Jobless College Graduates Struggle Under Ongoing Recession

[IceManKam]

I was thinking about obtaining a degree in either English or Computer Science, but I don't really know whether or not these sorts of degrees guarantee jobs.

 

[IceBergTaylor]

Sorry to say this, but this is why you HAVE to work somewhere while in college! Build that Resume up as much as you can. People during the years always asked me "Why am I working this job?" "How do you do it?", to me it's really because I had no choice! Other than the fact of getting Financial Aid for classes and SOMETIMES books, everything else came outta pocket. And I was also a commuter (worked in the city, so I had to get back home, plus it was more expensive living in dorms). I went from Cashier, to Sales Associate, to Bank Teller, to System Monitor while I was doing full time school.(System Monitor is full time as well).

I got my degree in Computer Science and I'm currently still a System Monitor, but looking for a job and to be honest, it is frustrating but to me that means constantly reading about my field for news, trends, and career opportunities. And also Networking with my classmates as well, asking for Informational Interviews (where you're asking people in the particular field pretty much how they got the job and how can "I" get hired). Anything you can to get started, you have to do it instead of saying there are "no jobs"! NEVER sleep on internships, you never know how much of an impact that can make on your experience and resume.

Another thing too because I've done it since high school, never sleep on getting those lower end jobs either! You gonna stay unemployed or you gonna use this job as a stepping stone for saving up and STILL LOOKING for other opportunities! I hear many article editors and people in the workforce say all the time, "Looking for a job is just like a full time job" so you have to always be looking for opportunitites. I just graduated this May, and I was at first overwhelmed by the offers that I was getting emailed to me! My thing was however I wasn't ready to move outta my situation right then and there, there were offers coming in from other states. I'll even admit that there were offers that I could've took but I passed on them because I wanted something closer to home. But I realized that you have to talk to the recuiters (email or call) about your situation and see if they're willing to work with you, more importantly for paid internships.

So to all having problems, keep grinding and researching and don't give up on opportunities that can set you up for the future!

Good post right here. I didnt have a job til freshmen year of college. I went from Library Assistant to RA, Front Desk Assistant and working at Bed Bath & Beyond. None which has to do with my major in Computer Art/ Mass Comm.

I got an internship for YRB Magazine but i havent been there in 2 weeks cause they never gave me a set schedule. But ever since I graduated I been puttin in work looking for jobs. Everywhere I can. I literally wake up every morning at 9am, turn on my laptop and search all day, applying as many places as I can in a day. I figure something has to pay off eventually. I do plan on going back to school and getting my masters.

 

[traestar]

thanx for the wellwishes, i definitely need to hear/read them because it's been tough for me and i was grinding like a muthafucka. the problem was my location and the people i was trying to network with, they wern't very helpful or motivated enough to do anything to help me and i can't do EVERYTHING by myself you know, nobody can. we all need some help sometimes, there is no such thing as a "self-made man" in my opinion, somewhere down the line somebody saw some potential in you and believed in your enough to take a gamble and give you a chance.

True to a certain extent..I left out that I also own my own small business that I'm building up right now, but I'm treating it as a side business right now because I need to build on myself and experience as I progress. My friend actually got in the Network Manager field and he hated it because he was a coder/programmer. Now he works self employed with a friend making good money while teaching people Ruby on Rails. So the self made man isn't what it used to be, especially as African Americans, and so true that someone has to take a gamble on you, but don't let that stop you making opportunities for yourself..such as a small businesses.

Another thing about Networking, because its sometimes the only way you get into opportunities. You have to ask around schools/colleges too and even help them with volunteering and other things to get your name across.

 

[traestar]

Good post right here. I didnt have a job til freshmen year of college. I went from Library Assistant to RA, Front Desk Assistant and working at Bed Bath & Beyond. None which has to do with my major in Computer Art/ Mass Comm.

I got an internship for YRB Magazine but i havent been there in 2 weeks cause they never gave me a set schedule. But ever since I graduated I been puttin in work looking for jobs. Everywhere I can. I literally wake up every morning at 9am, turn on my laptop and search all day, applying as many places as I can in a day. I figure something has to pay off eventually. I do plan on going back to school and getting my masters.

If you're in the CSIS field, don't forget the certifications!!! In fact some certified people could get a job faster than a BS graduate because of their cert. What I'm doing now is looking for a job, I don't care it could be Help Desk...just something that from a money perspective I could sit on while researching new jobs, getting certifications, looking for internships/externships if possible, anything that will add experience on my resume.

tru m.a.c. said it best

Experience always trumps short term financial gains

 

[blakfyahking]

hey anybody know someone with a management degree?

how are they doing in the job market right now?

