Unemployed Gen Z woman says it's unfair to force people to take jobs they won't like just for the money

When deciding what to study at university, some people feel pressured to choose a degree in an industry that they know will guarantee employment and a stable income. Others choose to pursue a creative passion, despite the precarious job market and financial challenges that may await them.

Both options are valid, as one Gen Z woman passionately pointed out.

Unemployed Generation Z, who are “creative” and have two degrees, said it was unfair to force people to pursue jobs they don’t like, just to make money.

“I have two bachelor’s degrees, but I’m currently unemployed and trying to find a job, and I can’t seem to find a job,” Brittany Hotte admitted in a TikTok. Despite having degrees in graphic design and sociology, experience and a “good CV”, the 28-year-old said she struggled to find a well-paid position.

In response, one TikTok user left a comment saying: “You just don’t have the right degrees. You should have gone into the medical field or something in the STEM field. Only jobs that really matter for the future.

The medical and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors require individuals to adopt a complex understanding of science and mathematics – something not everyone is capable or willing to do .

Hotte filmed a reaction to the comment, saying no one should limit themselves to jobs that society deems worth pursuing, simply because of the financial success they can gain from them.

“That’s not how my brain works. I’m a creative person,” Hotte said. “You shouldn’t have to take on something you’re not good at…and won’t enjoy.” It’s not fair.

Of course, anyone who feels drawn to the medical and STEM fields should definitely follow their passion – they are undoubtedly necessary to society. However, not everyone suits them. Individuals should choose the career field that best matches their unique skills and interests.

Pursuing a career in the medical or STEM sectors also doesn’t guarantee instant success, especially in today’s job market.

“Having degrees in these fields doesn’t help anyway. It took me 3 years to find a job with my (computer science) degree, and technically it’s just an internship,” one commenter wrote. “The job market as a whole is deeply flawed (right now).”

Creative degrees are also valuable.

Many commentators have argued that countless career paths outside of STEM are essential to our culture and livelihoods.

“A future world without arts is not a world worth having,” one user wrote, “and I say this as someone (who) works in the STEM field.”

Creative woman painting Cast of thousands | Shutterstock

“People are too comfortable devaluing creative fields when so much depends on them,” another commenter added.

“Creative diplomas are worthless,” says Hotte. “Stop telling people to go into the medical field or the STEM field when that’s not what they want to do.”

The skills we learn in college can be applied to a variety of opportunities and fields.

No one can truly pursue a good or bad degree, and all have their advantages. The skills and knowledge you gain through a college education are often not exclusive to a specific career path. Rather, you can apply these skills to various roles and even industries.

It may be increasingly difficult to get a job in today’s job market, but that has less to do with an individual’s specific degree and more to do with the economy.

As a creative myself, I studied journalism at university and certainly had fears about the stability of a writing profession. However, this did not stop me from pursuing my passion and trusting my versatile skills. By measuring success by the level of passion I feel for my work, I can say that I am on the right track.

Essentially, everyone’s mind works differently. We each have our own set of skills, qualities, and passions, and we shouldn’t let society dictate what is worth studying and what isn’t.

Francesca Duarte is a writer on YourTango’s news and entertainment team based in Orlando, Florida. She covers topics related to lifestyle, human interest, adventure and spirituality.