I have a degree and no job

[Lee McGee]

anyone else a college graduate( recent or not) who is having trouble getting a job with their degree? or at least a job that's decent?

[vandalroyale]

I know EXACTLY your problem. I feel the exact same way-- I just graduated in May and all I have to show for my degree are jobs at a hotel and a bank. Not exactly what I envisioned for 4 years of tuition.

[concernedparent]

This thread scares me.

[vandalroyale]

This thread scares me.

It is scary. Trust me.

[Lee McGee]

I know EXACTLY your problem. I feel the exact same way-- I just graduated in May and all I have to show for my degree are jobs at a hotel and a bank. Not exactly what I envisioned for 4 years of tuition.

Thank you! I fell lke there's something wrong with me because everyone I know got hooked up with decent jobs. Oddly enough I have a job at a bank right now too....

[vandalroyale]

Thank you! I fell lke there's something wrong with me because everyone I know got hooked up with decent jobs. Oddly enough I have a job at a bank right now too....

Hey - we're not alone...I have a few friends who are in the same boat...It just sucks that I have nothing right now. Here I am sitting with a 4 year degree and I feel like its just another piece of paper right now.

[thetrueblood]

what did you get a degree in?

[jusscali]

what did you get a degree in?
banking....duh

lolz

[bobby runs]

are you my sister?

she graduated from uc santa cruz majored in psych and minored in education

and her "job" is picking me up from school and such.


i guess im glad i want to get into journalism where im forced to have an internship.

[vandalroyale]

Me?? Psychology

[vandalroyale]

are you my sister?

she graduated from uc santa cruz majored in psych and minored in education

and her "job" is picking me up from school and such.


i guess im glad i want to get into journalism where im forced to have an internship.

I interned at our university and got hosed in a job opportunity through the department. Anyone hiring?

[Lee McGee]

Hey - we're not alone...I have a few friends who are in the same boat...It just sucks that I have nothing right now. Here I am sitting with a 4 year degree and I feel like its just another piece of paper right now.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[bobby runs]

I interned at our university and got hosed in a job opportunity through the department. Anyone hiring?
what did you major in?

[Lee McGee]

are you my sister?

she graduated from uc santa cruz majored in psych and minored in education

and her "job" is picking me up from school and such.


i guess im glad i want to get into journalism where im forced to have an internship.


My major is in Marketing, and I did have an internship-2 of them. one at the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce and another one I have at an ad agency right now

[bobby runs]

My major is in Marketing, and I did have an internship-2 of them. one at the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce and another one I have at an ad agency right now
i hope im not like this.

[notoaststereo]

i know im a freshman in college and i have a few years but im terrified of the future

[theguilt engine]

i can't wait to get out into the workplace.

[vandalroyale]

what did you major in?

I majored in Psychology. But unfortunately, I'm not so positive any more I want to do something with it. I don't know. Maybe I'm just being cynical or something.

[anamericangod]

My sister has 2 degrees, and she still works retail. Niceeeeeeee.

[vandalroyale]

And the tough thing about it is that I have to go back to get a Master's if I want to do anything Psych-wise. And if I want to do anything else, I don't have the degree to back it up. Sucks

[bobby runs]

And the tough thing about it is that I have to go back to get a Master's if I want to do anything Psych-wise. And if I want to do anything else, I don't have the degree to back it up. Sucks
yeah my sister really closely wants to go to graduate school but not know what in.

[jorn444]

are you my sister?

she graduated from uc santa cruz majored in psych and minored in education

and her "job" is picking me up from school and such.


i guess im glad i want to get into journalism where im forced to have an internship.
Yea i'm doing journalism as well, and i'm trying to get an internship right now... I just have to motivate myself to actually go out and SERIOUSLY try to get one. I will probably just whore myself out to some newspaper who is desperate for some cheap labor haha.

I'm also minoring in Marketing as a back up lol

[lauren<3s music]

Me?? Psychology

well what do you actually want to do bc to practice don't you have to have at least a masters?


