If You're Young, The Job Outlook Is Grim No Matter Where You Live - Polidicks

ive completely concluded that the modern job market is completely stupid i've applied for places where i was more than overqualified and didn't even get an interview, but all it took was a few good words from some of my buddies to get me into a pretty decent developer position at a company now that i've been on this side, i realize the amount of filtering you have to do for applicants is also completely ridiculous. if you apply online, your resume gets screened through the hundreds of other online applicants, first through HR, then through whatever department you're applying for. on the other hand, a connection will more or less let you skip past that and even pick up an interview almost immediately. [editline]14th October 2015[/editline] even if your skills are mediocre, if you're able to pick up some hobbies and meet with people in the same industry, your chances of getting a job skyrocket connections are literally fucking everything

[QUOTE=aznz888;48902183]ive completely concluded that the modern job market is completely stupid i've applied for places where i was more than overqualified and didn't even get an interview, but all it took was a few good words from some of my buddies to get me into a pretty decent developer position at a company now that i've been on this side, i realize the amount of filtering you have to do for applicants is also completely ridiculous. if you apply online, your resume gets screened through the hundreds of other online applicants, first through HR, then through whatever department you're applying for. on the other hand, a connection will more or less let you skip past that and even pick up an interview almost immediately. [editline]14th October 2015[/editline] even if your skills are mediocre, if you're able to pick up some hobbies and meet with people in the same industry, your chances of getting a job skyrocket connections are literally fucking everything[/QUOTE] When I was in my 3rd year in college, I kept reading how connections meant more than the actual experience and education. I kept hoping this wasn't true the entire time. Boy how wrong I was. Only reason I got my first job was because my mom put in a good word.

for fucks sake this just makes me even less motivated to look for a job or college like i have horrible grades already and finished school this year come on

My state is a "Right to Work" state, but all that means is I can be fired for absolutely no reason whatsoever. I was hired last year onto a team of 60 young adults to completely open a new store, set up shelving and racks, bring all the sale items on pallets into the store from the trucks, cut them apart and scan every item, box it, stock it, and dress the store. So that at the end of the second week, they could fire 40 of us. I worked too fucking hard just to be thrown away without warning. "Its just business" My manager told me, as she made me sign my termination of employment. I was completely speechless when they called me into the office. I couldn't open my mouth to speak until I was halfway out into the parking lot to my car, where all I could do was have an explosive outburst over how betrayed I felt. I've completely given up on finding a job since. I look once in a while at what little opportunities I have, but luckily I have a family that needs help with taking care of watching kids, dogs, and our grandmother, so I can at least be appreciated for what I do now, and I know I won't be thrown out at any moment for any reason.

I'm not proud of this. I worked hard for 4 different companies in the last 2 years. Before that, I was killing myself on film sets(my back went out a day after work so I was hosed). Now, I'm going to be getting a cushy insurance broker job that easily lets me get a management role by 28. Why? Because my deceased father was the long time lawyer for the firm and my brother is a independent insurer with a large company who can see that I get a job with him or with the other companies. Our current world, job system and market, are built around nepotism. It makes me ashamed to take a job like this under those circumstances but fuck it, I need the money.

[QUOTE=CoilingTesla;48902344]My state is a "Right to Work" state, but all that means is I can be fired for absolutely no reason whatsoever. I was hired last year onto a team of 60 young adults to completely open a new store, set up shelving and racks, bring all the sale items on pallets into the store from the trucks, cut them apart and scan every item, box it, stock it, and dress the store. So that at the end of the second week, they could fire 40 of us. I worked too fucking hard just to be thrown away without warning. "Its just business" My manager told me, as she made me sign my termination of employment. I was completely speechless when they called me into the office. I couldn't open my mouth to speak until I was halfway out into the parking lot to my car, where all I could do was have an explosive outburst over how betrayed I felt. I've completely given up on finding a job since. I look once in a while at what little opportunities I have, but luckily I have a family that needs help with taking care of watching kids, dogs, and our grandmother, so I can at least be appreciated for what I do now, and I know I won't be thrown out at any moment for any reason.[/QUOTE] You can be fired for no reason or any reason. I also work in a Right to Work state. You can be fired because of "just business" to "boss doesn't like you" (the latter, however, is mostly disguised via official statements though). I'm glad my parents are letting me stay rent-free while I make sure the house is taken care of. I'm just worried that my loans will shore up and I've no means to pay off 40k in the hole.

