here's a story of how i became an unemployed masters grad living at home if u want to see what im up to now watch ep1: • unemployed diaries ep1... about me hi im jenica a 25 yr old unemployed masters grad :)
Between 2008-2012, I was you. I graduated in 2011 with a Masters degree and it took me a long time to find work. I volunteered and did freelance work, contract work. In 2012, I found work at 25. I am still recovering from lost time. I am working at 37. You are not alone. College worked for baby boomer and Gen X. For millienials like myself and Gen z ( like you) it’s outdated.
It didn’t work for most GenX. I graduated in 2001 during the Terrorist attacks, then Masters in 2006, quickly followed by Great Recession. I’ve been laid off 3x in my finance career. Took until the age of 45 to pay off my student loans. No Generation got a pass like the younger generations think. All generations have their struggles.
I got job at age 20 and decided I needed to go back to school. Worst mistake of my life. Then moved from Nigeria to Finland. I am now 37 years old... I have only managed to get 4 months internship since I came here at 23 years old. I did BSc, MSc, and PhD.
Are you me? That's so similar to my experience. Went to college because that's what I was told to do. Got a master's (in Science) because I was told it would make me more money. Graduated in 2012, put out at least 100 applications for jobs, got a few interviews, and then eventually landed a job in my field that paid terribly for the area I lived in. Moved and took another job even closer to what I thought college had prepared me to do, but that also paid badly and had no prospects for advancement. Then, I went back to school (community college) for microelectronics, worked a little bit at Amazon, and at 30, started the career that I'm in now - a skilled trade low voltage electrician. It's a career that is totally unrelated to my degree, is more fulfilling, pays better, and has more job security than I could have ever dreamed of. I wish I could have started this career 7 to 10 years before I did. But growing up, no one even told us that construction work could pay way, way better than the fancy degrees we were told to take out debt to get.
You'll do fine in life. I got this crappy business degree when I was 24 and worked on and off in jobs like call center, hotel front desk clerk, security guard, data entry officer, and parking lot attendant. Now, I'm a multi-millionaire working as a consultant in finance. I had over 15 jobs between then and now into my early 40s. I worked 3 jobs some years in my 20s. Never made more than $40k/year. There were times I was 1 year unemployed. It takes time to build and develop yourself. But you will eventually find your path. If you have a roof over your head from family, it will help you save money.
Did you enroll in university to get job as consultant in finance? In my country, this job requires a degree in finance. Also, what kind of consultant? Is it loan? Wealth management? Insurance?
@angelsub9184 I barely graduated with my business degree. I had intentions of being an CPA accountant, but the courses were way too technical and boring. Had no intentions of being a consultant. It just happened as I went through life and picked up low paying jobs in finance. It's in Capital Markets. It's 6 digit figures. Can also go up to a quarter of a million dollars.
Thanks for sharing. I ‘m interested in knowing how someone with business course background but did not do a finance job could become a consultant in finance.
I’m 29 and debt free from college. Long story short I finished paying off 40k worth of student loans this past February. I work a full time W2 in a higher end restaurant and do DoorDash on the side and make over 83k a year. At least you got a marketable degree. I didn’t as I went for liberal arts and went to college because of what my parents said. I’m sure you’ll make it out with whatever you do.
83k from food service and doordash?... and you can afford paying off student loans with rent around a high end restaurant/doordash location? Are you a server or chef? even then it seems like cap
@@Oryion Just pick up everything that is available for me and that 83k is just what is on the W2. Doesn’t include DoorDash. Lots of times I worked 14 to 20 days straight.
Its funny i got into data science by accident because the person interviewing me knew me lmao. Connections over paper!! You just have to make more connections during your schooling.
«Just have to» it’s mostly luck right person at the right time. Even for grocery store work i got in at the right time because it was a dip in people wanting work at that point. The thing is of course you can affect if you get a job or not a lot by presentation and everything, but if the job market is in a dip and you are unemployes you are just kinda screwed. I know people with masters that got stuck working at the airport and after a few years of not doing anything relevant with your masters companies prefer freshly graduated people instead.
