Graduated a Year Ago and Still Unemployed

[parentOfJunior]

Just curious... Grad B "graduated a year ago, but has not been able to find a vet job that pays a salary that she feels she deserves." Do you know if she was able to find vet jobs, but the salary was not up to her expectations, or she was unable to find any vet job at all (as a veterinarian, not as a technician)?

[jym626]

UMDclassof80-
The MIT grad started out as a "she" (post#1) but is now referred to as a "he" (post #9)?? Are these real examples?

[umdclassof80]

"Do you know if she was able to find vet jobs, but the salary was not up to her expectations, or she was unable to find any vet job at all (as a veterinarian, not as a technician)?"

According to her mother, she was able to find a couple of vet jobs but the salary was not as high as she desired. She is also very particular as to what kind of job she wants.

[Whatdidyou]

"The one thing that both of these unemployed graduates have in common is the fact that they have NEVER been employed. They didn’t work in high school or during the summers while they were in college."

Not a suprise that they don't have jobs.

If I was a professoinal employer, I would never ever hire someone, regardless of their degree/grades, if they never ever worked before. You learn so many critical soft skills while working these jobs.

Both these students sound spoiled, arrogant, and ignorant. And the funny thing is that as long as they sit around and do nothing, the harder it will be for them to convince employers to hire them. Although if they are good liars as well, they may be able to effectively misrepresent themeselves in future interviews.

Im sure you're right that their parents attitudes may have contributed but I'd put most of the blame on them, as I'm sure there are many other students with parents like that who are actually greatful and hardworking.

[foreveroptimist]

Just my suggestions for these grads:

1) If you can't find your full-time "IDEAL" job, get part-time work in your related fields or if that is not possible, volunteer in a biology lab or vet office to build skills, network, and show your "future" employer that you are committed, hard-working, and add value to the organization. PS. If you are not already, BECOME committed and hard-working...you have been under/unemployed long enough. I know MIT must have been challenging, but you have had enough time to rest.

2) These part-time or unpaid positions could lead to a more permanent/paid position, but you have to change your attitude that "you'll quit if you don't like how a customer treats you" or "hey, I have a degree from MIT so I deserve a better job!"

3) You earn your position, it does not get handed to you and definitely not on a silver platter!

4) Try to get anything in a related or similar area. Biology major: teaching, setting up labs, etc. or if that doesn't work, just try to get ANY job just to start making money and paying for some of your own expenses. Working in a restaurant or in sales can help you build necessary people skills and build your self-esteem. Self-esteem is not given to you, you develop it by overcoming challenges and providing for yourself.

5) My family's motto "is it is always easier to GET a job when you Have a job." Don't be "unemployed" for so long, it is undesireable and makes employers wonder if you are fussy, difficult to work with, or pampered. If necessary, volunteer, do community service stay active and stay out there.

6) You may need to consider extending your job search to a different part of the US where you can stay with a relative and keep expenses low. Eventually you could share an apartment with roommates. Some areas of the country have more job demand.

For the grad's parents: Stop enabling the grads. You can be supportive and encouraging, but you should expect them to start contributing to their expenses gas, food, clothes now that they are adults. Maybe they will realize the NEED to work and can't be choosy. How many grown children would work if their parents provided everything for them--they had their comfy room with cable tv, meals, car, utilities paid etc.-even after they were adults?The grad with debt does not have the luxury to be unemployed. The debt will just become exponential if the grad doesn't start chipping away at the payments. Both grads have marketable degrees and good educations. What they need is to develop their own motivation, desire to be employed, and get hungry for work!

Good luck, I know the job market is difficult, but they have skills. They just can't be picky or complacent. One job, even if it is not their IDEAL job can be a stepping stone or at least, the first stepping stone to a better job match.

Again, these are just my opinions...now, get out there and start using your skills!

[umdclassof80]

I do hope that both of these young women will eventually figure out what they want to do and get on with their lives. They are both very bright. They just seem to have unrealistic job expectations and parents who allow them to continue to live at home without working.

