9M American men in prime working age can’t find jobs. I’m one of them

Re:9M American men in prime working age can’t find jobs. I’m... by endymi0n on Monday December 19, 2016 @11:33AM (#13212543)

That being said, the prideful worker effect is very real though. I remember when my mom told me how her nightshifts in the sausage factory as a student made her more humble - and I thought "what a waste - I'm going to step in high and then get really rich so I don't have to do this!".

Six years and three failed university degrees later, I started in night shifts myself in customer support because I had no other option and some guy from a mailing list had a heart for someone broke and desperate.

Fast forward another seven years and I'm not just CTO of a profitable company, but also pretty thankful of all my experience in customer support, if only for a good chunk of humility. It's really hard to overcome your initial feelings about such a "downgrade" in socioeconomic status for a chance on a new beginning/industry though, don't know if I would have dared that after 40.

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Re:9M American men in prime working age can’t find jobs. I’m... by pavel_lishin on Monday December 19, 2016 @11:51AM (#13212735)

> I remember when my mom told me how her nightshifts in the sausage factory as a student made her more humble

I was lucky to avoid having to work in the service industry - aside from occasionally having to work the floor at a retailer when we finished unloading/loading a truck early - but my wife worked as a server for a good long while, and we both agree that we will absolutely encourage our children to work jobs like those - aside from earning money, it teaches empathy and how to deal with difficult situations.

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Re:9M American men in prime working age can’t find jobs. I’m... by tjic on Monday December 19, 2016 @11:44AM (#13212644)

Congrats from working up from the bottom, busting your ass, and achieving your dreams.

That's an inspiring story.

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