Exact same here, 25, 2 degrees, living at home unemployed. It sucks so hard, I feel so defeated. Felt like I had the world ahead of me in 2021 when I did my first degree, even had a decent corporate job as a Sales Analyst but wanted to switch careers to being a Sofware Engineer. Don't know what I'll do now, lucky that I have good supportive parents
All those degrees are scams. I fell for it too…. You lose 4-6 years of your life to earn those degrees, then spend the next several decades trying to pay off your college debt. It’s a fucking joke. Wish I knew what I know now when I was 18.
It's better to attend a trade school. Look at hot it is these days. Someone with air conditioning and heating trade could make a killing repairing air conditioners in this oppressive summer weather. Back when I went to college there was no internet. Now you can learn a lot and be informed just by using the internet and even taking online courses
@@ontheroad5555 i heard diving is a good job to get paid well so i once asked a Navy diver Master Chief is it hard to do cause i heard some things and he told me to go into the HVAC field.
Do you think, at 18, you'd give heavy consideration to someone's advice about not taking the college route? I've tried telling people to consider trade route and some dig their heels in the sand that college is the only path in life to a solid career. Oh well. 🤷♂️
Civil engineering aswell, my company sent an email this morning. Three new employees from Thailand. All extremely smart by the way, PHD etc. but of course.. much much cheaper.
Don't forget all these migrants who've come here to get all these jobs. Between all the newcomers and robotics, automating warehouse & manufacturing jobs, there's plenty of competition
Easy fix for this would be that they are required by law to pay standard US wage no matter where the worker is hired from. It doesn’t make sense if they don’t have a physical studio in that country to be able to hire for those same jobs just cheap
I agree. I am disabled and trying to get back on SSI after 25 years. That's my only saving grace at the moment. I am studying like mad to get back into the IT industry. Had no idea how rough it would be. I hope you will keep us posted on your progress.
Write articles or essays based on data science about interesting topics you and/or others would be interested in. Then post them on well known writing websites and also try to get them published. You'll keep your skills up, have something out there based on your degree, and learn as well. Years ago I did something similar to this and landed a great job I stayed at for 15 years. Another idea is to move abroad, teach English to earn money, have an adventure, and do the writing and publishing I mentioned earlier in your spare time. I did that too! Good luck 🍀
@toe-ray-she It's better to attend a trade school. Look at hot it is these days. Someone with air conditioning and heating trade could make a killing repairing air conditioners in this oppressive summer weather. Back when I went to college there was no internet. Now you can learn a lot and be informed just by using the internet and even taking online courses.
Started college in 2018, graudtaed with a bachelors degree in Information Communication Technology in 2022. Started and finished my Masters in Cybersecurity in 2023 and I'm in the same boat. I've been applying for months. What hurts my chances, I believe, is not having any internship experience/work experience. Its tough man.
Honestly I got extremely lucky with my job search. Graduated in 2020 with a Biology degree and decided not to go to Optometry School. Went to CC to learn a trade but decided not to after 2 semesters. My old college offered a Master program in Data Analytics and decided to go for it. Somehow managed to get a Summer internship and finished the program in 3 semesters. Sent out a bunch of applications and accepted a offer at a Bank at the end of 2022. I am looking for new opportunities but all these companies are going for more senior folks for junior pay. I interviewed with 20 different companies these past year and its getting harder and harder.
I am a milenial, and my teachers were boomers. I bought into the whole, " just go to college and then land a job, .... just get an education and everything will fall into place" I went to college to be a paralegal and graduated in time for the 2008 recession. I could not find volunteer opportunities nor jobs as a paralegal. I spent years working low paying jobs. Eventually I realized, I had to give up on figuring just a degree would land me a comfy middle class job. I spent some years looking into different career types. I spent 6 months teaching myself to code, but never got good enough to land a job. I spent 6 months looking into being a park ranger, I applied but was not accepted ( it is very competitive). I decided to go to community college to be a nurse. Despite already having a degree, I found the nursing classes tough. I had to re-learn how to study ( for science classes). Nursing is not a glamourous job. I realize now, how competitive the job market is, and despite being over worked and having high nurse to patient ratios, I am lucky to have a secure job in this economy. A degree by itself is not enough. Learn a skill, even if its not something you love. We do not live in the economic book of the 1950s. Instead, I think of the economy as being something closer to the great depression, where even highly skilled people are like free lancers, always having to adjust to changes in the job market. Most people I know, their "career" hangs by a thread.
