All right, here's my situation. I left high school last year, not sure if I actually have my degree in an official sense -- I was "homeschooled." I'm 18, and don't have a normal middle-class life in the sense that I'm not in college and didn't get any of my life set-up with my parents. I've spent the last few months living in the country with my partner, scraping by and trying to get my legal ID together so I could work and open a bank account. There are no jobs out here that aren't a net-loss after transportation. We have a small amount of credit card debt from the months we had to put groceries on it.
We are working content mills and have saved enough to move to a wonderful city near by. We are going to share the two bedroom apartment with another couple, which puts the rent and utilities at a sweet 250/person. We can walk everywhere there, and the public transport is cheap, too! We're moving in less than a week now, but still relying on content mills for the bulk of our income. They'll get us by in any case -- we'll make rent and out there we could actually afford trips to the SSA for food stamps if worse comes to worse -- but we probably won't make any progress with them -if- we still have to rely on them as our main source of income.
We're only one level from the top pay grade -- and the top pay grade is a huge raise -- but they grade you on your former work and we can't afford to take the time to do 5-star content at a 4-star rate. In order to jump rates, I'm working to get a job. The pay is good out there: Even the grocery store, custodian and food service jobs I'm looking at are a bit above minimum wage. It's a college town, so this is hiring season, which is hopeful. The plan is to shift the income I rely on to an in-person job while working the content mill on the side with the purpose of earning a higher rate. I've got two interviews lined up, but I'm a little worried about how my not-quite-a high school education will factor in.
We may have to stretch for awhile until I actually get a job. At some point before the end of September, I'll get one, though the biggest monkey wrench would be having to take my GED. I've passed it with flying colors before, but at that age it didn't count for me officially. You're free to ask questions about my education history, because I'm aware a lot of what I'm saying doesn't make complete sense without greater context. At the same time, full context would likely be superfluous without request.
At that point, there are a few priorities: Pay off debt with the regular job, get a raise on the content mill, and launch niche websites. My partner and I have a few of these in the works. They're static content sites in a small niche with good SEO and Adsense or affiliate earnings. A friend of ours has made a few before and steadily rakes in passive income at about 2/3 of minimalist living expenses in the UK (We're in the US, but he's in the UK.) He's been very helpful in giving advice so, while it's a small risk, I don't anticipate too many bumps on that particular rode.
Now that I've got the situation laid out, what I'm looking for is advice on what path to take to increase earnings. As I said, I don't have a middle class income; I -might- next year, with this trajectory, but it's not enough for ERE. I've considered learning a trade; I've considered a lot of things, but I'm basically asking for ERE-mined career advice.
Looking for a Way to Earn
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TheWanderingScholar
- Posts: 650
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 12:04 am
Can you try to do a certification program?
Example being pharmacy tech. The formal training is six to twelve months from what I've researched and the average median pay is around 30k, before tax so that might help.
Also you can try craigslist for a part-time job. Around my area there is usually at least few jobs open for part time.
Example being pharmacy tech. The formal training is six to twelve months from what I've researched and the average median pay is around 30k, before tax so that might help.
Also you can try craigslist for a part-time job. Around my area there is usually at least few jobs open for part time.
First of all:
Don´t worry about the interviews.
My experience: As soon as you are invited it´s more about how you and "them" fit together than grades or certificates.
Maybe they will have more questions into the education because it might be unfamiliar to them but otherwise - the certificates are usually only important to get the invitation in the first place.
Second - as far as I understood Jacob it´s often also more about looking at the spending than looking at getting more income.
This forum members so far often offer excellent advise if fed the numbers in the different spending categories. Mybe you can take advantage of that in a journal?
Don´t worry about the interviews.
My experience: As soon as you are invited it´s more about how you and "them" fit together than grades or certificates.
Maybe they will have more questions into the education because it might be unfamiliar to them but otherwise - the certificates are usually only important to get the invitation in the first place.
Second - as far as I understood Jacob it´s often also more about looking at the spending than looking at getting more income.
This forum members so far often offer excellent advise if fed the numbers in the different spending categories. Mybe you can take advantage of that in a journal?
I would definitely get my GED. Not finishing a high school education will be a huge red flag for a lot of employers and for others it will be an invitation to take advantage of you. You are so close. That would be my #1 priority at this time.
It sounds like you plan on earning a higher rate in the content mill after you get a job? I don't understand how you would have more time then to do 5-star work than you do now without a job. It would seem the sooner you can get the bump the better. Though, I could have missed something.
