Months later after I received no response from the countless jobs I applied for I looked into the teacher’s certificate program. It was that very week my pharmacy hired a girl who had been a high school chemistry teacher who shared her feelings on becoming a teacher. She decided to leave teaching and take a pay cut rather than deal with an absent administration, out of control students and parents that constantly complained about everything. She also informed me of the number of applicants her school received which heavily exceeded the few positions that had become available. Many of these applicants had education specific degrees at the Masters level.

So I searched on and found an ad for probation officer and decided to apply. I showed up to the test site where I was greeted by 400 other test takers. I kid you not! I sat there and counted the number myself. Here I was sitting with 400 other people (only 15 being female counting myself) all competing for a few positions. My undergraduate degree was not even required nor did it give me a leg up.

I’ve looked into law school only to find out that the market is flooded with JD’s and many of whom are overwhelmed with debt. I’ve considered getting my Masters only to find jobs that pay $35,000 to those who have a Masters in psychology. I can’t even find a job that will pay me $35,000 now. How am I supposed to finance another $30,000+ for my Masters to only get paid $35,000.It is utterly ridiculous the hoops I have jumped through with no avail.

I have never asked nor sought anything other than an entry level position that would utilize the education I spent so much time and effort on. They do not exist. I actually found a job opening for a secretarial position that required an undergraduate degree. What have we done? When there are so many degree holders that an employer can require an undergraduate degree for a secretary position you know there is a problem. However, Texas Tech University keeps increasing their student numbers without any regard to the one’s they have just “educated”.

But of course, who is going to want my lovely gemstones I studied so hard for, when the economy is in the crapper?

College is the worst decision I have ever made. I’m in debt up to my eyes and have nothing to show for it. I’m performing the exact same job I did in high school, for the same child-like-wage (only I have adult bills to pay now).

After earning my degree, I began the hunt. This was right before the bank bailouts and before the recession kicked in. I can remember having conversations with friends about how I had hoped to find work in at least 4 – 6 months. The thought of it taking longer than that was something I laughed at. I never imagined it a possibility to have to struggle like I have.

I started out like everyone: searching Monster, Career Builder, Hot Jobs, etc. I landed a few interviews, but was disheartened to realize they were scams (not exaggerating). Many of the offices I visited were fly-by-night, rented offices that made attempts to “look” legit. None were. You should have seen the people that would enter the room to interview me: strung out in appearance with messy hair, blood-shot eyes and thrift-store suits. Seriously – if it wasn’t so depressing, I’d laugh. Lastly, their “pitch” was always a desperate attempt to dupe entry-level, college grads and always directed towards the assumed-naive. Oh, and I should mention that the work-for-nothing concept of “making commission” selling a product no one wants wasn’t something I was interested in either.

So, I got aggressive. I signed up with Texas Teachers to earn and receive my teaching credentials. I went through the courses and passed the exams and am now certified to teach elementary and high school Speech. Guess how many calls, job interviews and interest I’ve received: zero.

I decided I still wasn’t doing enough. I convinced myself that anything was better than nothing and I set out to try and become a police officer. I’m a smart/athletic guy and capable of passing all the requirements and exams, so I tested, passed and got a couple of call backs to interview, which I thought went well (after all, my degree is in communication). But did I land a police job? Nope. They felt I “hadn’t done enough.” So, I figured I should try to start below the pay-grade of an officer and begin in dispatch, which relates to my degree (proficient verbal skills could arguably be an asset to emergency situations). Did that idea work? No. What about jailer? I tried that, also. Did that work? Nope. I am the ultimate catch 22. I’m unqualified for most jobs due to my lack of career-experience, but I’m over qualified for jobs that I would certainly settle for, thanks to college.

It is a constant kick in the gut to be living in these times. I feel trapped – by my degree, my debt and the economy. I watch friends with high school diplomas work at the mall and even they make more than I do. Even better for them, they don’t owe several thousand dollars to banks for student loans that were a joke. And I’m sick of the argument that eventually I’ll earn more than them and be better off. It’s crap logic to assume that. After all, I’ve been out two years (not making money), where as they’ve been working for the past 6-7 years making a reasonable salaries in the department stores. By the time I find work, I’ll still have to spend 20 years giving my money to lenders. On the contrary, they won’t. Every dime they make is their own, where as the dime I’ll make will belong to someone else. The idea that “college was a good idea” has to be the biggest con ever sold. Like millions of other students, I have been enslaved by the “hope” that things will work out if I just pay my dues. Unfortunately, I’m paying my dues in more ways than one and it’s still not paying off.

I’ve tried to find work in every area that I can think of: marketing, advertising, PR, teaching, policing, dispatching, jailing, dog catching, meter reading – you name it, I’ve tried my hand at it. Two years into my job search, however, I have no prospects, no sign of things improving and the fear of not knowing when I’ll be able to truly start my life. As I mentioned, I’m engaged (getting married in December). It’s hard to say whether I’ll be able to afford a honeymoon, let alone the responsibilities of marriage. But… as much as I worry, I can’t continue to hold out on beginning my life. My fiancée, thank God, has found work (as a Clinical Lab Scientist in a hospital, making what my friends at the mall make, which is $40k). Unfortunately, she’ll have to settle for the roll of “Sugar Momma” until my situation improves and, for that, I feel extremely guilty. The burden that I carry has been placed upon her shoulders now, too, and I hate it. She’s got her own worries regarding work and student loans. I’ve only made those fears worse and it sucks to know that.

In closing, I can only say that I hope things get better. I use to say that things can’t get worst, but as my life has continued to suck, I have to admit I was wrong about that. I’ll keep my fingers crossed, though. Maybe I’ll win the lottery: the odds of that happening seem about as favorable as me finding a job.

Good luck to everyone.

- Brad

sorry, I’m in the mood to brag today, don’t know why

Flame away but I think a huge part of the problem is major Universities are run by the idiot liberals. You just don’t get the logic and reasoned classes you need to get a decent gig. … unless you want to go work in a “green” job. In that case, you go have fun doing that.

if math is hard, you should have gone to business. because of people like you, CS degree is less and less appreciated.

in the end, like you can train a n00b, but he’ll just be a trained n00b…. you know.