College grads...Would you like fries with that.

[WB5HQH]

In the “Hard Times” report, the center found that the unemployment rate for recent graduates is highest in architecture (13.9 percent) because of the collapse of the construction and home-building industry. Not surprisingly, unemployment rates are generally higher in non-technical majors, such as the arts (11.1 percent), humanities and liberal arts (9.4 percent), social science (8.9 percent) and law and public policy (8.1 percent).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...XzP_story.html



I feel that alot of time the job depends on location-location-location. Your major has to match where you live. Right now there are a couple of good jobs for IT type people locally. This "backwoods" area just doesn't have many qualified people close by. Two of my nephews are up in North Dakota working on the inside making a ton of moola. Sure N.D. is 1500 miles from mommy cooking, but the winter has been mild and they are in a warehouse. They even live inside the same building. I was worried two Mississippi boys wouldn't last very long, but at this rate they will be able to hang on till next school year. Then a hard choice will have to be made. I took the work path instead of going back to school, worked out for me, but who knows. That was then, this is now.

[WF7A]

As you alluded to, you have to go where the jobs are. The Wifoid and I were very happy living in Northern Idaho when I was abruptly laid off in 2009. I spent half a year trying to nab a decent job up there but there just weren't any to be had so I started looking nationwide; six months later I took the first job that made me an offer so we very reluctantly moved to Texas.

The problem is that most people just don't want to move away from where they are to take a job: not only is it expensive (even if you do all the moving yourself; not too many small and medium-sized companies are paying relocation costs anymore) but people naturally want to stay where they are so they can keep their lifestyle and stay close to friends and relatives. However, if we view it as a temporary, instead of permanent, move it's a little more palatable: We feel that way and I'm always looking for an opportunity to move back to the Inland NorhtWaste; I have a job interview this Wednesday for a radio repair tech position in Moses Lake, Washington, so here's hoping we can finally effect our escape from Ceti Alpha 5 (a.k.a, Texas) and go back (close to) home!

[WA8FOZ]

A pretty good reflection of the state of the economy. Fine arts majors have always had a rough go of it, and many of them will have to take additional training for day jobs. I personally don't think that's a bad thing. If what you want from college is vocational ed or merely a sticker on your forehead, go for it. If you want a liberal education, good - that makes you a better person and citizen, and it's really what college does best. The best job training is usually on the job. But you must expect to get some useful, job-ready skills too. Liberal arts grads from the places I am affiliated with are doing VERY well - IF they also have IT skills. IMHO, those these things are as important a part of a liberal education as the other arts and literature stuff.

When I was in college I chose a liberal arts major(classics) because I wanted to be less stupid than otherwise; it may have helped. But I did not expect it to get me a job; that's what medical school was for. Alternatively, I would have come back home to farm, and made sure to take some extension courses from the ag school. The thing is, in those days college at good state universities cost almost nothing. Nowadays, college is SO expensive, and the (less expensive) community colleges are being swamped. Many kids today do not have all the options I did, the chance to get a good education AND learn a trade..

[WB5HQH]

Ceti Alpha 5 is not so bad as long as you keep your earmuffs on tight.

[WF7A]

If only they'd filter out hearing Spanish everywhere I go--it's almost as bad as having Ceti eels stuck in my ears.

[2E0OZI]

I pretty glad I went for a vocational Applied Science degree instead of a double Biology/Geology. Since 1993 I have always had a decent job (EHO) with OK pay (and for 5 years a rather nice car).

But I do think at times and wonder - could I have had a career as a palaeontologist? I'll never know.

[AB2T]

Liberal arts grads from the places I am affiliated with are doing VERY well - IF they also have IT skills. IMHO, those these things are as important a part of a liberal education as the other arts and literature stuff.

I'm earning a humanities PhD, but I'm interested in going into digital archiving and language database development. I'm interested in adjunct teaching also, but only because I like to teach. I don't have a desire to seek an elusive tenure track position.

I have both programming and linux experience. Self-taught, but I know some stuff even though I don't have another degree in CS or IT. I fully agree that humanities is great IF you're willing to combine liberal arts with computer abilities. So many of my grad school colleagues are completely computer illiterate. They're hoping for the tenure track. I hope on nothing. Computers will put food on my table even if I never make it to the professor's podium.

[K1DNR]

There is a difference between being a slave to whatever pays the rent and being happy. I'd gladly work for next to nothing if it was something I really loved. That is the true meaning of success.

That said, my undergrad degree is in music performance - pretty useless degree by the standards presented in this post. And, in fact - my last and busiest year in music I made a little more than HALF the amounts posted above for new college grads - and that was supplemented by driving limousine and teaching privately.

I went back to school (an IT school) for a year with a musician friend of mine. I got a job before I was finished. I moved to NYC two years later and my career took off like a rocket for the next few years.

I don't dislike doing IT, but it isn't music.

At the same time, other friends of mine who were eeking it out in music now chair music departments at universities, or have full time seats on Broadway shows. They now make as much as I do in IT.

My advice? Do what you love and stick with it...

[WB5HQH]

Music career. Got another Nephew got his radiology degree so he could make enough to do his real love, playing guitar in a band. They won the state competition last fall. They are playing almost every weekend and he just loves it. Who know he might end up being one of the few that could make a living as a minstrel. His best friend leads the group "The Colonels" and they both do the singing. Thank god he is better than me at that. My grandfather, my father, both of my brothers all played guitars, keyboards and fiddles. Me I can play the radio.

[K1DNR]

Interesting. I went through part of an X-Ray tech program, but it wasn't for me. Long story.

There are ways to make a living in music. Strictly being a performer may or may not be for everyone. You have to be versatile. It helps to have some business sense, or be associated with someone who does. Anyone can cheaply produce a CD now, so the market is a bit flooded. What most people do not do (as far as I can tell) is actively market themselves - which means reaching outside your local area, finding the college radio stations or whoever will play you - and then touring to support the "product" - the recording.

There is also teaching which is immensely satisfying personally - and can be lucrative if you run it like a business.

I knew a woman who gave piano lessons. She wasn't a great performer but she was a very good teacher and kids/parents liked her. I forget what she charged an hour - but it was respectable and competitive. Here's the key - she didn't teach a full hour. The kids came in and worked with an older student for 1/2 hour in another room - on theory, or exercises, etc... Then they spent the second half hour with her. The older "tutor" probably got free lessons. But the idea was that she was always making money in that hour - teaching two students at once. Very clever and she owner her own home and made a living like that.

You also have to persevere to do it. I had become a new father. I was tired and I wanted out. But if I had persevered I would likely have made out ok in the long run...

Music career. Got another Nephew got his radiology degree so he could make enough to do his real love, playing guitar in a band. They won the state competition last fall. They are playing almost every weekend and he just loves it. Who know he might end up being one of the few that could make a living as a minstrel. His best friend leads the group "The Colonels" and they both do the singing. Thank god he is better than me at that. My grandfather, my father, both of my brothers all played guitars, keyboards and fiddles. Me I can play the radio.