Someone make me feel better about this ~$60,000 piece of paper

[SlitherinSisters]

It probably cost me more than that, I really don't want to know yet, but as of this morning I've officially applied for over 150 jobs

I graduated with my BA in December from the University of Iowa, a big 10 school (and that wasn't easy, lots of issues and I ended up talking to several deans to get that damned piece of paper). I have been unemployed for about two months now, I am getting unemployment, but it's not near enough to pay for all my bills without help. Long story short, I got 'laid off' from my current job for looking for other jobs.

I'm starting to think I would have been much better off starting work out of high school than getting into all this debt for what currently seems to be for nothing. I know it's the worst time in history for college grads to get a job, but it's really disheartening. I just keep getting letter after letter, email after email, that I'm overqualified or don't have enough experience (most want 5+ years experience, how the hell would I have that straight out of school!). I have been working since I was 15, I've been at my current job for 2.5 years, and I'm a good employee! It's not like I've been sitting around doing nothing for the past 9 years! I've also been working hard jobs, not just retail/restaurant stuff. My current job is with people who have mental disabilities and the job before that was with juvenile sex offenders. I've also been volunteering non stop since 2006.

Oh I just want to cry

[Powerspythons]

The job market really sucks right now..like you said, everyone wants years and years of experience..I just graduated last May with a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign...and now I work seasonal minimum wage jobs cause theres nothing else out there!...it makes me sad too..

[SlitherinSisters]

The job market really sucks right now..like you said, everyone wants years and years of experience..I just graduated last May with a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign...and now I work seasonal minimum wage jobs cause theres nothing else out there!...it makes me sad too..

Oh my gosh that's horrible! That doesn't make me feel better at all! I just applied for a full time bank teller position. I'm sure they will tell me I'm overqualified, but I would sure love that job right now. A BS is super hard! I couldn't imagine going through that and not getting a job

[mainbutter]

I'm in a similar situation, and I graduated from a school that is regularly considered a top competitor to Ivy League schools.

A B.A. or B.S. isn't worth BS these days. My backup plan is chasing down a masters, at least then I'll be productive.

[garweft]

Welcome to the world of the college grad.......

Worst part is knowing that all the kids in college who had well to do parents, that didn't need to work during college, and spent a lot of time partying, probably had 60k+ jobs coming out of college because their parents hooked em up.

Life sucks like that, but I always hear "you'll be happier about everything in 20 years or so when you have a really good job.....", so at least we might have something to look forward too.

[SlitherinSisters]

I'm in a similar situation, and I graduated from a school that is regularly considered a top competitor to Ivy League schools.

A B.A. or B.S. isn't worth BS these days. My backup plan is chasing down a masters, at least then I'll be productive.

Yeah, I would like to get my masters, I'm just so tired of school, I need a break! I was hoping to get a job that would pay for me to get my masters, not sure that will happen for a long time now

Welcome to the world of the college grad.......

Worst part is knowing that all the kids in college who had well to do parents, that didn't need to work during college, and spent a lot of time partying, probably had 60k+ jobs coming out of college because their parents hooked em up.

Life sucks like that, but I always hear "you'll be happier about everything in 20 years or so when you have a really good job.....", so at least we might have something to look forward too.

Ugh, that is probably so true and sickening. I hate those kids.

That's what I keep hearing, we'll just see about that

[mainbutter]

Worst part is knowing that all the kids in college who had well to do parents, that didn't need to work during college, and spent a lot of time partying, probably had 60k+ jobs coming out of college because their parents hooked em up.

Please don't buy into class warfare.

My parents are extremely well to do, and paid for my education. I've never been threatened by homelessness or starvation because of finances, but that doesn't mean I'm any better off at landing a career than someone with a resume identical to mine who had to pay for their own education.

We are ALL suffering because of this economy.

[DellaF]

Sorry your down. The job market does suck. Luckily my pitiful paying job is doing well. We have two openings for temps to get hired. I tried to help two friends get jobs because they have been temps at another job for almost 2 years. They said they would just stay were they are at. I told my boss I was so embarrassed. They had interviews and offers to. Sometimes it helps when you have people on the inside. Good luck to you. I hope you find something soon. I'm sure you will. You seem like such a nice genuine person.

[SlitherinSisters]

Please don't buy into class warfare.

My parents are extremely well to do, and paid for my education. I've never been threatened by homelessness or starvation because of finances, but that doesn't mean I'm any better off at landing a career than someone with a resume identical to mine who had to pay for their own education.

We are ALL suffering because of this economy.

I think they meant the kids whose parents own a business or are working in a business that they can put in a good word for their kids. At least that's how I took it.

Sorry your down. The job market does suck. Luckily my pitiful paying job is doing well. We have two openings for temps to get hired. I tried to help two friends get jobs because they have been temps at another job for almost 2 years. They said they would just stay were they are at. I told my boss I was so embarrassed. They had interviews and offers to. Sometimes it helps when you have people on the inside. Good luck to you. I hope you find something soon. I'm sure you will. You seem like such a nice genuine person.

Thank heavens for that! A lot of people are getting laid off/let go around here. Two factories in the area got completely shut down in the last few years and that's where majority of the residents worked. It sucks! I wish I had some people on the inside of jobs that were hiring. The people I do have in big business jobs are hoping they don't get let go! And thank you, you are so kind

[dragonboy4578]

Sorry for the hard time finding employment. I can understand the feeling that you wasted time and money going to college, but you are still ahead of many out on the job search. Living in Michigan it is next to impossible to find work right now with or without a degree, but thought with out degrees have virtually no chance of finding work at all. The economy is going to get better, and when it does you will have the necessary knowledge to find a job that all thoughts without it won't. Please don't lose hope in your search. Sooner or later you will find the perfect employer for you. BTW I have a decent job, but am still going to school because I know that if something was to happen I need something to fall back on. Many individuals will still find themselves under qualified when jobs do come back because they chose not to go college.

Best of luck in you search

Morgan