I think it's impossible to find a job right now

[GodlessAstronomer]

Any economic experts know how the job market reflects the current state of the economy? My country is just making it's way out of recession (just had a positive growth quarter), I'm wondering how I'll do in both summer employment in a couple of months and permanent full-time employment when I graduate at the end of next year. Do employment numbers generally lag recession/economic growth, and if so, by how much? Many of my friends graduated last year and most have not been able to find employment.

 

[LTC8K6]

Originally posted by: jinduy

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The unemployment rate for young americans 16-24 is currently a whopping 52.2%...

i'd be more interested in young americans unemployed between 21-25.

those who are 16-21 should be in school, otherwise it's no surprise they can't find a real job outside of retail/fast food

"During previous recessions, in the early '80s, early '90s and after Sept. 11, 2001, unemployment among 16-to-24 year olds never went above 50 percent."

 

[ultimatebob]

There are jobs out there... The place where I work now is hiring QA testers (CT area), and I'll bet that my former employer is as well.

 

[pray4mojo]

1k resumes? damn i thought i had it bad with a little over 100 and only 1 interview. what industries is everyone looking into? engineering for me..

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: pray4mojo
1k resumes? damn i thought i had it bad with a little over 100 and only 1 interview. what industries is everyone looking into? engineering for me..

IT, Security, Clerical, Retail, Construction, Labor.

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Have to be willing to relocate and probably take something less than what you had, but you can still find a job out there.

Relocate with what money? Personally I've been looking for jobs up to a 45 minute drive from where I live. I haven't been very picky with my job standards. I've applied at every single retail chain store I can find. Walmart, Target, Publix, Radioshack, Best Buy, etc... for example. They just aren't hiring at all anywhere near me.

 

[duragezic]

Found out last week I'm getting laid off. I'm working until the end of next month. I learned today there is no extended unemployment so it's just standard 26 weeks.

I would go back to school (master's) but I really don't want more loans especially when many places like where I currently work pay for a master's degree 100%.

I figure in time I'll be able to find another job after relocating and taking a pay cut. Which is okay I guess but not looking forward to it.

<--- software engineering in aerospace/DO-178B

edit: One thing I wonder is if companies still pay to bring you out for onsite interviews. When I was looking for a job at the end of 2007, there were TONS for college grads and all of them flew you out for interviews. I wonder if that's still the case with presumably tons of local applications as it is. I'm not sure I'll have the $$ to spend on traveling to interviews for a small chance at getting an offer.

 

[Modular]

But do you have Hope and Change?

 

[BoomerD]

The official unemployment rate in my county just dropped...from 16.3% to 15.8%...but the EDD admits that the "unofficial rate" which includes people who have exhausted their benefits and/or have just given up looking is well over 20%.

I'm looking for work myself, and I gotta tell youse folks...it's tough out there. I have the problem of having spent 30 years in construction...and now looking for work as a bookkeeper/accounting clerk. BIG career change...No real way to spin that on a resume.

 

[bctbct]

Good luck to you guys, I cant imagine the stress of long term unemployment.

 

[sandmanwake]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
The official unemployment rate in my county just dropped...from 16.3% to 15.8%...but the EDD admits that the "unofficial rate" which includes people who have exhausted their benefits and/or have just given up looking is well over 20%.
.

There's something decidedly shady in my opinion about not counting people who are still looking for work, but whose benefits ran out. The ones who gave up, I can sort of understand. Not quite sure how you're supposed to feed and house yourself if you just give up though.

 

[xanis]

I'm a little scared for when I graduate next year. The job market sucks bad (as evidenced here) and I don't see it getting magically better within 2 years.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: sandmanwake

Originally posted by: BoomerD
The official unemployment rate in my county just dropped...from 16.3% to 15.8%...but the EDD admits that the "unofficial rate" which includes people who have exhausted their benefits and/or have just given up looking is well over 20%.
.

There's something decidedly shady in my opinion about not counting people who are still looking for work, but whose benefits ran out. The ones who gave up, I can sort of understand. Not quite sure how you're supposed to feed and house yourself if you just give up though.

it is shady but you can't technically count that number so you are really just guessing.

 

[L1FE]

The Northern VA/DC area hasn't been hit nearly as hard as the rest of the country. As I mentioned in another thread, a lot of the software consulting companies in the area have been on a hiring binge. While relocation isn't an option for everyone, if you don't have roots holding you down, it may be wise to come out here...

 

[chipy]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Have to be willing to relocate and probably take something less than what you had, but you can still find a job out there.

i completely agree. if you don't think you can get a job where you are at right now, you have to be open to the idea of moving around. military people move around every few years so it can't be that bad. having said that, i also know people that are bent on staying where they are at because of family, familiarity, living costs, etc... just know that you might have to wait a bit longer to find something then.

 

[Modelworks]

You forgot to slip them a 20 when you handed them the application.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: chipy

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Have to be willing to relocate and probably take something less than what you had, but you can still find a job out there.

i completely agree. if you don't think you can get a job where you are at right now, you have to be open to the idea of moving around. military people move around every few years so it can't be that bad. having said that, i also know people that are bent on staying where they are at because of family, familiarity, living costs, etc... just know that you might have to wait a bit longer to find something then.

Actually yes it is that bad for many people. There are differing personalities, and some can do well with frequent moves, but for many people PLACE MATTERS DEEPLY. These people are seriously harmed by relocation. There are enormous volumes to be read on the subject of what is lost through disconnect to place.

 

[duragezic]

Originally posted by: L1FE
The Northern VA/DC area hasn't been hit nearly as hard as the rest of the country. As I mentioned in another thread, a lot of the software consulting companies in the area have been on a hiring binge. While relocation isn't an option for everyone, if you don't have roots holding you down, it may be wise to come out here...

