Upon recently graduating from the University of Michigan this summer and getting my first full-time job at Quicken Loans, I've come to realize a few things about the work force. I've spent the past few months complaining about my position because even though it's an amazing opportunity, it's not where I wanted to end up. It's unrelated to what I went to school for, it has nothing to do with what I want a career in and it also totally goes against what my interests even are. Working in downtown Detroit is super cool and so are the perks, but it doesn't do it for me. In response, I've gotten a lot of "Well, welcome to adulthood," and other condescending remarks as if I've been lazing around the previous four years. This is totally wrong (and insulting). Although a lot more depressing, working 45-55 hours a week is actually proving to be a lot easier. Here's how:
1. It takes up less of my time
Although this week included two Power Days, on which I'm required to come in early and stay later at the office due to how busy we're expecting to be, it was still a shorter week than full-time classes required of me. 50 hours of actual time being clocked in doesn't include my hour long commute to and from downtown each day, but even adding this doesn't amount to the time I spent on school.
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School sucks up every second of your time. I never had a free moment really, unless I chose to skip on studying and sacrifice my grades (because hey, my best friend turning 21 is more important than my exam!). When I get home from work, I'm done with work. I can melt into the couch if I want, eat Cheetos or even have time to cook a full meal or enjoy a Sunday--woah!
2. It's always the same
And yes, it's monotonous, boring, not interesting, and also super redundant. But I always know what to expect for the day and what I'm going to have to do. After initial training, it's all practice forever.
In college, you barely have time to practice the first thing once and all of the sudden you're being tested on it. Every day you'll have to pack something new into your already bursting full head and try to keep it there, like a suitcase with too many outfit choices. As soon as you're used to your class schedule, you have to switch it up. Planning anything months in advance is impossible.
3. I don't have to bring anything with me
Let's face it--carrying around a 30 pound backpack 15 minutes across campus multiple times a day is not fun. My shoulders hated it and so did my chiropractor. I'm supposed to go once a week for the neck troubles this caused me and lay on a block every day. Thanks college. Unfortunately, a big backpack was unavoidable.
Okay, maybe not THAT big. But with usually two or three classes a day and as an English major, I stuffed as many books as I could into my backpack and hoped it would suffice. Hello, work out regimen. As for at work, I can leave my binder at my desk because I'll be in the exact same spot tomorrow and carry nothing.
4. When I call off there's no make up to do
I work as a Client Advocate aka in a customer service call center. My work depends on who dials their phone at that moment -- every moment -- but if I'm not there to answer calls, no biggie! I don't have a list of people I have to call back because I missed a day, I just start again when I show up. With college, missing a day or two is insane. All the readings, in class assignments, tests, and not to mention the actual lectures and material you missed learning can put you behind an entire semester if you don't bust it to catch up.
5. I get paid for it
Classwork is tough because you're putting in all these hours in class, at home, in coffee shops, at granny's during Thanksgiving football, and you still don't get paid. You're broke. I basically paid some one else about $42,000 to work. In fact, although I took a steady 15 credit hour workload each semester, I still had to maintain a part-time job in college because a girl's gotta eat. A full-time job recognizes each hour I put in and pays me for it. Now I can start paying for those student loans, awesome.
