Are there really no jobs out there?

[herbnerd]

I work for a pharmaceutical company developing natural health products and our QA lab is always getting requests from people wanting work and there is little available.

The other thing is many people want decent wages for a decent day's work... my employer makes money from employing Chinese imports who work for minimum wage even for MSc, PHds etc.

 

[toucanlamp]

Companies most certianly do not like entry level workers in a downturn. I've seen a number of surveys in which they say upwards of 30% of people who have graduated from university/college in the past 2 years have been unable to find work in their field.

When companies are cutting costs everywhere, experiencing demand half of what it was a year ago, and shedding staff all the time, the last thing on their minds is taking on new inexperienced people and paying to train them.

There are jobs out there, but when 300 000 people are losing their jobs each month, that is 300 000 more people competing in a market with 300 000 less jobs. So the gap between job seekers and jobs actually widens by 600 000.

Right now so many companies are just trying to do anything to weather the downturn and long-term plans barely even register.

The best one can do is keep on trying, but the reality simply is that there are way more jobseekers for good positions than there are those jobs and so a large portion of the new entries to the job market are going to have to make due with low paying, unskilled positions to make ends meet until they get lucky or things improve.

 

[tblech]

It's a tough market, that's for sure. I graduated in 2008, with Honors, with a B.A. in Political Science & International Studies from the University of Kansas. Without trying to boast, my resume is fairly impressive for a 23 year old, and I have received no bites on 12 job applications for jobs where I exceed all minimum and preferred qualifications.

Recently applied for a job with KU, and after not hearing back from the HR department for 2 weeks gave them a call and asked when they would be doing callbacks. They said they had planned to spend 2 days reviewing apps and then set up interviews, but 91 people applied, which was substantially more than expected and they were going to require 2-3 weeks to read through and set up interviews.

The advice I've received has been to keep on applying, and be prepared to really shine in the event of an interview.

Crazy world right now.

Having been a manager in the position to assist the HR department when looking for qualified candidates, I always liked it when someone tried to sell themselves. So your educated and have degrees and a bunch of funny letters after your name, that tells me about your education not necessarily what type of person you are. They used to say the paper you put your resume on was important. Now plain white paper is making a statement because if you use it your the only one, but maybe something that simple will tell your perspective employer that your confident enough to not need that trick or that your cost conscious, who knows what will get you noticed over someone else. My wife learned about a brag book before her last interview. In it she contained accomplishments from her previous employment along with special accolades and projects she had put together; a pop-up book if you will. Learn what your perspective employer feels is important; the company ethos will give you a clue. Take the rail industry for example. We are all about safety. I am positive that I was hired based on the fact that I had two years experience on the safety committee in my previous job. If it hadn't been for that I would have been lost in the myriad of other equally disqualified boobs who applied(450+) for 13 jobs, that I was the only one hired is another story...

 

[cityjim]

Plenty of jobs over in India , China and Taiwan . That's where all the American jobs are now . The US is giving jobs away left and right . How could all you guys be out of work ??? LOL


cityjim

 

[tlanning]

And the workers are paid $0.20 to $0.23/hr instead of $25/30 plus union bennifits. Urks me to no end but we did it to ourselfs.
This is why I don't shop at Walmart. 80% or so of there merchandise is manufactured overseas in plants that they own and operate. (Specifically China)

Plenty of jobs over in India , China and Taiwan . That's where all the American jobs are now . The US is giving jobs away left and right . How could all you guys be out of work ??? LOL


cityjim

 

[ratcheer]

I'm looking for an entry level job either as a lab technician or to get trained and work as an EHR implementation consultant. I have found some openings, but I feel like they are gonna reject me because of my lack of experience. I thought companies loved entry level workers.

It seems to me that the companies are trying to snap up experienced workers, but at entry level pay. Since jobs are so scarce, they seem to be having some luck at doing it.

Tim

 

[KarthVader]

I was thinking today whilst enjoying the sunny day about how during the Great Depression of the 1930s, FDR, for better or worse, put together the New Deal and got people working. Even if I got paid less than a college grad should while working as a surveyor, door to door job or even manual labor, I would rather do that than wait for some company to pick and choose based on a piece of paper.

Why aren't public works and infrastructure implementation being emphasized to put people back to work?

(Sorry if I generate a political battle with this thread. That is the last thing I would want to start.)

 

[tsmba]

The job market in my area is in the doldrums. Living near a large university has always made finding a job somewhat difficult, but this is the worst I've seen. So many are unemployed that any open position is flooded with applicants. Even if you apply to flip burgers at McDonald's, there's likely a CIA grad applying.
Its downright depressing, especially since we seem to still be declining. Even the unemployment office, the busiest place in town, has laid off employees and has a hiring freeze. The few employers who are trying to fill positions, are seeking PT help with no benefits. The idiotic "stimulus" bill has had no positive effect, things have actually worsened.