It sounds like you plan on earning a higher rate in the content mill after you get a job? I don't understand how you would have more time then to do 5-star work than you do now without a job. It would seem the sooner you can get the bump the better. Though, I could have missed something.
Don't feel awkward about being home-schooled. It's very common these days and, depending on who you run into, may carry some cache or added interest. But get that GED when you can.
I interview a lot of people. Several dozen every year. You need to ask the right questions at interviews to show you are interested and capable. Take the focus off of you and find out what the prospective employer needs or thinks is important. Questions like "What are your biggest challenges in this business right now?" And "How do you see this business growing in the next few years?" are pretty good. "What is a day at work like for you (or someone in the prospective position)" are not bad either. See if you can engage them in a conversation that is more about the interviewer than about you. Never ask about salary, vacation, benefits, etc. until they call you back or give you an offer.
And for goodness sake, do your homework! One thing that gets an immediate "no" from me is when I can tell the prospect has not even gone on to the company website to see what we do. Every better, research the interviewer him/herself if you can figure out who it is.
It's unclear what your natural aptitudes and inclinations are, but one field I have seen young people succeed in obtaining decent employment early is health-care, particularly in care for seniors. I have a niece in her early twenties who always struggled in school, but who started as a nurse's aide and eventually became a nurse. Her fiance is also taking the same route. They have never been out of work since their teens. They were able to buy a small house in a rural area and are busy raising goats, chickens, ducks and sheep in their spare time.
Of course, that road might not be right for you at all. But its one possibility.
Good luck -- we look forward to hearing about your progress.
I interview a lot of people. Several dozen every year. You need to ask the right questions at interviews to show you are interested and capable. Take the focus off of you and find out what the prospective employer needs or thinks is important. Questions like "What are your biggest challenges in this business right now?" And "How do you see this business growing in the next few years?" are pretty good. "What is a day at work like for you (or someone in the prospective position)" are not bad either. See if you can engage them in a conversation that is more about the interviewer than about you. Never ask about salary, vacation, benefits, etc. until they call you back or give you an offer.
And for goodness sake, do your homework! One thing that gets an immediate "no" from me is when I can tell the prospect has not even gone on to the company website to see what we do. Every better, research the interviewer him/herself if you can figure out who it is.
It's unclear what your natural aptitudes and inclinations are, but one field I have seen young people succeed in obtaining decent employment early is health-care, particularly in care for seniors. I have a niece in her early twenties who always struggled in school, but who started as a nurse's aide and eventually became a nurse. Her fiance is also taking the same route. They have never been out of work since their teens. They were able to buy a small house in a rural area and are busy raising goats, chickens, ducks and sheep in their spare time.
Of course, that road might not be right for you at all. But its one possibility.
Good luck -- we look forward to hearing about your progress.
Chad: It's not so much time for 5-star work as it is consistency and volume. In order to earn the higher rate, you have to first work a few weeks at the lower rate, producing work that is the quality of the higher rate. You can work quite a bit less than I do to make a living at my current rate, though. I have to sacrifice the quality I'm capable of at the moment to get enough volume of work done.
I honestly don't know what on file for me as far as certifications go -- I was in a different state, I'm not sure how the laws were written, I'm not sure how good my parents were at documentation, etc -- and in the immediate term, I can't afford to take the test. A few weeks from now I can, if I push it.
Marlene: Yeah, my focus has always been on cutting expenses as well; it's just that there's only so far you can go with that. Living on 500 and saving 500 is okay, but it's pretty slow and restrictive. (And that's accounting for a local job: I'm only making the first 500 from content writing right now.)
I honestly don't know what on file for me as far as certifications go -- I was in a different state, I'm not sure how the laws were written, I'm not sure how good my parents were at documentation, etc -- and in the immediate term, I can't afford to take the test. A few weeks from now I can, if I push it.
Marlene: Yeah, my focus has always been on cutting expenses as well; it's just that there's only so far you can go with that. Living on 500 and saving 500 is okay, but it's pretty slow and restrictive. (And that's accounting for a local job: I'm only making the first 500 from content writing right now.)
You're bringing home $1000/mo right now at the second highest pay grade at your current job?
I'm going to disagree with a few of the other posters and say that your time is better spent on figuring out how to increase your income than it is on decreasing your already minimal expenses.
It can't cost much to get your GED... Go do that ASAP.
In the mean time, go do some FASFA calculations and find out what kind of grants you could get to go to technical school. Find a 2 year program that you're interested and go do that. Or, if technical school is too much, go get your associates from a community college.
