Was finding a job after college back in the 90's really easy?

[TommyVercetti]

I want to know how much was hype, and how much is reality. When I started college back in 1998 as a Comp Sci major, I was told that finding a job after graduation was really easy. I didn't know any graduating seniors, so I just believed what I was told. Was it really easy to find a job back then? Is it true that just about every graduating senior who tried had 3-4 job offers?

Also, did anyone here really cash in during the dot com era?

 

[spidey07]

Yes, and Yes. When I graduated in '93 the question was "how much are you gonna pay me"

Its rough out there bro.

 

[Storm]

If you knew anything about computers they would throw money at you...

Sadly the market has corrected itself.

 

[Kelemvor]

I started working a couple weeks before I was done with College.

 

[rh71]

I think my class just slipped in under the radar... right before the big dot.com bust... graduated 1999... found a job I intended to stay at right out of college in December (4.5 year plan)... then 3 months later, I got an offer from a bigger/better company and have been there since. So even in the late 90's you would've still been good... sorry for your generation and many more to come.

 

[PCMarine]

When I graduate from college, I hope the job market is as you guys describe

I'm in HS now...

 

[kt]

My brother landed a job before he even graduated. They basically paid him full-time salary while he finished up the last semester of his senior year. He comes in like 3 times a week during that period. Back then it's who do you want to work for, now it's who's going to hire me.

 

[flot]

I'm more curious what it was like in the *early* 90s... anyone have info?

I graduated in spring 00 and yes had 4 job offers, turned down a number of interviews, and got a great deal. However, I had a lot of work experience and knowledge in my field, and went to a good school. Currently the company I work for is desperately trying to hire good computer people - I personally interview about 4 a week and most of them suck.

Honestly I think if you're good, you can always get a job. The problem is that when there is such a glut of out of work people out there, it can be very difficult to sort through them, and I think a lot of the good people get lost in the crowd. The way around it? YOUR RESUME. Make sure that it clearly lists what you're good at and what you know. If you don't have applicable work experience/internships/etc, GET THEM. If there are "holes" in your knowledge, go buy some books and read up on them.

In a tough environment like this, you can stand out from the crowd by showing that you're motivated to learn and will even do it when you don't have to. For computers - Set up your own network at home. Install (and understand) different OSes. Read about networking, programming, hardware, whatever. Show that you are well rounded and well informed and you are a more valuable employee.

 

[her209]

Yes, the times have changed.

 

[Nyical]

Yep, it was true but know of days you can have every cert there is and it dosent meen shiet, because there are 10 million other people out there
with the same pieces of paper!

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Nyical
Yep, it was true but know of days you can have every cert there is and it dosent meen shiet, because there are 10 million other people out there
with the same pieces of paper!

Not only that, the companies want to up profits by outsourcing! :|

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: flot
I'm more curious what it was like in the *early* 90s... anyone have info?

I graduated in spring 00 and yes had 4 job offers, turned down a number of interviews, and got a great deal. However, I had a lot of work experience and knowledge in my field, and went to a good school. Currently the company I work for is desperately trying to hire good computer people - I personally interview about 4 a week and most of them suck.

Honestly I think if you're good, you can always get a job. The problem is that when there is such a glut of out of work people out there, it can be very difficult to sort through them, and I think a lot of the good people get lost in the crowd. The way around it? YOUR RESUME. Make sure that it clearly lists what you're good at and what you know. If you don't have applicable work experience/internships/etc, GET THEM. If there are "holes" in your knowledge, go buy some books and read up on them.

In a tough environment like this, you can stand out from the crowd by showing that you're motivated to learn and will even do it when you don't have to. For computers - Set up your own network at home. Install (and understand) different OSes. Read about networking, programming, hardware, whatever. Show that you are well rounded and well informed and you are a more valuable employee.

While that is true. Having a lot of experience can backfire at you also. I know companies who do not even consider hiring people with a lot of experience because they are afraid they will leave once they find something better. As you know, the process of replacing someone is rather expensive and time consuming.

In fact, I just talked to this guy working for the cable company. He came to fix some cabling issue at my home. For whatever reason, we ended up talking about the internet and he mentioned that he used to be a Network Engineer for Global Crossing. He got laid off and couldn't find work for while. He said he got turned down on jobs (Sys and Network admin type) because they think he's overqualified. Now he ended up doing cable install because he got to support his wife and kids some how. Sadly enough this guy really knows his stuff.