Stuck in retail hell. I want to sock the next person who tells me to take an unpaid internship in the face. Seattle rent is getting stupidly high.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;48902361]I'm not proud of this. I worked hard for 4 different companies in the last 2 years. Before that, I was killing myself on film sets(my back went out a day after work so I was hosed). Now, I'm going to be getting a cushy insurance broker job that easily lets me get a management role by 28. Why? Because my deceased father was the long time lawyer for the firm and my brother is a independent insurer with a large company who can see that I get a job with him or with the other companies. Our current world, job system and market, are built around nepotism. It makes me ashamed to take a job like this under those circumstances but fuck it, I need the money.[/QUOTE] Don't be ashamed of the job itself, be ashamed if in the end you turn into a callous person indifferent to others. Your job isn't what defines you and you should be glad you got it, I'm glad for you and I'm dirt-poor myself. Our socio-economic classes, education, income, those aren't what define us as people, just don't forget who you are and the people around you. On the main topic itself, well its scary really, has anyone had any success with a trade college? I was debating on going into one instead of a standard liberal arts.

I lucked out. I'm 19, just started school, got hired by a half a billion dollar ecommerce site as an software development intern, and got promoted after about 6 months. Jobs are still out there but it's a fucking production trying to find them. Before that, I worked as a host and busser at a restaurant. I'd get home covered in shit, smelling like I was swimming in food all day. It's not as easy getting a job if you have no experience, and the older generations don't seem to realize it. Idk

[QUOTE=Teddybeer;48900689]I'm probably going to end up working in retail because just picking up the phone at a helpesk requires University. That while on my own I have developed more skills than those. Job counseling because disabilities is hilarious as they keep coming with unskilled labour while regularly I'm the highest schooled in the room. Already applied a few times to unskilled work and somehow got rejected as they want to avoid property getting a bordem induced coma or are unwilling to give enough hours (job counseling thing pretty much rejects every that looks like part-time, even if temporary).[/QUOTE] Helpdesk requires a degree? That's retarded. I'm a network engineer and I have no degree.

[QUOTE=agentfazexx;48902594]Helpdesk requires a degree? That's retarded. I'm a network engineer and I have no degree.[/QUOTE] My friend had 1:1 Bachelors degree in IT in good Irish college. He ended up working for Irish ISP helpline just sitting answering calls for 2 years, after 2 years he managed to get into google, he's set now. I graduated with 2:1 Bachelors degree in IT in a shitty Irish college. Ended up getting software engineer job with good for my age pay. It really seems kinda hit and miss.

[QUOTE=doommarine23;48902409]On the main topic itself, well its scary really, has anyone had any success with a trade college? I was debating on going into one instead of a standard liberal arts.[/QUOTE] Well, it's a good time for real estate. Property values have risen even higher than they were before the bubble burst in '08, homes are being sold faster than ever, rental vacancies are at record lows in many cities, and mortgage rates are incredibly agreeable at the moment. Huge seller's market. Good time to be a real estate agent, broker, loan officer, etc. More competitive, but more rewarding as well. The market will inevitably turn around again, but that's not necessarily a bad thing either. When property values do begin to fall, great bargains will pop up on good properties in good neighborhoods. These markets are great for investors. At the risk of sounding callous, families desperate to offload a house that is suddenly too expensive for them are highly motivated to sell quickly (and thus won't balk as much at low-ball offers), which translates into big money for potential investors. Plus, foreclosures spike big-time during down markets, and those are auctioned off for pennies on the dollar if you don't mind a little bit of risk. Getting licensed as a real estate agent is easy and inexpensive. Can be done in about three months. Of course, your success as an agent is another thing entirely. You are ultimately responsible for your own business, including your own marketing, networking, education, training, and sales.Having a good brokerage at your back can help, but it's up to YOU to do the footwork. You're essentially starting your own business. Adding to the threat of failure is the fact that you have no hourly pay. Your earnings are based on a percentage of the value of your sales. If you don't plan, you don't sell. If you don't sell, you don't get paid. More than a few new agents fail within the first 3-6 months because they weren't prepared for that. The reward is well worth it, however. There is no upper limit on earnings, and a well-studied professional with a keen eye for good deals and a strong foundation in sales and negotiation can thrive in any market. In up markets, he'll make great commission as a buying or selling agent and sock away excess capital. In down markets, he can use that capital to acquire investment properties for a fraction of what they'd normally go for, spend a bit on renovations, and pimp them out as rental properties. That's passive income, dawg. If (when) the property values climb again, you can then turn around, sell some of them off at well above what you acquired them for, and take the full profits tax-free and apply them to bigger and more valuable properties. Real estate is where it's at. It's always been where it's at. There's a reason why so many of the richest people in the world got their start in property.

