It's Hard Out Here For a Twentysomething

[Spot's Meow]

Are you a twentysomething? Then your life sucks and you probably already know it. Your dreams have been dashed, your degree is meaningless (or soon will be if you haven't earned it yet!), your generation has fallen on hard times, and worst of all: you're not special.

Oh, and you have probably been searching for a job for several months and living off of ramen noodles in your parents' house.

If you're a twentysomething and this doesn't describe you then you are lucky. If you not only have a job but actually ENJOY it, then you must have a guardian angel looking out for you. Be thankful. Very thankful.

If you are in this unfortunate position, then your only consolation is that you are not alone.

With the unemployment rate skyrocketing, employees under 30 have the most reason for worry. Joblessness is far higher among younger people than for those later in their careers.....

The staggering jobless numbers for twentysomething workers are no surprise to Lindsey Rhein, 24, of Placentia, Calif.
She’s been out of work for nearly four months after getting laid off as a legal assistant for a construction company. She’s applied to over 700 jobs and has gotten only seven interviews, leading nowhere.....

Even with a master’s degree in forensic psychology and a bachelor’s in sociology, she hasn’t been able to land a sales associate job at Target, and she can’t even get a call back from McDonald's, where she applied for the fast food chain’s management training program two months ago.....

“This is the most educated generation, and they were told, "You're special,’ ” notes workplace consultant J.T. O'Donnell. “Well … they’re not special, and they end up going out into the professional world and finding this out.” ....

“Growing up, my parents were telling me, ‘The world is at your fingertips. All you have to do is educate yourself, go to college, and you’d get a prime position right out of school.’ They were wrong.”

Article: Under 30? Looking for a job? You're not alone

You should read the whole article, it's very neat. On the second page, another woman is discussed who has started a blog about her unemployment called Bob Loblaw's Job Blog. It's kind of interesting.

The reality of this issue is definitely apparent to me. Pretty much everyone my age that I know is out of work or working a temporary job. My boyfriend and I are lucky in that we have jobs and actually don't despise them. He is a grad student who is student teaching and I have a job with a state agency through my university. It did, however, take me several months to find this job.

I don't know if I necessarily agree with the whole "they think they're too good to take certain jobs" angle. Most people I know just want ANY job, they don't even care what it is at this point. I, for instance, knew that my forte was not working with the public, but when I was offered a job as a bagger at a grocery store a few months ago I eagerly took it. Unfortunately my suspicions were right, and a month later I was "let go" and told to never work in customer service again (I am MUCH better at my current desk job; in fact I'd say I'm downright good at it).

But I know tons of twentysomethings out there that do have the people skills and would love to get any job, but can't. My sister couldn't even get hired at McDonald's even though she has years of previous McDonald's experience.

So please, twentysomethings, if you are feeling down about your lack of specialness and lack of a job, use this thread to commiserate about your woes.

By the way, I can't stand the word "twentysomething" but I couldn't think of a better descriptor.

 

[teya]

^ You'll live.

They said the same thing about those of us who came of age during the 70s. We survived. You will, too.

If nothing else, it will teach you humility.

 

[John Picard]

^ You'll live.

They said the same thing about those of us who came of age during the 70s. We survived. You will, too.

If nothing else, it will teach you humility.

Yep, especially since the twenty-something crowd is big on instant gratification and getting everything they want right away.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I'm 29 and have had a completely useless BS in psychology for about four years now. The only job offer I got was being paid $6.50 an hour at a mental institution with hours to where I couldn't get a second job.

But, it's four years later, I wait tables (which I hate, but I'm getting my bills paid and paid off) and I'll probably head back for a more meaningful degree in the fall.

 

[What's his face]

My dad graduated in the recession of the late 70s, and now I'm graduating in this one. Talking to him, he was very empathetic.

I'm seriously considering going back to school for the summer, taking some bird courses to boost my average and apply go do something like an MBA.

