Is the job market *really* that bad?

[Erik_in_TN]

And no, I'm not trying to underscore the unemployment crisis or any involved...it is bad right now. But is it really as bad as the doom & gloom talking heads suggest on TV? I know news stations such as CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News all have to have ratings in order to survive. And in order to survive you need to create the shock & awe factor to get people tuned in. Which during a recession, usually means using the fear factor, so to speak.
But when stations are saying "there are no jobs", yet I am sitting right here looking across the road at a Calhoun's restaurant, which has been hiring line cooks for the past 2 weeks (they need 3..have found one in two weeks, but still seeking the other 2). And no, there is not some massive line forming everyday of people. The sign has been out forever. The same can be said for a Target Superstore less than 25-min from here. They have been needing help since early this year. Not to mention the occaisonal Taco Bells and Best Buy's which have had help wanteds up in the past week or so.

So is it really at catastrophic levels? I know the college grads around here are having it harder due to employers pulling the "over-qualified" card and not wanting to pay the extra $$$ for someone with a degree/certification.

But overall..how is the job market? How is your area? The classifieds are not, by any means, as full as they were say 3 years ago. But there are listings. Fewer...but sill there nonetheless. Any input...light at the end of this recession tunnel?

 

[Sparx]

well, at several of the mcdonalds here, on thrusdays there will be 20-30 middle aged adults coming in asking for jobs (mcdonalds does hiring on thursdays) and many times they have to do multiple job interviews to narrow down the applicants.

when mcdonalds is doing multiple interviews for a part time position, i'd say its pretty bad around here.

 

[Pakey]

We had 150 minimum wage seasonal positions and quit accepting the applications at 6000. It was heartbreaking.

 

[ZachnElli]

Yes, it is that bad. Your looking at restaurants, fast food at that, and they usually have a high turn over. Many people with degrees and several years of experience aren't able to find jobs at all and McDonald's doesn't pay the mortgage.

 

[iheartdolewhips]

I have a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education - graduated cum laude. I'm certified to teach elementary school and also got additional certification so I can teach middle school math and science. They cut school budgets and increased the number of students in every classroom so they don't need as many teachers. I've been putting in applications since last January at every school within an hour of my house and still cannot get a teaching job - even just to be a parapro or substitute teacher. One of the parapro jobs that I applied for the principal said that they had over 70 applicants in less than 12 hours of posting the job - many of whom were certified teachers like myself. And things aren't looking better for next school year either - they're talking about cutting the budget even further.

I've also been applying at minimum wage jobs since August. I'm not asking for a ton of money or expecting to be a manager right off the bat because I have a degree - I'm applying at entry level and saying I'll work for minimum wage. No one will hire me. I'm sick of hearing I'm "overqualified" and how people "don't want to hold me back" from my chosen field. They don't realize they're holding me back more by making my husband and I live paycheck to paycheck on just his income.

Yeah, I really do think it's as bad as they say it is.

 

[WDWBarb]

Unfortunately, it's bad. I receive resumes on a daily basis and haven't posted a position in well over a year.

 

[toddlers_mom]

See for some people taking a job at Taco Bell or Best Buy means a wage cut. There's no way that I could work for less than what I receive in unemployment and still pay bills. Its a vicious cycle. Our hospitals are hiring experienced nurses for positions as low as patient support. A position that you need NO experience for. Its still pretty bad here. People with no experience in a professional field are pretty screwed.

 

[Erik_in_TN]

These stories are heartbreaking.

Really sorry to hear, and please please please do not let the title of this thread mislead. I was not at all trying to pull the "it ain't bad...stop complaining" deal. Not in the least bit. I know it's bad...we're all impacted by this. Just wondering what the outlook is in other parts of the country.

I hope things do turn around for the better soon.

 

[toddlers_mom]

What's funny is that you hear all the time about how nursing is a recession proof job. Its so not...our hospitals are on hiring freezes and new graduates are having a lot of trouble finding jobs. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the economy rebounds by the time I graduate!

 

[momof1princess]

it is bad here (NE alabama). the help wanted ads...well...just really don't exist any more. i check them every sunday in my newspaper and there's nothing there but the usual scam stuff (make $500 per day stuffing envelopes, etc.). my DH has wanted to change jobs for the last 2 years, but there's just nothing within 1.5 hours that pays anywhere near what he makes now-i'm talking $4-$5 per hour pay cut. i've been looking for myself as well, and there's nothing.