[QUOTE=arleitiss;48902678]My friend had 1:1 Bachelors degree in IT in good Irish college. He ended up working for Irish ISP helpline just sitting answering calls for 2 years, after 2 years he managed to get into google, he's set now. I graduated with 2:1 Bachelors degree in IT in a shitty Irish college. Ended up getting software engineer job with good for my age pay. It really seems kinda hit and miss.[/QUOTE] Depends on the area too. The Baltimore/DC area where I live has tons of IT jobs. Mostly because of federal government. But the fed agencies being here also brings in tons of other businesses to support the population, which in turn brings more jobs.

[QUOTE=dilzinyomouth;48900734]This is an exaggeration, but you've nailed the problem with one sentence. Business has become incredibly atomized as everything has increased in scale. This is what baby boomers don't get when they give young people the tired "just give them a firm handshake and look them straight in the eye!!" trope - that actually worked in their generation, that's not the case almost ever anymore. Now everything is filtered through a HR department, or worse, outsourced to an employment agency, where they justify their existence by scouring resumes for the most over-qualified applicant possible, in the most ridiculous of contexts. Compounding the problem is many jobs for some reason WANT the most over-qualified applicants, because no one wants to train employees anymore - this makes sense in certain sectors where the work is incredibly sensitive or complex, but its reached a point of ridiculousness where relatively simple jobs that can be learned in a matter of weeks, are now requiring years of experience from applicants, who can't get it, and so the cycle begins. Trades are about the only safe thing right now.[/QUOTE] This x1000. And trades will be next in line if/when more people start scrambling for them. Unless that is we can bring industry back into this country and undo decades of outsourcing. I really don't know anymore with college. I'm about finished with my undergraduate studies and preparing to move on to graduate school. The impression I've walked away with thusfar from school is that the best thing you can hope to do for yourself to try and eke out a future is to hunker down, do as much school shit as you can as well as you can, do as much volunteer work/internships relevant to your field as you can, and network as much as you can all the way through it. And even after you do all that, the other thing you have to do is understand that even then, you're not guaranteed shit-- so be prepared for disappointment. Knowing people really does help a lot; unfortunately, that's always going to be the case against meritocracy. Also, get the hell out of small towns if you can afford to do so. Because everyone is super clanish and unless you're part of the group, you're probably going to be isolated as an outsider; insiders usually get preferential treatment (speaking from experience here) because of how everyone knows everybody else. Life has been much better for me since I went to the city. So long as I have a job when I get done with all this, that's what matters. Preferably one that pays enough for me to live and, you know, actually enjoy being alive and not just exist at a subsistence level. I'm glad that so many other people are under these same pressures though, because that means there's a greater chance that as the problem grows in the future, we'll force a solution to develop-- from our government and from the private sector. Because this much is certain: things cannot continue to go on this way. Life is becoming too much of a chore for too many people, and unless this is fixed, people will grow more and more desperate, and they will become radical and demand change to alleviate their problems. Honestly, I've thought about leaving school and going the trade route before. I know some people that make excellent money as boilermakers and several who do underwater welding in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico. My window was when I graduated from community college though; now I'm too far into school and have spent too much money to leave/just give up on my field (it would be weird too; I got my Associates in Business Administration, currently working on my Bachelors in Psychology and Biological Sciences... and then add welding as a trade skill onto that... that's just strange).

