This recession sucks!

[benilaw]

I rarely post but today I really need to vent. I'm graduating from law school in about two months and am getting ready to take the Bar. Thus, job searching is not something I've been intensely focusing on given that if I don't pass the Bar, I'll be out of a job anyway.

Anyway, I have applied to some jobs and have been rejected by two out of 4 so far. I had one interview last week and it went okay except that the person I interviewed with was kind of strange. I don't know what to think after being asked where I was born and raised. If by some miracle, I get it, I will take it as that seems to be the general advice to everyone: take the first offer you get.
I do try to keep in mind the wonderful saying I read that no job belongs to anyone and do understand that the competition is murderous this year but it's tough to stay positive.
Especially when I have loans exceeding $100k. It's so scary to think I spent 3.5 years in law school and then might not be able to get a job as an attorney all because the market is saturated.
Why do I keep graduating during a horrible economy? This is what it was like in 2003. Only worse. And yes, I know, it's happening to everyone and I knew when I went off to law school that jobs were going to be tough to get but the market in N.J. is really brutal.
I guess I have to make an effort to believe that I've been rejected thus far because God has something better in store for me.
Anyone else want to trade war stories on surviving this recession?

[ebrillblaiddes]

I even lost a job that I thought was pretty secure...because the higher-ups made it impossible to do the job right...now, I can't find anything...ramen, lots of ramen.

[Honey418]

Why do I keep graduating during a horrible economy?


I think this is because we have had a republican in office for 8 years. Once Barak takes office...hopefully something will change (fingers crossed). Stay hopeful.

[Musicvixen24]

yeah all you can do is remain positive and keep on sending out your CV...I'm quitting my job this week, i've applied for lots of jobs and finally got an interview tomorrow....1/60+ hits...but I'm still positive...it's all you have

or am I wrong

[crystal_dance]

I think this is because we have had a republican in office for 8 years. Once Barak takes office...hopefully something will change (fingers crossed). Stay hopeful.

I'm a huge supporter of Obama but I might have to disagree with you. I don't think Obama will miraculously solve all our problems. None of us will see any impact from his taking office for the first year because the nation's problems are really deep and I wouldn't be surprised if it takes him a good portion of his first term before he hits his stride.

Democrats or Rebuplicans, it doesn't matter. We need to deal with our problems ourselves because politicians, policy makers, economists and business leaders are going to be dealing with the economy and job creation from a very high level. To them, you or me not having a job or being underemployed or being unhappy with our career choices isn't top priority on their agenda. That is something only we can change...

[PenforPrez]

I rarely post but today I really need to vent. I'm graduating from law school in about two months and am getting ready to take the Bar. Thus, job searching is not something I've been intensely focusing on given that if I don't pass the Bar, I'll be out of a job anyway.

Anyway, I have applied to some jobs and have been rejected by two out of 4 so far. I had one interview last week and it went okay except that the person I interviewed with was kind of strange. I don't know what to think after being asked where I was born and raised. If by some miracle, I get it, I will take it as that seems to be the general advice to everyone: take the first offer you get.
I do try to keep in mind the wonderful saying I read that no job belongs to anyone and do understand that the competition is murderous this year but it's tough to stay positive.
Especially when I have loans exceeding $100k. It's so scary to think I spent 3.5 years in law school and then might not be able to get a job as an attorney all because the market is saturated.
Why do I keep graduating during a horrible economy? This is what it was like in 2003. Only worse. And yes, I know, it's happening to everyone and I knew when I went off to law school that jobs were going to be tough to get but the market in N.J. is really brutal.
I guess I have to make an effort to believe that I've been rejected thus far because God has something better in store for me.
Anyone else want to trade war stories on surviving this recession?

A friend of mine here in St. Louis just passed the bar and he's having a hard time too. He's got a line on a couple of positions locally, but he's not getting his hopes up. Law firms are laying off lawyers right now, so it's bad everywhere.

Paul

[wordsmith]

I'm a huge supporter of Obama but I might have to disagree with you. I don't think Obama will miraculously solve all our problems. None of us will see any impact from his taking office for the first year because the nation's problems are really deep and I wouldn't be surprised if it takes him a good portion of his first term before he hits his stride.

Democrats or Rebuplicans, it doesn't matter. We need to deal with our problems ourselves because politicians, policy makers, economists and business leaders are going to be dealing with the economy and job creation from a very high level. To them, you or me not having a job or being underemployed or being unhappy with our career choices isn't top priority on their agenda. That is something only we can change...

Seriously, people need to realize that messes take longer to clean up than they took to create, and be realistic that this isn't something that's going to be quickly solved, packaged, and cheered about. Obama (who I love) is going to be in a great position to get the ball rolling on addressing these issues, and I have no doubt that he'll do so and take some great steps, but this mess is beyond what any one person or one administration can solve on their own.

[winneythepooh7]

I have a very marketable degree (MSW), years of experience, and work for a large health care company. However, with that said, I am still nervous of being "laid off" in the months to come. Especially with rumblings that have been going on at work lately.........

From what I am reading as well on forums related to my field, people are having quite a difficult time finding a position to just make ends meet......

