How to Know When It’s Time to Grow Up and Get a Job

John Schneider

It’s a harsh reality that life is harsh.

Life is many things, but it’s not free nor easy. From what you see on TV, it doesn’t seem like it. But I can tell you from experience that, at some point or another, most of us must buckle down and get a job.

The 2008 housing crisis and subsequent “Great Recession” hasn’t been easy on most of us. Plus, most of us don’t have the same life goals. But the gig economy has opened new doors and opportunities. Besides, it isn’t fair to leech off others.

How do you know when it’s time to grow up and get a job?

When you’re in high school and you want stuff beyond food, clothing and shelter, you should grow up and get a job.

“When I was your age,” we had to get our own job if we wanted more than three square meals, a roof over our heads, and basic clothes. Okay, that’s not entirely true. The truth, however, is that if we wanted anything extra special, such as a car, a phone (attached to a wall), or spending money, most of us had to get a job.

I may sound like an old crank, but there’s nothing like building skills and a work ethic at a young age. Plus, being financially independent relieves you of having to ask for permission to do certain things.

When you leave home, you should grow up and get a job.

For most of us, the first time we’re “on our own” is in college. College isn’t cheap these days. No longer can you put yourself through school in four years with a part-time or even full-time job. Likewise, it’s harder to put yourself or you and a partner through retirement on your own.

Don’t leech mom and dad’s life savings to have a life. Any way you can contribute helps, if only as a good faith effort.

When you’re living with mom and dad only because you need the money, you should grow up and get a job.

There are numerous reasons you might be living with your mom and dad when you’re over the age of 25. If the only reason you’re living with mom and dad after age 25 is because you don’t have a job, you need to get a job.

I’m sure you’ll say you’ve been trying. But have you? Really? Have you also tried creating your own gig in today’s tech-driven economy?

When someone else is paying your bills and you’re old enough to not get irritated when carded, you should grow up and get a job.

When you have a masters degree in being a professional student, you should grow up and get a job.

College was some of the best years of my life. Even back then, there were students on their fifth and six years of undergraduate school.

Some students can’t stop colleging. I know someone who is 40 and has been going to college since high school graduation 22 years ago. He still doesn’t have a degree, nor a full-time job.

This is not acceptable. Go to college. Get a degree. Get a job. That’s how it works. If you’ve been in college longer than a doctor and you’re not a doctor, get a job.

When you’re not working for your dreams and goals, you should grow up and get a job.

If most of your days are spent couch surfing or playing Uncharted, it’s time to get a job. It’s easy to get distracted with the easy, here and now, bright and shiny, but those don’t give us a sense of purpose or pride.

No one ever said, “I won Pokémon!” on their death bed.

When you contribute little or nothing to society, you should grow up and get a job.

We’re put on this earth to give, contribute, and help. If you’re capable and not contributing to even one other person, get a J.O.B.

When you talk big and don’t walk big, you should grow up and get a job.

If you’re over the age of 25, without a job and still “working on the band” or “going to break into show biz soon,” get a job. Don’t stop working towards your dream. Never stop that!

Just stop leeching off others to fund your dreams. They have their own dreams to fund.

When your friends have jobs and you don’t, you should grow up and get a job.

If, suddenly, you look around and have no one to play with, it’s time to get a job. Life isn’t a race, but it’s helpful to sometimes gauge your progress against your peers.

When my partner and I noticed that our peers were getting married, buying houses, and having kids, we realized our never-ending weekend partying wasn’t taking us the direction we wanted to go.

If all your peers have jobs and you don’t, they’re not your peers anymore.

If you can’t hold down a job, you should grow up and get a job… and keep it.

We all go through rough patches.

It’s hard to go straight from school to a job you like and that likes you back. Eventually, we need to keep a job. The year after I graduated college, I had five different jobs in my small hometown. I realized I’d need to move to a bigger city to find a job and salary that was satisfactory. It was scary but necessary.

If you’re constantly between jobs, it’s time to do what it takes to get a job that sticks.

This isn’t a warm and fuzzy article. It’s tough love. The better you are, the better the people around you are, and the better we all are. It’s in everyone’s best interest to for you to level up.

If we all give more value, we all become more valuable.

Now, go get a job.