Expanding on my last post a bit, some general advice for anybody even considering a career in real estate: have at least three to six months of expenses set aside. Make sure that all of your recurring responsibilities (rent, utilities, etc) are accounted for. Additionally, it wouldn't hurt to have a part-time job two or three nights a week to help cover your more variable expenses, like food, gas, and unexpected shit. As much as 90% of an agent's business comes from referrals from business contacts and previous clients. Since you will not have these relationships, you need time to build them and establish your professional credibility. Also, [I]read.[/I] Read a fucking TON. Slam down books. Set aside time every single day to sit down and read a book relevant to your career field. Audiobooks are great for this. Any time I'm in the car, I've got a book playing. You can turn wasted time sitting in traffic into learning opportunities. Books are completely invaluable to success. Learning from the successes of the many, many people who came before you arms you to follow in their footsteps.

[QUOTE=rampageturke 2;48901899]This comment lol, I got offered a few unpaid, 1 year placement opportunities at a few engineering companies in the UK and the way they expect you to give in and go "yes I will work for you, for a whole year for absolutely nothing whilst I still have to pay for food and a place to live and bills as a 20 year old student" is terrible. I know the benefits of having a placement, even one that's unpaid, but its very often not feasible at all. I would have been completely happy with getting paid just enough to cover expenses like food/rent/bills and not making much extra, but to support yourself on nothing for a year whilst working is terrible[/QUOTE] Truthfully, I misinterpreted HumanAbyss post that I was responding to, read it as "unable to find an internship" rather than "can't afford one right now." I realize that my post comes off as callous and un-empathetic which was not my intention at all so I apologize. Now, I know we've had our share of anecdotes so I'll try to keep mine brief but I was in a somewhat similar situation. Couldn't afford to take an unpaid internship because I was already working retail to support myself through college, so I ended volunteering at a VA hospital during the weekends and actually ended up getting my first real job after getting chummy with one of the patients. Now I realize that most of us don't get nearly as lucky as I did, but I truly do believe that one of the best ways to get your career started is getting to know people. Call it nepotism if you will, but if you can push an advantage, why wouldn't you? Getting to know more people is arguably just as important as getting the requisite work experience for kickstarting your career, and doing what you can to make that happen is just as much hard work as it is "luck." And again, I'm sorry if I came off as a hardened, uncaring asshole. Perhaps it's my immigrant upbringing to espouse a hardworking attitude to a damn near fanatic degree or perhaps it's because admittedly I can be a bit of an asshat, but I really didn't mean to belittle those in dire financial situations.

I studied in IT and I live in Montreal which is pretty much the best city for anything compuer related in all of Canada and I'm now working two low-paying jobs, one as a clerk at a supermarket and another as a front-desk clerk for some electrical appliance company. I can confirm that finding a job is fucking bullshit, for the past 2 years I've been working nothing but jobs paying like cents above minimum salary and it's ass to pay the bills. It's why I got these two jobs to save money and go back to school next year though, decided I'd just go get a fucking degree in networking (Not the social kind) and actually have a decent job, hopefully.

[QUOTE=Vaught;48902265]When I was in my 3rd year in college, I kept reading how connections meant more than the actual experience and education. I kept hoping this wasn't true the entire time. Boy how wrong I was. Only reason I got my first job was because my mom put in a good word.[/QUOTE] This was by far the biggest mistake I made during my college years. Instead of socializing with other colleagues who could potentially be my future coworkers, employers, or just people who could recommend me if they end up luckier than me, I just focused on studying. Turned out the whole program at college had basically nothing to do with what the companies actually need now and I ended completely fucked. The ones who got the jobs were either self taught or simply geniuses, and of course, once in, they took care of their closest friends, who weren't that great students.