Lol I also graduated in 2020. COVID became a thing a month after I graduated. I thought about going to grad school, but couldn't afford to (it wouldn't have been a good financial decision in my field). I was on and off work for two years until I found a decent job, but I'm kind of glad I was just unemployed instead of in school because I have no additional debt, I got to read a bunch of philosophy books, and I got to get sick of my parents instead of missing them. For reference, I got a Chem bachelors, and getting a masters may make your job more technical, but rarely raises your salary: only job experience will do that.
On the same page here, just quit my toxic corporate job not long ago. Almost near late 20s, single, somehow owns a cat, still living with my parent, and currently spending my free time hitting the gym often, probably gonna find another temporary job before my new semester begin next year to at least get a degree. Lately been binge watching bunch of RU-vid and trying to figure out how to become rich, the only thing I'm grateful for is at least I'm still healthy and currently living off debt free. My goal is to become my own boss one day to do a start-up with a few partners and maybe work part-time as a side hustle for extra passive income, so I can at least take care of my parent and they can finally retire.
I feel for your generation. I am a Gen X and one week before graduation, I decided that I no longer wanted to be a teacher. Which is what I studied for. I, ended up in retail management and sales, along with varies other jobs throughout my life. Turned 50 yesterday, I cashed my retirement account and built two rental properties, and I will cruise through life until I go to the afterlife. Best of luck. I hope you find whatever you are looking for.
Hearing this I understood why americans choose the expatriation , one of my three uncles migrate to States, since ending of 2022, my grandparents visits him, and say life in States are so sad, work, work and work, pay debts, life costs expensive and high.
You might think this is a weird suggestion but while you are applying to jobs in your field you could get a long haul trucking license. I know your field is what you want to do, but with a job like trucking it doesn't require much training and you can earn good money while still trying to get jobs you want and you could probably have a flexible schedule you can work around. If you still can't find a job have you ever considered retraining for welding or electrical work or plumbing or mechanics? Those jobs are always in demand and pay well. It might not be your dream job but you'd always have plenty of work.
I hear you. Don’t believe the lies they tell you, be skeptical about everything they say. I only hope you didn’t accept the lie that a college loan will always pay off. It will not necessarily happen that way. All the best to you as you navigate your way through this world filled with deception.
It’s only gonna get worse. We are human commodities, everyone and there dog has a degree. Supply and demand dictates the employment market. Colleges and universities are just diploma farms now, get a trade, much better option right now anyway.
This may seem crazy, but if I was that woman, I would try to get into a trade because there’s not many women who work in carpentry, plumbing, and or as an electrician. I honestly believe that a trade will be the key to the future.
Yeah, but it’s a lot of wear and tear on the body 😢. I was talking to a guy who’s an electrician and he was talking about all the back problems he was having and that he had to get surgery for his hernia… other work related injuries as well. Now imagine for a woman, this will be even harder for us in trade environment. I’m about to graduate with a b.s business marketing degree, I hope to find job soon.
@@MzAqua I know people who have severe health problems from working a sedentary lifestyle for decades in office jobs. I believe strongly, it is what you eat. Living an active lifestyle and avoiding sodas and processed food will keep you young and relatively healthy well into your 70s. One of my best friends worked as a plumber until he was 80. Another good friend of mine is an electrician who is still working at 78. I know another plumber friend who is 75 and still goes to work every day. Having said that, most women simply are not designed to hold up to the rigors of construction work. Some women can do it, but they are rare in the construction trades for a reason. Unfortunately, it is also becoming increasingly rare to see young men in the Construction trades. There are a great many men doing Construction that are in their 50s and 60s and there does not seem to be enough young people willing or able to replace them. So a man who was raised no stranger to hard work, and who is not afraid of getting his hands dirty doing manual labor, including lifting heavy objects and digging ditches, they are going to be in demand and able to command their own wage. People who own their own company in one of the trades are well represented in the top ten percent of all wage earners. There are some women who are general contractors who don't do any manual labor, but make a great deal of money.
