Blue Collar To White Collar?

[ahbib]

Is going from a blue collar job (warehouse) to white collar job (office work) possible? I graduated from York University a year ago with a Political Science degree and have been working in a warehouse as a lead hand for a year.
What are my chances of getting a job in an office setting now?

Will employers ask why I have been working in a warehouse for a year? If so what should I tell them? I have no intention of doing a Masters degree but am open to college certification. I am not adverse to learning a trade or even staying in the blue collar work field as long as the pay is right, I have also heard the pay is often more at blue collar jobs at the cost of more physical labour involved.

What would you do in my situation? Is getting a white collar type job (HR, or bank, govt. etc.) possible or should I stick with the blue collar work and try to rise as high as I can? Thanks for your help.

[george benjamin]

If you dont mind going to college, you should get some kind of diploma in communications.

Here are all your options in ontario:

http://toronto.iabc.com/career/resources/EducationInstitutions.asp

Basically dont ever mention you worked at a warehouse. I dont blame you. Humanities, life sci...any degree thats not a professional degree would make it hard to find a job.

[volan]

I'm going to disagree with the previous poster. I don't see anything wrong with saying you worked at a warehouse. It's better to say that than to lie. Also, some employers see that it takes "hard work" and dedication to do that kind of job. It may actually reflect well on you.

As for your other question, you may want to target banks. The good thing about banks is that once you're in (as a teller) you can take courses and work your way up. Banks generally like to promote from within.

[MrCheap]

I agree, in today's job market many grads have to take what they can get and IMO it shows initiative. Many these days hold out for the CEO position they went to school for and live off the social teet.

Before you make the big leap however I must warn you: unless you have plans and abilities to move into upper management, working white collar isn't all it's cracked up to be.

To be honest, I made it to middle management and due to workload, was averaging 80 - 90 hrs per week and only making $50K. After 12 yrs I got fed up with working for less per hour than someone at timmies and went blue collar (self-employed contractor) and now I make double that with half the hours.

Also, you have to take into the pros and cons of white collar work: yes, being a warehouseperson is physical and in the office, you're sitting on your butt for most of the day but you have the stress to deal with. I found that I was losing sleep, pissed off most of the time, had health issues and now I work mostly physical? I'm healthy, happy, and sleeping like a baby. (ok, so I have a few battle scars to deal with, but hey, women love em lol).

[Pete Jones]

Volan and Mr. cheap are right on the money.

There is absolutely no shame in doing blue collar work. In fact, it might even put you in a good position to gravitate up to a higher level with your present employer -- that happens too.

I know someone who went through teacher's college years ago (when jobs were scarce) and got a job sweeping floors in a factory. Within a few years, he was already in upper management.

The cream really does flow to the top.

--Pete

[alysomji]

I'm going to disagree with the previous poster. I don't see anything wrong with saying you worked at a warehouse. It's better to say that than to lie. Also, some employers see that it takes "hard work" and dedication to do that kind of job. It may actually reflect well on you.

Very true.

Managers in business like hiring people who've seen the blue-collar life - so long as they still have what it takes in terms of education and personality to fit well into an office-type role.

[UrbanPoet]

You could always try to get some entry level job in a office type of environment.

Check out insurance companies, banks, credit card companies etc... They usually have a lot of entry level paper pusher/CSR type jobs. Depending on how you play it out it can look pretty good on your resume.

[Ebola]

I'm going to disagree with the previous poster. I don't see anything wrong with saying you worked at a warehouse. It's better to say that than to lie. Also, some employers see that it takes "hard work" and dedication to do that kind of job. It may actually reflect well on you.

As for your other question, you may want to target banks. The good thing about banks is that once you're in (as a teller) you can take courses and work your way up. Banks generally like to promote from within.

I agree with you.

Nothing like the a spoiled university grad who thinks they deserve it all straight out of school.

Having successfully worked in a labour environment (blue collar / white collar.. who cares..) as a lead hand no less, can easily be used to demostrate a quality work ethic.

[canucksslave]

Is going from a blue collar job (warehouse) to white collar job (office work) possible? I graduated from York University a year ago with a Political Science degree and have been working in a warehouse as a lead hand for a year.
What are my chances of getting a job in an office setting now?

Will employers ask why I have been working in a warehouse for a year? If so what should I tell them? I have no intention of doing a Masters degree but am open to college certification. I am not adverse to learning a trade or even staying in the blue collar work field as long as the pay is right, I have also heard the pay is often more at blue collar jobs at the cost of more physical labour involved.

What would you do in my situation? Is getting a white collar type job (HR, or bank, govt. etc.) possible or should I stick with the blue collar work and try to rise as high as I can? Thanks for your help.

Almost anyone with a degree can get an entry level job at banks. I don't why can you not do so with a degree from York.