I was thinking about getting a second bachelors in management and wondered how useful it would be. plus why is it that less prestigious schools seem to offer more specialized degrees than big brand name schools?

do you think the smaller schools are over-compensating for the lack of name recognition? or is it that more prestigious schools don't have to worry about specialization that much?

what ya'll think?

 

[traestar]

hey anybody know someone with a management degree?

how are they doing in the job market right now?

I was thinking about getting a second bachelors in management and wondered how useful it would be. plus why is it that less prestigious schools seem to offer more specialized degrees than big brand name schools?

do you think the smaller schools are over-compensating for the lack of name recognition? or is it that more prestigious schools don't have to worry about specialization that much?

what ya'll think?

Depends on what type of management you're focusing on, because just a broad description of management you can go anywhere.
Hospitality, Finance, Industrial, etc. Focus on a industry and go with that, if within a year or so you don't like it, look for a different industry.

 

[blakfyahking]

Depends on what type of management you're focusing on, because just a broad description of management you can go anywhere.
Hospitality, Finance, Industrial, etc. Focus on a industry and go with that, if within a year or so you don't like it, look for a different industry.

I'm thinking of keeping it broad, cause my specialization is econ/finance

only reason I ask is because I'm considering the value of getting a master's in management as well

I figure a bachelor's will only take you so far, but the second degree will help when I apply to graduate school

just wondering how much a grad degree in management is worth vs just solely focusing on finance alone

 

[traestar]

I'm thinking of keeping it broad, cause my specialization is econ/finance

only reason I ask is because I'm considering the value of getting a master's in management as well

I figure a bachelor's will only take you so far, but the second degree will help when I apply to graduate school

just wondering how much a grad degree in management is worth vs just solely focusing on finance alone

Definitely something to keep on the back burner as you still look for your job. But you said Finance??
Bruh I say try this if you haven't already http://www.roberthalffinance.com/

As for the worth, Master's Degree is definitely worth more than a Bachelor's, but for some careers it's not even required! Finance would definitely get people looking your way!! You just have to stay aggressive!

 

[traestar]

I don't know if ya'll are doing it now but definitely get into feed readers, and subscribe to articles relating to your field/line of work!! You learn something everyday!!

 

[bootcheese3000]

True to a certain extent..I left out that I also own my own small business that I'm building up right now, but I'm treating it as a side business right now because I need to build on myself and experience as I progress. My friend actually got in the Network Manager field and he hated it because he was a coder/programmer. Now he works self employed with a friend making good money while teaching people Ruby on Rails. So the self made man isn't what it used to be, especially as African Americans, and so true that someone has to take a gamble on you, but don't let that stop you making opportunities for yourself..such as a small businesses.

Another thing about Networking, because its sometimes the only way you get into opportunities. You have to ask around schools/colleges too and even help them with volunteering and other things to get your name across.

man that's EXACTLY what i was doing: getting an internship, trying to meet people. ect. my problem was i was in brokeland and those folks up there are HELLA JELLA, they don't wanna see ANYBODY get ahead. if they're not succeeding in life then they'll do whatever they can to make sure you won't. the school i was attending wasn't shit either, i didn't get a chance to meet with an adviser on what i needed to do for a internship let alone write up a letter to give them, the muthafucka was never in his office. the people i was trying to start a internship with were just as worthless, it was clear that they didn't want me around or not seen by their would-be clients for obvious reasons. how you gonna be whyte and have issues with black people but open a business in downtown oakland? after all this bullshit and other problems i had to leave cali for good, i got fed up with all the problems i kept having on the south side as well as the north side.

as far as having my own business that's what i'm hoping to do when i start school and get some money from my loan, i've been trying to start my own business for several years and hopefully i might have that chance if i have extra money at my disposal.

 

[blakfyahking]

Definitely something to keep on the back burner as you still look for your job. But you said Finance??
Bruh I say try this if you haven't already http://www.roberthalffinance.com/

As for the worth, Master's Degree is definitely worth more than a Bachelor's, but for some careers it's not even required! Finance would definitely get people looking your way!! You just have to stay aggressive!

yeah champ, but the name of the game is school recognition

I need a school with name recognition on my resume to do anything in finance

right now I'm managing two companies, bout to start another.................but I'm just looking at worst case scenario

either getting a consistent cushy job somewhere, or maybe even teach

I figured management might be something else to study since I enjoy it almost as much as finance...............but the career paths seem very generic

almost like just getting a plain MBA from a small state school

good look on that link..............I usually fucks with CFO.com

 

[bootcheese3000]

yeah champ, but the name of the game is school recognition

I need a school with name recognition on my resume to do anything in finance

right now I'm managing two companies, bout to start another.................but I'm just looking at worst case scenario

either getting a consistent cushy job somewhere, or maybe even teach

I figured management might be something else to study since I enjoy it almost as much as finance...............but the career paths seem very generic

almost like just getting a plain MBA from a small state school

as other people have said and what i've heard over the years, "it's not what you know it's WHO you know". if you know someone with connections that should be enough to get your foot in the door, sometimes it's not just the school.