The only requirement for government jobs is a degree in anything. You can have a degree in Animal Husbandry and become a Treasury Agent, pick your career and get some work experience.
Exactly. downsides to a government job, everything moves slow, but layoffs, if any, moves slow too. You won't make 300k as a software engineer, but that is looking more and more attractive. I've been looking at state or even local city jobs. You can make an actual living.
@@vircenttiOnly for people like you. Hospitals are hiring nurses from the Philippines as well as school districts for teachers in math and science. Go figure that one out.
Over 30 years ago I got a BS in Quantative Methods and Data Analysis. Very few jobs back then as well. I have never had a job that was in anyway related to my degree. A college degree in the end is a piece of paper. It is you the person that decides what I will do not. Getting more degrees of paper might not be the answer. Consider something that is unrelated to what you degree or that piece of paper says.
Took my Masters, didn't regret it because I enjoyed the subject. In my professional field no one cares if you have a Masters. I stopped telling people I have it because they either don't care or think you're trying to show off. What they care about is how good you do your work. If you had the option to do your Masters for free and because you're interested in the subject, go for it. Otherwise, experience, competence, and work quality cuts deeper
You know what's funnier? If you have a vocational training and worked as an electrical engineering technician in a tech company. Now I have saved probably more money than most people here have in student loan debt within 3 years. I'm trying to get in med school - stuff works a bit differently in my country. I was accepted in law school, but that's not really what I want to do and spend a lot of money for. I also wouldn't go for an engineering degree. Therer are also high requirement from companies and these jobs are not save and mentally draining.
On the same page here, just quitted my toxic corporate job not long ago. Almost near late 20s, single, somehow owns a cat, still living with my parent, and currently spending my free time hitting the gym often, probably gonna find another temporary job before my new semester begin next year to finish my degree. Lately been binge watching bunch of youtube and trying to figure out how to become rich, the only thing I'm glad is at least I'm currently living off debt free.
I just do random niche sidehustles online and get a bit of government money, which single-handedly is already more than enough for me to live off of and have 400€ leftover each month (even though the kids my age all disagree with me). Adding to that, my sidehustles are low work alright income so yeah, degrees and regular jobs are basically torture for life in this environment.
Sometime after college, I just couldn't do it anymore. Job market was bad, and I had little work experience, despite all this education. I was so willing to do anything to get out of my parents house to be independent that I walked into a recruiter's office and joined the Air Force. I gained some skills along the way and built up a retirement. Most of my enlistment has been overseas. I'll be set when I do return to the civilian world with a decent resume. I am not telling you to do this. You know what is best for you better than anyone. I trust you'll make the right decision ahead, if you need to make compromises of your own. If I can get through it, I feel pretty confident you will too. You're not alone.
Bachelor degree in Computer/Electrical Engineer here. I recommend doing certificate programs or look to your college for assistance in continuing education. I found an AWS program and a 5g Technician program and it got me my OSHA 30 and a leg up in the job market
Two master's, project management, stakeholder and leadership experience, international experience, speak three major languages. You are far from alone.
Sorry to hear things are off to a rough start. Competing in a big labor pool like California or New York is going to be tough. When I left New York, I was able to compete in a smaller labor pool for a 50% increase in pay. Maybe get out of there and try new locations.
Wait, Data Science is not in high demand? I’ve heard a Master’s is bare minimum these days especially with AI/ML being more competitive. That said, gotta be careful about the phrase “not hiring” as there are places hiring, it just may not be what you want or studied.
i do think data science is in high demand, i think more than anything the job market esp tech is just tough and whether it be data science or software engineers/etc its hard to get a job
What were you hoping to do with your degree? What has been the biggest obstacle you think to getting a job? And why isn’t your biomed major attractive for a job that you want? I am college bound and trying to understand different majors and situations. Thank you.
@@ec5318I'm surprised with what I'm reading. My son has a double degree in math and finance. He was hired before graduating from college with a high base plus bonus. He even chased his baseball dream out of high school before returning back to school. I don’t know where the disconnect with the lowest unemployment in decades and companies are hiring. My daughter changed careers because she wanted something different but always drawing a salary. I wonder if people know how to match their skillsets with the jobs they're applying for much less know how write a CV.
