Where have all the jobs gone?

[lizandannalea]

I just don't get it?!!? I did what "society" and our parents say are all the right things... I got good grades, got a Bachelor's degree...etc...etc. But of course in this wonderful economy I got laid off, and I haven't been able to get a job in 5 months...I was left with no choice but to go on unemployment, and now that's almost gone too...

Where do we look? What can we do. Is anyone else dealing with these kinds of things, or am I just going crazy?!!?

[blueyes]

whoa...I just bounced here from CNN and there's a whole article on 'what the crap has happened to the job market?' (I mean, that's not the name of the article, but you get the point.) It was saying that the predictions of Bush v2.0 (jobs picking up, economy rebound, getting out of Iraq!) aren't being fulfilled as quickly as we the public had believed. "Consumer confidence is down", "recession" - pick your buzzword. Employers are quite happy, apparently, to temp it out or just overload those of us they have.

[drdeadringer]

You should scour the internet. That's how I found the job I'm at now.

There's also the usual places like newspapers, but... they're newspapers.

If you can, harrass your college's Career place until they want to kill you just to stop hearing about being unemployed.

[heatherf]

whoa...I just bounced here from CNN and there's a whole article on 'what the crap has happened to the job market?' (I mean, that's not the name of the article, but you get the point.) It was saying that the predictions of Bush v2.0 (jobs picking up, economy rebound, getting out of Iraq!) aren't being fulfilled as quickly as we the public had believed. "Consumer confidence is down", "recession" - pick your buzzword. Employers are quite happy, apparently, to temp it out or just overload those of us they have.


Whoa. I NEVER believed that load of crap dumbass Bush tried to feed us.

As my mother-in-laws bumpersticker says: :googly:

Billionaires For Bush!

[blacksheep]

networking is the key--and i'm sure you all have heard the speil that 80% (?) of the jobs are not advertised--it's true! I had three interviews through networking--none of the positions were advertised.

go join associations (e.g. if you're in marketing, there's probably some sort of marketing association--usually a membership fee), talk to profs, speak with family and friends and tell them what kind of job you're looking for, arrange for information interviews.

good luck!

[biodork]

networking is the key--and i'm sure you all have heard the speil that 80% (?) of the jobs are not advertised--it's true! I had three interviews through networking--none of the positions were advertised.

go join associations (e.g. if you're in marketing, there's probably some sort of marketing association--usually a membership fee), talk to profs, speak with family and friends and tell them what kind of job you're looking for, arrange for information interviews.

good luck!

This is definitely true. I got my fellowship because a friend's sister-in-law works at NIH and worked with my boss, who had an opening in her lab.

[mishl982]

networking is the key--and i'm sure you all have heard the speil that 80% (?) of the jobs are not advertised--it's true! I had three interviews through networking--none of the positions were advertised.

Word. I got my current job from a friend of a sorority sister. My boss pretty much already decided that I had the job before hearing all of my qualifications just because my friend's friend referred me.

[pisces2473]

Networking can only go so far, depending on the industry you want to enter.

[lizandannalea]

The problem is, I am trying to get into a new industry where I don't really have a lot of experience, and really don't know that many people in activism?!?! I'm looking for stuff in politics/gay rights/Human Rights, etc... stuff like that...

thanks for the comments

[blacksheep]

quote: The problem is, I am trying to get into a new industry where I don't really have a lot of experience, and really don't know that many people in activism?!?! I'm looking for stuff in politics/gay rights/Human Rights, etc... stuff like that...

the easiest way to network in that industry is by volunteering

[laelialudisia]

if it were me, i would break out the yellow pages and the internet start searching for agencies that did what i was interested in and then start calling. when i called i would introduce myself with a brief commercial and start chatting with whoever i got on the phone and try to find out who the hiring person(s) are and if they know of any openings. it might be a good idea to pick several agencies you AREN'T interested in to practice on first.

[winneythepooh7]

Yeah, it sucks. All the markets are flooded cuz everyone is a college grad these days. And it is definately an employer's market of who they want to hire. My boss told me the other day that the main reason he hasn't hired another SW for our program yet is 1.)he is hoping that "time" will bring the perfect, qualified person and 2.)our team is going through too much drama right now, it wouldn't be good to bring a new person into all that. Before he told me this, it was my feelings exactly though, so it kinda makes sense, especially when it is months after you send out your resume that you get a call from an employer..........

[littledancerus]

Hey at least you guys don't live in MI... tied for worst employment rate in the country with Alaska. ALASKA!!!! (are you kidding me!?!?!) All our jobs (which were mostly manufacturing in the first place) are moving south...