 

[Plecostomus]

^ You'll live.

They said the same thing about those of us who came of age during the 70s. We survived. You will, too.

If nothing else, it will teach you humility.

Yep, especially since the twenty-something crowd is big on instant gratification and getting everything they want right away.

We are ALL in the same boat this time. 20,30,40,50-somethings. Degree or no degree. This collapse dragged down everything not just the Wall Street, its affecting every facet of production/consumption across all layers of society.

Hang in there, it will get better.

If you got the will you can do your part... start your own business. Now is the time because equipment (whatever you need from ovens to computers to barber-chairs) can be had cheap, buildings/rental space is cheap. I got a couple opportunities to do work on my machines at home from companies who lost suppliers. Suppliers suddenly go belly up they need SOMEONE to make a widget ANYONE oh this bloke is inexpensive enough..

This could be done in just about any facet of business from food-service to hair-care. Just keep your eyes open, and your mind as well.

 

[TheBrew]

I have real world skills, great references, and good work experience. I'm screwed.

 

[Spot's Meow]

^ You'll live.

They said the same thing about those of us who came of age during the 70s. We survived. You will, too.

If nothing else, it will teach you humility.

Yep, especially since the twenty-something crowd is big on instant gratification and getting everything they want right away.

Yes, because feeling the need to pay your rent and bills despite being out of a job is all about instant gratification.


Of course we will survive, but that doesn't mean this isn't a horrible time to be our age and try to start a career and that most people I know in this age group are struggling to even get a job at McDonald's. This was not true a few years ago when I was in high school. There has been a definite change for the worse, as I think we can all see.

We already know everyone older than us looks down on us and thinks we aren't willing to do any real work or that we deserve to be screwed over in finding work because we need to learn "humility." Maybe you shouldn't believe all the hype you hear about us, because I sure as hell don't know any twentysomethings with that attitude. And those that do are happily living off their parents' bank accounts anyway, so your criticisms wouldn't help them any.

Managers already won't hire people our age because they have this false idea that we're all lazy and can't do anything for ourselves. That makes it doubly hard to get a job.

 

[sidious618]

Yep, especially since the twenty-something crowd is big on instant gratification and getting everything they want right away.

Oh, brother. The same thing was said of your generation, I'm sure. People are the same across the board no matter the age.

 

[teya]

^ You'll live.

They said the same thing about those of us who came of age during the 70s. We survived. You will, too.

If nothing else, it will teach you humility.

Yep, especially since the twenty-something crowd is big on instant gratification and getting everything they want right away.

Yes, because feeling the need to pay your rent and bills despite being out of a job is all about instant gratification.


Of course we will survive, but that doesn't mean this isn't a horrible time to be our age and try to start a career and that most people I know in this age group are struggling to even get a job at McDonald's. This was not true a few years ago when I was in high school. There has been a definite change for the worse, as I think we can all see.

Which was exactly as it was in the 70s. We got out of college and didn't have jobs. Many of us went on to grad school simply because it was a way of surviving (on loans, grants, scholarships) until jobs were available.

We already know everyone older than us looks down on us and thinks we aren't willing to do any real work or that we deserve to be screwed over in finding work because we need to learn "humility."

Maybe you shouldn't believe all the hype you hear about us, because I sure as hell don't know any twentysomethings with that attitude.

Your overreaction to the posts by those of us who've been through the same thing in earlier recessions belies this statement.

We're not criticizing. We're empathizing.

A sense of humor might help, too.

Managers already won't hire people our age because they have this false idea that we're all lazy and can't do anything for ourselves. That makes it doubly hard to get a job.

Actually, I don't hire people your age because at the level I hire people, they do need a lot of experience in the field. Sorry.

 

[John Picard]

^ You'll live.

They said the same thing about those of us who came of age during the 70s. We survived. You will, too.

If nothing else, it will teach you humility.

