A Lost Generation of Job Seekers?

E-Commerce Times ^ | October 28, 2002 | Peter Coy, Michelle Conlin & Emily Thornton

[clamper1797]

Yeah .... no kidding. Little Miss friggin Sunshine. But remember I have that BIG Social Security check to look forward to.

[null and void]

LOL!

[SoDak]

Where are you, and what is your skill?

[clamper1797]

I'm glad Teradyne still has it's "good old boys" attitude or I would STILL be out of work. I had 36 interviews before I got this job. I never had to go past the second one before

[SoDak]

The article states that they are getting food from the foodbank, getting rent money from parents, so I ask, where the h*ll is that 35K/year going? Couple of snappy roadsters in the driveway? And one other hint, if you live in an area where it costs a grand a month for a 600 sq foot apt, and you're making 35K a year, it's time to start packing.

[Keith in Iowa]

North Central Iowa - was a computer operator/data processor in a data center for an ASP most recently - currently taking the 3rd of 4 classes for CCNA certification; previously in broadcast operations at a tv station.

[null and void]

Pretty amazing. I was on half time for 3 months, and have been, ummm, fully unemployed for a bit over two months now. I've only managed to get two interviews.

Usually in good times I have a new job within a month, in bad times, never more than six months.

The industry seems to be holding it's breath. I hope after the election is over and war has started the uncertainty will be over and businesses will have a better idea of their future directions...

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

At this point, I am so disgusted with the job hunt that I am researching the possibility of going into business for myself . . . as a tailor and costumer.

I've been doing MIS-related work for six years now. I'm currently in the process of trying to transfer to our company's woodshop. Might actually learn some skills that produce something to hold and be proud of. Working with digital-virtual-whatever is too abstract and endlessly frustrating for this brain. A serious pay cut would be in the works, but at this point I don't care. Life's too short to spend it reacting to the latest, greatest releases from every software vendor on God's green earth.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

Those under the age of 50 are far more likely to see all of the dead aliens and crashed flying saucers out in Area 51 than a Social Security check that won't bounce. But they keep getting to pay FICA taxes...

...But they keep getting to pay FICA taxes...

But they keep getting to pay FICA taxes...

ain't it grand

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

"A serious pay cut would be in the works . . ."

Maybe. Maybe not. If you decide to go into custom cabinetry, or restoration of antiques -- something for the high-end market -- you might be pleasantly surprised.

To set Scripture on its head, "The rich you have always with you." While regular working stiffs may be reduced to eating government cheese, those who make and maintain the toys of the upper class will always be in demand.

[AppyPappy]

A year and a half ago, Malene Comes of San Jose, Calif., and her husband, Craig, were raking in $120,000 a year and living la dolce vita. The two computer technicians indulged in lavish trips, hired a cleaning lady, and ate out almost every night. Then, both were laid off. Today, they get bags of groceries from a San Jose food bank, have joined the ranks of the uninsured, and beg their parents for $1,045 in rent for their 600-square-foot apartment.

Should have gotten a doggie bag.

I worked with a lot of "computer technicians" and "IT specialists" who didn't know meat from gravy. They were just riding the boom. When the boom ended, they whined like babies because they had acquired no skills while living la dolce vita. If you make that bed, you'll have to lie in it.

[waterstraat]

The days of young americans earning $100,000 are gone forever. This is Free Republic not the Democratic Underground. Many young Americans are earning much more than $100,000 a year and will continue to do so long after your gone.

Tell that to all the high school and college graduates who cannot find a decent job, and to all the old white guys who got laid off. If you know so much, then tell us all, exactly, where all these jobs are. Just who is doing all this hiring? Names please.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

I'm glad they specifically mentioned Wall Street in this piece, as it certainly bears little resemblance to my area. What little it does resemble is that there were once alot of jobs held by young pukes who lived it up but are now out of work or doing menial crap work.

However, it is not the older workers who are benefitting, rather, it is they who are the ones being sacrificed as hordes of former highly overpaid web junkies are now forced to work any job for any pittance of money just to avoid the dread of cancelling their cellphone service...or the horror of horrors (gasp!), actually have to move out of town to a less trendy area.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Fricking move then!! Malene Comes and her husband lives in CA - That tells you all you need to know.

That's not an option. They will do anything, ANYTHING, up to and including mass communal living, to avoid moving out to a less trendy area. Certain other things are off-limits like cellphone service, booze, drug habits for a certain bunch, BMW & Lexus car payments, beepers, eating out, just to name a few, and if it means they have to work at Best Buy or the local cineplex to keep this lifestyle, so be it.

This has resulted in certain office jobs that require a fair amount of skill and that are highly demanding, paying little more than the $10.25/hr that the local In-&-Out Burger is hiring for, due to the dearth of these folks in the job market. I'm with you, fricken' leave already, Sacramento, no worse off in the job market than here and much cheaper to live, is only 2 hrs down the road.