 

[Im_Linx]

Sucks for yall.

 

[blakfyahking]

as other people have said and what i've heard over the years, "it's not what you know it's WHO you know". if you know someone with connections that should be enough to get your foot in the door, sometimes it's not just the school.

well bruh, I'm a nigga

and a hood-esque nigga at that LOL

they ain't trying to let me up in Goldman Sachs bruh.................so all I can do is cultivate business and manage as many assets as I can to pad my resume.................hopefully I'll get that consistent payday vs getting bread in chunks, that shit is stressful in this economy

then I'll retire at age 40 and get a job at my old high school or something LOL

 

[traestar]

man that's EXACTLY what i was doing: getting an internship, trying to meet people. ect. my problem was i was in brokeland and those folks up there are HELLA JELLA, they don't wanna see ANYBODY get ahead. if they're not succeeding in life then they'll do whatever they can to make sure you won't. the school i was attending wasn't shit either, i didn't get a chance to meet with an adviser on what i needed to do for a internship let alone write up a letter to give them, the muthafucka was never in his office. the people i was trying to start a internship with were just as worthless, it was clear that they didn't want me around or not seen by their would-be clients for obvious reasons. how you gonna be whyte and have issues with black people but open a business in downtown oakland? after all this bullshit and other problems i had to leave cali for good, i got fed up with all the problems i kept having on the south side as well as the north side.

as far as having my own business that's what i'm hoping to do when i start school and get some money from my loan, i've been trying to start my own business for several years and hopefully i might have that chance if i have extra money at my disposal.

And thats a whole beast there that you can't avoid as well, the people who prevent you from getting where you need to be! Shit, most of them ain't doing good themselves, so to help someone they'll be like "who are you" .....until 6 months later you just received a $100K offer as a Manager at a major bank and they're like "aww I remember he used to always came to my office" lol.

Thank goodness for internship.com and other online opportunities, because sometimes you to make a move yourself and look for internships. Instead of getting the run around from people.

Good Luck on starting your business, and start looking for tutoring/mentoring at places like Small Business Association.

 

[traestar]

yeah champ, but the name of the game is school recognition

I need a school with name recognition on my resume to do anything in finance

right now I'm managing two companies, bout to start another.................but I'm just looking at worst case scenario

either getting a consistent cushy job somewhere, or maybe even teach

I figured management might be something else to study since I enjoy it almost as much as finance...............but the career paths seem very generic

almost like just getting a plain MBA from a small state school

good look on that link..............I usually fucks with CFO.com

O ok, that link is nice!

 

[traestar]

well bruh, I'm a nigga

and a hood-esque nigga at that LOL


they ain't trying to let me up in Goldman Sachs bruh.................so all I can do is cultivate business and manage as many assets as I can to pad my resume.................hopefully I'll get that consistent payday vs getting bread in chunks, that shit is stressful in this economy

then I'll retire at age 40 and get a job at my old high school or something LOL

Dick Gregory said on an interview about young African Americans, Don't be in denial of the racism and sexism but don't let that block you!

 

[TheArchitect]

Just launched my company today.....forget Corporate America.

 

[bootcheese3000]

And thats a whole beast there that you can't avoid as well, the people who prevent you from getting where you need to be! Shit, most of them ain't doing good themselves, so to help someone they'll be like "who are you" .....until 6 months later you just received a $100K offer as a Manager at a major bank and they're like "aww I remember he used to always came to my office" lol.

Thank goodness for internship.com and other online opportunities, because sometimes you to make a move yourself and look for internships. Instead of getting the run around from people.

Good Luck on starting your business, and start looking for tutoring/mentoring at places like Small Business Association.

there's a website called internships.com? damn where was i when this hit the net? gotta check that out post-haste.

and thanks on the wellwishes again. one of the things i was gonna start was a clothing apparel business since i'm an artist, i've been wanting to design clothes for awhile (t-shirts and jackets and such) so i've been doing my research and buying the equipment i need, i just need a few more supplies and some clientele and i'll be str8er than 6 o'clock.

 

[bootcheese3000]

well bruh, I'm a nigga

and a hood-esque nigga at that LOL

they ain't trying to let me up in Goldman Sachs bruh.................so all I can do is cultivate business and manage as many assets as I can to pad my resume.................hopefully I'll get that consistent payday vs getting bread in chunks, that shit is stressful in this economy

then I'll retire at age 40 and get a job at my old high school or something LOL

true dat, most of us are on here and some are undercover uptighty whyties trying to pass and shit. you gotta be one of those jay-z types that'll sell his own soul and his mamma's soul to make that bread and i'm not down with that shit. there is such a thing as integrity and compromising yourself.