<p>I noticed, during interviews, that having previous work experience really makes the interviewer perk up and take notice. Definitely try to get your kids to have some work under their belt before they graduate, even if it’s part time, even if it’s unrelated to their dream job.</p>
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I’m sorry to say, you bought into a myth. There is no such thing as a “marketable” undergraduate degree. I’m talking from an employer’s point of view – the only thing “marketable” is a certification or license. For example, my J.D. would have been useless but for the fact that I also passed the bar. If the degree prepares a person to get the needed certification, that’s great – but what is marketable are job skills. </p>
<p>That’s why prior internships or employment are so important --they are a way of demonstrating acquisition of all the soft skills that aren’t formally taught in school, at least not at the top schools.</p>
<p>“I’m sorry to say, you bought into a myth. There is no such thing as a “marketable” undergraduate degree.”</p>
<p>I disagree. An Engineering degree is very marketable.</p>
<p>^^ Tell that to all the 2010 engineering grads that still don’t have jobs. I think there are still people out there who don’t have a full appreciation for the huge contraction in the job market.</p>
<p>calmom: I agree that job skills are very important – it could be argued that they are all that matter. But I feel that “marketable degrees” help teach those types of skills. I also agree that internships are extremely valuable. But the problem is that this economic crisis has gotten so bad that spots are just so hard to come by. I do think that degrees/schools matter because you have to leverage networks nowadays to get anything.</p>
<p>Skills won’t necessarily get you through the initial resume-scan if, say, your GPA isn’t high enough, or if you lack internship experience, or if your degree isn’t up to snuff.</p>
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<p>The whole US culture needs to change if they want those jobs filled with bright students. Men (good luck getting women to do this job) will typically only go where there is money and/or women. Systems security has neither.</p>
<p>Also, I was listening to that NPR piece when it was on a few mornings ago. A big problem is teens are arrested and put in jail for hacking when they should be rewarded, which is exactly what the Chinese do.</p>
<p>They aren’t even really trying to compete with the private sector. I even tried applying for a government cybersecurity job at one point and got absolutely fed up. Not only does the application process take forever, but they require so much background verification… and the jobs themselves don’t necessarily pay a whole lot.</p>
<p>I have a friend that was a retired AT&T manager that took a job with FEMA many years ago. He lives in a trailer in a very quiet/remote area and he has a car, motorcycle and a lot of electronic toys. He still lives a relatively simple life. I recall his accounts of disasters that he’s worked in the past. I found out recently that he’s working in media archival for the government these days. He doesn’t seem to have any problems getting government jobs that pay reasonably well for his lifestyle.</p>
<p>He has a bunch of money stashed away should he need it but he’s one of those folks that went after a simpler life from the big house/suburban trappings. I’ve only worked for the government as a contractor fixing up stuff screwed up with low-priced bidder contracts.</p>
<p>There have been a lot of complaints about delays in background checks. I don’t know what the holdup is.</p>
<p>I read somewhere that 80% of jobs are found by word of mouth.
So social networking is key</p>
<p>“Tell that to all the 2010 engineering grads that still don’t have jobs. I think there are still people out there who don’t have a full appreciation for the huge contraction in the job market.”</p>
<p>No, my point was that an Engineering degree is a huge differentiator. The only real job postings in my area are for jobs that require a specific degree like something in Engineering, or Accounting.</p>
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<p>Er…I strongly disagree with this. </p>
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<p>Irrelevant. The fact is this: It is alot easier to market a Engineering degree or an Accounting degree where you are taught actual skill sets than a Classics degree in which you are taught no skill sets. EVERYONE is suffering in terms of the job market, but that doesn’t make Engineering or Accounting any less marketable, now does it?</p>
<p>Engineering and accounting degrees are marketable - even in a recession. Sure, all of us know engineers and accountants who are out of work - including new grads. But I certainly don’t see it much. Perhaps it’s regional. I’d like to see some numbers.</p>
<p>my son is home and is miserable! he is kicking himself for not starting the search earlier, but i’m not convinced it would have made a huge difference. </p>
<p>he is putting alot of effort into his job search, but so far…well, not much has come his way.</p>
<p>it is a very difficult time for everyone</p>
<p>I was reading a Society of Petroleum Engineers article dated Jan. 2, 2010, that said in 2009, 90% of petroleum engineering graduates of US schools were offered jobs or went to graduate school. The approximately 50 oil and gas companies surveyed estimated they would hire only about 70% of the available 2010 graduates. Global hiring is also expected to be substantially lower in 2010. How’s that for depressing.</p>
<p>This is a little old but still relevant. Looks like accountants are doing just fine. Doesn’t specifically mention Engineers.<br>
[Rosier</a> Job Outlook for College Graduates - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2010/04/29/rosier-job-outlook-for-college-graduates.html]Rosier”>http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2010/04/29/rosier-job-outlook-for-college-graduates.html)
Anyway, if I had to go back in time, I still would not choose to be an acct or engineer. Those jobs are not a good fit for me…so why would I want a career that I hated? I was a psychology major who graduated from a mid-level state U in a recession. I started out as a low-paid temp in the summer (lived with family…not my parents though) and had a decent job by the fall. Then I quickly moved into an apt. We’re back to that scene again…although I think it’s worse this time. The good news is that although I started modestly, my career picked up quickly…so no long lasting damage from the recession (or from the fact that I didn’t have the money to go to a brand school).</p>
<p>Accountants will have job security because of new regulations.</p>
<p>Regarding the marketability of the classics degree. Uh . . . all I can say is my son’s roommate who is a Classics concentrator at Harvard is really enjoying his internship at Google this summer. Of course, he’s on the summa cum laude track and has taken some ridiculous math along the way . . .</p>
<p>Some of the best employers don’t seem to care much what you major in - they just want crazy smart people.</p>
<p>I’m happy to report that younger daughter was hired this week as a special education teacher. The day after she accepted the position, she received three calls from other districts looking to interview her. She is very happy and I am simply relieved.</p>
<p>D1 is lucky. She is loving her internship this summer. She is really hoping for a job offer after this summer. She analyzes to death about how she is doing relative to other interns. </p>
<p>Last night she called me to let know a top firm she had turned down for her summer internship just invited her to dinner. They wanted to catch up to see how her summer was going. She asked me if it was kosher to go. I told her, “absolutely.” This is one firm she was most torn in turning it down and it was also a firm I worked at when I first started out. She told me that it was always her aspiration to work there someday.</p>
<p>It should be interesting. I just hope she gets a job offer.</p>
<p>In my very non-scientific opinion, that it comes down to being flexible. Many grads today are not. Be willing to travel (just about anywhere!). Be able to work some odd hours for a while. Don’t just look for work directly related to your major.</p>
<p>If you do those things, I think one can still find a job. Perhaps the data shows otherwise, I don’t know.</p>
<p>Oldfort, is the top firm inviting your daughter to dinner, or is the person whom you know at the firm inviting your daughter to dinner?</p>