Jobless College Graduates Struggle Under Ongoing Recession

[black caesar]

As a person that has a BA in communications, I had 2 years experience doing radio while in college, couldn't find a job after I graduated, and took internships for free as well. I got into acting in 06, but until that really pops off, I have to survive. Been doing that for a couple of years, and been through 2 lay offs.

I met a man last week in Barnes and Nobles. (It's the new library) Turns out he's a Network Engineer. You don't have to go to school to get certified and once you do, you make $100,000 a year. I can put money into my movie production company with that. I've been studying hard for the last 6 days. I'm going to take the CCNA test in January. I already put my people on to it.

Be sure to read everything you can in a book store. I stay reading finance books. Always network, you'll be amazed who you'll meet.

 

[MeTaL]

To be honest.. I think it really depends on who you talk to. The so called "useless" degrees that people usually talk about are Liberal arts/humanities degrees, such as History, Poly sci, Theater, Communications, philosophy etc. Some people will argue that these general broad study degrees are great because other than some specific jobs that require a specific degree such as nursing and engineering where you must have a degree in that field to get the job you can get a job doing just about anything with a broad study degree like political science for example. Others will say that they truly are useless unless you get really lucky or become a teacher.

But I think the problem today isn't that they are useless its because there are so many people graduating college these days and not enough jobs to go around and its not just general liberal arts degrees but scientific/technical degrees as well. I just read an article that about 50% of all college grads are either unemployed or underemployed( which means they have a job where a college degree wasn't even required.) Of course this probably has alot to do with the recession. In good times that number is probably more like 25%. But In reality a college degree has become a requirement these days for jobs when it use to be an option.

If your going to major in a Liberal arts field I would suggest you take some type of business classes as well and get a minor or double major if you can to show that while you studied general education type classes you also picked up so good practical knowledge as well. Also do Internships and/or volunteer. Internships are pretty much more important than having a degree. Employers could really care less if you have a degree. They want to know if you have some experience while going to college.

 

[traestar]

Lol see, I cannot stand people who bash others who were blessed enough to get jobs in Corporate America. Granted, you are working under someone else's rules, but how many times have we seen people leave corporations start their own businesses and become successful? Matter of fact, people sometimes leave firms and the firms SHOW SUPPORT TO THEIR VENTURE. For instance, a guy left Goldman Sachs to start a restaurant, guess who's employees visit there frequently? I work in corporate America myself and I don't understand people who just say eff corporate America. Lastly, LMAO at the idiot who said if you own your own business you work less hard. Dude, it doesn't matter if you own a bodega or a internet company, you are going to have MANY sleepless nights and work 10 times harder than investment bankers, you know why? ALL the risk falls on you. YOU have to get capital for your business. If you fuck up, your business is finished. In most instances, in corporate America, if you fuck up....you get fired. The firm stays in business however.

I think this could apply to Chris Gardner ( of The Pursuit to Happiness story)

 

[traestar]

As a person that has a BA in communications, I had 2 years experience doing radio while in college, couldn't find a job after I graduated, and took internships for free as well. I got into acting in 06, but until that really pops off, I have to survive. Been doing that for a couple of years, and been through 2 lay offs.

I met a man last week in Barnes and Nobles. (It's the new library) Turns out he's a Network Engineer. You don't have to go to school to get certified and once you do, you make $100,000 a year. I can put money into my movie production company with that. I've been studying hard for the last 6 days. I'm going to take the CCNA test in January. I already put my people on to it.

Be sure to read everything you can in a book store. I stay reading finance books. Always network, you'll be amazed who you'll meet.

yea man, certifications are in fact critical IMO to a tech!! Even if you have a BS/BA, because you have a specialized trade. I still want to get my certs even not that I got my Bach

 

[traestar]

Founder of Fubu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daymond_John

ahhhh i gotcha.

A year later, this is Daymond John's interview in which he talks about how he got started

 

[traestar]

I landed a position as a Computer Scientist for a Tech Center in October..although I like the job I don't love it, I'm still getting experience, paying down bills and constantly researching and learning on my own.

 

[#1 pick]

After working some really great jobs and going back again for college I then had no job for about 6 months. It was miserable. I got depressed. Gained over 20 pounds. I mean 1000 job apps and only 5 interviews. None in my field. In my field, they didn't even bother to call. I was turned down by Kay Jewelers as if I was a scrub. I mean I worked jobs that would run circles around this but I was appreciative just for an interview. I left that place, got a chance and things are on the up in up.