My major is in Marketing, and I did have an internship-2 of them. one at the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce and another one I have at an ad agency right now

are you looking only in memphis? are you emphasizing your experience in your cover letter? how many jobs are you applying for a week?

i got a job before i graduated that sort of sucked but was a good stepping stone and applied for jobs for 2 months when i finally found my dream job so it really is possible. just takes some time. make sure you have someone proof all your stuff again

[sdbrown]

Me?? Psychology

that's my major. fuck.

[estrella starr]

i majored in radio and tv, and interned with MTV, and i work in a deli.

[infamous_alias]

That's why you pursue a major whose degree is worth something. Anymore I just laugh when I hear people are majoring in psychology.

[sdbrown]

That's why you pursue a major whose degree is worth something. Anymore I just laugh when I hear people are majoring in psychology.
True. well, somewhat true. This was the only major that would allow me to get out of here in the normal amount of time after switching majors 4 times. When you attend a major university there is an unbelievable amount of red tape one must navigate through in order to switch into a worthwhile major such as business, computer science, accounting and marketing. Most advisers are so overworked they usually just tell you 'no' rather than explaining an arduous process of paperwork and signing up for additional classes that don't have room for a non-major.

With regard to science, there's the issue of most science degrees requiring anatomy courses (which would be nightmare-inducing) and chemistry (which was equally nightmare inducing, though in a different way).

Not to mention if you select an Industrial and Organizational focus in Psych there are opportunities in human resources (and really, who doesn't want to be like Toby from The Office?). And as long as you don't mind eventually going to professional school or getting a master's there are opportunities working as PAs and assistants where it really doesn't matter too much what your degree is in as long as you show some intelligence and a good work ethic. My sister majored in history, doesn't have her professional degree and is making more as a PA at a law firm than some of her accountant friends.

[WFUJerseyJon]

i majored in radio and tv, and interned with MTV, and i work in a deli.

That really scares me. I'm a Comm Major, Film Studies Minor, and also interned for MTV. Looks like I'll be in a rough place come May.

[xvszero]

I graduated computer science right about when the online bubble burst... but everyone else in their brother went into the field so it was crowded.

Took me 2 years just to find a crappy tech support job.

I'd say just stick with it, make sure you have a good resume, maybe do some practice interviews. The market shifts so much, today's market isn't too bad for prospective employees...

[bluecrunchy]

i graduate in the spring and have basically nothing lined up job-wise. it might be time to get on that.

[vandalroyale]

True. well, somewhat true. This was the only major that would allow me to get out of here in the normal amount of time after switching majors 4 times. When you attend a major university there is an unbelievable amount of red tape one must navigate through in order to switch into a worthwhile major such as business, computer science, accounting and marketing. Most advisers are so overworked they usually just tell you 'no' rather than explaining an arduous process of paperwork and signing up for additional classes that don't have room for a non-major.

With regard to science, there's the issue of most science degrees requiring anatomy courses (which would be nightmare-inducing) and chemistry (which was equally nightmare inducing, though in a different way).

Not to mention if you select an Industrial and Organizational focus in Psych there are opportunities in human resources (and really, who doesn't want to be like Toby from The Office?). And as long as you don't mind eventually going to professional school or getting a master's there are opportunities working as PAs and assistants where it really doesn't matter too much what your degree is in as long as you show some intelligence and a good work ethic. My sister majored in history, doesn't have her professional degree and is making more as a PA at a law firm than some of her accountant friends.

Exactly-- I was a transfer and if I didn't select a major with a normal amount of credits, then I was going to have to spend another 1.5-2 years (of 25k+ tuition) in school. Was financially impossible.

[dubey]

That's why you pursue a major whose degree is worth something. Anymore I just laugh when I hear people are majoring in psychology.
Definitely.

University degrees are like high school diplomas now. Just because you have one doesn't mean you'll get a job. You have to get a degree that teaches you a skillset that's actually in demand.

[roxy]

I graduate in two weeks. I have already gotten a job offer and declined it. I have another interview next week for a position I don't care for but it will give me experience. I wish the company I intern for was larger and needed more full time employees.

[Blakebear]

god this really freaks me out.

I thought majors didn't really matter...

Is it necessary to go to grad school to get a job or is that just a huge waste of money that doesn't guarantee anything?

