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My husband and I had a good laugh this week at a guy who posed a question to President Obama during one of his forums. The kid said he was in his second semester of school and had worked at McDonald's for four years. He was fired up when he requested a better job from the President, saying he couldn't get a better job.
Tim and I look at each other, baffled.
I don't know if this kid was on the "I want more, me me me," train, but he seemed it.
When we discussed it, we realized this guy got a job at Mickie D's in high school. Like most high school kids have minimum wage-type jobs.
But now, while still a student in college, he wanted more.
There's nothing wrong for wanting more, in my opinion. But this kid made it seem like he deserved a professional job in the industry he was studying--without yet getting his degree.
I don't get it. When I was in college, I worked as an office assistant on work-study. I didn't expect a job in my field--nor did I have the audacity to go on national television and demand that the President get me a better one. I know not everyone is like me, but most college students are lucky enough--and grateful enough--to have a job during school to help pay the bills. I can understand if this guy was tired of flipping burgers...but most people I know would simply apply for another job. Not expect to get the job of a college graduate.
Maybe this guy should focus on getting an internship. Paying his dues. Taking the steps that all college grads have had to do to get to where they are in their entry-level jobs. No, these jobs aren't perfect, but you're on your way.
This dude--not so much! I think he'll always whine about wanting more without putting in the hard work and effort that this country was founded on.
College grads are having hard enough times getting their first jobs. They don't need to compete with dudes like that. Fortunately, they won't have to.
But he is still a shining example of how not to be, in my opinion.
I agree with you. As an undergrad I worked as an office 'attendant' on workstudy. I also had a second job selling textbooks. Nothing glamorous - just another workstudy job. When I was close to graduation I was *lucky* to be around when an position opened up in the same department. Since I was continually more involved than most workstudy students I was given a fair chance in the departmental interview to prove that I knew the job and I could function on my own and supervise my own workstudy students.
I got the job. Was it in my field? kinda-sorta-was, but not exactly what I went to school for. It was nonetheless a good paying job.
I don't get that kid on TV. If you don't like your job, do something about it. Don't just whine.
Great post and good point! I worked in clothing stores, in daycares, as a nanny and also as an office assistant in college. They weren't glamorous but they helped pay my utilities and give me cash for my books. They also taught me important lessons about work ethic and problem solving.
More importantly though, I couldn't give 100% to them because I was a full-time student, my first priority was school and my life. This kid might think he deserves some college graduate level job, but he can't give 100% to it. There is no calling out when you have to study for a big exam, or being sick because you partied too much the night before. You can't refuse to work more hours because of your course load and you certainly can't wear jeans everyday and listen to your ipod.
There's a lot associated with full-time work and it is a learning experience!
And those "fake jobs" he complained about are what led me to getting my first full-time job. After a few months of slugging paperwork in the grants office of my university, I had developed such a great relationship with my boss that they offered me a new position. I had a job before any of my friends!
Whoa, sounds crazy! Can you direct me to the link of this guy asking such a question?
Seems working 4 years at McDonalds is paying enough dues, haha. About time to read some career advice websites, build up your resume with some independent gigs, and get on searching for that perfect job.
I couldn't agree more. As a night teacher at a community college I am always telling my students to find that internship, part time job, engage in professional networking, and doing whatever it takes to get that good job when you graduate. If the guy didn't like his job, which by the way, Mickie D's pays well more than minimum wage, he needs to perform the due dilligence of getting something that suits him better. But, you can't blame the guy for taking advantage of the situation - how many of us would do the same?
I'm in college. I work on business development for a nonprofit. It was mostly by luck that I was able to find a good opportunity like this; and I consider myself fortunate to not be working in food service or retail (both of which I have done in the past).
I don't blame the guy for being unhappy about his job at McDonald's - it's not a desirable job for someone working towards a college degree which is supposed to be your path to a comfortable job. I don't know the context of what he said since I haven't seen the video - but I doubt he would be demanding a job worthy of college graduates before he has a degree. He probably just wanted something a little more stimulating and challenging than McDonald's.
Whilst I was in college, I steered clear of jobs in my field of study or places where I thought I might like to work in the future, post graduation. I did this for 2 reasons. Firstly, if I could have applied for and got a job that I wanted to do in a few years time, then my 3 years of university study and hardwork would surely have been undermined and even a waste of time. Secondly, I don't know about the rest of you, but my course was very demanding and as a result I was probably not the model employee. I recall that due to essays and exams my mind was rarely on my job and I probably called in sick a few more times than I should have done.
My choice was to always work in places where you could do a lot of hours for ok money in the holidays. These places were usually factories and I hated the work. But I know that those experiences drove me on to graduate with a good degree and then secure a good job.
That was just the best way for me.
Kristen, I think you misunderstood what he asked. I just listened to the video, and Julio never asked the President for a better job. He simply mentioned that he was working in a low-paying job and was wondering if the president would do anything to raise the benefits that long-time workers like himself received. That's not asking for a job that he didn't deserve at all.
So I think your criticism of him is quite unfair.
Also, in response to the comments that he should have just looked for a better job, that might be true. But we don't know anything about the job situation in his area, and his school commitments.
He's only a 1st year college student, so he obviously started working at McDonald's when he was a young high school student. (4 years ago) He might not have the time to get a better job, or might not be available when a better job needs him to be, or there might just not be many available jobs for young people. There are a lot of reasons students can't find better jobs.