 

[#1 pick]

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.

To make a 2 mil plus, you don't got to sell your soul but to get to another level...

 

[kingblaze84]

My boy has a good degree in business administration and is still a mover....the economy is "getting better" but most new jobs are in low wage fields. There are many people with good degrees that still can't find good work, it has more to to do with the economy than what field an individual chooses

 

[Wild Self]

I say it it once and I say it again: higher education in the 21st century is a fucking scam. A bloated scam ready to blow up and fuck up young America as a whole. 10 years ago, people could graduate and find a good paying job. I blame the baby boomers for not retiring and selling a crooked dream to this country.

 

[Copper]

after undergrad I'mma go overseas for a min....cause I can't see myself staying here working at Target as a team member with a degree

I know someone doing that exact thing right now

 

[UPTOWN]

ok so where's that thread where yall were saying "if everyone would just go to college there would be no minimum wage low lifes out here"

LOL at yall logic

 

[StoneColdMikey]

Alright for a young nigga like me that is a junior in high school that is expected to play some type of football after high school would I have time to do internships or im outta luck cuz looking over this thread it seems like internships is a must.

 

[traestar]

I say it it once and I say it again: higher education in the 21st century is a fucking scam. A bloated scam ready to blow up and fuck up young America as a whole. 10 years ago, people could graduate and find a good paying job. I blame the baby boomers for not retiring and selling a crooked dream to this country.

Which is why this was created...

 

[blackdemo]

Well this is what Im doing. Im doing Nursing, so I can get a job pretty much anywhere in the world. Its not really my passion though, I know it doesnt seem like im a good writer judging by my punctuation I use on this board but writing is my strength, and I love hip hop to death, So i was thinking to just build my own brand, interview artist this summer, start my own blog, learning how to use Photoshop, photography, transcribe interviews and talk about politics in my blog, build a portfolio and intern for MTV in NYC next summer while im going to school for nursing. So by the time im done, Ill have a degree in nursing and i have some experience in the Communications field without having any education in it, all self made.

BUT i will say I pay 10x less then the average american citizen for college, cuz i pay 3,000 a year for university. Its funny because the univeristy of toronto is a top25 uniseisty in the world but yet tuition is 5,000 a year, disgusting. America needs to step it up. ASAP. Canada is the place to be yall, to be honest everyine thinks "oh canada whack, its not as good as america, drake from there" but man this place got opportunites for days, when ur set here ur set man. Free health care, Schoool is cheap, matter fact going to trade school here, YOU get PAID to go to school, thats right u heard me.....YYYOOOUU get PAIIID for school (in trade school that is). I mean u pay first but then when ur in there ur a direct intern getting paid 12.50-14 dollars an hour.

 

[The Prime Minister]

Which is why this was created...

I actually sat and watched this whole documentary. Pfff... It's just an ad to buy gold and silver. Though I do agree that college is a scam.

 

[traestar]

Which is why this was created...

I actually sat and watched this whole documentary. Pfff... It's just an ad to buy gold and silver. Though I do agree that college is a scam.

I looked past that and just watched it

 

[traestar]

Which is why this was created...

I actually sat and watched this whole documentary. Pfff... It's just an ad to buy gold and silver. Though I do agree that college is a scam.

I looked past that and just watched it

 

[Black Boy King]

feel sorry for these kats. old heads always gettin at you talkin bout "take yo ass to school, get a degree", guidance counselors makin it seem like divin into college outta high school is the best and only way to be somebody. shyts crazy. thank God my dad gave me Rich Dad Poor Dad book. even tho hes another oldhead hung up on college

i bailed outta college once I started doin research in my career field. even though i got a good job now, muhfuckas still look at me sideways for not having or currently pursuing a degree. imma finish cuz i only got like a year n some change left but i'm engrossed in my career now, studying RELEVENT shyt....

WHATS SO COOL ABOUT A DAMN DEGREE???

 

[blackrain]

smh @ thinkin that goes away when you launch your own venture.

These niggaz steady screamin fucc Corporate America, but they registering corporations in America...

what's wrong with being your own boss and calling your own shots? it's less stressful and you can only blame yourself if you make mistakes instead of getting bitched out for something you probably didn't do, plus you create your own hrs. i'd much rather make create my own destiny instead of allowing someone else to dictate that for me.

There's nothing wrong with it, but the shit ain't for everybody...and that's something people don't realize when they go on a "everybody should start their own business" rant..