I worked part-time when I was in high school and college. When I graduated from college, I announced to my parents that I wanted to take the summer off before I began to look for a full-time job. They said "no way" so I got a job. End of story.

[jym626]

OK- now I am totally confused. OP- now the MIT grad is a "she" again?

Assuming these are real grads, they are acting like entitled spoiled kids who need a bit of tough love. That said, unless their attitude changes and they understand the meaning of hard work, they may be able to get a job, but they may not be able to keep a job.

*** I forgot to mention- I have 2 friends who seem to think they should be able to waltz into any job, but any time I try to give them a lead, they are full of excuses: "too far, will take too much gas to get there for what they pay, I wont be able to come home to let my dog out", etc. One says she doesn't want a job, she wants a career. Um, not sure there are any job opportunities she can walk into, especially when "no" seems to be her middle name.

[PolarBearVsShark]

Don't take this the wrong way, but it's really none of your business. I mean, we can discuss what might be going through the heads of these unusually bright people, but we don't know for sure. Maybe they are lazy, but they're not asking you to pay for their dinner. The MIT grad might be revving up for grad school or med school. Until she starts landing on butt on public assistance, I couldn't care less. The vet already has her degree. All she has to do is decide when to start practicing. So what's the big deal?

[umdclassof80]

"Don't take this the wrong way, but it's really none of your business."

True, it's not my business. But by reading and posting responses on CC, aren't we all getting involved in other people's business?

Both mothers have made it a point to keep me updated on the situation with their daughters over the past year. They are both very exasperated that their daughters aren't working. Yet, both are unwilling to give them the ultimatum, "Get a job or move out."

[PolarBearVsShark]

I'd say almost all the posts on CC ask directly for opinions about direct familial relations. So they have power of attorney, so to speak. Or otherwise, the general case is provided, without particulars, as a hypothetical case based on categorical situations that are real.

[lookingforward]

It takes two to tango, ya know. Someone is putting a roof over their heads, feeding them, "entitling" them. Who knows, maybe doing their laundry and giving spending money.

I told D1, who's a rising senior in college, that she'll do a comprehensive MS Office skills class this summer. I think she's up on the basics, but I said, worst case, you can temp, while looking for the "it" job. She's got other plans in the works, but nothing wrong with a back-up.

I'm surprised PBvS is defending these kids. Losing the freshness of that MIT experience or vet school degree does not make sense, to me.

As for voyeurism and poking our noses in someone else's business, so be it. That's what forums allow.

[calimami]

wonder if both mothers knew that you'd be blasting their family business on a public forum?

*just read polarbear's comments. i agree.

[thumper1]

The MIT Grad said that MIT expected him to participate in summer internships

OK...is this referencing the MIT grad in the OP who was DAUGHTER of a relative? Is this a typo...him/her?

[fauxmaven]

Sounds like staying at home and not working is acceptable to both sets of parents . No motivation to seek a job that isn't perfect ,IMO .

[xiggi]

All I can say is ... don't be too hasty with the criticisms!

There are plenty of un- and underemployed people who did ALL the right things, including working through the college years, participating in the right research, and interning during the summers. The reality is that the past years have been brutal for young graduates, with many of the "typical" options being (temporarily) closed.

Fwiw, it is good to remember that many an internship was meant to do "something good" at a non-profit organization, and that the "most valuable" way to spend your post-graduation years was often said to be the Peace Corps and similar positions. For many others of the 2008-2010 classes, the best prospect was to enroll in graduate school, without the "recommended" couple of years of experience.

All in all, the reality is that the job market, especially since 2008, simply ... s.u.c.k.s! Even companies that survived the crisis are now hoarding cash and placing downwards pressure on the employment possibilities of about everyone.

People do get jobs, but rarely in the field, the city, or at the pay level they had hoped for four to six years ago. After all, not everyone can become a UI developer overnight.