 

[rocadelpunk]

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: flot
I'm more curious what it was like in the *early* 90s... anyone have info?

I graduated in spring 00 and yes had 4 job offers, turned down a number of interviews, and got a great deal. However, I had a lot of work experience and knowledge in my field, and went to a good school. Currently the company I work for is desperately trying to hire good computer people - I personally interview about 4 a week and most of them suck.

Honestly I think if you're good, you can always get a job. The problem is that when there is such a glut of out of work people out there, it can be very difficult to sort through them, and I think a lot of the good people get lost in the crowd. The way around it? YOUR RESUME. Make sure that it clearly lists what you're good at and what you know. If you don't have applicable work experience/internships/etc, GET THEM. If there are "holes" in your knowledge, go buy some books and read up on them.

In a tough environment like this, you can stand out from the crowd by showing that you're motivated to learn and will even do it when you don't have to. For computers - Set up your own network at home. Install (and understand) different OSes. Read about networking, programming, hardware, whatever. Show that you are well rounded and well informed and you are a more valuable employee.

While that is true. Having a lot of experience can backfire at you also. I know companies who do not even consider hiring people with a lot of experience because they are afraid they will leave once they find something better. As you know, the process of replacing someone is rather expensive and time consuming.

In fact, I just talked to this guy working for the cable company. He came to fix some cabling issue at my home. For whatever reason, we ended up talking about the internet and he mentioned that he used to be a Network Engineer for Global Crossing. He got laid off and couldn't find work for while. He said he got turned down on jobs (Sys and Network admin type) because they think he's overqualified. Now he ended up doing cable install because he got to support his wife and kids some how. Sadly enough this guy really knows his stuff.

that's so sad

 

[JEDI]

graduated in 1994 in Computer Engineering. 5 min phone interview and i was hired. received offer letter via fed ex the next day

1997- went looking for another job. had 3 offers the days i sent out my resume!

2002- got laid off. couldn't find ANY job for 6 months. had to move to a different state for a job in my field, but at a reduced pay

the 90's was the gravy train. it was a FUN ride. like all good things, it had to come to an end, and now have to adjust to the new environment.

to you new grads, blame your parents for having u 5 years too late, or 5 years too soon

 

[flot]

n fact, I just talked to this guy working for the cable company. He came to fix some cabling issue at my home. For whatever reason, we ended up talking about the internet and he mentioned that he used to be a Network Engineer for Global Crossing. He got laid off and couldn't find work for while. He said he got turned down on jobs (Sys and Network admin type) because they think he's overqualified. Now he ended up doing cable install because he got to support his wife and kids some how. Sadly enough this guy really knows his stuff.

Well, you know what, I'm not saying I don't believe the guy's story, but last I heard - while companies can and will find out if you're lying about things that you don't really know... it'd be awfully easy to play dumb if you honestly think you wouldn't get hired somewhere for "being overqualified." I talk to a lot of people with great looking resumes, who have worked in the industry for years and don't know their a** from a DNS server. The only people that I've talked to who seemed "overqualified" were those who acted like they were too good for the job, but in all cases they didn't have the technical skills we were looking for anyway.

 

[mithrandir2001]

I graduated with a business tech degree in 1996. I only used the campus recruiting office to look for a job. I interviewed about 20 companies my final semester and I had to turn down some companies because all the interviewing was just taking up too much time. Sometimes I was flown to the corporate headquarters (Cincinatti for P&G, DC for a consulting company) for final interviews. I netted 4 job offers from the on-campus recruiting but I could have had more if I tried harder. I simply "showed up" at many interviews. No preparation, just chit-chat and shoot the sh!t. Unbelievable, really.

I didn't have a superlative GPA: a 3.2. But I think I was a "hot commodity" because I had 2 semester-long internships on my resume and experience sells. Incredible competitive advantage when you are just starting out.

 

[Savarak]

Originally posted by: kt

In fact, I just talked to this guy working for the cable company. He came to fix some cabling issue at my home. For whatever reason, we ended up talking about the internet and he mentioned that he used to be a Network Engineer for Global Crossing. He got laid off and couldn't find work for while. He said he got turned down on jobs (Sys and Network admin type) because they think he's overqualified. Now he ended up doing cable install because he got to support his wife and kids some how. Sadly enough this guy really knows his stuff.

Sounds alot like that guy from Independence Day... hehe time to hack aliens with macs!