2001...graduated....unemployed.....what's up with the economy?

[bren814]

Although I haven't landed a job yet, I do understand what you guys feel about being unemployed. Searching for jobs and going through all those interviews only to be passed up because of lack of experience really bites. I graduated this past June with an American Studies major and instead of the promise of opportunities I'm stuck in a rut and wondering when things will get better. What do you do when you've tried temp agencies and online job searches and friends and still don't come up with something?

[Unregistered]

I feel your pain. Like you I graduated also in 2001 as an English Major. I continually search for a job with little luck. I was hopeing to go into the Magazine business as a writer or editor. I've done two internships since I graduated to try and gain experience in my field, only to be told either I still don't have enough experience or no one is hiring. I've followed all the advice..be paitient, keep looking, keep positive, etc... I'm left wondering now what??? Do I take a regular job at a store? And if so where will that get me? No where except on a one way track to a merchandise career and that's not what I went to college for. So I feel your pain and while I don't have answers, I do understand. Good luck, I hope you find what your looking for.

P.S. when we do make it and get up there, let's remeber this so we can give the break we needed to another recent grad.

[Unregistered]

I know it's tough, but imagine having to take a boss's unimaginable crap because there is nothing else out there. You feel like such a little dog when you're called almost three times to come in (and take 3 days vacation) to an interview and then they don't call you back or cancel an hour before. Go work in a store, they'll probably treat you better, hey starbucks has a great benefits package! Just DON'T take anything, trust me!

[Unregistered]

It seems that we are all going through the same thing. I graduated in May 2001 with degrees in English and History, and was recently taken out to celebrate my first (please God, my last) secretary's day! I know it was meant well, but I swear, the huge boquet of flowers did nothing but taunt me. Depressing as that was, it was compounded by the fact that friends who graduated just a year before me were complaining they didn't know what to do for their secretaries.

[Miserable]

I understand how u guys feel.

I graduated in October but still couldnt' find a job. Not even a clerical job. I graduated with a IT degree, sounds good, huH? That's what people say! They even saw "oh...lots of IT jobs out there". I don't see any, not any for fresh grad. or those who lack experience. THe big E word - EXPERIENCE! I'm so sick of it!

Most of my friends who graduated about the same time already gotten a job(Not in IT though). BUt the got jobs at well known companies doing administrative/clerical work. I feel like a big loser, i can't even get a temporary job at a job agency b/c of the big E word again.

Bren, i've tried out everything you did and don't know what to recommend but go back to study. Maybe study something that would help you with your career choices or something that u would really enjoy.

all the best!

[Unregistered]

Okay, I have experience. It's not helping. I graduated in 1999 and got a good starter job with no advancement opportunities in HR. I thought it would give me some good experience and I could easily move on in 2 years. Well, it's been 2 years, my job fired me (for wanting to take on more work and gain more experience)2 months ago, I am getting married in 2 months, and looking at a retail position right now. I am still looking and trying to stay positive, but it's hard and I need money! For some reason my experience is getting me nowhere. I think it might just be the economy. Let's keep our heads up!

[Stoady]

I graduated May of 2000 and started working with Manpower and another job placement company. The pay was bad, but after three months I became permanent salaried. I even got a part time job making more per hour than my salaried job. I have had these two jobs for two years now and things have worked out well. One good thing about Manpower was I was an employee for Manpower working at the other companies. Manpower was charging the company $17 an hour for me, and I was making $11. After three months, I was hired at the company making $16 an hour. Because the company budgeted the position at $17 an hour, I got a raise after three more months. The point being, I had to work for crap for the first three months. Also, the Manpower type jobs are usually at places in some sort of crisis. The management respects a person who can stick it out through bad times. This was the case at both jobs. I came in the office after the accountant of 5 years decided to not come to work anymore. There were 3 years of errors, missing money, unpaid bills, and crates of unfiled paper. The company needed a slave and I needed expierence. It worked out well. They also wanted to have the option to not hire me at the end of the three months, but they told me that was not going to happen if I worked out. If you are at home, not getting any great interviews, consider working for a temp agency.

[Unregistered]

I've just discovered this website, and I'm so glad to know that other people are dealing with the same angst I am. I graduated in 2001 with a Master's Degree and am stuck at a dead-end job with a horrible boss who thinks he's the smartest person in the world. Newsflash--he's not. The economy is so terrible that I can't find anything else; I'd be willing to take a pay cut to get out of this place, but there's nothing! Good luck to all of you guys; I hope we all have better luck soon.

[Unregistered]

I found this site through an MSN article, and althought I'm not in your age group, I wanted to post a few thoughts about what I wish I had done...