Yeah I heard that from a few people as being a good spot right now. The place I work at now has locations/divisions in that area and supposedly they are hiring.

I have an apartment lease but I'll relocate otherwise, if I can pay for two apartments. Not sure I want to go to a place like DC though. I'm used to living in places where you can leave your doors unlocked and car running while you go inside. I don't think I could handle traffic either!

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: chipy

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Have to be willing to relocate and probably take something less than what you had, but you can still find a job out there.

i completely agree. if you don't think you can get a job where you are at right now, you have to be open to the idea of moving around. military people move around every few years so it can't be that bad. having said that, i also know people that are bent on staying where they are at because of family, familiarity, living costs, etc... just know that you might have to wait a bit longer to find something then.

Actually yes it is that bad for many people. There are differing personalities, and some can do well with frequent moves, but for many people PLACE MATTERS DEEPLY. These people are seriously harmed by relocation. There are enormous volumes to be read on the subject of what is lost through disconnect to place.

If we could sell our house without taking a bath on it, we'd move in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we live in the middle of meltdown central...and houses are a dime a dozen here. I don't want to be like so many people and just walk away from the house even though we owe more on it than it's currently worth on today's market.

Having moved around almost all my life, I have never really put down roots anywhere. We've been in Kahleeforneeya 22 years, longer than I've ever been in one place, and in our current house over 10 years, far longer than I've ever lived in any one place. This is the closest thing to roots I've ever had...and my wife and I would both move tomorrow if we could.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Queasy


The only two fields that appear to be hiring right now are healthcare and government.

Take a look at close to the last 10 years and the government is about the only net job producer out there. Private industry is close to being negative during that span right now. Ship the jobs overseas and the government is the one left to do the hiring.

I'll probably be on the unemployment line within the next 30 days.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Kalmah
I've been unemployed for uh... 9 months now? I've been sending several resumes and turning in applications daily for the last 9 months.

Guess how many calls I've had for an interview.. 0 (that is ZERO).

.

you aren't alone

I just passed the 1k resumes sent out mark, gotten 2 call backs 1 went to the next round. fun times

I guess I shouldn't feel so bad that the two applications I sent out received on call back. They hired someone before they could even schedule an interview (scheduling conflict with me). They required 10 years experience and interviewed 8 people within two weeks of the job posting. I have 17 years experience and they didn't even need to see me, lol!

Good luck mate and very sorry to hear!

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: chipy

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Have to be willing to relocate and probably take something less than what you had, but you can still find a job out there.

i completely agree. if you don't think you can get a job where you are at right now, you have to be open to the idea of moving around. military people move around every few years so it can't be that bad. having said that, i also know people that are bent on staying where they are at because of family, familiarity, living costs, etc... just know that you might have to wait a bit longer to find something then.

Actually yes it is that bad for many people. There are differing personalities, and some can do well with frequent moves, but for many people PLACE MATTERS DEEPLY. These people are seriously harmed by relocation. There are enormous volumes to be read on the subject of what is lost through disconnect to place.

If we could sell our house without taking a bath on it, we'd move in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we live in the middle of meltdown central...and houses are a dime a dozen here. I don't want to be like so many people and just walk away from the house even though we owe more on it than it's currently worth on today's market.

Having moved around almost all my life, I have never really put down roots anywhere. We've been in Kahleeforneeya 22 years, longer than I've ever been in one place, and in our current house over 10 years, far longer than I've ever lived in any one place. This is the closest thing to roots I've ever had...and my wife and I would both move tomorrow if we could.

Two things I see in that:

You may just have a rover personality; one that doesn't associate with place. There are those type of people in the world.

There's a difference between wanting things to be different and not being attached to place. For instance, unemployment in my county is ALWAYS over 10% and right now much higher. My county is heavily polluted (industrial chemicals). I wish these things were different, and I work to change them. I would love to be able to find work, and know that my kids aren't guaranteed to develop cancer or a tentacle. However, I have an attachment to this 'place'. I have memories, networks, connections, etc. I've lived places that were clean and had extremely low unemployment, and while that was nice and while there were no significant problems, I could never stay because it wasn't home. There is a strength and power in place for those that are disposed to feel it.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Two things I see in that:

You may just have a rover personality; one that doesn't associate with place. There are those type of people in the world.

There's a difference between wanting things to be different and not being attached to place. For instance, unemployment in my county is ALWAYS over 10% and right now much higher. My county is heavily polluted (industrial chemicals). I wish these things were different, and I work to change them. I would love to be able to find work, and know that my kids aren't guaranteed to develop cancer or a tentacle. However, I have an attachment to this 'place'. I have memories, networks, connections, etc. I've lived places that were clean and had extremely low unemployment, and while that was nice and while there were no significant problems, I could never stay because it wasn't home. There is a strength and power in place for those that are disposed to feel it.

Yeah, I'm sort of a gypsy...My dad was in the USAF, so we moved a lot when I was a kid, then, working constuction, I chased work all over the western US, never putting down roots, often moving 2-3 times per year. All I really cared about was the work. As soon as the job finished, we were gone to the next one.

My wife and I both "grew up" in Spokane, (I lived there for 6 years before I enlisted, then 4 years after I got out) and for many years, that was home. My mom lived there, her parents lived there, we had friends there...but as the parents died off and we lost track of friends while on the road, it became less and less "Home," and more and more, "a place we know how to get around in, but isn't home." You couldn't pay me to move back to Spokane. There's just nothing there for me anymore.

 

[TridenT]

Have you considered that maybe your resume and cover letters suck?

 

[pray4mojo]

Originally posted by: TridenT
Have you considered that maybe your resume and cover letters suck?

no