I’m 26 years old and I have a Bachelor in Computer Science. The problem is that I have learned almost nothing. Yes, it’s possible in my country. I can forget working as a programmer, because I’m useless.
After finishing up my compulsory army service, I went to Japan and married the girl of my dreams, a beautiful Japanese girl with whom I had a relationship for the past couple of years.
After that I returned to my fucked up European country to look for a job, so she can come and we can live together. But, there is a huge problem. I AM USELESS in Programming, so I can only do manual labor, but nobody is hiring me because the unemployment here is skyrocketing and because I have no prior experience.
Speaking almost no Japanese, I can’t work in Japan either.
I feel like I let everyone down. I’m useless. The future doesn’t seem bright. I’m contemplating suicide more and more often.
28 comments
Fell the same way, put 20junk years into a law degree working as a paralegal I was no good….can’t keep a job, this economy is making everyone’s troubles seem worse I think, making companies meaner, more selective to the point of absurdity at what they can demand of their employees while a few get richer. Nobody checks their credit reports to get a job, they just keep getting bonuses.
BUT You sound YOUNG. I am in midlife so I have few options. I know its touch holding a useless degree, my husband and I separated, he has a JD and an MBA and he is working at a department store.
I have a love of Japan, so kudos to you for traveling there to meet your girl. HOLD ON TO HER….so what if you do manual labor, be the best at what you CAN be, there are options. Killing yourself over the economy is not a good option. Things were bad before our generation-they were killing Jews in ovens, and the world contracted in world war and economic crisis…the world always will when humans are involved who act in self-interest. I know how hard this is…going thru it now….my job ends in 6 weeks, I will NEVER go back to the law, I am done.
Now, Japan is in pretty bad shape, but I have a friend who like you went over taught English and married a Japanese girl. They are over here now. Is that an option?
Now its hard, in every direction the economic downturn is a real downer.
I’m also studying Computer Science 🙂
It’s hard as hell, and I don’t know how I’m going to graduate
Dude, your not useless. You graduated somehow, didn’t you? You say you didn’t learn anything – so what are your reasons for believing so? You don’t have to go into programming after studying CS. You can move into anything you want. Are there any research opportunities available, in your university, or anywhere else?
If nothing else, do some online tutorials for programming. It’s really not that hard. Try some independent coding on your own. Offer to design someone’s website (a small local one, perhaps) for free, to add something to your experience. Design some online application by yourself.
@Cardboard-you rock, thanks said it better than I could!
@Mitsuko66: Thanks 🙂 Your comment was also great advice
@Cardboard
My reasons for saying I’m useless is because apart from simple “Hello World” programs I don’t remember anything. I don’t remember a single programming language.
@Manny-don’t mean to jump in Dude, but I get confused easily w/ financial documents I have no affinity to numbers and can function at about a 5-6 under extreme pressure. I blew this job op, could have made 70plus a year but I could not keep up, working 12 hours a day even…am, I dumb? Well, I grad top 2% in college, I just wrote my third novel (set in Japan). Nope, its just NOT ME. CS is so clearly NOT YOU.
@mannyraz:
I know, look, even after a 3 month long vacation I am the same. Look, I’m terrible at uni right now. I can’t cope with my depression, there are times when I can’t even move.
But you have a wonderful wife now, and you have a completed degree. I know you feel like you will learn nothing, but once you start, things start flooding back in. Just pick up one of your old books, and go through the basics. Don’t try and read the whole book, just the basics. After that go through online tutorials – they are much more useful.
If you’re really stuck, try Code Academy. I won’t post the link here, because then my comment will go under moderation and you won’t be able to view it till tomorrow. But do this:
Go to Google -> type in “Code Academy” in the search bar -> Click on the first link
This will take you to Code Academy, and will teach you the basics of coding. Very good tutorial, very easy. People give it good reviews (it’s free).
If you don;t mind me asking, which Euro country are you in? Also, which languages did you learn in uni?
Greece
C, C++, Java, html, php, Visual Basic, LISP, Pascal
This is cool list! To brush up on HTML and PHP you can just go through some “W3C School” (Google that and go the first link) tutorials.
And then focus on C, C++ or Java. I haven’t learned C++, but I have done C and Java. I fucking hated C, and Java was pretty neat. So you might find Java a bit easier to focus on.
Why don’t you learn the basics of programming with Java? It’s syntax is very intuitive.
It’s truly horrid to hear about what bastard politicians are doing to all these countries 🙁
I’m sorry about how things are turning out in Greece. I truly hope things get better soon.
If CS/programming is really not working out for you, then like Mitsuko66 said, see what else you are really in to, and see where you can apply that talent to.
But I’m telling you, programming is not bad, at least not the basics of it.
Thanks for the advice cardboard, but even if I brush up on some languages, how is it gonna get me employed? There are guys out there with years of experience in coding, years I’ve spent playing stupid videogames.
I don’t feel confident enough.
Yes Manny, I was in Greece two years ago. HUGS. Its easy to see why you feel this way.
BEST HOPE FOR GREECE-get out out if the EU, F Germany, it will happen, at least forgive the bloody debt.
@ Mitsuko
Teaching English in Japan is impossible, since I’m not a native English speaker. They need a native.
