Comments on: Tips for the Under 30 and Underemployed

By: Cyndi

Cyndi — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:24:08 +0000

I just graduated as well and have not been able to find a real job. I have a 2 hour a day job as a office assistant but my degree was in Finance. I can’t seem to find a finance job these days. I started this website to help others get more free stuff and make a little money off the internet, but I’m desperately trying to get a real job! please check out my site and post a comment (if you’d like): http: surveymonsterz.blogspot.com

By: Megan P. O'Malley

Megan P. O'Malley — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:18:43 +0000

This is definitely a huge problem. I graduated from the #1 school in ‘06 and have been unemployed for a total of 18 months (in bits and pieces, with temporary gigs thrown in the mix). Part of it is that I realized I wanted to be in a different field (PR/communications) after my first job (art); the lack of classroom experience has been a surprising hindrance, especially since I’m not entering a technical field. I’m applying for lowest-rung jobs (not opposed to paying my dues, it’s the best way to get a good foundation), but even internships require multiple *previous* internships these days. I’ve started volunteering my PR skills for not-for-profits, but not having “official, real” experience in my new field means it takes a lot longer (and a lot of self-teaching) to make real progress.

By: @MattWilsontv

@MattWilsontv — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:16:34 +0000

Hi David, I think Gen Y takes a lot of flack for thinking we are underemployed. Every young person wants to work their way to the top rather quickly and often times job hop in pursuit of being more appreciated, gaining more responsibility and getting ahead. Our generation is extra ambitious and it’s important no matter how much you think you know, to keep learning everyday. if you are not in a position where you are learning, it’s time to start looking for a new place to work!

By: Casey Donegan

Casey Donegan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:51:56 +0000

I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2004, and since then I have been in a perpetual state of underemployment, even homeless twice. I used to have goals as to what I want to do, but now my goals are so low as to just want forty hours a week, and not have to cook. I have been trying to go the paralegal path, but it seems my biggest obstacle there is a flood of legal interns willing to do the job of a paralegal for no money. I tried being a secretary but I ran into the same thing. Kind of hard to network when even the bottom rung jobs, are now just internships.