If there are majors that aren't worth taking, which majors are worthwhile?

[Chuck!]

i know im a freshman in college and i have a few years but im terrified of the future

ditto. this thread confirms a lot of my fears.

[xvszero]

Obviously majors matter. You have to look at what is in demand.

On the other hand, you might end up like me and graduate in a field that was in demand 4 years earlier and is dead and overcrowded by the time you graduate.

But on the other other hand, I never even looked at demand. I just knew I liked computer programming.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS! Just be realistic about it too. And have a back-up plan for when you graduate and can't find a job in your field.

[ZACKY_6661]

anyone else a college graduate( recent or not) who is having trouble getting a job with their degree? or at least a job that's decent?


Whats your degree in ?

[jklo16]

I'm joining this club. I ended up going back to grad school for this very reason. Anymore a college degree is just like a high school degree....or at least that's how it felt.

[senatorlamb]

anyone else a college graduate( recent or not) who is having trouble getting a job with their degree? or at least a job that's decent?

You're not alone. I graduated with honors and have shit to show for it. Every day I apply to jobs, and take time writing those damn cover letters yet no luck. I don't know who these people are hiring but it's not me. Luckily, I'm half way though the process of working for Uncle Sam in a very good and "special" job, but it may take a year by the time the process gets done. Until then I'm fucked.

[sdbrown]

Exactly-- I was a transfer and if I didn't select a major with a normal amount of credits, then I was going to have to spend another 1.5-2 years (of 25k+ tuition) in school. Was financially impossible.
I just noticed your avatar. Go Jazz! (well, go bulls! more, but still go jazz!)

[thatsignant]

www.linkedin.com (http://www.linkedin.com) it's like a social networking site to help find jobs through connections.

[vandalroyale]

I'm joining this club. I ended up going back to grad school for this very reason. Anymore a college degree is just like a high school degree....or at least that's how it felt.


It's how me and a lot of my friends feel.

[vandalroyale]

You're not alone. I graduated with honors and have shit to show for it. Every day I apply to jobs, and take time writing those damn cover letters yet no luck. I don't know who these people are hiring but it's not me. Luckily, I'm half way though the process of working for Uncle Sam in a very good and "special" job, but it may take a year by the time the process gets done. Until then I'm fucked.

No joke. I think I have written about 50 of these and still receive the same "no thank you" letter. At least you have a very good job on the horizon. I feel lost half the time because I see nothing on the current horizon that resembles a move in the right direction.

[vandalroyale]

I just noticed your avatar. Go Jazz! (well, go bulls! more, but still go jazz!)

Jazz fan in Illinois? Didn't know such a person existed

[xvszero]

Why would we have Jazz fans? We had the best basketball team ever here.

Not that I care about sports.

[sdbrown]

Jazz fan in Illinois? Didn't know such a person existed

<---- Dee + Deron

[kaskomm09]

<---- Dee + Deron

Right on. (Except Dee is in Europe now).

Anyways... it took me like 9 months post-graduation to get myself a real job with my degree (Statistics, University of Illinois). Maybe the most depressing time of my life.

[vandalroyale]

<---- Dee + Deron

Ah yes...I miss Dee

[jorn444]

Damn. I still have two years left... but this is frightening/depressing. I feel like i'm just wasting my time with this degree if employers don't even care about it. If they don't care about that, then what the hell are they looking for?!?! I know experience plays a big part, but still...

[Blakebear]

time to drop out of school and start another band...

[ArTkY_]

People, if you're doing a Liberal Arts or Social Science degree, remember to at least get a Master's. Honestly, you NEED to.

[cantnokdahustle]

Liberal Arts Degree = you are a teacher.

[SAOSIN7years]

Not gonna lie, I was once the office manager pro tempore for the corporate office of an up and coming franchisor and, well, read the spoiler if you're that interested.




Not once did we care what the degree was in. It came down to this:

1) Previous Job Experience
2) Personality
3) References/Background Checks

Sorry if I burst your bubble, but degrees are, for lack of better term, worthless nowadays.

