Stupid Job Market

Absolutely! I work retail, but I have a degree in education. No one is hiring teachers' aides in my area.

My best friend got laid off in October. She has a degree in graphic design, one of the most popular majors in college right now, and one of the most difficult careers to actually get into because there are SO MANY PEOPLE with that same degree. She's been working retail part time through the holidays, but is likely to lose that soon, too. Her husband also has a degree in graphic design, and he's been working sales for the 4 years we've been out of college. And me? I wish I had majored in something else. I liked the program and the classes, but it's not what I want to do with my life anymore, I'm an office manager and I love it. I've thought about getting certifications in administrative support, but I just don't have the money to do it right now.

Good luck, I hope you are able to find something with better hours soon!

I'm also in the job market.....withOUT a degree. Oh I went to college, but I never finished my final 2 credits! Talk about a stupid girl. That was 20 yrs ago and I got the job I really wanted back then, but now I want a change & everywhere I apply, they ask: Do you have a degree? Imagine how I am kicking myself when I have to answer: NO! Maybe I can be the voice of "20 yrs down the road" for you, but I do understand - it's really frustrating being stuck. I've heard many times, that the more we hold onto our frustrations, they simply persist and multiply. Maybe let that frustration go & try to visualize yourself succeeding, smiling, happy, and sitting at your new desk/work, etc...and that could all come true as soon as TOMORROW! Just a thought - best of luck to you!! I'm proud of you for jumping in there & getting your college - I just bet it'll pay off real soon.

I have been in the same boat for years. Working in a job that I don't like just because it paid well and I had a knack for it. As I tell my college age kids, if you can find a job or career that you would do for free because you love it, that's the job to take as you will learn to get by financially and will be much happier in the long run.

On one hand, I agree with these posts, and I absolutely know that the job market can be tough. I also have 3 adult children, ages 20, 23 and 26 who are all at various points along the path described in these posts. BUT, on the other hand, I am an operations accounting manager for a large bank, and when we have open positions, it is SO HARD to find good candidates. As a hiring manager, I am not necessarily looking for experience. I am looking for someone who comes to an interview with enthusiasm and professionalism....someone with decent communication skills...someone whose resume doesn't include typo's, grammatical errors, glaring omissions. In my recent round of hiring, I interviewed one person who told me he was "upset" because he was passed over for promotion in his current job....he had worked for the company for SIX months, fresh out of college! I interviewed two other younger candidates, who had business degrees and some work experience, but presented themselves very "casually", with no polish or communication skills. There was one candidate who was so totally uncommunicative - it was like pulling teeth to get more than a one word response to any question. In addition, there were several interviews that I thought went well, but I never received a "thank you" (email or snail mail). To me, receiving a thank you is a good indicator of common courtesy, follow through, enthusiasm, etc. If I don't get one, that tells me the person doesn't care very much, and I don't want to hire that person.

I know every situation is different, but I would just caution every one who is looking for a job to take a hard look at everything you are doing, and make sure you are putting your best foot forward.

I am not a Human Resources expert, but I can tell you that my experience with trying to hire entry level accountants (in a non public accounting environment) over the past 25 years has been a real struggle! And all I am looking for is someone with basic hard and soft skills, a little enthusiam, a business related 2 or 4 year degree. If they have experience, it helps, but isn't required, for the right person. That's just one hiring manager's opinion, I guess, so take it for what it's worth.