Interesting post. As mom to two young adults, I see much of what you describe but, fortunately, not in my own kids. Both are struggling to find real, meaningful work that they trained for. My son, a December graduate in computer systems from a very good public institution, cannot find a position in his field. After 4 months being strung …
Interesting post. As mom to two young adults, I see much of what you describe but, fortunately, not in my own kids. Both are struggling to find real, meaningful work that they trained for. My son, a December graduate in computer systems from a very good public institution, cannot find a position in his field. After 4 months being strung along for his dream job at a three-letter-agency, he got the 'no, position filled'; this was his only bite out of dozens of applications. But he can't stand not working, so he is training to be a Prime delivery person. Not his ideal, but he wants to make money. My youngest, chronically ill for the past decade from tick-diseases, is a full-time college student who works 24-36 hours/week in a large day care.
Both kids strive to be independent, but to do so need experience and expertise in their chosen careers. It's hard out there to find full-time work with benefits, and harder still to find meaningful work. Sure, there are a lot of entitled young folks out there--I am a member of one of the most entitled cohorts ever--but the environment for work is not friendly, especially if you wish to not work for corrupt corporations. Have compassion for those kids who are trying. Peace...
Those computer jobs being off loaded to immigrants...mainly asians...who are provided visas for precisely that reason. This has been a problem in that field at least since the 80s.
For the last 5 years or so those brought in from India are being trained by American employees who are then fired. The libertarian Mike Lee in UT has been trying very hard to raise the quotas of certain works visa for the new computer firms coming to UT. Employers must be saving on more than just wage. Perhaps its payroll taxes, unemployment, etc.
If does take a certain kind of person to be an entrepreneur. It doesn't suit a lot of people but I agree that it is probably the most gratifying work if you can make a success of it. But it does take sacrifice, hard work and the understanding that the first years will probably be full of financial struggles.
I have a niece who tried and failed at setting up a chiropractic/nutritionist business. They just didn't have the entrepreneurial spirit and they kept spending money that they didn't have while building the business. Just a lack of common sense when it comes to money.
That's their endgame. They would just like to gain some 'real world' experience in their fields first, which sets you up better to start your own business. That said, my #1 just launched this today and already has two sales: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PreposterousShirts
In the early '80s I interviewed a candidate for an Engineer position with another department in the company I was with. He had graduated from Berkeley in the 70's with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering but as he was unable to find a job, joined SFPD and worked several years as a cop. He was a good hire and when I ran into him twenty years later, he had moved onward and upward.
I hope your son keeps his hand in with computers and now that he is in the "real world" he has a chance of seeing problems that need solving that are a match for his skills, either as an employee or an independent consultant.
Thank you for your kind words. There are folks who have hustle--and folks who do not. He can't stay idle, just like my father (and I'm definitely not a hammock and TV person, either). So important for our young people to understand nice things, a nice life, doesn't just show up--you need to make it. Feeling blessed my kids get that.
My son definitely keeps his hand in the field, and will keep applying and looking for a position that can provide him solid experience. Meanwhile, he does his side gigs--animating frames for a film (he developed a macro that allows him to do it with his computer), putting songs up on Spotify, and selling tee-shirts of his favorite bands on Etsy (launched today).
Best of luck to your son. Sounds like he won't stop until he succeeds. I have always tried to lead by example without saying too much but I do drive home the idea that it isn't so much how much money you make but rather what you can save. And if you don't have the money to buy something, don't buy it unless it is a necessary investment that will fuel future income. I don't know if they are listening LOL but they know that I don't shop. I don't buy stuff I don't need.
My parents lived through the Great Depression and WW2. I was condtioned to be frugal.
I am worried about my own 3 children as they get closer to post secondary choices. I would love to be able to afford to have them make their own free choices about what to study but they must choose a professional school or a trade school and it has to be something that looks like it will probably lead to future employment. If they want to do "Gender Studies" they can do it on their own dime. For taking this stand I have one out of the three who believes that I am one of the most ignorant men in the world. So be it. I might be on that spectrum LOL but I'm certainly not in the top 10%
That is of course a best guess but there are plenty of schools out there graduating students with the full knowledge that the jobs are currently NOT there at all. It's tougher these days than when I graduated. I had a choice of jobs in my chosen profession and I started work a week after I graduated. I stayed employed there for over 40 years. Now I'm in a clinic part-time after retiring with a decent pension. Never been out of work in over forty-six years. Not even for a week.
For that I take only partial credit. I've been lucky. But I also dreaded the idea of unemployment. I feel bad for graduates who can't get jobs after working hard in university with great expectations. It must be very disheartening.