First, I wish I had considered more alternatives. For instance, teaching English as a second language abroad. Although the market in Japan is not as good as it was, you should still be able to make a living wage and save a little. I was in my forties when I did this. I wish I had lived abroad when I was in my twenties. For information, go to Dave's ESL Internet Cafe. To get there, try yahoo and search for ESL. Dave's site will show up. Some schools interview here and pay airfare, etc. Be careful if you consider Korea. Apparently there are a lot of dicey operations there.

Second, I wish I had realized I would have more than one career and that the initial choice wasn't so critical. I wish I had relaxed more.

Third, I wish I hadn't felt so compelled to 'use' my education. If you really want a career in the field you studied, fine. But what you get from your education is your education. It isn't trade school, or it shouldn't be, and you have a big accomplishment under your belt.

Fourth, I wish I hadn't been such a snob about what kind of work I was willing to do. Enough said.

Fifth, I wish that when I started work I had saved my money instead of buying that new Mustang. I wish I had lived way below my means and saved some money to travel between jobs. I wish I had taken some risks, alternated with some serious work and retirement-building periods.

Sixth, I wish I had used the 'rocking-chair' test. When I'm 80 and rocking on the front porch of the retirement home, how will I feel about the choices I made.

Ok. Long-winded, boring, and all that, and the last thing you need is a lecture from someone old enough to be your mother. I just thought you should have an opinion from an older person who doesn't think your priority should be to recoup your 'investment' in your education and maximize your 401K and Roth IRA contributions.


Good luck, good life, enjoy the ride!

[Unregistered]

I graduated in May 2001- I envy people who are still in college! I found a job, though it took me almost a year. This has got to be the worst year in my life- I was so depressed that I didn't want to talk to anybody for months b/c I thought I was the only one going through this. My plans are to go back and get my MBA and pray that in 2 years the economy will be much better! Remember- it's nothing that you did- we are just in a recession right now. This web-site is great and I'm going to go pick up the book!

[Unregistered]

I just reread my post re what I wish I had done in my twenties. I think I perhaps I was a little arrogant considering how hard you all are struggling. But I am serious about considering alternatives - teaching English abroad, moving to areas where you are more likely to get a job (Washington DC never suffers as much as other places), waiting tables, tutoring home-school kids...

About teaching English abroad... what most places want are native-speaking college graduates. They don't want you to speak the local language. Most forbid speaking the local language in the school period because it ruins the immersion experience. For Japan, try Nova, the YMCA, Interact.

I know the economy in Japan isn't as good as it was, but I saved $800/month teaching 28 1/2 hours per week.

[Unregistered]

I don't usually post on message boards, but I had to after all I've been reading. That, and because I am bored out of my mind at this temp job; I think I have been to every page on the internet.

I graduated Spring '01 and still haven't found a job. I did everything I was "supposed" to do, did it right, and still nothing. I dual majored, maintained a 3.71 cum GPA, was president of my class, student gov. every year, Speech & Debate Team, super-involved in campus, studied abroad TWICE, am fluent in Spanish (everyone said it would get me a great job), and got an internship during my senior year.

What have I been doing the past year? Temping. Everyone keeps telling me that one of these short-term jobs will turn into something. None of them have. And to be honest, I wouldn't want to work at any of these places. I'm not the "corporate girl" I thought I was in the beginning. I've temped in 75-80 offices, and you would not believe the things I've seen. For the most part, I observed that people are $$ driven, to the harm of others if necessary. And I have been treated less-than-human, like I'm some teenage-mom-high-school-drop-out-illiterate-trailer-trash. I have been using my private school degrees to file papers for other people and do data entry. Not to mention LOTS of email in between. Until about a month ago, I was still actively looking, taking all the advice people are SO ready to give. I've finally given in and decided to become a teacher, the ONE job I said I would NEVER do! Suddenly, getting off of work at 3:00 and having a couple MONTHS of vacation a year doesn't sound so bad. And you know, I don't care what people say about that profession, the salary is not too bad (far more than any other starting salary I could get).

One more gripe: It seems as though the only job I can get is answering phone at a front desk. YET, I can't REALLY get that job either because 1.) I am over-qualified (read: they can pay some girl with only a few semesters of junior college a lot less money and she'll probably stick around longer) - or 2.) I can't get hired because I don't have any experience! Apparently, 4 years of college and 2 degress didn't give me enough typing experience? I mean really, what does it take? You're right I dont have secretarial experience. That's why I went to college - so I wouldn't have to. Plus, us grads seem to get "penalized" for being ambitious ....employers are afraid that we'll want to advance "too quickly"!

Well, there you have it. My first year out of college, in a nutshell. Super-disillusioned turned Cynic.

Does anyone feel me on this? Help me feel better about myself by emailing to hireRach@hotmail.com. (Yes, I originally set up this account to subliminally advertise myself to potential employers! So far all I've gotten is junk mail.)

