Great article about the current unemployment problems

[z31maniac]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204422404576596630897409182.html?KEYWORDS=vacancies

[Farbin Kaiber]

So very true. Excellent read. Its a very simple fact that very few are willing to accept, maybe this simple article will help get some coverage of the fact.

[z31maniac]

It's hard when all the talking heads on the right are constantly bellowing about everyone being lazy.

I remember earlier this year, a company looking for a Tech Writer here in Tulsa. They basically wanted "me", degree in writing, 3-5 years experience, etc.

Starting pay? $13/hr. Not even close to market rate.

[joshh]

While your comment about lazy people being lazy is BS, because there's a lot of truth in that idea, this article has a lot of truth in it as well.

Being 38 years old and seeing what's happened in the hiring of Americans over the years the changes are hard and fast.
While 20 years ago you could find a job very easily by walking into businesses (in some cases not even needing to fill out an application), that's nearly non-existent now. You fill out not only an application but they also want a resume as well. If you don't have the perfect credentials for the job, you're not even considered.

Yesterday my wife's work laid a bunch of people off. One of them in sales. She had 100% sales quota to date. She was asked if she was willing to up sell existing accounts. Meaning to sell them larger ads. She said no. They laid her off for it. Specifically because she said no. To me this is ridiculous because the woman was at 100% sales quota.
They laid these people off and are now consolidating some jobs. My wife's boss got laid off as well and they took three sales managers and made two jobs out of three. What does that mean? More work for the same pay for the two sales managers left.

HR's are being run by monkeys. It's become robotic in what they look for and the personality of the applicant is less important as well.
Some of the best people I've hired were from a gut feeling not credentials. I've worked in HR more than once.

[E30Kaiser]

I am a recent college graduate without much/any experience and I am facing many of the problems mentioned in the article. There are no entry level positions open right now, even positions that say "entry level" in the same sentence follow it up with 3-years minimum experience.

Hell, Siemens in Charlotte was complaining that they didn't have anyone applying at their facility and were having to do in house training because of it. I went to their website to see if I could apply and all of the positions demanded a degree in engineering, even tech positions.

Even the government isn't hiring right now when I look on USAjobs.com

[evandael]

i'm not looking forward to the real world job market when i graduate next year.

it's a damn struggle to even find part-time work.

[herbivor]

i'm not looking forward to the real world job market when i graduate next year.

it's a damn struggle to even find part-time work.

According to many people on this site, it's you're own fault if you can't find work and succeed.

[Cronopoulos]

Personal outlook -

Here is how i look at it. Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you are going to be a manager or get paid large amounts of money right away. Everyone has to climb that ladder eventually. I have a lot of friends that turn down jobs because the pay isn't what they think they deserve when in all reality they have no experience. I started at the bottom of the food chain with the pay i was offered because I NEEDED a job (age of 14 at the time). I agree with a lot of points in that article but also disagree a lot based on personal experience.

Schooling -

Specifically for my line of work (IT), schooling is a joke in my opinion and doesn't provide to you any "real-world" scenarios at least from what I have experienced. I self-taught myself a lot things growing up through high school and learned a lot from friends/teachers that already were in that field of work. I also shadowed a lot of people and didn't get paid but what I learned was worth so much more.

Facts about me -

• I'm 21
• I don't have a degree
• I have only had 2 jobs total in my life including my current one.
• Experience in my area of expertise is gold.

[E30Kaiser]

Personal outlook -

Here is how i look at it. Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you are going to be a manager or get paid large amounts of money right away. Everyone has to climb that ladder eventually. I have a lot of friends that turn down jobs because the pay isn't what they think they deserve when in all reality they have no experience. I started at the bottom of the food chain with the pay i was offered because I NEEDED a job (age of 14 at the time). I agree with a lot of points in that article but also disagree a lot based on personal experience.

Schooling -

Specifically for my line of work (IT), schooling is a joke in my opinion and doesn't provide to you any "real-world" scenarios at least from what I have experienced. I self-taught myself a lot things growing up through high school and learned a lot from friends/teachers that already were in that field of work. I also shadowed a lot of people and didn't get paid but what I learned was worth so much more.

Facts about me -

• I'm 21
• I don't have a degree
• I have only had 2 jobs total in my life including my current one.
• Experience in my area of expertise is gold.

I think you are just reinforcing what the article said, honestly. You have experience in the field and have had a job for awhile.

[z31maniac]

While your comment about lazy people being lazy is BS, because there's a lot of truth in that idea, this article has a lot of truth in it as well.

What I was saying, is that being lazy isn't necessarily the problem. If there aren't any jobs.