@@ec5318 I am hoping to become HCPC registered to work as a biomedical scientist. I am planning to get a medical laboratory assistant role or any other role based on my degree but have been unsuccessful so far. The job market is very competitive where I live and I believe they are looking for people who have the necessary experience but in order to get that experience you need to work in healthcare which I have been applying to jobs to but nothing.
Data jobs are dead. Companies figured devs can maintain the data pipelines and there's no need for these data specific roles anymore. The education industry hyped it up for their own benefit and that's it. End of story.
If you can pass the FE exam, your chances of getting a job as an engineer or engineering technician will increase significantly. Best wishes to you. Don't give up.
Since work from home started, big corporations know that they can hire anyone to WFH, thus hiring in SouthEast Asia, India, Eastern Europe is much cheaper for programming, STEM work. Pay is 30k per Engineer in Eastern Europe’s vs 200k total comp in US. As jobs flee the US, people will reassess going to college like what everyone is doing now, etc…
Hi Jenica have you looked into administrative / IT jobs in government? There's not always a whole lot of competition because it doesn't pay a lot... but you get benefits and can move up. Some websites include usajobs and governmentjobs which are for federal or city jobs. For California jobs in general all the state jobs are on the calcareers website. I got my foot in the door after doing clerical work at the IRS and then my supervisor who was a great reference to get a state job. It took a while and I was pretty sad about it all. I'm grateful for what I have now, and the friends who helped me. Just wanted to share in case it helps you or anyone else out here
@@nshan2882 thank you for sharing! i definitely did look into government jobs since my dad works in a gov position. i applied to a few positions that i had the requirements they were looking for but never got an interview. i have a job now but definitely still open to government jobs in the future!
@@jenicaidk_ that's great to hear you got something! Yeah it took me a ton of no responses for interviews. Mass applying sucks and sometimes it depends on the department how slow they are & govt is definitely slow. I changed my resume like 10 times too until I got bites lol so I feel it. Don't give up if it's something you want, whatever it is in life someone will notice
I guess it is safe to say that this is a common thing in almost every part of the world😔 middle class are being exploited hard here, taxes and more taxes issued by govn., yet the upper class & public servants still roam free and getting richer by minutes
I’m Asian and I also initially was scammed into this mentality (that college degree would get you a good job). I’m glad I dropped out of college because I trusted my instincts and because a lot of people were making videos on this. I went to train for a work that had physical labor (and colleges loved to brainwash you about how these types of jobs are lower class) and I probably am well off compared to everyone else who looked down on me.
I had a idea for younger kids to learn a skill that wont be what they want to be, but a side job in case shit happens. I kinda did this for myself and well.... went to school for technology based jobs for the same thing happen to her happen to me. Then became a bartender/ waiter for 20 years till a injury forced me to stop. My side skill was massage and well ive been a LMT for 9 years feel better about life then when i was working like a slave for a low wage. Side jobs works when you mater said side job.
I am a high school graduate (1980). I did 20 years in the US Army. I can retire next year from a state government job. I can start taking social security NOW (but will try to delay taking it for eight more years at age 70 because it will be a much bigger monthly paycheck). Have I ever regretted not going to college? NOPE. I have 3 pensions and 401k and 457b accounts to keep me in the middle-class forever, even if I live to 120 years old.
dude...go live your best life. I'm old. slaving and grinding for wages just to have more and more crap is not the answer. figure out who you are as the best person you can be and be that person. everything else means nothing if you are not the best you you can be. i hope you read this.
Felt that sheee no job 2020 so do data engineer bootcamp. Get job then layoff 2024. So i say corporate can wait let me do online biz for a bit. Every tech person should have a dual corporate and online entrepreneur route from 2024+ to stand out and if employers can't handle it - then they need to reevaluate how they assess candidates.
Like where? Job market in places you want to live are cooked, and pay so little you can never move back at places you don't want to live. No matter what, it's always better being a burger flipper in the west than a senior exec in places like India.
@@Kburn1985Purchase power parity... you guys in the US are top used to high amounts of nominal disposable income. You can move elsewhere and be reasonable with quality of life and standard of living such that you move to a place you can see your values aligning with.
