OT: MGoUnemployed Club

Not-so-proud member right here. Seems like an LSA degree from our esteemed University really isn't so useful after all. :\ Unless you want to work at the mall. Or go to grad school. Working on the latter.

Count me in for the MGoUnderemployed club. Hopefully degree #2 fixes that, when I get it.

Unemployed in Chicago. Count me in.

Finished up my BA from UM last May, been busting my ass to find something, anything. Double-majored in SAC (film), so I'm hoping to take advantage of the emerging film industry here in Michigan in some way. I just spent the last four months in LA trying to find something, but if you can believe it, the entertainment industry is even harder to enter now. There are no jobs in LA; the fifty-ish veteran costumer I shared a place with couldn't even find work. He's off working on a television show shooting in Atlanta at the moment. Just trying to find work and an apartment in Ann Arbor for now, maybe save up some money before I try the move in more prosperous times. Let me know if you're looking for a good roommate! So yes, count me in. Good luck to us all.

...in that I've managed to stay continuously employed for the past 8 years or so. I finished my BSEE in summer '01, but I did not find a position until late fall '01. The economy wasn't great then, but it was nothing like what we're seeing now. Most people on this board have probably figured out the points I am about to post, but I thought I'd share a few hard truths I've learned in case there is anyone out there that might benefit from a little external prompting. If you're just starting out, or still have enough courses left to affect your GPA do everything you can to raise your average. Your GPA will directly influence your starting salary and the number of opportunities available to you. Also be aware that people will latch onto your GPA a decade after graduation as an easy way of summarizing you as a candidate. Yes it sucks, but that's the world we live in today. This lesson also applies to kids in HS headed for college in terms of acceptances and financial aid. One thing that I'd advise, particularly if you hold a technical degree and plan on working in your field, is finding some way, any way to keep your skills sharp in the interim. I say this because I don't seem to have absorbed everything presented in undergrad as deeply as I ought, and I noticed that my skills had faded appreciably in the six months between graduation and landing a job. I feel as though that initial decay has hurt my career somewhat. Getting stuck in a position that involves more bureaucratic wrangling and red tape hasn't helped keep me sharp either. On the other hand there really aren't a lot of companies doing deep R&D these days. You may be better off staying in academia if this is what you're dead set on doing. I tried to escape my current position a few months ago by interviewing for a position out West. I was actually shocked to get the onsite because I felt I seriously mangled the technical phone interview. That was the most brutal interview process I can imagine for a posting looking for a BSEE + 3 years experience, MSEE preferred. All the interviews were team technical interviews with 2-3 people and the hiring manager was present at all of those sessions. There was also a VP + director team interview, and I was required to give a technical presentation to 5-6 people on a topic of my choosing. The presentation went fine, but my decayed skills were painfully evident during the technical interviews. I crammed 6 hours a night for two weeks prior to the onsite, but my review topic choices were slightly off. People want instant results, not potential, and I needed to deliver in those interviews even if my lack of veracity was more a matter of rust than inability. Presentation is also a killer in interviews, and it begins when your resume hits the recruiter's desk. I am sometimes involved in the interview process at my current workplace, and we regularly reject candidates based on poor written presentation. We recently declined to phone screen a candidate with relevant experience because of multiple egregious spelling and syntax issues in his resume. Our feeling was compounded by the fact he'd spent decades as a sergeant in the military and claimed an English degree with a high GPA. You'd think someone with these experiences would have learned to pay a bit of attention to detail to their quality of presentation. Also, get a good suit, but don't dare pay MSRP for it! Pass up Macy's or any other department store because their suits are crap. You should be able to find at least one menswear outlet or chain in your area. Big name suits will be available there for firesale prices. I am fortunate enough to live near a Hickey Freeman outlet, and they regularly carry $1000-1500 MSRP H-F and Hartmarx suits for $250-400 out the door. The staff there will be able to measure you and point you toward a reliable tailor that should also be able to do rush jobs. That's about all for now. Yes, a lot of these points are probably common sense, and I probably should have realized them about 7 or 8 years ago. Hopefully I've been able to clue in at least one person that was in the fog I was at the end of my undergrad days. Alright, comment, laugh, flame away...I'm 31, I'm a MAN, I CAN TAKE IT!!! Wait...what?!

I originally thought this thread was TMI, but I don't feel like I'm the only one earning far too many MGoPoints. Was laid off in July, told it would only be to the new fiscal year in October, then till the New Year, now...later. I've applied for over 200 jobs, and had like 6 interviews. But at least one pending. MGoLuck to everyone.

MGoGradSchoolClub. It is not that much more fun, but I guess it does make you more marketable.

I feel for you guys and you are making me feel better out my situation. My job pays well, i'm in a great city (chicago), and my company is pretty cool. So I have no right to complain but I really want to move back to a2 (hometown) and work for myself even in this shitty economy. It would be a huge (huge!) risk and my parents would definitely frown upon it but I'm not a big city guy, I hate working behind a desk, and I know that I won't be here long-term anyways so i'm rethinking things big time. Also i'm young and single so if there is a time to do it, it would be now, right? This is a bit different than the theme of this post, but if anyone has been in a similar position and can offer up some advice, i'm all ears.

This thread as a whole makes me really, really thankful for this blog. You guys are awesome. 3

My self, I was let go from my job and have not been able to find one for about 3 months. In the end I guess it worked out, I didn't like what I was doing but it was paying the bills and I'm not the type to quit on anyone or anything for that matter. Two weeks after I was let go I decided to join the Firefighter Academy and I am well on my way to doing something that truly makes me happy. I know it sucks losing/not having a job, stay positive and good things are sure to come your way.

thanks to General Motors and scholarships. Shortly after they offered to buy me out. I figured with the Masters from Michigan I would have no problem getting another job. Oops, I've spent almost twice as much time un/underemployed as I have with a real job. I even applied to the school for jobs I have been overqualified for and got turned downed. Currently substitute teaching to supplement my unemployment. The teacher I subbed for yesterday had left detailed instructions on the board and had spelled repetition as repitition.

I got out of the Marines to got to college. I was told to do what I love. So, now I have this BA in history (don't act like you're not impressed). Teachers got laid off, and there aren't people knocking down my door for historic research or preservation. I'm SOL... If anyone has bright ideas, I'm all ears.