A random statement about the US economy.

I work a low-level retail job at a national department store chain, as some of you are no doubt aware.

In my department, the highest-paid department, the average wage is around 12 dollars an hour.

In the rest of the store, it hovers between six and seven dollars an hour.

Not particularly remarkable, but consider the following degrees that are working for that wage:

Bachelor's of Journalism
Bachelor's of Psychology
Bachelor's of History
2 Mechanical Engineering degrees
Construction Management
Computer Science

There are also several Associate Degrees floating around there too.

So, four years of college and an accredited degree, and we're all here making 7 bucks an hour.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

LF

I have a degree and have a solid job. But I had to bust my ass to get it.

Maybe tell those guys to start getting a move on with their resumes.

What ET said. Plus, MI is one of the most lagging economies around.

What is a "solid job"?

How much is good? Its all based on geography and situation.

One that is paying me a decent bit north of the average for someone with my degree. One that is shoving assloads of professional development down my throat. Responsibilities that are several years away from entry level. It's been a little daunting at times, but I love it and I feel really fortunate.

I seriously never expected to have gotten something this solid, but I did work for it and I'm glad. It was worth it.

I'm still a bit confused, I guess.... is solid where one makes more than $100,000 or is that exceptional these days?

Hmm, maybe if you're a doctor -- I'm not. My degree is in entertainment business, so I don't yet rate six figures.

It's good enough for me. One day I was watching my savings dwindle and holding out hope that my resumes would bring me to someone's attention. The next day I got an offer and I was making more than my mom did the whole time I was growing up.

And it's certainly better than retail, which is where I worked all through high school.

Maybe your school system sucks
Ours is pretty hard... I remember that about 50% of people who got in gave up on their freshman year.
Only 9-10% of people have degrees, and having a decent one (as in, not social sciences, arts or literature) pretty much guarantees you will be on the top 9-10% of salaries.
Get an MSc, and that raises the bar to 5%, a PhD, 1%.
That's right baby I'm with the FIC in my other life as well

hahahaha, Eggy

Yeah, our school systems suck. You can get by with doing -- and knowing -- so very little. I hated school most of my childhood because it didn't give me anything resembling the challenges I wanted.

Hmmm, shall we compare the GDP of the US with that of Portugal? And, you're pointing peeps in the wrong direction, at least in the USA; the Master's of Fine Arts is the new MBA. What self-respecting scientist is making oodles of money, anyway? haha

Sure. But what's that got to do with anything?


You would be surprised

I worked in a bookstore for $6/hr for a year, which basically covered car insurance, gas, and food at work. I lived at home.

I now suffer a 3rd shift job where I peruse these forums to stay awake.

I have had literally all my friends have trouble finding jobs. I think the soonest anyone found a job was 6 months of heavy searching.
- One friend had 15 years of programming experience
- A few were recent college graduates with engineering and computer science degrees
- Two are working in industries that they don't want to be in, underpaid for their degree, but afraid to leave their job and jobhunt for fear of losing their steady paycheck and insurance
- Gone on to grad school to avoid jobhunting
- Several have / are going into debt trying to get by.

I feel your pain.

If I made only 100k a year I would be very depressed. It is all relative to what you are used to making.

I make $150/hr in North Carolina right now and i worked hard to get to that point.

When I was younger I always had a goal of making twice my age.

So at 24 I wanted to make $48k a year. 30 I wanted $60k a year, etc.

I found it was a good goal and kept me always focusing on advancing. Degrees are fine, but they are hardly a defining characteristic these days. It is good to have them, but if you want to advance in business you need to develop some other core skills.

But what about those of us who aren't 156 years old??

If there's some guy who's got a CS degree, and can't find a better job than 12 dollars an hour, he's not really trying.

There are a LOT of jobs in the field for a CS degree.

This is why I'm back at college after 10 years after getting a BS in chemistry. I'm now working to goto medical school.

I'm in Michigan too, and yes - the economy sucks here.

I got outsourced in January (I'm in IT) - and my work environment went from "OMG I love my job" to "Hellish Slave Pit" in a matter of months. They've cut my team in half, yet doubled our workload by having our now smaller team support other customers of the outsourcer.

I've been on 4 interviews (got another one this Friday). At each one so far, I've blazed through & its gone awesome until we start talking money.

Pretty much, I'm learning I'm going to have to take a 20% pay cut to find another job in Detroit doing the same thing.

Really makes me want to sell my house & relocate.

Like what?

Well, management skills would be a start.

Also, if you are posting to this message board at your job, that should tell you something. No offense, but you really should be working at work. Find something productive to do or take a class online during that time or read a book on management.

I would also recommend speaking with a career counselor. Don't limit yourself. At every possible opportunity take the initiative to increase your job.

What I am doing now, I had never done before. My technical skills are pretty bad. However, I can manage anything. Yard Sale, Bake Sale, Construction Project, Writing Projects and now Software Development. For me, it is all the same.

The other sad truth is that if there are no jobs where you live, you may want to move to where the jobs are. U-Hauls aren't that expensive.

And the last skill is to vote for Democrat for President. Historically the economy is better when a Democrat is President. (look it up)

Actually, if one of the 'variables' in your work environment is draconian intolerance of people actually acting like, say, people - and doing 'fun' things even during 'work time', then I'd say its time to find a job that doesn't have its collective head up its ass.

Thats insane.

Also, being in management blows But I have less tolerance about hearing people calling in sick and wanting days off than most. I've got about 300+ sick hours I'll never use built up, and I probably could take a month or so off fully paid, right now, in vacation time, so that is where I'm coming from.

I hate to say it to the degree-earners out there, but kudos to you, however in my experience and from the many people I've known throughout IT, compensation is rarely solely determined by degree. Yes, I know people making even more than 100k a year that don't have any degrees. (non-sales, I might add.)

Just the way things are, I guess.

That's not really true.

Some jobs, like your typical computer sysadmin jobs, are a bit like being a 24/7 on-call doctor or EMT. Most days, you clear your plate within a few hours and spend most of the rest of the day just being there if needed. But when they need you, you will work 16 hours straight if that's what's required.

I never got my degree, but I'm making great money.

When I started in the computer field in 1981, I worked for Digital Equipment Corporation, who encouraged employees to learn new things and move into other positions if the hiring manager thought you could do the job. I progressed thru a series of positions for the 24 years I was there, each with more responsibility and more money.

Unfortunately that ended back in December (project cancelled, nearly all staff laid off).

I was out of work for 10 months (I'm convinced that employers often don't know what they want when the post job listings) but now I'm in a well paying contract position (which may turn into a permanent position).

Guess ya never heard of the term "break" then?

I don't disagree, but I find it helpful to take a quick couple of minutes here and there during the day to read or post something on the couple of boards I participate it. It gives the mind a much needed rest.

In other words, you work too much.

Just kidding. I was the same way when I was in a permanent position.



If I were a hiring manager for computer related positions, I'd be looking for people with the most experience, not the most paper.

Oh don't worry... I don't work... so no problem there