We also don't know anything about his financial situation. Internships aren't economically-viable for many low-income students because they can't afford to go without a paycheck.
The "I want a better job" hype seemed to be more of the resulting media frenzy after he got on TV. So I'd hesitate to criticize him for being "entitled" without looking over the range of events closely.
And if he said he wanted a better job on TV later... well, how would you respond in that situation? If I were getting interviewed on national television after asking a question of the president, and someone asked me "do you want a high-ranking job in the field you're studying right now?", I'd say yes. Who wouldn't? Would I expect it to happen? No. Would I think I'd earned it? No. But if someone wanted to give it to me, I'd happily accept.
Katie, thanks for the clarification. I just watched the video, and you are absolutely right. The question was about getting better benefits.
Here's the video, by the way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1m_k2dCj0M
He is definitely very excited to ask his question!
I taught spinning classes at my campus gym in college. It paid more than double what work study paid, so I worked half the hours that some of my friends did for the same money.
Though not directly related to my professional interests, I definitely have a lot of public speaking experience.
Now that I teach mat pilates, it's more nuanced, since I have to take into account the learning styles of 30 diff't people twice a week -- aural, visual, kinesthetic, etc -- which carries over to public speaking in any field.
I really like this post and generally find that I agree with you, Kristen.
Like some of the other commenters, I see why this guy is annoyed with working at McDonalds for four years. I also applaud his ambition, but the sense of entitlement that seems he seems to have conveyed is ridiculous.
There isn't necessarily an "appropriate" job for a college student, ambitious people should go out there and pursue whatever substantive jobs they want. If he can find a position that's fit for a college grad while he is still studying, then more power to gim! But the key is that HE should be the person doing it. It's not up to the government to find / create a job for you.
Julio made his plea at the town meeting in Fort Myers, FL. I, too, live in that area. I have a master's degree and have been applying for full time jobs for three years. In the meantime, I work part time for $9.09 an hour and have no benefits. This is probably close to what Julio makes at McDonald's with a high school diploma. By the way, I am 59 years old. I'd like the President to help me, too.
My point is, just whining about it seemed silly. He said he wanted a better job. That's not the president's fault--so I think my assessment of him was spot on. He makes it seem like it's the government's fault. He's only a first-year college student--what the heck does he expect?
This is about how I felt and my reaction to it--which is no wrong or right. If you think it's unfair, that's your opinion:)
Lively discussion--and snaps to finding the video of this guy!!
And as for help from the president...I personally like to work hard and work my way up for myself. I am not a gal who needs to be bailed out--I've got enough ambition:)
I can't honestly say I have read a blog post I have disagreed with more than yours (today). Now, to qualify my remarks, I did not watch the original exchange. And perhaps the young man was 'whining' (as you so objectively put it) in his question. And aside from my personal beliefs that it is not government's role to stimulate the economy, not now or ever. I question why when presented an opportunity to celebrate this person's desire for more, you elected to lambaste him.
Rather than directly address the possible inappropriateness of the forum or the manner in which the question was posed, you instead directed your ire squarely at the audacity of this college student having a desire, thirst, expectation for more - more opportunity, more satisfaction, more growth.
The most disturbing part of this to me is that you disseminate this opinion under the auspices of a career advice expert. Was it too much to come up with some novel ways for him to show value to his current employer? Most McDonalds are owned and operated by multi-unit franchisees. Or perhaps suggest circulating his resume among some small start-ups that may not offer pay much more generous than his present employer, but could offer him the experience he so clearly desired?
No, for you far to easy to issue a critique.
This guy seemed like he had some type of learning disability or social disorder. It was almost sad for me to see how his chance moment in the spotlight has blown up so much.
To get to the heart of what he was asking the president about there is a lot done in franchises like McDonalds to get the most work for the least amount of money/benefits and prevent them from having to pay unemployment money.
I will only list the things I or my family have had personal experience with.
Part time employees working JUST slightly under 40 hours a week so the company doesn't have to pay them benefits. This can be difficult for older than average students or student's whose parents have lost health insurance.
Moving a person to an undesirable schedule or reducing their hours in order to get them to quit so they don't have to fire them and pay UI benefits.
Honestly this is probably the only way these businesses can stay profitable, so I'm not even sure that changing these things would be a benefit to the country.
I understand where the kid is coming from. I don't think it was some cheap attempt to be funny, or to try to scam a job out of the president. I think he probably feels like most college students do. He sees fellow students rolling around in brand new Fords, Toyota's, and Honda's with all the bells and whistles. He probably has friends with the latest Cell phones, and Plasmas TVs, along with money to pay rent, wondering where in the world they got money to pay for it all. He's probably wondering why hes stuck working at McDonald's doing what he thinks is the right, and yet he's still making little more than minimum wage and can't afford many of "toys" he sees others with. He is probably lucky if he on his McDonald's pay can afford to go out once in a while. I myself am working on an undergraduate degree, and working at the same time. I have a good campus job that pays an average $9 and hour. The school only allows its students to work 20 hours a week because it feels education is more important, and I agree with that, but there sure are days I wish I could work more or get paid a little more. I drive an old beater pickup truck, I pay my way through school, and in the end I don't have a dime to play with. Is it wrong to think I'm worth a little more, even if I am an undergraduate student or are students with better paying jobs in college just better than me?
I need the job that will help me to continue my academy without stopping. Please help me find any available one. Thanks,God bless you.
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