[vagabondchick]

i am in a similar situation as some of you guys--in terms of being unemployed/looking for a job, etc. i graduated in 2000 with an IT degree. it took a few months, but finally a found a job (somewhat because of a connection i had) at a big consulting firm. was making over 50k, and actually liked the job. however, after about a year or so i was laidoff. there is nothing out there right now for entry-level (less than 3 years experience). yes, the E word. it sucks, but it's true. everyone told me that i would have no problem finding another job, but this has not been the case. so, i am now temping and looking. some advice--try temping!! yes it does get monotonous, yes you might be bored, and yes you might be undervalued, underappreciated, invisible. BUT, it provides an insight into different industries, you may get to pass along some resumés, as i have, AND you will not be sitting home depressed. it's easy to lose your identity and feeling of self-worth as a person because you have no job to identify with--but you are not your job. sounds cliche, but it's true. (at least i hope it is).

don't think that temping or retail is beneath you--i have many out-of-work friends in similar situations, and you have to do what you have to do to make ends meet. i only wish that i had started temping earlier. i have had a few interviews, but it was mostly through networking, nothing else.

it is difficult not having money like you are used to, or like you want to have, but i can only hope that i emerge from this experience as a better person, a harder worker, more resilient.

[zofloya]

I completely sympathize with 'unregistered' below, as in the seven years since i graduated from college I have been told at every single job interview one of the following two things: "We're looking for someone who has more experience," or "We don't want to hold you back in your career path. This job would be a step back for you." As a result, for six years I have been in the same office, where I started working 20 hours a week for $7.50 an hour typing things up, took a second job answering phones 10 hours a week, and finally I was promoted and now I'm making a whopping $25,000 a year as a small town newspaper reporter. Because we use a special, obscure software package, I've never had the opportunity to use PowerPoint, PageMaker, Paintshop or any other USEFUL things that could get me a better job....and meanwhile my friends who never went to college, are making twice as much as me because they have ~experience~. what do we have?? We have MASSIVE DEBT, and NO EXPERIENCE! I'm more than willing to do an idiot job for $30,000 a year if someone would just give it to me!! I've actually deleted the word "valedictorian" from my resume, and I don't mention my GPA, and I try to dumb down my experience so I have a chance at getting a decent-paying job.

All I've learned is that college is a massive waste of time and money unless you know at the age of 18 exactly what you want to do with your life and focus everything on becoming a city planner, an environmental engineer, or something along those lines. And of course, then you have to marry a rich person to top it off. I'm sick of being penalized for having gone to college, too. I was an English major, and they should all know that means that I don't really have any ambition! I just wanted to read books!

[Lipgloss Boost]

oh yeah that $17 (CDN) an hour in corrections ain't comin' my way! i also graduated in 2001 & could only find a secretarial jobon contract - which basically means foreboding unemployment(as the book says ironically!) even w/ 2 years volunteer experience. *ugh* i guess even 2 years volunteering isn't the right *kind* of experience. can we win?

[Unregistered]

I've read through these posts and I kept thinking, would any of these people consider teaching? I taught middle school science last year and I loved it. There was such a demand for teachers that I got hired 2 months into the school year. I applied in October after taking the CBEST, and they hired me in November. The best thing is that you don't need your credential. All you need to apply is your bachelors and you need to pass the CBEST (which tests basic, and I mean basic, reading and math skills). If you are willing to handle a classroom of kids from 7:45-3:00 everyday, then this is the profession for you. I can't stress how much a demand there is for qualified teachers, and you all seem like you could use the challenge. I'm not saying it's easy, the first year is the hardest, but it's a lot of fun to deal with the kids. I had to quit this year to go back to grad school, but I'm still substituting in the same district. Sometimes I get to sub for the kids I had last year. The pay starts at around $38K for those with a bachelors but no teaching credential for Los Angeles County. So if you're willing to move out to sunny Southern California and put up with kids and parents, and you get this nice 3 month vacation during the summer, then teaching might be the thing for you. At least it will get the bills paid. Then you can apply for grad school in the mean time and still work. That's what I did and I was able to save enough to pay for school this year. If you're interested, you may want to look into it. Well, I wish you all the best of luck.

[ljrgoingcrazy]

This all sounds familiar. I was just turned down from a job for being "too polished" and for having "too many accomplishments". They told me I could do better than their small firm and that I should aim higher. That's nice, but how am I supposed to pay the rent in the meantime? I guess I should have worn a mismatched suit and not combed my hair for the interviews!?

[michalmm]

As a (thankfully) employed econimist I can tell you that the loose job market has been for about the past two years but should be picking up again soon. Just stay away from state governments- no one is hiring and they are all (all 50 of them) running out of what little money they have left. Teaching and security type jobs are probably the two big job markets right now where you shouldn't have too much of a problem finding employment. Good luck!!