Yep, especially since the twenty-something crowd is big on instant gratification and getting everything they want right away.

We are ALL in the same boat this time. 20,30,40,50-somethings. Degree or no degree. This collapse dragged down everything not just the Wall Street, its affecting every facet of production/consumption across all layers of society.

Hang in there, it will get better.

If you got the will you can do your part... start your own business. Now is the time because equipment (whatever you need from ovens to computers to barber-chairs) can be had cheap, buildings/rental space is cheap. I got a couple opportunities to do work on my machines at home from companies who lost suppliers. Suppliers suddenly go belly up they need SOMEONE to make a widget ANYONE oh this bloke is inexpensive enough..

This could be done in just about any facet of business from food-service to hair-care. Just keep your eyes open, and your mind as well.

People made money during The Great Depression. Also, people should consider relocating for a job whether it be across the state or across the country. I was very young during the 70's Recession, but I remember people said, "I gotta eat and care of my family" sold everything, and drove 1+ states away.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Yep, especially since the twenty-something crowd is big on instant gratification and getting everything they want right away.

Oh, brother. The same thing was said of your generation, I'm sure. People are the same across the board no matter the age.

The younger you are the more optimistic and idealistic you are. It's only when you get older and more cynical you realise that life does indeed suck! Pluck every good bit from life, my cat just fell on my head.
See now I can see a future...

 

[Plecostomus]

Managers already won't hire people our age because they have this false idea that we're all lazy and can't do anything for ourselves. That makes it doubly hard to get a job.

Indeed. I've seen people get replaced on a job because of age... for being/appearing too young. It's happened to me a few times as well. You know "I don't want damn kids running my machine/cash-register/computer/lawnmowers because only people who are XX years old know how to do the job right."

Age doesn't matter it's SKILL and EXPERIENCE. In one situation I was replaced by an older man who bullshitted his way through the interview and presented himeself as wise in all aspects of sheetmetal because of his AGE... The manager who hired him loudly proclamed that this person was replacing the Damn Kids (myself included) on the shop floor and that He had DECADES OF EXPERIENCE and was therefore more suited to the job than the lot of us and that he would be able to do the work that all of us did in total by himself because he wasn't a lazy brat like us... only to get out on the shop floor and produce scrap because DESPITE HIS AGE he didn't fully grasp the machine control method.

I've worked with 20-somethings who have more experience than older workers... this becomes apparent in computer dominated fields. Likewise I've worked with high-school grads 18 years old that have a better grasp of work-place politic and behavior than some 50-year-olds.

Contrawise alot of what I learned tradewise was taught by older folks who have decades of experience... That's where I learned the tradtional methods.

Making a blanket assumption on the basis of age and age alone is foolish, that's what I'm trying to get across.


Right now alot of older people are scared... they have bills up the wazoo and were counting on a pension payout/stock-market based retirement to see them through and most of that has been wiped out. They feel they are going to be replaced by yonger less "expensive" workers so they make things difficult for new hires.

Age discrimination across the board is illegal according to Federal law. It's worded on the Rights Poster in such a way that it seems to only afford protection to those over 42, but a lawyer has told me it applies to EVERYONE over 18. State laws might offer additional protection too.

Trick is proving it though.

As I said, hang in there, it's not a fun situation to be in right now.

 

[Naira]

I am a 24 PhD student (Computer Science). Most people I know who started looking for a job after they got their BSc degree still don't have one. Those who found jobs mostly teach as tutors to highschool kids. Apart from this being an un-satisfying job (as anyone who has studied *real* Computer Science will tell you, teaching uninterested kids how to use Windows, and having people around you belive that "Computer Science = Windows + Miscrosoft Office + Internet" is very annoying), it also does not pay well. People have to work at different tutor-institutes, trying to get maybe 10-15 hours a week, running all over the town to get from one institute to the other. Plus, they never know if the'll have a job the next semester.