[Radgirl]

I have asked myself that very same questions - "where have all the jobs gone?" Well, many of them aren't being created because the funds aren't there to do it and in the IT world, they are either being consolodated or given to India, etc.... Finding a job is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Unless you want to work at the mall, then you have to fight every teenager for that position.

[blacksheep]

...I guess I was lucky that I never had to go through that...I had a few offers right away--some before I even graduated...And really I think it's just luck...I mean i'm intelligent and all--but so are all u guys...so it really comes down to the right timing and knowing people...

So...i guess my only advice is to get to know more people--i mean anyone and let them know you're looking for a job!...for example...just today..i ran into a old classmate. I was shopping for new clothes for work and she was working as a sales associate. She graduated about 10 months ago. I am a nobody--i have no power or authority to influence anyone to hire anyone. But..i knew some people who were hiring e.g. an old supervisor and I also get tons of emails for jobs from my old programs that she doesn't have access to anymore... So I said i'd fwd them to her and give my old supervisor a call...Oh..and it's a good idea to make contact cards...u can buy really good pre-made cards that you punch out at staples and just print them at home--they're between $10-$20 cdn for like 140-250 cards. She gave me one of hers and it was pretty nice-it had her name, her degree, a bit about her skills/qualifications and contact info. I mean if she wrote her contact on a piece of paper i may have lost it and what she told me about herself I may have forgotten...

anyways...just my 2 cents :)

[wordsmith]

http://www.idealist.org/

A great source for opportunities in activism-themed, social justice-oriented areas. Gay rights, human rights, youth and family services, homeless issues, poverty issues...it's got a lot.

If you're interested in social causes, you can also get a LOT of networking done by being active on the volunteer circuit, since many nonprofits and social service agencies find volunteers to be vital to the work they do.

[libraswan77]

OUTSOURCING!!! any one ever heard of it? large companies are outsourcing most of our jobs overseas.... it's like a corporate Value meal ...why get JUST the burger if you can get the soda and super size fries???...... Sure Bush can tell u more jobs are being created....the job market is improving...Blah, blah, blah, yeah...surewhatever!! :frustrate ....at this point i'll believe in the tooth faerie first!! ;) :rolleyes:

[lizandannalea]

http://www.idealist.org/

A great source for opportunities in activism-themed, social justice-oriented areas. Gay rights, human rights, youth and family services, homeless issues, poverty issues...it's got a lot.

If you're interested in social causes, you can also get a LOT of networking done by being active on the volunteer circuit, since many nonprofits and social service agencies find volunteers to be vital to the work they do.

Thanks for that website, that is really great, and I am already looking into stuff on there.

Thanks again.

[SunDevil]

1. Outsourcing
2. Immigrants (illegal and H1Bs)
3. Computers, machines, and technology are making workers more productive and eliminating jobs. Robots work 24/7/365.
4. Everyone feels they need to get a high quality, white collar job.
5. Our parents want the good life still and to have more than their friends and neighbors. Therefore they are working until they are 60-70, not freeing up jobs for the younger generation.
6. Women have stayed longer in the workforce in the past 40 years, making demand for jobs go up, but supply hasn't kept up.

Also the top 500 richest Americans have as much money as the 3.1 billion poorest people. Money rises to the top, and trickle-down economics ensures this. It is almost impossible for smart multi-millionaires to lose all of their money.

Also, the true number of unemployed people that is reported is defiantly low. For people in their 20s it is over 10%.

If you have any free time, go to a book store and read this book by Lou Dobbs. And the government doesn't want you to read the one by Karl Marx.

[Lumburg]

The problem is, I am trying to get into a new industry where I don't really have a lot of experience, and really don't know that many people in activism?!?! I'm looking for stuff in politics/gay rights/Human Rights, etc... stuff like that...

thanks for the comments

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems most of the work to be done with those sorts of things is legal work, save politics, but even that is heavily legal. Consider getting a JD if you're serious about it.

[lizandannalea]

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems most of the work to be done with those sorts of things is legal work, save politics, but even that is heavily legal. Consider getting a JD if you're serious about it.

Funny you should mention that, I am already considering law school, but not until Fall 2006, so I have to find some work between now and then! :)

[wacotxguy]

I thought the same thing too as I graduated. Afterwards, I couldn't even get an hourly job. It was amazing. I was taken on a hard road before I got the dream job that I like. Maybe you're on this course for a reason, and you'll find that one job. It's easy to give up, I certainly almost did. I found my job in the paper and found a nice job in a small town like Waco, TX, so if I can find a good corporate job here, you can find a job where you're at I'm sure.