[sunbear]

Hi there,
Michalmm, you said that the economy is supposed to improve (?)
soon. I'm a stockbroker (at a discount firm) and I get to watch the market everyday. Ever since I've been there- since the fall of 2000, I've watched a lot of bloodbaths(stocks) and the market fall. I've heard rumors, and I realized that a lot of predictions are just that- rumors... "that the market bottomed out" and that's why the Dow Jones Industrials went up yesterday (it was down over 100 points, then it bounced up and closed at a 24 point gain) then all of the sudden- boom! it fell 155 points today(???). I've heard that the market is supposed to recover in late 2002- What is the reasoning for this? I'm not too aware of the current cycles, esp. now after the tech boom and so many new nieve investors looking for a retirement nest egg- which probably explains the schitzophrenia of the market itself: and of course the terrorist thing (politics, and other forms of newsworthy babble).
Since you specialize in this type of stuff, could you explain it a little more? I've only graduated from college with an emphasis in economics under my BA and I think I'm missing out on something. Sorry if I'm being synical-
I guess I'm just a QLCer who's disgruntled with her job- and the current job market itself.

[michalmm]

I would be happy to clear things up as best I can. I did my masters work in international economics, so I will give it a try.

The stock market is one of the many things that is looked at when marking a recession and expansion. Because it is so volitile, it is not always the best indicator. Looking at long term trends is the best way to analyze the markets. As for the markets "bottoming out", as you are well aware tech stock prices were truely overvalued and were in need of a major correction.

Right now, unemplyment rates are coming down. Especially with all of the jobs opening up in security at the moment. Make sure when you look at those figures you look at the seasonally adjusted figures. Those will account for fluctuations like the holidays and summer when more work is needed.

I always like to point out that GDP has been increasing in the states, albeit at a VERY low rate. Hence, we have not had a textbook definitition of a recession since we never had 2 continous quarters of negative GDP growth.

There are still weaknesses in the system of course, that need to be worked out before we can enjoy more sustained high growth. (Although the US will never see growth rates like the Asian tigers). Financial statements by firms need to be cleaned up. Enron and Adelphia have shown us recently what far flung repecussions bad balance sheets have. WorldCom is going down that route as well.

Also, state governements and even Washington are in a serious budget crunch. I am apt to say that they created it for themselves with a combination of large (unnecessary) tax cuts and no fiscal restraint. But that is up for debate.

If you have any more questions, I would be glad to try and help: michalmm@yahoo.com

[sunbear]

Hi Michalmm,
thank you for going through all of that. It's nice to hear the bare facts every once in a while, esp. when you have to listen to opinions all day- and hence the media which is NEVER straight forward.
I have such an opinion on everything, the tech stocks were SO overvalued, esp. with p/e ratios around 200-300. Funny, but Enrons' p/e ratio was only around 30, and look what happened.
I've placed trades for so many investors who had to jump on the overvalued stuff before it all crashed- we're not in the business of giving advice, we only handle the mechanics of the trade because we're only a discount firm- however we have to deal with so many NIEVE investors.
Anyways, about the tax cuts- I was ecstatic to get my $300 back- sorry.
***** The tax rates have not kept up with inflation over the last 50 or so years.*****
I made aprox. $10k as a waitress going to OSU- I was taxed as a middle class person although if you count inflation- I was poor. And the funny thing is that I was waiting on people who were obviously on welfare- how they get the $ to eat out?(welfare which I was paying for!) - but of course they never tipped, I'm sure you've seen all of the resturants on Route 151 in Columbus. The taxes on the higher income brackets though do need an increase. I love to rant on about this stuff.

When people say "its your 20's, you're young- you can get over it", I laugh. It is harder for us to get through our twenties now than it was for the previous generation.

[michalmm]

I definitly think that there needs to be some tax reform. Unfortunaatly we are all still suffering from "Reaganomics" which didn't work (and hence why supply side economics is taught in less than a week and at the end you're told: it dosen't work that way in the real world). I think that higher earnings should be taxed a bit higher. I am also a big fan of the estate tax, however since it applies to folks with $1 million or more in assests a lot of middle income folks are getting caught since they have been pretty good about investing. Instead of getting rid of the tax, maybe we could increase the threshhold to $2 million. Just an idea....

[sunbear]

I agree, they can definately up the tax bracket. They could get so much more $ from them than they can from the bottom!- and we need about as much of our own income as we can get...
Problem is, the politicians feel as if they're at the mercy of the rich for favors and votes. And of course they can afford the best tax accountants. So we pay down here- I can go on and on about the obvious.
I know estates are highly taxed if it goes through probate, however I don't know too much more than that.
I like your idea though.