It's not all doom and gloom, the networking side of careers. Using sites like Meetup, you can find groups of people in your career field that have weekly or monthly meetings if you live in or around a moderately sized city. These can be a great place to start networking. For example, I found several investment groups, real estate clubs, sales training clubs, and things of that nature that I subscribed to. Having been to only a few, I met a couple of people with some experience in choosing investment properties, paid for a lunch at Panera, and got to pick their brains for an hour. Learned a ton, and got business cards for the companies they represent. Now I just gotta keep semi-regular contact. I sent them each a thank you card, called a week after to thank them again, and now just drop them an email or something once a month to let them know my progress and ask about something else. Bam, connections made. There are a lot of meetups for STEM groups, too. In my city (which is hardly a bustling metropolis), there are at least a dozen groups catering to different crowds in that field. Hell, programmers/coders have three or four alone. Which is all to say, there's nothing [I]wrong[/I] with making connections. Networking has always been an important part of professional success. While "who you know" isn't [I]everything,[/I] knowing some people definitely gives you an edge. So, if you have the option, go out and network. At worst, you can learn something from somebody more experienced, and be able to say on your application that you're a member of a club for young professionals in such-and-such. At best, you could stumble onto some good job opportunities.

I am a CS Grad (Bachelors) living in fucking southern Vermont. On a scale from 0 to 11, how fucked am I (moving is not an option)?

Well I could argue again how great it wouldbe for americans and europeans to come to south latam...but then "Muh 60k per month!" I always wonders if I'll have more luck as a carpenter or mechanic in germany than as an economist..so that's why I'm learning both :smug:

Tbh, at this point if my entire family was dead and the only opportunity for me to find work was an unpaid internship or an lowly paying apprenticeship - I'd probably join my family. Wouldn't be asking for much if the companies could pay a decent wage for some decent work done, that or actually offering the jobs to everyone instead of based on purely nepotism or education, everyone deserves a decent chance at life in this world.

Lets hope in a couple of years that they still have IT jobs :vs:

[QUOTE=proboardslol;48900570]I made the deliberate choice to study CS because I knew that college is not a time for fucking around and studying something that won't result in a job. Turns out I love CS but the decision was primarily for money.[/QUOTE] Counter strike?

[QUOTE=gufu;48903336]I am a CS Grad (Bachelors) living in fucking southern Vermont. On a scale from 0 to 11, how fucked am I (moving is not an option)?[/QUOTE] not very, startups are migrating to be closer to MIT [editline]14th October 2015[/editline] also, for anyone reading this thread who leans towards the arts, i just want to say that if i were to go back in time with the benefit of hindsight i'd still major in history/philosophy over and over and over again, nothing made me happier and no job is worth what i would have given up

[QUOTE=agentfazexx;48900491]I disagree with this. I'm 28 now, I work in IT. Finding jobs has never been difficult since I started in the industry ~8 years ago.[/QUOTE] Cause you white

What a time to be 20.

[QUOTE=agentfazexx;48900491]I disagree with this. I'm 28 now, I work in IT. Finding jobs has never been difficult since I started in the industry ~8 years ago.[/QUOTE] that's cool mr. it man but you can't disagree with quantitative analysis just because you might be at the far end of the bell curve :o

Im 22, I've had only one paying job so far, and that was retail in a company that was stationed at the cities airport. I basically got fired because i wasnt good enough for the job, having no real training with them, as well as being stressed out due to the shop being so short staffed. It was fucking ridiculous and im glad im not there now. That was back in July of this year and i was only there for three weeks. I mean, shit. How are you supposed to function when theres a bus load of tourists, all wanting luggage stored for so long inside the airport. And the only person who can scan said luggage due to training isnt even in the day? Even the manager didn't have the damn training. And dont get me started on lost property. Oh, And they fucked me out of £100. So fuck those cunts. Im now currently doing a retail work experience placement at a toy shop because thats how Universal Credits works in the UK, and if i don't stick with this, i get sanctioned a hefty bit. Its stuff i can do easily, just keep me busy for the 6 hours and i'll do whatever you ask. I just hope i get a damn placement there, even for just Christmas. I'll happily do 30 hours a week and bust my ass. I just want to get paid. I dont care about the music being part of my personal hell, just keep me busy. Im not going to be all too pleased if i dont get kept on because then i have just worked for nothing and thats the one thing i dont want to be doing. I dont know how I'd manage if i wasn't with my parents right now. Seriously... Hindsight is telling me I should had picked a different course back in college instead of what i did. The Universal Credits system kinda sucks too, its what is replacing Job Seekers Allowance.

Out of the 5 jobs i've had, including my current job, I've spent no less than 4 months unemployed in between each job. This was with sending resumes every day and at least a couple interviews a month. Fortunately i've been with my current employer for over a year.