 

[AustinTink]

And no, I'm not trying to underscore the unemployment crisis or any involved...it is bad right now. But is it really as bad as the doom & gloom talking heads suggest on TV? I know news stations such as CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News all have to have ratings in order to survive. And in order to survive you need to create the shock & awe factor to get people tuned in. Which during a recession, usually means using the fear factor, so to speak.
But when stations are saying "there are no jobs", yet I am sitting right here looking across the road at a Calhoun's restaurant, which has been hiring line cooks for the past 2 weeks (they need 3..have found one in two weeks, but still seeking the other 2). And no, there is not some massive line forming everyday of people. The sign has been out forever. The same can be said for a Target Superstore less than 25-min from here. They have been needing help since early this year. Not to mention the occaisonal Taco Bells and Best Buy's which have had help wanteds up in the past week or so.

So is it really at catastrophic levels? I know the college grads around here are having it harder due to employers pulling the "over-qualified" card and not wanting to pay the extra $$$ for someone with a degree/certification.

But overall..how is the job market? How is your area? The classifieds are not, by any means, as full as they were say 3 years ago. But there are listings. Fewer...but sill there nonetheless. Any input...light at the end of this recession tunnel?

Seeing as how my DH was laid off on Wednesday, I going to have to say... yes, it IS that BAD.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Thankfully, I'm not currently in the job market, but I have heard one report that really perked my ears up. We just had a Texas Roadhouse restaurant open, and it was reported that they received over 800 job applications for their opening crew. I have opened with a few new restaurants around here 5-7 years ago, and I have never heard of such a thing happening - not even close!

 

[Stephanie218]

I'm not asking for a ton of money or expecting to be a manager right off the bat because I have a degree - I'm applying at entry level and saying I'll work for minimum wage. No one will hire me. I'm sick of hearing I'm "overqualified" and how people "don't want to hold me back" from my chosen field. They don't realize they're holding me back more by making my husband and I live paycheck to paycheck on just his income.

Yeah, I really do think it's as bad as they say it is.

Same here. I graduated summa cum laude with my marketing degree, and couldn't find a marketing job for the life of me. So, I decided to just try and get an admin job on base, and applied for 6 months straight. I didn't even get one interview. So yes, it really is that bad.

 

[gina2000]

Yes, it's that bad.

 

[JessicaR]

It is absolutely that bad in our area, probably worse actually.

 

[wdwfan16]

What's funny is that you hear all the time about how nursing is a recession proof job. Its so not...our hospitals are on hiring freezes and new graduates are having a lot of trouble finding jobs. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the economy rebounds by the time I graduate!

I hear this all the time. I know two college kids, one going to be a teacher and the other a nurse. So many say they chose a recession proof job. When I say there is no such job they still insist they both are. I let them live in their happy place.

 

[debster812]

I am currently significantly underemployed, but am happy to have the position I do. I worked at one place for 17 years, and was laid off 5 weeks before they shuttered all operations. I collected UI for 9 months, while interviewing. I found a job on my 4th interview, but it did not work out for various reasons. I took a 3 month contract position, and that ended right around the holidays. I am now working part time doing operations and logistics for a small 3 store bargain retailer. It's 11 minutes from my door, and an easy place to work.

So yes, things are still pretty bad out there, and if you're looking, it's still imperative that you be tenacious, and leave no stone unturned. Craigslist, Indeed.com, Monster, etc. Plus NETWORKING NETWORKING NETWORKING. If everyone you know knows that you're looking for a job, it can only help.

 

[Jeninindy]

Yes, it's that bad. Dh was laid off in october and has been sending resumes, networking and interviewing. No luck. Every job has hundreds of applicants.

The hospital that I work for is NOT hiring - there are no jobs to fill, in fact regular staff are being cancelled for regular hours due to low census that continues.

There are so many people that we know that are experiencing the same issues.

The government can sugarcoat it, pretend unemployment is 10%, when it actually much, much higher than that. The doom and gloom reported on the news is closer to the truth.

Good Luck to all who are experiencing the same!!

 

[yoopermom]

I have been laid off twice in the past five years from teaching jobs and there is NO one who will hire me for more than what I'm earning on unemployment right now (and that isn't much, believe me). Last job I drove 90 miles each way for, and, if I'm lucky enough to find one for next fall, it'll probably mean only getting to come home on weekends. And this is to earn maybe 30k!

DS will be 16 next year, and I've already told him that there are people my age begging for the jobs that kids his age used to automatically get...

Ter

 

[iluvmickey2008]

My husband lost his job in May 2007 - took 12 weeks to find a new job, had probably, I don't know 20 or interviews total, and a few job offers. Fast forward to July 2008 - husband has lost job, has had only 1 interview total! Thank God for unemployment money, I'm not sure what we do without it.