@@yahyahussain4677 A $500USD mobile phone will always be $500USD regardless of where you go. You can live in the 3rd world, earn 3rd world wages, but you still need a fridge, phone, computer, etc. and they'll cost even more than in 1st world countries, because supply networks are poor. Go look at anything nice in Thailand, costs at a minimum 30% more than 1st world countries. Burger flipper in the west can retire to Thailand and live like a king, but its near impossible for a salaried worker to do that same from Thailand, even for senior executives.
You’re still so young. I went to College at 19 and still had to work at McDonald’s at 24 years old. I found a stable Job, that I would say is Safe to retire with at 30 years old.
Thank you so much for the post. You are helping more individuals than you know. You are a rockstar; and because of that, you will succeed in various areas of life. Just like cream, you will rise to the top. (Fact) In unprocessed milk (that is: gotten “straight from the cow"), the richer cream will form a layer on top of the milk. “Cream rises to the top" is used as a metaphor to imply that talented people will achieve success.
Join the Armed Forces. It make sense. Even grads from med school are taking a B-line into the military, the benefits and reasons are too many to list. One I will point out in the med field for an example is that civilian doctors and hospitals have the gov’t and insurance companies that are slow pay, low pay,and no pay in how the reimburse to add to huge unrecoverable administrative costs, all not found when practicing medicine in the military. For you, your Master Degree will put you on the officer or warrant officer track. Look into it. The job opportunities are to many to list. If you go Army or Air National Guard, part-time, you will find your state will have full-time opportunities to serve and great pay with housing allowance, rations allowance and 30 days paid leave' and more.
The Armed forces is the worst advice bro. The armed forces are a joke super woke and garbage now if your talking about a non Western country maybe but still probably not worth it.
degrees are worthless. i'm a hiring manager and i don't even read the education section of a resume. i look for one thing: something the candidate built. if i think it would have taken skills, intelligence, determination to build it, they get an interview. in that interview, i don't waste their time with useless leet code bullshit. i ask questions about the project that got them the interview. i've built systems big and small, managed people in roles from devops to css and desktop support. i'll know from the conversation if i'm talking to the real deal or not. if a company doesn't have somebody like me doing the hiring, they are not serious about you as a candidate. walk away. save yourself the grief.
Before you pick a major always check on indeed and other job sites to see if anybody is actually looking to hire people with that major. Chances are nobody is posting job offers for a masters in gender studies or political science or most of the other degrees I see people complaining about. I got my masters in computer programming and finding a job is pretty easy.
Be a TikToker, influencer, content creator or social media personality. It seems these are the only jobs bringing in money these days. Worse comes to worst, just be an Amazon driver, Flex, or a Walmart Spark delivery. At least helps to pay the bills a bit. All the jobs are being outsourced to China or India as investors are very greedy about paying Americans and would rather pay 50 cents an hour than 20 or 25 dollars an hour.
Many people expect solutions to their situations to fall from the sky and then wonder why they are still stuck without advancing. It is never a good idea to go to college to "live your best life" might as well set the tuition money on fire if that was the priority. Even worse going to college without having a part time at a fast food place or anywhere for that matter is career Russian roulette. Any crappy job including fast food will place you ahead as far as gaining work experience. Even if it's not related to your field, employers look at the person being responsible holding a job down more than they look at the degree. The easiest way to get hired at a good position is to volunteer, skip the parties or play less video games and invest that time into volunteering.
It would be interesting to know how unemployment in your country is related to the field of study. What value do the skills taught in business studies have for employers? What proportion of students are studying business compared to all other subjects?
Can you recall anything in the interviews you had in the past? Perhaps there’s a commonality (including yourself) in the questions and your answers need retooling? Degrees doesn’t guarantee you anything.
@@lyonleo7150 totally agree with you! what i struggled with was even getting interviews in that time(span of 1 yr) i only had 4 interviews and each from slightly different fields so if i had enough interviews i would have totally studied past q and a’s!
That'll depend on the subjects you have chosen to study. The world have changed. Certain subjects are not useful or maybe saturated. You will also have to look into country jobs market.