That goes without saying though: get an education regardless. If you have 3.5 years of higher education and drop out, who cares? It's about what you've taken with you. That's more so my personal opinion however.

[+thecalisonme]

the lesson of the this thread is that your major shouldnt be a joke ex. business psych sociology or anything that isnt hard whiel you are doing it

[Lee McGee]

well what do you actually want to do bc to practice don't you have to have at least a masters?




are you looking only in memphis? are you emphasizing your experience in your cover letter? how many jobs are you applying for a week?

i got a job before i graduated that sort of sucked but was a good stepping stone and applied for jobs for 2 months when i finally found my dream job so it really is possible. just takes some time. make sure you have someone proof all your stuff again


Well, my degree is pretty worthwhile, but alas you need experience. but how do you gt experience without interning or getting crappy jobs as Lauren has said?

Here is my thing. I had one job offer that was actually somewhat in my major, but I declined it to take the internship with the ad agency because Advertising is what I want to do, so experience in the ad world was better than a job as a sales assistant because I do not ever want to do sales if I can help it. So thats where I am now. I have this internship and a part time job to supplement income.
To answer your question, yes, I am only looking in Memphis because I can't afford to move. I do emphasize my experience, and I apply for a few jobs a month to be completely honest.

What do you do lauren? What is your dream job? and what do you mean have someone proof my stuff? like cover letters? I have started doing that.

[littlepaperstar]

This thread makes me feel horrible for spending $40k to go to my school, just because it's one of the best for my major.

what a (possible) waste.

[david1sb]

Grad School ftw.

[Until The Bombs]

Graduate in 7 days. Accounting major. No job. And even though my school isn't that big, it's pretty much a standard within my program to have a job before you graduate. I have a 3.71 GPA, but unfortunately I never did an internship, and have really bad anxiety which does not make interviews any easier.

[TheSwish]

Damn. I still have two years left... but this is frightening/depressing. I feel like i'm just wasting my time with this degree if employers don't even care about it. If they don't care about that, then what the hell are they looking for?!?! I know experience plays a big part, but still...

Ambition, desire, and work ethic typically play a big factor. What you majored does not always come in to play and I know several solid jobs do not require a degree in any certain field, just the degree.

[TheSwish]

Well, my degree is pretty worthwhile, but alas you need experience. but how do you gt experience without interning or getting crappy jobs as Lauren has said?

Here is my thing. I had one job offer that was actually somewhat in my major, but I declined it to take the internship with the ad agency because Advertising is what I want to do, so experience in the ad world was better than a job as a sales assistant because I do not ever want to do sales if I can help it. So thats where I am now. I have this internship and a part time job to supplement income.
To answer your question, yes, I am only looking in Memphis because I can't afford to move. I do emphasize my experience, and I apply for a few jobs a month to be completely honest.

What do you do lauren? What is your dream job? and what do you mean have someone proof my stuff? like cover letters? I have started doing that.

Why the hate on sales jobs?

[concernedparent]

I really don't like this thread!

[LTJforprez]

count me as another jobless grad. temp work and an unpaid internship is the best i can do for now. definitely miss college life and wish i never graduated...so much easier

[Lee McGee]

Why the hate on sales jobs?

I just really do not like to do sales

[Hamlet]

I think lots of people here have the expectation having a degree is going to solve everything. It won't, but it helps. You'll still have to work hard to get the job you like, and still, you'll start at the bottom.

But without studying for the degree, you probably wouldn't have been offered things like internships, since the fact that you're studying displays real interest in the field, rather than someone spamming their CVs and hoping to get lucky. Then, you get some hands-on experience. You start networking. You get a good recommendation, and next thing you know, your foot is in the door.

[vixsummer]

having a job isnt always the best thing either. i graduated a year ago with a degree in tv/radio. first i taught preschool, then worked at a day camp. now i work at a network radio company and it SUCKS. now trust me, im aware that i need to start on the bottom and work my way up the ladder. i've done internships and busted my ass working 3 jobs all through school. this job is just completely mind numbing. ive asked for more responsibility or to take on new projects, but theres nothing for me to do. ive never been so bored in my life, not even when i was in school lol. now i found another amazing internship - unpaying unfortunately, but way better for what i want to do - and i'm leaving this crappy job while i still can.

bottom line - i dont actually have an answer, its different for everyone. but having a job isn't always the be-all end-all either, you need to figure out how to make money doing something you enjoy - or at least that doesnt make you want to cry every morning that you have to go there.

