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

[Skittles1101]

Try thinking outside the box. You can do so many things with sociology, you should look into municipalities. Larger towns are usually hiring for SOMETHING, pay higher than most jobs available, great benefits, and generally (depending on what dept) a decent schedule with overtime available. I work as a police/fire/EMS dispatcher full time, work at least 30 hours overtime in a pay period, go to school part time, and I'm a single mom. I got this job when I was 19 with my GED, I've been here for 3 years now, I get paid more than almost all people my age, even with a degree, I get paid vacation/sick time, and now after 3 years I have 3 people under me in seniority, so I have job security.

I know it's not ideal, but it's an idea most overlook. And someone with a degree would surely surpass most, even some with experience. Even if you don't work in the public safety area, the dang water dept secretary gets paid more than me lol. Good luck, hope it all works out for you. In a few years I'll have my degree and no idea what to do with it lol.

[SlitherinSisters]

You may want to look into some type of certification program. While my experience was 20 years ago in a different job market, I also graduated with a sociology/criminal justice degree and had a lot of trouble finding a job. After a year or so I went into a 9 month paralegal certification program and had a good corporate job weeks after graduation. I didn't work as a paralegal but it was relevent to what I was hired for. Just something to think about...

I have been thinking about that. The community college offers a lot of certification classes. I just didn't know which ones I should be looking at. Another soc major

I feel ya, i go to a private liberal arts school thats gonna put me 160K in the hole in about 3 months because its supposed to be a really good pre-med school. so 8 years from now all i've got to look forward to is at least another 100K of debt when i make it through med school. i'm taking a year off to try to save up some money but its not really looking too good when i can't even get minimum wage jobs now and when the stuff i'm qualified to do requires you actually looking for a long term career there.

Oh man that really sucks. Good luck when you get out! That will so be worth it!

Try thinking outside the box. You can do so many things with sociology, you should look into municipalities. Larger towns are usually hiring for SOMETHING, pay higher than most jobs available, great benefits, and generally (depending on what dept) a decent schedule with overtime available. I work as a police/fire/EMS dispatcher full time, work at least 30 hours overtime in a pay period, go to school part time, and I'm a single mom. I got this job when I was 19 with my GED, I've been here for 3 years now, I get paid more than almost all people my age, even with a degree, I get paid vacation/sick time, and now after 3 years I have 3 people under me in seniority, so I have job security.

I know it's not ideal, but it's an idea most overlook. And someone with a degree would surely surpass most, even some with experience. Even if you don't work in the public safety area, the dang water dept secretary gets paid more than me lol. Good luck, hope it all works out for you. In a few years I'll have my degree and no idea what to do with it lol.

That sounds like a pretty good job to me. I've been looking for city and state jobs, but Iowa in a hiring freeze right now-at least in the areas I'm looking into. I'm guessing that has been leaking over into city jobs, because I haven't been able to find much.

I just got seven emails today from secretary jobs, receptionist jobs, etc turning me down. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

[Skittles1101]

Move to MA, I'll put a good word in for you

[Lolo76]

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.

What?? Do you really believe that BS?? My parents are "well to do," paid for my college & graduate school education, and I've been struggling like everyone else in recent years... got laid off from a full-time librarian job (which I got on my OWN, thankyouverymuch), worked part-time/seasonal for a while, was unemployed for 6 months, and then finally got a permanent part-time job that pays crap. I'm now up to my eyeballs in debt, and had to finally ask my father for a loan - which he was kind enough to give me, along with a lecture about not supporting his 34 year-old daughter forever. So no, people with wealthy parents don't have it that easy either... especially those of us who aren't SPOILED, have parents who taught us the value of hard work (my dad came from literally nothing), and who don't work in an industry where connections matter. We are all struggling right now, regardless of how much money our parents might have. And I have a MASTER'S DEGREE, so if that + wealthy parents isn't of any help, you know it's rough out there.

And to the OP, keep your chin up! Things will eventually turn around, or at least I hope so...

[Lolo76]

Aare you fresh out of a top tier college with good grades and a supposedly marketable degree? The worst part for me is feeling cheated, I feel I've put the time in and accomplished what society has told me I'm supposed to accomplish to be prepared for a career, and there's none to be had.

I'm not "fresh out of school," but I finished my BA from a very good private college (University of the Pacific), and went on to get a Master's from a Cal State University... and like I said above, it's been a struggle ever since. Sorry to be Debbie Downer, but nothing guarantees success these days. Things do seem to be getting better, though, so hopefully you will find something soon!

[Lolo76]

Welcome to the world, its all about who you know and your connections. College degrees don't carry as much weight as they used to.

People keep saying this, so why haven't my connections done diddly squat? Both my father & sister have high-profile jobs & tons of connections, and yet I can't find a decent job to save my life... I'm not in their industries, but you'd think they could hook me up with something! Sorry guys, but that old saying isn't really true in the real world.

[Lolo76]

Haha, thanks for helping me prove my point. Nothing like the feeling of getting where you are based on your own merit.....

That doesn't prove anything, as you'll know if you read my story above... it only helps if your parent happens to be AT A SCHOOL, or in the specific industry which you plan to enter. Oh wait - my mother is a librarian like myself, and even that hasn't ever gotten me a job. Drop the bitterness, and realize that one's parents usually have little influence over their child's success. If only that were true, but my current financial situation (horrible) says otherwise.

Don't get me wrong, I realize it does have some advantages, like the lack of student loan debt... but now that I'm quite a few years out of college, even that is a moot point by now. And with or without student loans, it's pretty difficult to pay rent & bills without a darned job! My father (parents are divorced & he has most of the money) hasn't supported me since I was 17 years old, and I'm now 34 going on 35 - so it's never been an easy ride, despite what his bank account has in it.

[PrettyInInk87]

Sorry, that is a real eye opener for me, the government doesn't help you out at all? That is really different I know a few single mother students whom get social assistance and it basically pays rent and bills and then welfare kicks in with a monthly amount for everything else. I knew that there were less programs but I didn't know there were no programs.

I wish I knew what to say, I hope things get better for you soon!

Oh it's ok, no need to be sorry. I know there are people off WAY worse than we are and is the reason why i'm thankful for what we have. There are programs to help you out with all of that stuff but it's REALLY hard to get (with good reason) and I pretty much got frustrated and gave up. Right now we are getting help with food but it's still really hard.

Anyone know where I can get a Surgical Technologist job or even in the SPD (sterilization and processing department)? Lol!

[Wh00h0069]

Anyone know where I can get a Surgical Technologist job or even in the SPD (sterilization and processing department)? Lol!

I'm surprised that you are not able to find a job in the medical field. I was under the impression that there was a big demand for medical professionals. I wonder if your school could help place you? You also may be looking in the wrong area. Would it be possible to move if you found a job? This could really increase your chances of finding something. Good luck.

[J.Vandegrift]

I'm surprised that you are not able to find a job in the medical field. I was under the impression that there was a big demand for medical professionals. I wonder if your school could help place you? You also may be looking in the wrong area. Would it be possible to move if you found a job? This could really increase your chances of finding something. Good luck.

Used to be a big demand, but not anymore. Now that everyone heard jobs were available in the medical field TONS of people went to school to become Nurses, Rad techs, Ultrasound.... and the market is flooded. I work in Nuclear medicine and am lucky to have my job. I have been at my job 8 years. I got in just as the market was slowing down. If I lost my job today I would have 0% chance to find another full time job. I know students that graduated 3 years ago and have still not even been able to find part time or on call postions. I do not know anyone in my field that has found a FT job in the last 2 years.