Employment leads

No doubt you've followed the consolidation of the financial services and investment banking sector. And no doubt, you've got your resume on all the popular job search sites. You didn't mention if you recently got an undergraduate or graduate degree from UCSB. If it's the former, may I suggest you consider going back to school for an MBA or graduate degree. According to the Bureau of Labor and statistics, the financial services sector has shed 172,000 jobs since it's peak in Dec 2006. As more financial companies consolidate, there will be more candidates with job experience and higher degrees chasing fewer opportunities. A higher degree may help you be more competitive.

 

May I suggest an alternate course? You're in the prime of your life. Either go bum around europe working for nothing for a few months (the job market won't improve in the near future anyways), or go start your own company. You have no dependencies, I'm sure your parents can cover your basic existence, and you'll never have another chance in terms of a culture of support (the bay area in general, etc).

Then you can be the one on the hiring side a few years later.

 

I wish I had done this...

 

Sorry, probably not much help, but interesting story.

People are in a panic. They are taking money out of banks and the stock market, and buying safes for their homes.

I kid you not! Safe companies around the country are reporting huge backlogs in inventory, job openings, and fantastic sales!

Just goes to show.... there's always someone making money out there. So, just keep working on it, there's always something happening out there.

 

Unfortunately there is no longer "business economics".

You had best be creative and look beyond the degree you just earned to find a different field.

It will be a long month of Sundays before businesses will be hiring for your field.

 

Not that this helps, but economics could be the single most useless degree in the world. I have one, I should know. Especially at the undergrad level. It's the most fascinating subject, IMO, and I'm a student of life as a result, but in terms of vocational usefulness - it's got none.

That being said, you should have your own spark, go employ it. That or go get yourself some kind of technical skill set, accredited or not.

 

Now you are thinking realistically.

Find something that is in need and that is inexpensive and which can be bought by many.

It's simple economics, and that is something you should know.

Also find something that requires few or no employees.

Prepare to work 60+ hours per week for a long time.

I have never worked for anyone fulltime. I had part-time jobs through law school, went into family practice for a very short period, and then went into business. Been there ever since but 60+ hours per week are the norm.

When I get "old" I will probably go back to law.

 

AKA "Sell to the masses, live with the classes"

 

some in America will likely try to stone you JUST for your major after this month. good luck. start your own business if you have the support.

 

Now you are talkin'!

 

Again it's a question of specialization. You'd be shocked at how much discretionary money is there and how much people are spending at the upper echelons. People consider this an incredible buying opportunity, and SF is becoming an increasingly international city for example.

 

I think it's about $20K-$25K.

Forget borrowing $ for a new business in this era.

Find some enterprise that does not require much $.

There are plenty of options!

 

Totally agree.

 

AMEN

 

While you were still at UCSB did you use the Career Center to line up interviews and do some job searching? When did you graduate? You may still be able to use it as a resource. I got my first job from on-campus recruiting. Once you leave, you lose alot of resources that are set up specifically to line up new grads with open entry-level positions.

 

Also, ideally, try to find something that can be scaled up in volume without you having to replicate yourself.

 

Another good suggestion.

 

Sounds like a familiar situation. I graduated last year from Sac State with a Criminal Justice degree (the best school for the program on the west coast) and it took me 7 months to find a job, a part time job at that. I even tried volunteering for FOSV just to do something, but no luck. The job market is not that great, but I am happy working at Vuze (www.vuze.com). As someone else suggested, go get an MBA, that's what I'm doing. It's much easier to get an internship while in school and even a better chance to get hired once you graduate. Once the job market picks up, those with educational and plenty of work experience will be the first people to get hired. Hope this helps.

How many applications have you dished out? I'm almost reaching 400 .

 

The point some of us were trying to make is that sending resume is futile!

Get creative and use the education you received to do just that!

Old ways are no longer valid!

 

they never were