A 50% savings rate will take you 15+ years to get to FI - and if that savings rate is at a $500 spending level, you'll only be FI enough to cover that. If you can spend 2 years getting an education that will increase your take home pay to even $2,000/mo. You could continue living at a $500/mo level and have a 76% savings rate. This would get you to FI at that level in much less time (2 years for education, 7 years saving) and you could keep saving a little longer if you wanted to increase your lifestyle.
If education isn't something you're willing to do. At least go find another career where you're not at the second highest pay grade at $1,000 / mo. You may need to move to find something if you're way out in the country but I'd think even working at a grocery store would provide you better income opportunities than that.
I'm going to disagree with a few of the other posters and say that your time is better spent on figuring out how to increase your income than it is on decreasing your already minimal expenses.
It can't cost much to get your GED... Go do that ASAP.
In the mean time, go do some FASFA calculations and find out what kind of grants you could get to go to technical school. Find a 2 year program that you're interested and go do that. Or, if technical school is too much, go get your associates from a community college.
A 50% savings rate will take you 15+ years to get to FI - and if that savings rate is at a $500 spending level, you'll only be FI enough to cover that. If you can spend 2 years getting an education that will increase your take home pay to even $2,000/mo. You could continue living at a $500/mo level and have a 76% savings rate. This would get you to FI at that level in much less time (2 years for education, 7 years saving) and you could keep saving a little longer if you wanted to increase your lifestyle.
If education isn't something you're willing to do. At least go find another career where you're not at the second highest pay grade at $1,000 / mo. You may need to move to find something if you're way out in the country but I'd think even working at a grocery store would provide you better income opportunities than that.
Don't stress about being homeschooled. No one asks for proof when you check that box on the application that says, "yes, I graduated from high school." And people love hearing stories about homeschooling, especially if it's about a project you did in their field.
There are so many ways to make money. If online passive income is your goal I'd focus on that but find better ways to make cash. Like, around here the unemployed sell firewood ($400/cord) or make trinkets for tourists or do construction/day labor. Check out the gigs and the services offered sections on Craigslist and brainstorm.
There are so many ways to make money. If online passive income is your goal I'd focus on that but find better ways to make cash. Like, around here the unemployed sell firewood ($400/cord) or make trinkets for tourists or do construction/day labor. Check out the gigs and the services offered sections on Craigslist and brainstorm.
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secretwealth
- Posts: 1948
- Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:31 am
I was homeschooled--I currently have a Ph.D.
I really think you need to get a GED and either certification or a university degree. The unemployment rates for dropouts and those without certifications is tremendous. You need a certain level of education to get a sustainable living wage, and you don't have that, so it should be your top priority.
I really think you need to get a GED and either certification or a university degree. The unemployment rates for dropouts and those without certifications is tremendous. You need a certain level of education to get a sustainable living wage, and you don't have that, so it should be your top priority.
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sarasuperid
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:34 pm
I agree with Riparian and John Galt. For the vast majority of jobs if you say home schooled and graduated, they will just believe you. That is not true at a professional level, but it is at a basic getting a job in a grocery store level.
Get your GED so you can get some sort of skilled degree and if you are married (which takes your parent out of the income picture) go on Pell grants. There may even be special grants for home schooled kids. If you do work study or continue the content milling while in school you may not have to take out any loans and may still be able to save a little for FI.
Get your GED so you can get some sort of skilled degree and if you are married (which takes your parent out of the income picture) go on Pell grants. There may even be special grants for home schooled kids. If you do work study or continue the content milling while in school you may not have to take out any loans and may still be able to save a little for FI.
A lot of blue collar jobs pay more than college-type jobs. Someone in Hy-Vac or Welding or doing a Truck driving route for a soft drink company will bring you far more money than writing content for a blog. Being a plumber or electrician is a high paying job-- though "dirty". Even a phlebotomist or a nurses aid can bring in pretty good money. An Ultrasound or X-ray tech can make quite a lot.
Why not explore community college type degrees?
Why not explore community college type degrees?
@ Rora
I'm happy you are reaching out and I think other members have given you great advice. I suggest you read Shop Class as Soulcraft and think about getting a good technical skill or getting a nursing degree while working in the field - these will give you good income and a portable skill-set. For nursing, I think anything to do with geriatrics will be really good as the US population is aging rapidly!
Good luck and let us know how you are doing!
Magnus
I'm happy you are reaching out and I think other members have given you great advice. I suggest you read Shop Class as Soulcraft and think about getting a good technical skill or getting a nursing degree while working in the field - these will give you good income and a portable skill-set. For nursing, I think anything to do with geriatrics will be really good as the US population is aging rapidly!
Good luck and let us know how you are doing!
Magnus