Money

[Casey_03]

I am having what appears to be a minor mid-life crisis regarding finances. It's not directly PTSD related, but it is making my anxiety worst. At 30 years old, my income is far below the poverty line in the U.S. I have been earning the same amount for the past ten years, and I don't see it improving anytime soon. Although I live and work overseas, I would like to be able to get my own home someday and earn enough for a family. But I don't see that happening if I stay in this career. I have no savings, no property, and no means of acquiring either in the immediate future. It's quite scary, especially since I have no relatives to fall back on if there is ever some emergency. i don't even have health insurance. The idea of switching careers is terrifying, because I don't know what else I could do, and I'm sure that yet another location change would throw my symptoms into overdrive. But I can't keep treading water and earning next to nothing. It's an issue that causes me great distress each day and I am tempted to just walk out of my job. While people back home seem to think I am "living the dream" by working as a foreign journalist, in reality I am barely able to feed myself. Any advice for how to resolve this? Is a career change in order here?

 

[ihateusernames]

Not necessarily a career change, maybe a job change. If the one you are in is really never going to provide adequately for you then you can take your 10 years of experience somewhere else. Are you from the US? Either way, you can apply to jobs back in your home country. I don't know much about work visas or if you're European and there is some sort of work exchange thing... I don't know, but is there a possibility that you could take a second job? Do some freelancing?

 

[scout86]

SOME people in journalism make enough money to have those things you're talking about, don't they? What's the difference between their situation and yours?

 

[Casey_03]

That's the problem -- this is a new job which i accepted in the hopes of making more money. but they haven't kept their word. i've already spent years searching for a higher paying job in this field, but options are limited for english-language media in eastern europe. most of the newspapers that do pay well already have full-time staffers. And all the u.s.-based outlets with reporters based here (which also pay well) have no need for me. it's a dying industry. i've done freelancing to assist, it doesn't help. i previously had a second job but working that much meant i couldn't focus on my primary job. basically, the goal for me has always been to do a kickass job reporting in order to secure a higher paying gig, but that's pretty impossible when you can't even feed yourself well enough to focus during the day. i've been making about $12,000 a year for the past several years. working 12-16 hour days, often with no weekends and no lunch breaks. journalism is dead.

 

[Casey_03]

@scout86 The difference is they work for bigger news outlets - Reuters, AP, Vice, Newsweek, The Times, The Guardian, The NY Times -- places like this generally pay quite well. but i've tried to land jobs with them and had no luck. i've spent the past several years trying to get their attention in order to get a job, but that plan has failed and I'm running out of energy.

 

[scout86]

One of the reasons I'm self employed is that I've never had much luck getting a job where I didn't actually know someone. I don't do the application process well, I guess. So, I can relate to your situation that way too. But, is it possible that you haven't gotten those jobs because you, also, don't do the application process well? Things these days are so automated and standardized, apparently anyone who doesn't know how to jump through the right hoops the right way is out of luck. That might have nothing at all to do with how well you can actually do the job. I think (could be wrong) that there are actually professionals out there who can help you with the presentation you need to get hired. Have you considered that? Do you know anyone working at any of those bigger outlets? Don't be afraid to contact them and say that you're looking for a job and ask questions about what's available and how to get considered. I get the feeling that a lot of hiring takes place because someone knows someone and you might as well take advantage of that if there's a way you can.

 

[Casey_03]

yes, you are right about connections playing a huge role -- especially here, where expat circles are very tight. i don't know how many times i've learned of a job opening, applied, gotten good feedback and gotten my hopes up .... only to learn that one of my colleagues who is best friends with an editor got the job instead. actually, every single time i have applied that is what happened, sometimes the other candidate deserved the job and was more experienced than me, sometimes it was an absolute dope with no experience whatsoever but all the right connections. i have reached out to network with people in the hopes of getting my foot in the door, but that has never led me anywhere. i continue to see people with much less experience than me and poorer Russian skills get the job. it might be the application process, that is something to consider. but i have a pretty flashy resume and tend to do well in interviews. i feel like connections play a bigger role and i'm just not enough of a kiss ass to suck up to the right people. sadly. i am also a bit of a loner in general, so that might be part of it -- just that people don't really know about me because i keep a low profile and avoid parties.

 

[scout86]

. i feel like connections play a bigger role and i'm just not enough of a kiss ass to suck up to the right people. sadly. i am also a bit of a loner in general, so that might be part of it -- just that people don't really know about me because i keep a low profile and avoid parties.

That's why I'm self employed. LOL I HAVE noticed, the last few years, that I've acquired a reputation for being hard working and responsible in spite of also being a loner and there have been some times when people actually want to get a job done and that has paid off.

What about teaching? Either journalism or English, since you are where you are? What about some kind of government job? (Ours, not theirs!)

What are the specific things that appeal to you about journalism as a career? There might be other options that have the same pluses.

 

[Friday]

1) How much of this is due to living in EE? Meaning, if you relocated west, would salary improve enough to keep you in this field?

2) Have you considered working for the US State Department? There are 3 tracks (political, management, & something I forget). The political track includes media / press releases, etc. One of the 'problems' with State is that people often get pigeonholed in certain geographic locations (and the Balkans / EU is one of those black holes that traps people in the region if you do more than a single tour, there). Which seems like it would be to your benefit, since you love the region. Anyhow, just a thought. US wages, in overseas locations.

 

[Deleted member 29899]

You're only having a midlife crisis if you expect to be dead at 60. That's an insult for those of us who ARE at midlife or older!

 

[Friday]

@imok... Since I planned on being dead by 25... Does that make my crises posthumous ;)

Or, since I never really know if I'll still be around in 6 months, maybe they're end-of-life crises?

Hmmm. A quandary.

 

[Deleted member 29899]

@FridayJones - actually that means you have nothing to worry about! What a relief!!
A person has barely been in the work force for 10 years when they're 30. Casey is just starting out! . Which is AWESOME. I know caseys in a quandary but it's not a midlife crisis because she's not middle aged. Still lots of choices and opportunities, FAR more than when a person really is middle aged.
Try writing that same post when you're 50, it's a different ball game. working at the same job for 30 years and to feel that way is hell.
Again- Casey is just starting out. 30 is the new 20. Much easier to change careers at 30 than at 45 or 50.
All I'm saying is that Casey is no where near a midlife crisis although she IS VERY much is feeling a job/career crisis. There is a difference. Google it.