Going to work for less than you made in the past............that's hard to recover from.

My good buddy is the manager now at my old job, had a few beers with him this weekend. TOld me a layoff is coming up and if I hadn't gotten out, I would be in the group.

Absolutely no way in hell would I have been able to maintain my current salary if I had a lapse in employment.

• Experience in my area of expertise is gold.

It's not like that for everyone though.

[Cronopoulos]

I think you are just reinforcing what the article said, honestly. You have experience in the field and have had a job for awhile.

Well I'm all for people getting paid for what they deserve but schools need to do a better job at preparing the students for the "real-world." I took a job that was completely un-related to my skill set (retail) in order to make ends meet at the time. You can have anything you want if you put your mind to it.

[chadthestampede]

It's hard when all the talking heads on the right are constantly bellowing about everyone being lazy.

I remember earlier this year, a company looking for a Tech Writer here in Tulsa. They basically wanted "me", degree in writing, 3-5 years experience, etc.

Starting pay? $13/hr. Not even close to market rate.

Here is an example of a job listing for a teacher in my area:

Candidate with NYS Certification in Early Childhood ( B-2) or Elementary Ed. (Pre-K, K-6) and 1 full year experience teaching ages 2-5 years. English/Spanish helpful.

SALARY- $23,035 ( 10 Months) or $27,602 ( 12 Months), plus excellent benefits.

Maybe I'm being a snob, but with the amount of schooling I needed for a teaching certification, it seems a little low.

[e30e]

Here is an example of a job listing for a teacher in my area:



Maybe I'm being a snob, but with the amount of schooling I needed for a teaching certification, it seems a little low.

Ha, one of the BIG reasons, with my specialized degree in education I don't teach.



As for looking for work, when I graduated I literally was doing 50+ applications a day nationally.

[joshh]

What I was saying, is that being lazy isn't necessarily the problem. If there aren't any jobs.

Going to work for less than you made in the past............that's hard to recover from.

My good buddy is the manager now at my old job, had a few beers with him this weekend. TOld me a layoff is coming up and if I hadn't gotten out, I would be in the group.

Absolutely no way in hell would I have been able to maintain my current salary if I had a lapse in employment.



It's not like that for everyone though.

Agreed. But it's (lazy people) a problem along with there just not being enough work. That's why those who work the hardest (in most cases) find work. Even if it's not ideal for them.
It's a series of problems but your link hit hard on one very important issue. And for the most part I think it's very accurate.
Some people being slow or *lazy* about not finding work is in a way an effect of not having enough work in the first place. Also because we give them money to not work.

[mrsleeve]

Lots and lots and LOTS of very very good paying jobs out there right now. If your willing to get dirty, work out sides in all kinds of shitty weather, be a long way from family for a long spell at a time, AND WORK YOUR ASS OFF 7 days a week, and not have thin skin and take your licks until you have proven your self and are a broke out hand.

Entry level means warm body off the street, with little to no experience. Hourly might not look that great but when you add the 20-40 hours of OT A WEEK its not bad at all. you should CLEAR at least 40k a year, if not closer to 50. Get hooked up with the right outfit, trade and crew that wants to teach you something you can make a Mint in a few years.

They are out there, and SCREAMING for hands and willing to train you in most cases. I have no sympathy for anyone thats not got a job, unless they are willing to do all the above and having no luck getting hired out. Times suck and we all have to do what we have to do to make a living even if that means having to give up a cushy 40hr week inside a climate controlled building.

According to many people on this site, it's you're own fault if you can't find work and succeed.

Your damm fucking right it is in the bulk of cases. What would our great grand parents say?? You know the ones who wandered where ever they needed to go find work....

Look at my family my inlaws have not seen their house (the one they are paying a mortgage on) in 5 years, live 1500 miles a part working in 2 states while their house is in a third and will not sell. You know they did the right thing and went out and are fulfilling their obligations, what ever it takes not sitting at home crying about how crappy their luck is and turning to the fucking govt to bail them out. They see each other 2 weeks in the summer and 2 weeks in the winter and thats it.

I spend 3-10 months on the road away from home working my ass into the ground at a time, Luck to be home for more than 6 weeks ( I took some time this summer though because I worked hard to be able to afford to) its hard but it has to be done if I want to eat and keep a roof over our heads. Anyone can do it, you just have to either have your own motivations or get cold and hungry enough.

My brother is having a hard go with his line of work, hes doing 50+k a years worth of work, but getting paid like dirt, but hes got a job and that lets his employer get away with it. But hes happy with it.



While not totally on point it seems appropriate here.

It dose not apply to all, but .........................