 

[Bubarubu]

A lot of industries are also turning toward temp/contract staffing right now. Hiring someone themselves means a commitment to wages, benefits, and training. They bring in outside people so they minimize the training, pay lower wages that don't represent long-term commitments, and don't have to pay benefits. Especially in a technical field, that may be a good way to get experience without a regular position.

 

[KarthVader]

Sorry to resurrect a dead thread but I'm so depressed about this job hunt. Absolutely fruitless so far. I decided that I have had enough and I'm gonna go back to Michigan for a while (I'm in Maryland right now). I spoke to the sleep lab I used to work at and my boss needs a floating tech to fill in random shifts that are open. I think I should do this for the time being, even though I hate working nights.

I know I have to start from ground up in a sh***y economy, but I was hoping my degree and experience would get me somewhere. Don't worry, I won't try suing Michigan State University because they promised me a career.

I just thought that I had paid my dues and was gonna get the big pay off. Looks like I have some more dues to pay.

 

[mr_economy]

A poor job market like this is where social networking is the most valuable asset you possess. I was offered a summer internship by a friend/mentor of mine who works for the state, and have been able to roll that over into a year-long job. It doesn't pay well and has no benefits, which I can tell you is a big knock to my degree-possessing ego, but it's enough to get by without having to pull the old "move home after graduating" shtick. Call up friends, write to old professors, have your parents talk with family friends, etc.

Ultimately, however, it's an employer's market (if a market still really exists at all), so the pay and benefits of any job you find will probably be less than ideal.

 

[Ceezer]

Michigan State University

Well there's your problem! You should have went to Ohio State!

Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood...

Go Bucks!

 

[Midlander]

Geographic mobility is key. If you want a job, be prepared to move out of your preferred area. I was born in Boston, but career moves have led me to NYC, Detroit, Philly, and back to Detroit. Eventually, I'll work my way back to Boston.

 

[kwk285]

20 years ago when I got my MBA I was considered either over or under qualified for jobs. It took me nine months to find work. During that time I signed up to work at multiple temp agencies. I did many exciting things, waxed floors at grocery stores during the night, was the clean up man at several strip malls, weeded landscaping at comercial businesses. The jobs sucked but I earned a little money, and had a place to go while I was interviewing.

Hang in there. Despite the governments meddling, the economy will turn around.

 

[Thebigspendur]

Unfortunately things do not bode well for people like you. many companies have learned they do not need to hire or replace laid off workers. They can simply force their current staff to do it all for less benefits. However very often its just persistance and being in the right place at the right time. In the meantime you do what's required to survive. I graduated from Grad school at the end of the Viet Nam War and no one was hiring. I sent out over 100 resumes and got back maybe 10 rejection letters. I wound up working for the Federal Government and making it a career.

Welcome to the new world order.

 

[Parataxis]

I'm looking for an entry level job either as a lab technician or to get trained and work as an EHR implementation consultant. I have found some openings, but I feel like they are gonna reject me because of my lack of experience. I thought companies loved entry level workers.

There's hope. I just got my first job as a lab tech (and asst winemaker) about a month ago; schooling (and a co-op) but no real world experience.

Good luck!

 

[Prairiephotos]

Out here in ND business are being forced to close due to a lack of available labor. The energy industry is being forced to recruit all across the county in order to find enough people to keep going. There is no recession around here.

 

[jadam318]

Sorry to hear about your situation, Karthvader. I finished college in May '08 and worked in an intern-type position until October. By November, I had applied to over 50 positions in my field (recreation/tourism). I am now working as a volunteer.

That may, at first, sound like bad news, but I am actually suggesting you take a glance at it. I am working as an Americorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America). If you are anything like I was/am you probably need gainful employment to begin to pay back student loans and what-not. Through Americorps, volunteers get nearly $5k (for a year of service) to go toward repaying student loans or furthering education (grad school). Not to mention, you get a year of non-competitive status with the federal government and a year of experience under your belt. I don't know if you'd be interested in something like that, but it has been a great way for me to see a different part of the country, get some valid experience, and take out a chunk of my student loans. Plus, through the VISTA program here in Montana, I have been able to take a few grad courses for nearly nothing.

Also, I have already begun to apply for jobs for after I am finished here in January. I already got a bite, a phone interview earlier this week that I thought went really well. From my experience, employers seem to like Americorps experience on a resume.

Anyway, I am familiar with your situation, and it royally sucks. Best of luck to you.