<p>What backup plans do your kids have if they can’t find a job? How long do you think is reasonable to search for a degree-related position before jumping on the first FT job with benefits they can get? Is it career suicide to take a job that clearly does not require a degree, much less the specific one they earned? When would you advise grad school?</p>
<p>I realize that our ds’s situation is a little different, in that he graduated a year ago while he was hospitalized. Following a long and difficult recovery, he took extra courses to meet the 150 hrs. requirement for the CPA exam. He expects to sit for the exam soon and hopes that however many parts he passes will be a plus in his job search. He had several interviews that seemed to go very well, then the partners informed him that their firms would not be hiring anyone until the economy improves. We just heard that a friend’s child, who started at a Big4 last summer, will be let go (along w/ many others) as soon as busy season ends. </p>
<p>Our big concern is that ds maintain continuity of health ins. coverage. He was diagnosed w/ a chronic disease unrelated to the event that nearly killed him, and we can only keep him on our insurance through 2010 if he meets their FT student definition. Several potential employers’ health ins. companies have a 1 yr. pre-existing condition clause. If we can, we want to help him bridge that year but don’t yet know how.</p>
<p>Some of the suggestions I’ve read such as military service, Peace Corps, etc. aren’t feasible because of the medical issues. I hesitate to suggest grad school when ds really wants to work and be on his own. Prior to the medical crisis, he talked about teaching English overseas for a year before starting his “real” career, but now that seems - I don’t know - less than prudent.</p>
<p>Try ehealthinsurance dot com. We found reasonable carryover insurance for our recent grads, but only one had a preexisting ADHD diagnosis. Expensive for Health Insurance but, even with preexisting conditions, COBRA is there for kids who age out of parent’s policies.</p>
<p>Where do you live. I work for what I think is a great CPA firm, but we are not big 4. We have about 500 professionals. If he is flexible as to geography, he should be able to find job, but might not be with big4.</p>
<p>Ds is flexible about location, especially now. He’d like to relocate to VA/MD/D.C., but realizes he can’t be picky these days. We’ve moved around a bit (9 houses since ds was born) and he enjoys living in new places. Kayf, is your firm still hiring?</p>
<p>Neither of my kids have employer-provided health insurance. My son gets his through Blue Shield in California, a catastrophic policy ($2500 deductible/year) that costs him $49/month; my daughter’s (Oregon) has a Kaiser policy that costs $110/month but lets her see a doctor for a $25 co-pay. I was awfully glad that D had health insurance when she got hit by a car while riding her bicycle last summer; she’s pretty much fine now (the collarbone has healed and the knee has healed too) but the $10,000 in medical bills would have been an issue.</p>
<p>I would take any temporary job that is relevant to your career until that dream job comes. I know it sucks, but many college graduates do it because you need money to eat and pay bills. If they want to keep health insurance, some go back to school part-time and work 20-30 hours/week to stay on their parents’ health insurance. You can also delay student loans this way (although I recommend paying the unsubsidized loans because you don’t want interest to keep accruing).</p>
<p>In addition, that temporary job could become a professional reference. College grads need to gain experience, even if it’s a temporary or volunteer position. Employers are looking for people who can collaborate and interact with the community.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips. Ds has checked the USAJobs; I think there was only one possibility, but that’s better than nothing. Of course he’s sent out dozens of resumes via Monster, CareerBuilder, etc.</p>
<p>Area schools are inundated with subs, despite horrible pay, and their website states that a job app can take 12 weeks to process. The school sys. where dd lives pays only $50/day for subs. </p>
<p>I’ve encouraged ds to check into doing volunteer tax return prep and dh has a lead for him on a temporary, part time job. It’s more about something relevant to put on his resume than the money. </p>
<p>As for our health ins., ds must enroll full time for at least one semester per year to remain covered and we have to submit proof. I talked to the ins. company about their individual plan and haven’t received a clear answer on continuity of coverage for his chronic condition. His Rx meds are expensive.</p>
<p>Dd’s employer just announced massive job cuts. I hope she is “safe.”</p>
<p>Brink, if you’re looking for a cheap way to stay in school full-time, utilize the local community colleges. Your child can enroll in a certificate program (it takes less than one year to complete full-time at most schools). That way the tuition (which can be outrageous at 4-year universities) won’t be so burdensome financially on you and your child will continue to have health insurance.</p>
<p>I don’t know the specifics, but when I checked about a year and a half ago, in every state EXCEPT new York, You can buy a “gap” policy for the time betwen school and first job. Most have a large deductible, but low cost. Google or call your HR person if you work at a big company. It might be able to tell you about them.</p>
<p>brink, I don’t have any advice that hasn’t already been mentioned but I wanted to tell you how sorry I am to hear about your son’s health issues and that this has to be such a concern relating his first job to obtaining healthcare. This isn’t something that young college grads, or anyone for that matter, should have to be worried about. And, yet, people continue to balk at healthcare reform. It boggles my mind, and makes me even more happy that we have returned to Canada. Best of luck to him in his job search.</p>
<p>Hmmm… can he get a work permit and work (and be insured) in Canada? Not joking around here - thinking it might be an okay option if all else falls through…</p>
<p>Has he tried small accounting firms? In my states the state cpa society has job postings. google va society of cpas, md, etc. small firms may not hire people till they need them, even a few months is better than nothing.</p>
<p>Re the Canada idea: That would cause a gap in US helthe insurance and create ‘preexisting condition’ upon return. The idea is to have uninterrupted insurance.</p>
<p>My sons just got jobs in Maryland. Thus,there are firms hiring. He got a list of the top 100 accounting firms and sent out resumes. You might have to wait,however, till September for firms to ascertain their staff needs.</p>
<p>Many science and engineering grads from BS to phD’s are unemployed or underemployed.
National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Labs have had near static or decreasing funding during W’s administration. Meanwhile, science and technology jobs in developing nations are on the increase.</p>
<p>How about temping ? Around here there are temp firms that specialize in accounting. It probably doesn’t have health benefits, though. But it would be related to his degree at least.</p>
<p>A friend of ours’ daughter joined what I call “Jesuit Peace Corps” where she worked in an inner city school in Philadelphia for a year. This was about ten years ago, so I don’t know if it’s still around. I don’t think she was paid, but they housed and fed her.</p>
<p>A great opportunity here, though, in New Orleans for unemployed graduates. It’s called TeachNOLA. You are paid close to 30K a year. You take courses at the local college or even online. </p>
<p>There is probably a website out there. I’ve met many young people doing this while deciding whether to go to grad school, med school, or just what they want to do with their life.</p>