college. Now I am 26 and not at all self-reliant or independent. Since I don’t have much of a social life and have never made a major decision on my own anyway, I would be happy to move back in with my parents, but they don’t want me to. They wouldn’t want me to help with the chores, either, because they’ve seen what my apartment looks like.

]]> By: Employee Evolution - The Paradox of Choice, Gen-Y Style http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-97951 Employee Evolution - The Paradox of Choice, Gen-Y Style Sun, 01 Jul 2007 01:05:26 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-97951 [...] Read the rest at the Brazen Careerist. [...] […] Read the rest at the Brazen Careerist. […]

]]> By: Jillian York http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-95811 Jillian York Tue, 26 Jun 2007 18:51:46 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-95811 Thank you for confirming that I'm normal! I graduated from university three years ago and since then, I've written a book, done some freelance writing, taught English, worked as a grantwriter, and gotten wonderful opportunities from my blog - but I feel careerless and sometimes, even lazy! Half the fun for me is job searching - too bad I can't make a career out of that! Thank you for confirming that I’m normal! I graduated from university three years ago and since then, I’ve written a book, done some freelance writing, taught English, worked as a grantwriter, and gotten wonderful opportunities from my blog - but I feel careerless and sometimes, even lazy! Half the fun for me is job searching - too bad I can’t make a career out of that!

]]> By: Daniel http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-95719 Daniel Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:20:16 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-95719 Most parents don't want their children to move back in after college, and even if they allow it, it's bound to be a sore spot simply because you're claiming the privileges of an adult with the responsibilities of a child. Not to mention that many people's parents don't live in cities where the children might actually want to work -- unless your dream is to be a coal miner or a construction worker, small towns don't have much to offer in the way of exciting careers. Not to mention the social stigma of living in your parents' basement -- How are you supposed to bring home dates with your parents there? How are you supposed to have a party with your friends without feeling like a loser who lives in his parents' basement? In general, I love the optimism of this site -- it keeps my spirits up in looking for a great job -- but some of the suggestions are just not realistic (and I don't know who does your fact-checking: 58% of college grads are moving back in? Seriously? Mind linking to your source for that quote? Because the only people I know moving back in with their parents are high-school/college dropouts and others who have made bad decisions in their lives) Most parents don’t want their children to move back in after college, and even if they allow it, it’s bound to be a sore spot simply because you’re claiming the privileges of an adult with the responsibilities of a child. Not to mention that many people’s parents don’t live in cities where the children might actually want to work — unless your dream is to be a coal miner or a construction worker, small towns don’t have much to offer in the way of exciting careers. Not to mention the social stigma of living in your parents’ basement — How are you supposed to bring home dates with your parents there? How are you supposed to have a party with your friends without feeling like a loser who lives in his parents’ basement? In general, I love the optimism of this site — it keeps my spirits up in looking for a great job — but some of the suggestions are just not realistic (and I don’t know who does your fact-checking: 58% of college grads are moving back in? Seriously? Mind linking to your source for that quote? Because the only people I know moving back in with their parents are high-school/college dropouts and others who have made bad decisions in their lives)

]]> By: Tae Hyuk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-91933 Tae Hyuk Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:32:08 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-91933 My apologies to Ryan. My post was written assuming that he didn't have a job and was living at home and I was wrong on both counts. Ryan, I look forward to your future posts. My apologies to Ryan. My post was written assuming that he didn’t have a job and was living at home and I was wrong on both counts.

Ryan, I look forward to your future posts.

]]> By: My links for June 12th through June 18th — The Adventures of Slightly Taller Than Average Man http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-91881 My links for June 12th through June 18th — The Adventures of Slightly Taller Than Average Man Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:31:20 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-91881 [...] Twentysomething: The Paradox of Choice, gen-Y style » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk - Similar thoughts to my previous article on the paradox of choice… [...] […] Twentysomething: The Paradox of Choice, gen-Y style » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk - Similar thoughts to my previous article on the paradox of choice… […]

]]> By: Caitlin http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-89440 Caitlin Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:43:40 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/06/12/twentysomething-the-paradox-of-choice-gen-y-style/#comment-89440 Thanks, Jeff, medals and ribbons are always nice! Seriously though, what hardships? If going to university, becoming a journalist and travelling the world are "hardships" we live on seriously different planets. I think I've been extraordinarily blessed. The point of the comment was because Alan had asked people's ages and I thought my experience demonstrated that I was not anti-choice. Moving out of home was not a sacrifice, it was brilliant! I just want to encourage people to do it and to do it sooner in life if they can. Thanks, Jeff, medals and ribbons are always nice!

Seriously though, what hardships? If going to university, becoming a journalist and travelling the world are “hardships” we live on seriously different planets. I think I’ve been extraordinarily blessed.

The point of the comment was because Alan had asked people’s ages and I thought my experience demonstrated that I was not anti-choice.

Moving out of home was not a sacrifice, it was brilliant! I just want to encourage people to do it and to do it sooner in life if they can.

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