[LV03]

if i dont get an internship (which there is a good chance i might not), then my degree is basically useless.

never realized it would be this hard.

[Lee McGee]

Yeah, I know blah blah getting a degree is like a high school diploma, but its just so depressing that after all that you still don't have anything to show for it. I'm on an ok path. I have an internship with an ad agency and really like advertising. I have an interview Thursday for a spring internship with another ad agency(since the current one expires next week). My mom is pushing me to go to grad school, but Im really disillusioned with it right now

[12:46AM]

I quit university after 3 years. Hurray for me!

[supadupa003]

I'm another jobless about-to-be graduate. I graduate in a week with a degree in Advertising. I've done an internship 2 summers ago in LA at Initiative Media and an internship last summer at Hall & Partners doing market research. The best advice I can give is to not just send your stuff to HR directors. Stalk company websites and find out creative directors, media planners, marketing directors, etc's email address by guess and check and show them how motivated you are. That's the best way to go about it in the Advertising/Marketing business.

[Dre Okorley]

Highest Paying College Majors:


Chemical Engineering ($55,900 average starting salary)
Computer Engineering ($54,877 average starting salary)
Electrical/Electronics/Communications engineering, ($52,899 average starting salary)
Mechanical Engineering ($50,672 average starting salary)
Computer Science ($50,046 average starting salary)
Accounting ($45,723 average starting salary)
Economics/Finance/Banking ($45,191 average starting salary)
Civil Engineering ($44,999 average starting salary)
Business Administration/Management ($39,850 average starting salary)
Marketing/Marketing Management/Marketing Research ($36,260 average starting salary)
But there's no correlation to this and guarantee of getting a job :P

[NOBLESTABBINGS]

Not gonna lie, I was once the office manager pro tempore for the corporate office of an up and coming franchisor and, well, read the spoiler if you're that interested.




Not once did we care what the degree was in. It came down to this:

1) Previous Job Experience
2) Personality
3) References/Background Checks

Sorry if I burst your bubble, but degrees are, for lack of better term, worthless nowadays.

That goes without saying though: get an education regardless. If you have 3.5 years of higher education and drop out, who cares? It's about what you've taken with you. That's more so my personal opinion however.
I agree with this to a point. From what I've seen, tt seems that now, it doesn't matter what degree you have, its that you HAVE a degree. Don't lose heart. Finish your degree (learning is supposed to be fun, right? Learn what you like) and just see what happens?

[B-Bones]

count me as another jobless grad. temp work and an unpaid internship is the best i can do for now. definitely miss college life and wish i never graduated...so much easier

Where did you go to school?

[jwelborn]

i majored in radio and tv, and interned with MTV, and i work in a deli.

That is what my major is.

[quitmyscene]

i'm going to school next year for biomedical engineering (or chemical engineering with some sort of bio/biomedical minor; a lot of schools don't offer biomedical engineering). and i'm hoping to do one of those 5 year BS/MS programs. i'll be pretty surprised if i can't get a job soon after graduating with that, but if i don't, i'm not really expecting anything. well, with just a BS, that is.

that being said, engineers are always high in demand. i think biomedical specifically is looking at ~35% growth rate, too.

[I<3JohnJameson]

yeah, I went to a Vocational High School and went to college. Dropped out of college after switching majors 3 times and now (I will be 22 in Feb) I am making around $40k for what I went to HS for (PC support). I wish I didn't go to college now, I would have an extra $250 a month to put toward my new car or saving for a house instead of student loans.