Interesting post. As mom to two young adults, I see much of what you describe but, fortunately, not in my own kids. Both are struggling to find real, meaningful work that they trained for. My son, a December graduate in computer systems from a very good public institution, cannot find a position in his field. After 4 months being strung along for his dream job at a three-letter-agency, he got the 'no, position filled'; this was his only bite out of dozens of applications. But he can't stand not working, so he is training to be a Prime delivery person. Not his ideal, but he wants to make money. My youngest, chronically ill for the past decade from tick-diseases, is a full-time college student who works 24-36 hours/week in a large day care.
Both kids strive to be independent, but to do so need experience and expertise in their chosen careers. It's hard out there to find full-time work with benefits, and harder still to find meaningful work. Sure, there are a lot of entitled young folks out there--I am a member of one of the most entitled cohorts ever--but the environment for work is not friendly, especially if you wish to not work for corrupt corporations. Have compassion for those kids who are trying. Peace...
Those computer jobs being off loaded to immigrants...mainly asians...who are provided visas for precisely that reason. This has been a problem in that field at least since the 80s.
For the last 5 years or so those brought in from India are being trained by American employees who are then fired. The libertarian Mike Lee in UT has been trying very hard to raise the quotas of certain works visa for the new computer firms coming to UT. Employers must be saving on more than just wage. Perhaps its payroll taxes, unemployment, etc.
And the tech bubble burst at google, FB, etc has not helped.
The answer some would give your kids is: Become self-employed. Start your own business.
This requires a great amount of hustle. I don't think many of any generation are up to it.
If does take a certain kind of person to be an entrepreneur. It doesn't suit a lot of people but I agree that it is probably the most gratifying work if you can make a success of it. But it does take sacrifice, hard work and the understanding that the first years will probably be full of financial struggles.
I have a niece who tried and failed at setting up a chiropractic/nutritionist business. They just didn't have the entrepreneurial spirit and they kept spending money that they didn't have while building the business. Just a lack of common sense when it comes to money.
That's their endgame. They would just like to gain some 'real world' experience in their fields first, which sets you up better to start your own business. That said, my #1 just launched this today and already has two sales: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PreposterousShirts
Great news!
In the early '80s I interviewed a candidate for an Engineer position with another department in the company I was with. He had graduated from Berkeley in the 70's with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering but as he was unable to find a job, joined SFPD and worked several years as a cop. He was a good hire and when I ran into him twenty years later, he had moved onward and upward.
I hope your son keeps his hand in with computers and now that he is in the "real world" he has a chance of seeing problems that need solving that are a match for his skills, either as an employee or an independent consultant.
Thank you for your kind words. There are folks who have hustle--and folks who do not. He can't stay idle, just like my father (and I'm definitely not a hammock and TV person, either). So important for our young people to understand nice things, a nice life, doesn't just show up--you need to make it. Feeling blessed my kids get that.
My son definitely keeps his hand in the field, and will keep applying and looking for a position that can provide him solid experience. Meanwhile, he does his side gigs--animating frames for a film (he developed a macro that allows him to do it with his computer), putting songs up on Spotify, and selling tee-shirts of his favorite bands on Etsy (launched today).
Best of luck to your son. Sounds like he won't stop until he succeeds. I have always tried to lead by example without saying too much but I do drive home the idea that it isn't so much how much money you make but rather what you can save. And if you don't have the money to buy something, don't buy it unless it is a necessary investment that will fuel future income. I don't know if they are listening LOL but they know that I don't shop. I don't buy stuff I don't need.
My parents lived through the Great Depression and WW2. I was condtioned to be frugal.
I am worried about my own 3 children as they get closer to post secondary choices. I would love to be able to afford to have them make their own free choices about what to study but they must choose a professional school or a trade school and it has to be something that looks like it will probably lead to future employment. If they want to do "Gender Studies" they can do it on their own dime. For taking this stand I have one out of the three who believes that I am one of the most ignorant men in the world. So be it. I might be on that spectrum LOL but I'm certainly not in the top 10%
That is of course a best guess but there are plenty of schools out there graduating students with the full knowledge that the jobs are currently NOT there at all. It's tougher these days than when I graduated. I had a choice of jobs in my chosen profession and I started work a week after I graduated. I stayed employed there for over 40 years. Now I'm in a clinic part-time after retiring with a decent pension. Never been out of work in over forty-six years. Not even for a week.
For that I take only partial credit. I've been lucky. But I also dreaded the idea of unemployment. I feel bad for graduates who can't get jobs after working hard in university with great expectations. It must be very disheartening.