Rough job market for students

Having graduated this past May, I’ve since sent over 100 resumes, CVs, and applications in and have had a total of one interview and three responses. It doesn’t help that the numbers for unemployment seem to be getting more and more dismal as the year comes to an end. As student loans start coming in, most college graduates are finding themselves working for jobs they’re overqualified for or jobs that don’t require a college degree. Job offers are certainly there, but the problem lies in the fact that perhaps 95% of the jobs ask for 2 or more professional work years under their belt, something most graduates don’t necessarily have. It seems like the job market is shuffling around mid-to-senior level workers and not opening enough for recent graduates or junior levels.

I had a very good job lined up for when I graduate law school this May, and it evaporated in the dismal market. I’ve sent out hundreds of resumes to law offices and judges and haven’t gotten a single response, let alone an interview, let alone a job offer. It’s a complete brick wall, and it’s not the return I expected on the massive investment I had to make for a graduate education. What happened to working hard and taking the safe route?

I graduated with an MBA this past May. I was able to find empoloyment working for the Federal Government at VA Regional Office in New Orleans after months of trying to find a position. It was rough. I lost my last job in December 2007 and spent 6 months living off my savings while attending school and looking for work. That was in Nashville, I had to move back home to find work. Students are going to have it rough for a while, more seasoned workers are going to have it tougher. Competing with new graduates for postions will help drive down salaries and loosen benefits. It’s going to be nasty out there for a few more years. Even after the economy turns around, ity will take years, not months, for salaries to rise and people are able to live decently.