Maybe you can try doing something online. Try searching for small coding jobs which will pay you online. Usually the code is very monotonous and/or easy. Maybe you can make enough bucks to keep you going.
Oh, I see I didn’t realize you were Greek, yes that may pose issues. I know some Russian, I was a Russian major in college and could get around in Greece, but kanji and Greek are vastly different.
What does your lady do?
Are you able to work in the tourist trade? I know the out islands shut down at this time, are you in Athens?
Yes, I live in Athens. The worst city in Europe… To work in the tourist trade, you have to have a university degree in tourism management.
I really appreciate your advice Mitsuko and Cardboard.
My wife studied French philology. Now she works as a waitress at Starbucks in Japan…
@Manny, oh Dude…I feel for you. Athens is AMAZING, just blew me away, great people, great history, total mismanagement, totally getting F%ed by the EU bankers, man, I am so glad I was there….damn great Pizza at the Plaka too, better than Rome, LOL.
Hmmmm…a degree in tourism, you know you are like me, I am soooooo good in history and I would love to teach but I need another advanced degree to segue into that and aint gonna happen, too much education debt. When this gig that I blew ends I am gonna try and volunteer w. a museum or get an internship into editing. Things are pretty bad here too, though not as bad as there.
Can you drive a tour bus? Is that a degree also? Sell things to tourists? Those Turkish peddlers LOL they were persistant, iin Turkey!
What about the restaurant biz?
Oh-I am sorry, look…1.) don’t panic, don’t kill yourself. How will she feel? 2.) make a plan, emigrate, do something else, save your money, and you will be reunited. But don’t lose hope, Cardboard has some good ideas about online coding.
Driving… There are around 80000 unemployed drivers in Greece now.
Selling to tourists is also out of the question, since most businesses that deal with tourists are family ran.
Restaurants is an option, but the salary is around $800 a month. 🙁
I don’t want to do it. The only thing stopping me are my loved ones. I don’t want to drag my wife into a life of surviving on $800 a month.
O, I see ya, I see….I know the very high UI now makes it difficult…
Too bad it is so cold on the out islands now, there are little options so cold now. Rhodes is warm though.
Well, try the rest thing AND do the coding gigs on line or freelance. What about elance or some of these virtual assistance jobs, that could supplement your income. You mentioned competing vs others, having no experience, is there anyone you trust that can vouch for you? I’ve hopped around alot and that is hard for me to explain, though I interview well, I am not saying lie on a resume, but what the hell if you have to? I recently invented a phantom stepdaughter to explain why I had a bunch of temp jobs for 5 years, the deck is stacked against me, what do I care? Its desperate time, do what you have to short of illegality but don’t lose hope!
I guess you’re right. Thank you guys!
You got it Manny!
Greece is desperate now, and you have every right ti feel despair. TRY TRY and TRY, if all else fails go somewhere else w/ your wife and start again, here in the states, or Britain, but don’t kill yourself.
All the best, XXOO
There are all these Teachers telling kids what the future is, ….. go to college get a degree in this or that and you’ll be set for life.
There are over saturations of people coming out of colleges and there isn’t nor will there be employment for even half of them.
To compound your problem, your a Greek citizen, a country that has tried to impliment a socialist economy and the results are a bitter failure. The problem with a socialist economy is they run out of other people money to run the socilaist state.
Its easy for people to say to the countries that Greece borrowed money from (just forgive the debt). it sound reall good. The problem is that tax payers in the countries that loaned the money need repayment.
There are crafts that are always employed, electricians, plumbers, etc. Change what you thought you wanted to do for a living. Seek out a trade.
There will be some outside investments into Greece from Investment Capital, seek out the new projects that will be there.
Consider a move to Germany, the economy is still somewhat sound.
Agree with this in theory, some believe if Greece drops out of the EU and goes back on drachma, it would be instant bankruptcy and much worse than the austerity programs being foisted on so many now, but I would not like 40% of my 401k (if I had one) being taken to prop up a deadman walking. Greece will get out of the EU, and so will Spain and Italy, not now, but it is inevitable. What’s going on is a lot of like the atmosphere of Russia 1905. That country limped along another 12 years till the war pushed the them over the breaking point. People can take a lot of misery, years of it, But not indefinitely.
Good advise about Germany, they will be the new reserve currency of the future as the dollar continues to shrink. My money is on Germany.
The dollar can be saved, tuff uncomfortable measures will have to happen. As an American, ,y country needs some real reform to reign in many social giveawways that have failed.
Bring real jobs back and product to America and Americans will buy them.
What ever country your from, buy your country’s goods first, spend your money at local stores. Vacation in your country.
Greece, can absolutely pull out of this crisis. You can be part of the Phoenix within it. Get involved. Make Greece your new goal. Be part of a solution to its problems. Help your city, village or hamlet. Capitalism brings prosperity and hope, socialism bring just empty hope, because if always fails.
One thing I know is Greece will have a renewal, it is thousands of year old, it will be here amongst the othe nations for ever.
World over population needs to be lowedered if any country hopes to have jobs for it peoples.
Having a noble purpose for the right reason can give hope ang energy to a soul.