I have a job offer, but I’m still a failure

I got a job offer as a part-time adjunct professor at a local university, but I still feel as if I failed at life. Let’s be honest, being an adjunct is NOT a good thing. It pays very little (a McDonald’s crew employee earns more) and has no benefits. But, it’s all I can get for now and I desperately need the money. I don’t have enough to even take care of my basic needs. I’ve already applied to nearly 350 jobs, with no success. Why am I such a failure? Because I made the stupidest decision to get a PhD. Now I’m overqualified for many full time positions, or just lack the tech skills to get a real job. So I’m stuck with this. Not sure how I should proceed, it’s either I let my pride get in the way and not take the job or just take it and go along with the flow. Anyone here can relate?

Username: LavenderGreyhoundLavenderGrey...

Date posted: 1y ago

Maybe view it as a stepping stone for your career? Everyone has to start somewhere. I am still working towards finish my bachelors degree and I am in my 30’s. At this point in time, I’m not even sure if I chose the right major. Pursuing the degree has been extremely difficult and taken a toll on my mental health due to how demanding my major is. But I am going to finish the degree to allow myself options for the future.

Username: GermanCowboyGermanCowboy

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@LavenderGreyhound Yeah, I mean I do enjoy teaching. Maybe it can be a way of getting my foot in the door. I just wish it would be more appreciated. I’ve already had friends cut me off because I chose an academic path, and labeled me as a failure. Because they said “but you’re smarter than me, you should make more $$$ right?”. So once I told them about my job, they shut me down and started being dicks about it. Oh well… I do need to find better people to hang around with. I’m glad you’re still working through your bachelors degree, you got this! Don’t let ocd get in the way! View it as an ongoing exposure and as therapy for your ocd. I’m in my 30s too and just got my DL this week. OCD kept me back all this time from doing it, but I told it to stfu.

Username: GermanCowboyGermanCowboy

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

So I took the offer. I think it is going to be a step in the right direction. Besides, not everything is about money. I also do genuinely love teaching so it is ultimately a win in my book. OCD can stop gaslighting me now.

Username: ReadyForImprovementReadyForImpr...

Date posted: 1y ago

My (now former) partner is going through this - it's more common than people realize. He's 45, just finished his third degree - decided to go to law school and is going to be doing his Masters degree in Law, so he needs a job go carry him through until he's done and can practice... but everyone sees it as "temporary" or saya he's "too qualified". I'm sorry you're going through this. It's also garbage that so many recruiters are so narrow-minded. They can't think outside the box - they only want someone who has done the exact job before. I truly hope something shifts and you get something you want to do. I understand how hard it is... I experienced it about 10 years ago, before I accidentally landed in my current career. Hang in there.

Username: GermanCowboyGermanCowboy

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@ReadyForImprovement Exactly well said 👏 believe it or not, I was told I wasn’t qualified to teach high school algebra by such a recruiter. Ignoring the fact that I hold a PhD in math and have had extensive exposure in solving complex math problems, either in academia or in internships (one was with NASA). But ok, I guess I’m supposed to let him shit all over my credentials. Thanks, I hope I’m able to find that niche. I’m still definitely taking the teaching job, as it beats the alternative. Let’s see how it all goes.

Username: juniijunii

Date posted: 1y ago

Avail today's opportunity dear and hope for the better tomorrow.you will get better place in future.be strong

Username: ucsancyucsancy

Date posted: 1y ago

I too feel exactly like that

Username: GermanCowboyGermanCowboy

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@ucsancy Care to elaborate?

Username: MJocd

Date posted: 4y ago

Anyone else been stuck, unemployed, at home for a long period of time? How does it make you feel? I'm currently studying from home and my last job was 2 years ago. I left school 4ish years ago. I just feel like shit. I have a small service based business I've been trying to get going, but its difficult and covid ruined most of my bookings this year. It's horrible feeling useless when it feels the whole world is moving, and everyone is graduating, getting married or idk reaching some other milestone and I'm just lost in an abyss of dark confusion.

Username: GermanCowboy

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Jealous of Brother

So I just learned that my brother is going to be starting a new full-time job with benefits at the school my mom works at. And to add insult to injury, he’s going to be making more $$ than me. I am deeply hurt by that since I’ve got more education and experience than he does. To compare: Me: PhD awarded 6 years experience in software engineering Prestigious internships Published papers in reputable journals Him: Hasn’t completed his associates degree Worked at fast food But yet, he’s got a full-time position with great benefits without applying to too many jobs. I’m stuck with a part time faculty job making less than a McDonalds employee. And I’ve applied to 350+ jobs already, getting rejected for “overqualified” or not a fit because of my outdated tech skills. Where the hell did I go wrong??? I’m really regretting spending 10+ years working my @ss off for that piece of paper, which in reality no one cares about. He’s getting all the praise from mom and dad now, while I’m the failure who didn’t live up to their potential. It’s a cruel twist of fate. I thought I was going to make boatloads of money with a career as a machine learning engineer. But again, it’s been 350+ applications with not even an interview. FML

Username: Uphamia

Date posted: 40w ago

Feeling tired..

I feel like the only 23 year old who’s failing. Like, everyone I know my age is working or going to school, and neither I’ve been able to do for the last 3 years because of my mental health, and a fear of trying and failing. I tried college and it didn’t work out, I tried working and it didn’t work out, so I’ve been trying to focus on my mental health and getting stronger before trying again but now I’m at the point I feel like I’m doomed to never accomplish anything ever again. Every day when I’m doing my household chores or running errands, or doing literally any productive thing, my brain yells the whole time “you’re not doing this task good enough” and “you can’t even do this right, imagine trying to hold a job?” And when I do a task and feel accomplished for a moment, my brain says “your friends are doing way more than this at their jobs, you shouldn’t be proud at all”. I’m so scared my entire life is going to be this hard, even though I’ve made strides in my mental health journey, it still never feels good enough. It’s still so hard and I’m still so scared I’m doomed to never accomplish anything

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I have a job offer, but I’m still a failure

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