So I’ve run into an issue. I wish to be an City Planner, have for a very long time. A part of it’s I don’t drive, so I’m enthusiastic about public transit and wish to make it higher, and a part of it’s my undergraduate discipline was Geography, which I like, and Geography is a pure stepping stone into City Planning. I entered a Masters in City Planning program pondering I’d get a driver’s license ultimately, however it will definitely turned clear that no, I ought to by no means, ever possess one. I’m American, in order that’s form of a problem, however my discipline is public transit, so not too massive a deal, proper?
Nicely I’m lastly ending this system (I’m 1 unit away from commencement, and that unit is on-line and doesn’t have class conferences), and I’m in search of a job now. And I’ve hit a wall. Internships are slim, a whole lot of businesses removed them throughout the Pandemic, they usually’re trickling again slowly. I had three internship interviews, acquired rejected for all of them. And I’ve seen that full job openings largely fall into three classes:
In too small a metropolis or city for me to stay with no automobile
In a spot I may stay with no automobile, however have a driver’s license as a compulsory requirement
Require years of expertise I don’t possess
Entry stage positions appear to not exist, simply internships, and, effectively, my ineffective ass acquired rejected.
Might be a pair causes for that. Sadly, I’ve had a whole lot of medical points not too long ago, and whereas they’re being handled, I’m simply drained proper now. Seems I’ve mega, extreme sleep apnea and badly want CPAP remedy, which I didn’t get till after my internship interviews as a result of medical forms, and even with the machine, we haven’t found out what works for me. So my vitality ranges aren’t nice. Am I getting rejected as a result of different grad college students are far more energetic that I’m able to?
Doesn’t assist that I’ve ADHD and we’re additionally determining medicine for that, however there’s a drugs scarcity proper now, so I can’t preserve issues constant. Plus I’ve Autism, so I can’t keep regular eye contact (critically, it’s inconceivable, I simply can’t), and I’m gradual to course of questions in interviews as a result of I can’t do this form of on the spot pondering. I do have a Google sheet of solutions to widespread interview questions, nevertheless it takes time to reference, and I believe it comes off as unnatural to interviewers after I use it.
I’ve tried disclosing I’ve Autism and ADHD, however I believe that possibly assured I don’t get employed. Or possibly it’s that, even with caffeine to fight the exhaustion, nothing can fight the huge baggage I at all times have beneath my eyes. Or possibly the Autism means I’m *too* animated? Possibly it’s that I discuss being disabled fairly a bit? Folks ask me “why are you curious about this job in public transportation” and, effectively, the reality is, it’s as a result of I’m disabled and I depend on public transportation, and I wish to assist make it higher for everybody who makes use of it. I assumed that sounded good, however possibly individuals hear “disabled” and instantly resolve to not rent?
I’m scared at this level, truthfully. I’ve largely run out of jobs to use to, there’s not a lot, and now there’s a public transit fiscal cliff (possibly why there’s not a ton of jobs open proper now, businesses are in all probability scared to rent), so even when I get employed, I’m, beneath union guidelines, required to be laid off first. I considered shifting over to housing, however I simply haven’t discovered many roles, and people are much more more likely to require a driver’s license as a result of a few of the housing individuals do stuff like web site visits. Plus the transit fiscal cliff means being terrified if I’ll have the ability to truly get to work in just a few years even when I take a job exterior transit planning that’s not going through probably layoffs.
One other challenge is, it’s been 5 years that I’ve been a graduate scholar. What occurred is, my grandmother (extra like a mom) died my first semester whereas I used to be residing together with her, then we had a pandemic and on-line training isn’t a superb match for me, then my father (the mum or dad I’m closest to by far) died, and I had all these well being points crop up, and what ought to have been 2 years dragged on and on. Is the very fact I’ve been right here since 2018 for a Masters making individuals cross on me as a result of clearly one thing is mistaken if it takes that lengthy?
So do I search for work exterior City Planning? Factor is I’m 1 unit away from my Masters. I’m going to get the Masters I earned, it’s been 5 years and tons of cash, and I can’t again out this near the tip. However City Planning more and more appears to be like like not an possibility for me. How do I’m going right into a job and say I do plan to remain and received’t run as quickly as I get an City Planning place (which might be true, I really want stability proper now with my well being points, and I’d be trying to land someplace, not leap round) after I’m additionally saying I’m going to get my Masters in City Planning in December (since at this level I sacrificed and spent a lot I’ve to get what I earned, even when I perceive there’s I excessive probability I simply can’t work within the discipline)?
I’m simply misplaced, I really feel damaged and undesirable, and I do not know in any respect what to do.