[vinsanity]

I think this is because we have had a republican in office for 8 years. Once Barak takes office...hopefully something will change (fingers crossed). Stay hopeful.

I don't want to ignite another flame war, but the economy hasn't been in shambles for all eight of those years. And as others have said, we have to take charge of our own destiny because it's unrealistic to put it at the mercy of one guy in DC. Likewise, it's far-fetched to blame the current situation on one guy in DC.

[Honey418]

I'm a huge supporter of Obama but I might have to disagree with you. I don't think Obama will miraculously solve all our problems. None of us will see any impact from his taking office for the first year because the nation's problems are really deep and I wouldn't be surprised if it takes him a good portion of his first term before he hits his stride.

Democrats or Rebuplicans, it doesn't matter. We need to deal with our problems ourselves because politicians, policy makers, economists and business leaders are going to be dealing with the economy and job creation from a very high level. To them, you or me not having a job or being underemployed or being unhappy with our career choices isn't top priority on their agenda. That is something only we can change...


Oh yeah, sorry if my post looks like I think the change will be immediate...that is not the case at all. The simple fact that the media keeps reiterating the new president is not a miracle worker and change takes time seems like common sense but thanks for recapping it here. I honestly don't know anyone who thinks that change will happen overnight, do you? Maybe there are a lot of people like that out there and I just haven't met them. I think sometimes the media creates rhetoric that doesn't exist. Example- The news kept telling people to get to the polls early to vote because the lines would be really long at the end of the day. I waited until 5 p.m. to vote and there was no line...I walked right up to the table and got my form. My roommates that voted earlier in the day at the same place had to wait in lines that were over 2 hours long.

I didn't mean to ruffle so many feathers...the economy is a beast and no one really knows how to tame it. There are so many factors and so many different theories...all I was really trying to say is that I think it will get better (even though I think we haven't seen the worst of it yet).

[Honey418]

I don't want to ignite another flame war, but the economy hasn't been in shambles for all eight of those years. And as others have said, we have to take charge of our own destiny because it's unrealistic to put it at the mercy of one guy in DC. Likewise, it's far-fetched to blame the current situation on one guy in DC.

I believe that people need to take charge of their own destiny too...but there is only so much someone can do. I'm not sure if you are feeling the recession but it is a very scary feeling. I have a degree and a stable job and I have always been able to market myself effectively in the past. I have always taken charge of my own destiny. I would never depend on the government to help me or create a job for me but I think the recession is different ...I mean companies are pulling back on their spending and laying people off because of the economy. The top 3 automakers in the US could go under. If that happend they say 1 in 10 would be effected. Think about how much more competition there would be for jobs. If none of the companies are hiring and we lose some of the biggest employers it would be pretty hard to take control of your destiny, don't you think?

And I never blamed it on one person in DC. I was talking about republican economics and their belief in deregulation and less government. I think that a top down economic change would undoubtedly change the economy. The president's influence extends to many people including congress and other appointees.

[spiritedaway]

Well, there is a chance that my employer will have a hiring freeze, a wage freeze or some layoffs (or a combination of the three). I actually don't know what's going to happen exactly yet, but talks are in the works already. Honestly, I can't say I'm too worried about it. I really enjoy like my job, but it it happens, it happens. There's no point for me to lose any sleep over it.

I think part of it has to do with the fact that I already went through the ride during the last recession. I had a really tough time looking for a job right after I graduated from college, but nobody who's employed at that time seemed to understand or empathize since the last recession was right off the heels of the dot-com boom. It was also a mild recession so it didn't seemed like too many people were impacted, unless you were looking for a job. The only thing I would be concerned this time around is how long would it take to find a job that I reasonably like in the shortest time possible? (The current job market appears to be much worse than the one I remembered).

Aside from that, I don't have any kids to support or have high levels of debt, except for a mortgage. If get laid off, I think the unemployment benefits and some savings will tide me over, and in a worst case scenario, I'll either sell or rent my place. In the meantime, it's save, save, save (which is exactly opposite of what government wants consumers to do) :rolleyes:

[wordsmith]

In the meantime, it's save, save, save (which is exactly opposite of what government wants consumers to do) :rolleyes:


Dude, f*ck what the government wants me to do, I'm saving more now than I ever have in life. Stimulate the economy, my ass...I'm looking out for myself.

[vinsanity]

I believe that people need to take charge of their own destiny too...but there is only so much someone can do. I'm not sure if you are feeling the recession but it is a very scary feeling. I have a degree and a stable job and I have always been able to market myself effectively in the past. I have always taken charge of my own destiny. I would never depend on the government to help me or create a job for me but I think the recession is different ...I mean companies are pulling back on their spending and laying people off because of the economy. The top 3 automakers in the US could go under. If that happend they say 1 in 10 would be effected. Think about how much more competition there would be for jobs. If none of the companies are hiring and we lose some of the biggest employers it would be pretty hard to take control of your destiny, don't you think?

And I never blamed it on one person in DC. I was talking about republican economics and their belief in deregulation and less government. I think that a top down economic change would undoubtedly change the economy. The president's influence extends to many people including congress and other appointees.

I can agree with alot of things you said, but if this "top-down economic change" includes more government, then that will hardly help or solve anything.