I currently teach at a town 1 hour away. Last year I worked 10 hours stright. This year I only got 8 hours. It was the only job I could find that I could squeeze into one day a week so that I don't leave the University for more days (my PhD seems to demand all of my time...).

It is sad that even though I pour most of my energy on my studies because I really enjoy doing it, I do not expect to find a better job because of it.

 

[John Picard]

Yep, especially since the twenty-something crowd is big on instant gratification and getting everything they want right away.

Oh, brother. The same thing was said of your generation, I'm sure. People are the same across the board no matter the age.

The younger you are the more optimistic and idealistic you are. It's only when you get older and more cynical you realise that life does indeed suck! Pluck every good bit from life, my cat just fell on my head.
See now I can see a future...

I read a lot of business news and one thing that irks hiring managers is the college graduates who think they're worth $50K/year. When I left the Navy in 1994, after 7 years of service, I was happy as hell with $24K/year and worked my way up.

I've also had two stints of being laid off, plus I endured a transfer where I took a $7k/year pay decrease that lasted 9 months.

 

[Captain Intrepid]

People made money during The Great Depression.

And people starved to death too. If you had a job, you did great, alas, jobs just weren't there for many.

My employment prospects are good. I should be able to get my mate's ticket within 5 years and make master of a good sized ship within 10 to 15 years.

 

[ThunderAeroI]

So sad, makes me happy I work for the government and cant be fired, layed off, or otherwise downsized. My kids are young enough where i hope that when they get to college the economy has worked itself out.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Age discrimination across the board is illegal according to Federal law. It's worded on the Rights Poster in such a way that it seems to only afford protection to those over 42, but a lawyer has told me it applies to EVERYONE over 18. State laws might offer additional protection too

Your state may offer additional protections that aren't in federal law, but my understanding of the ADEA is that until you turn 40, discriminating against you based on age is not illegal under federal law.

I was lucky enough to land a job 2 years ago in customer service. The city I live in was already economically depressed well before this stuff happened (stupid city politics, companies' refusals to move here and deal with said politics and other BS, major poverty problem, etc.), and I had a devil of a time even with two undergraduate degrees (human resources and Spanish), AND an MBA.

The only way I got a job was by breaking down and applying for customer service positions, because nobody in an office job wanted me due to lack of experience. And THIS position I only got because of a young manager willing to "give me a chance."

I'm now over 1 1/2 years in my position and needless to say, I am darned well going to stay where I am until this crisis blows over. Not that my particular area is going to improve to the extent the rest of the country will, though--hence the need to gain tenure for protection!

 

[K'Ehleyr]

I'm 29 and have had a completely useless BS in psychology for about four years now. The only job offer I got was being paid $6.50 an hour at a mental institution with hours to where I couldn't get a second job.

But, it's four years later, I wait tables (which I hate, but I'm getting my bills paid and paid off) and I'll probably head back for a more meaningful degree in the fall.

I do feel really sorry for people who have spent years working on and gaining a degree. Friends of mine who went to Uni either quit and came out with huge debts and no prospects or continued and still cannot find work but with even bigger debts. I'd like to see a return to apprenticeships. Where you can earn whilst you learn. Not just manual labour, although I think a return to craftmanship is on the way, I know of some companies over here which will help with Uni fees etc but you have to sell your soul to them. It is tough for everyone, regardless of age. Spare a thought for my soon to be 50yr old boyfriend who is trying to return to work as a programmer! Yeah, good luck there

 

[teya]

I read a lot of business news and one thing that irks hiring managers is the college graduates who think they're worth $50K/year. When I left the Navy in 1994, after 7 years of service, I was happy as hell with $24K/year and worked my way up.

When I was filling entry-level slots, this was a frustration. The newbies felt that they deserved the same pay that people with 10 years experience were getting right off the bat. Hell, I had one request the same amount I was making.

It's always a good idea to research the field and get an idea of salary range for that field.