[LV03]

Highest Paying College Majors:


Chemical Engineering ($55,900 average starting salary)
Computer Engineering ($54,877 average starting salary)
Electrical/Electronics/Communications engineering, ($52,899 average starting salary)
Mechanical Engineering ($50,672 average starting salary)
Computer Science ($50,046 average starting salary)
Accounting ($45,723 average starting salary)
Economics/Finance/Banking ($45,191 average starting salary)
Civil Engineering ($44,999 average starting salary)
Business Administration/Management ($39,850 average starting salary)
Marketing/Marketing Management/Marketing Research ($36,260 average starting salary)But there's no correlation to this and guarantee of getting a job :P

damn engineers....even though my dad is one, and he's waaaaay underpaid

[chrisstahl]

im sooooo glad i didnt goto college (or seriously go) after high school. i went to some local community college to stay on my parents health insurance and dicked around. then stopped when i started to hit the road. i am 22 and still not in school, but i have learned so much and been through so many life struggles/ups/downs etc and i am happy to know that if/when i choose to goto school, i will be better prepared. i thought i was such an adult when i was 18, and to now be 22, and meet an 18 year old, no offense, but damn, they sure do look and act young (for the most part)!! thats too young to make such a decision and spend that kind of money. it does seem like alot of people i know now that were fans of my band back when they were 16 and now are 18 going to college are doing.. psychology, sociology, communications, alot of cliche kinda things. i know i dont speak for everyone, but yeah, i know so much more about myself than i did when i was 18. if you know you want to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a teacher, then hell yeah, goto school and get that 7 year commitment over with. if you're not sure. take some time and do some things. i would major in history or political science, become fluent in a foreign language, or 2, go into some sort of law enforcement branch whilst pursuing a law degree just to have it. i'm not a 9-5 kinda person and never will be. haha for some reason a united states postal inspector spoke to my class in the 6th grade and that has always caught me eye. they are the branch of law enforcement that investigate mail fraud, the anthrax scares, things like that. go through same training as police/fbi/etc and carry.

thats my 5 year plan. but right now im happy playing music, and is my dream.

the end.

[roxy]

Postal inspectors do investigate mail fraud and all that stuff, but they have to go through postal police training to carry and then they essentially become a police officer, just for USPS. The inspectors also study mail routes and walk around with the carriers to see if they are efficient or if their route needs to be changed, while the police work in the main facilities and investigate any crime against office employees.

I have worked for USPS for 3 summers and our orientation introduces us to all the career opportunities, only reason why I know. Also unless you have experience already in a field or have worked in other positions for USPS it is very hard to get hired into the upper level positions. They like to promote from within.

[blahme]

Meh. I would never major in Psychology.

[.Nihilist.]

i spent all my high scool in psych, and got an degree in clinical psychology, it has got me nowhere. i work at a tattoo shop, which i love doing dont get me wrong but why go to college if it did nothing for me?

[saysmydoctor]

I'm paying your unemployment. /bad joke

This scares the hell out of me, considering I'm going into a competitive field (journalism). I've never had much ambition, I hate conflict, and I suck with deadlines (everything journalism is).

[.Nihilist.]

I'm paying your unemployment. /bad joke

This scares the hell out of me, considering I'm going into a competitive field (journalism). I've never had much ambition, I hate conflict, and I suck with deadlines (everything journalism is).


journalism is super competitive, but if its something you wanna spend your life doing, you should be good, there is alot to be offered in the journalism world

[radio napalm]

i had a hard time finding any decent job for a year living in philadelphia. so i moved somewhere where the jobs were. and now i have a rad job getting paid more than i should be and that i'm probably way under qualified for. maybe think about relocating?

[mrzippo3]

I'm going on 7 months with no job and a Bachelors in Business Administration. Looking for work in Atlanta, L.A., TN, SC, NC, TX -- if any of you out there need people in the media/entertainment/business field PM me. HELP

[jagermeister]

You're probably just stupid or ugly.j

[eucademix]

i have a degree in political science and i'm working as an office girl for an upscale retailer and prior to that, a cashier at epcot and i'm still looking for a better job.

[somers1581]

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V125/N45/collegecosts.html

There are some interesting stats in there from the Bureau of Statistics in this article. I am only a junior at Miami (Ohio) and I have been interviewing for internships for this summer. A lot of employers have been coming to campus for interviews and I have been applying online hopefully I will land something.

[billyboatkid]

That sucks, get a job. haha jk