We Got Degrees Now, So Why Are We Still Unemployed or Underemployed?

Sharp

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This is something I was pondering on, but I wanted to have a serious discussion on it so I'm posting it here.

Unemployment rates, especially for minorities is at a high. However, at the same time, the number of college degrees held by minorities is also at a high.

I'm starting to think that because so many more people have undergraduate degrees that it devalues the degree. I remember when you could get a mid-level administrative or beginners management position with a bachelors degree. Now you're lucky if you can get an entry level position with a bachelors degree.

And then think about how many people never get to find work in their field. I have a friend with a bachelors degree in Finance who works at Starbucks.

I believe the problems is that there are more people with college degrees than there are jobs to accommodate them. People were told that if they went to school, got a good education, they would succeed.

Even with a masters degree, it is still hard to find employment at a respectable level. It appears that networking and experience should be valued more than education in order to succeed.

What's your take on this?
 

feelosofer

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Because up until 5 or 6 years ago, there were more than enough jobs for the graduates, but when the recession hit, those positions got liquidated and they raised the requirements for entry level positions. My nephew is 25, graduated from NYU in Broadcast and Communications with 3 years broadcast experience, and he had trouble getting a temp job at ESPN last year. It's a dirty game, best you can do is get by with what job you can get and try to start your own stuff.
 

Sharp

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I have a MPH, been working in the field for 10+ years and it still difficult for me to get a senior management position.

We're hiring kids with BAs straight out of Harvard and MIT to do Patient Coordination work which generally requires a high school diploma. There's more people overqualified for the positions that are out there which in effect are raising the standards.

People with degrees working in Target, Walmart, and even McDonalds. And I presume things are only going to get worse
 

Majestic Pape

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This is something I was pondering on, but I wanted to have a serious discussion on it so I'm posting it here.

Unemployment rates, especially for minorities is at a high. However, at the same time, the number of college degrees held by minorities is also at a high.

I'm starting to think that because so many more people have undergraduate degrees that it devalues the degree. I remember when you could get a mid-level administrative or beginners management position with a bachelors degree. Now you're lucky if you can get an entry level position with a bachelors degree.

And then think about how many people never get to find work in their field. I have a friend with a bachelors degree in Finance who works at Starbucks.

I believe the problems is that there are more people with college degrees than there are jobs to accommodate them. People were told that if they went to school, got a good education, they would succeed.

Even with a masters degree, it is still hard to find employment at a respectable level. It appears that networking and experience should be valued more than education in order to succeed.

What's your take on this?

Starbucks is FULL of baristas with bachelor's degrees. :yeshrug:



In this economic climate, if you can't network (and I'm having a difficult as fukk time doing it) you're fukked.
 

JT-Money

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Most companies are looking for the perfect candidate and refusing to hire anyone that doesn't have an laundry list of qualifications. They figure it's best to hold out for the perfect employee on paper even if they don't exist.
 

Type Username Here

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Pick the right degree people.

Some majors at my school have students getting hired as juniors/seniors before they officially get degrees.

That communications or media degree might be fun, but it's only going to get you so far.
 

Hip-Hop-Bulls

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Not suppose to go to college to just get a better job. Suppose to go to get more knowledge and make yourself a new job based on what you learn as well as sharing what you learn with others. If you're going just to get a better job, you're setting yourself up.

Think about this. Who's better off.

A man or woman who seeks knowledge, wisdom and understanding on his/her own and has a part time job(s) with plans for the future.

or

A man or woman who was essentially forced to go to college(because of outside influences or just no desire themselves to self educate)for knowledge, wisdom, understanding only to get a piece of paper to show off and in the mean time they are looking for work AND paying debt with no future plans other than "I need a job!"

Not saying that you shouldn't go to college of course but hot damn, know what and why you are attending in the 1st place. College ain't for everyone.
 

Ohene

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This is something I was pondering on, but I wanted to have a serious discussion on it so I'm posting it here.

Unemployment rates, especially for minorities is at a high. However, at the same time, the number of college degrees held by minorities is also at a high.

I'm starting to think that because so many more people have undergraduate degrees that it devalues the degree. I remember when you could get a mid-level administrative or beginners management position with a bachelors degree. Now you're lucky if you can get an entry level position with a bachelors degree.

And then think about how many people never get to find work in their field. I have a friend with a bachelors degree in Finance who works at Starbucks.

I believe the problems is that there are more people with college degrees than there are jobs to accommodate them. People were told that if they went to school, got a good education, they would succeed.

Even with a masters degree, it is still hard to find employment at a respectable level. It appears that networking and experience should be valued more than education in order to succeed.

What's your take on this?
what school? :mjpls:
 
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i disagree

the problem is the lazy ass graduates that come out of college have little to no experience, and employers don't want that.

Most students don't volunteer or look at internship in their fields or do networking with people that would help them in the future.

Right now i'm in my last year of my degree and i'm contacting people ahead of time on how i can get my foot so i can get a job as soon as i get out. I'm also volunteering and also asking my instructors to help them with any type of assistance. Employers admire that.

Now if you've done that and still jobless, then something is wrong with you, not the system.

You can't just expect to get out of college with no experience and expect to land a $50,000+ job. Times have changed.
 
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