Forum Post: Genuine Career Advice From a Business Owner - How to Pull Your Life Together
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 9, 2011, 12:16 p.m. EST by vegaseller
(25)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I know a lot of you protesters are disappointed college graduates who realized that finding a job may not be as easy you had originally hoped. As someone who has founded several small businesses in his lifetime, I will explain why businesses are not hiring and some useful tips to getting yourself into a career despite these hard times. Trust me, its not easy for anybody right now.
First of all, companies are sitting on record cash and are not hiring? Why? You guys think companies hoarding money is a sign of greed? Quite the opposite, a company that is greedy will expand like crazy and bite off more than it can chew. Companies hoarding cash is a byproduct of risk aversion created by lots of uncertainty. I'll explain. You guys are talking about the bailout of wall street (they took a 700 billion loan and paid it back), but whats more worrying to us business owners is that 5-6 trillion USD in unfunded pension liability tsunami that is going to flood over us in the next 5 years, which will either have to be paid with higher taxes or higher inflation (lower real growth). Along with other regulatory uncertainties, these are the real reasons businesses aren't hiring.
Second of all, there is a large skill mismatch between what employers are looking for and what students are learning at the university. Most of the liberal arts/humanities/social science majors are really not in demand and the most you can hope for for such a degree is a government job somewhere or go to graduate school. Be honest to yourself, is it worth putting yourself 100k in debt to get a degree in art history (if its too late, I'll explain how to get yourself out of the hole).
Personally, when I went to university I majored in Computer Science and Economics (the most in demand majors), but even I realized all of the courses were too theoretical and taught you nothing about skills in the real world. Thats when I stumbled onto a real gem, University Extension Programs. These are coursework designed to keep working professionals fresh in their skill set and are regularly taught by retired professionals, offering a fresh perspective from your professors. There is no restriction to these courses and anyone can apply, personally I felt like I learned more in one of these courses than in all of my university years. See http://www.scps.nyu.edu/areas-of-study/divisions-of-programs-in-business/professional-certificates/ for the NYU extension program, all of the top universities have them, you are essentially getting a technical graduate degree on the cheap and its highly valued by employers. Also, these courses are tailored towards working people so they are usually for 3 hours at night on a Friday or Monday.
Now these courses will range anywhere from $200 - $1000, so I'll go over budget management. If you are really starved for cash, Just take the highest waged job you can get that you feel will keep you sane enough to take one of these extension classes per quarter, remember, we are investing for the future. Now if you have a little bit of a capital cushion, I'd recommend working for free and here is why. Working a minimum wage job at McDonalds is not a resume filler, but interning for free is a pretty good one, it'd show experience in a professional environment. So what I would do is depending on your fiscal situation, adjust a sliding scale between the two. Remember, small businesses do most of the hiring and they don't have the spare capacity to do training, so the more experience you have the better.
After toughing it out for a year or two, you should have a good list of contacts with professionals and professors from your extension programs, you will have valuable real world skills and perhaps some work experience (internship, paid internship if its IT related). And you will be well on your way to getting your career started.
I will leave this thread open for further discussions for career advice and Q&A.
Great, positive, and informative post. The only thing I would add is that this needs to be discussed more and people need to be aware to make better choices. I think many protesters are touching on Education and there needs be a discussion there about this. Because as you say "there is a large skill mismatch between what employers are looking for and what students are learning at the university." The education and political system is being left in the dust because it can not adapt. Also, there was some talk about being able to "work for free" or "intern" but it becomes difficult on unemployment to do this. Thanks for opening this great discussion.
bumping
Great post.
That was a terrific post! Thank you!
I agree that it is a pay to play system in Washington but Obama said he would change that and have more transparency. Yeah right! He's by far the worst President this country has ever had. Plus, he's a socialist. His core belief is redistribution of wealth and big government. It’s funny that liberals will protest corporations but give rich Democrat’s like George Soros, John Kerry, and Nancy Pelosi a free ride. Why aren’t you pot heads protesting their wealth? Why don’t you ask douche bags like Michael Moore and the meaningless people in Hollywood to help pay your bills? They’re all multi-millionaires. So it’s okay if you’re a rich Democrat but a rich Republican is the devil? You see, liberals have no logic in their thought process. They’re always the victim of something. Give me a break.
AMEN!
This is good advice. It assumes a certain level of privilege but is good advice all the same, and it was generous of vegaseller to take the time to put it together. This movement is not just about getting jobs though. Unemployment is just the catalyst that has finally gotten people out in the streets. The Tunisian's put up with Ben Ali for 23 years until food inflation got out of hand. The Egyptions put up with Mubarak for 30 years until unemployment was too high to handle. However, they were not protesting for lower food prices and more jobs. They were protesting the system that got them into the mess in the first place. So are we.
Our society faces many problems. Unemployment and student loans are just a few of them. The main issue is that our political system has increasingly prioritized the needs of the wealthy and influential over all else. Our culture has slowly excepted the philosophy of profit over all other concerns. It's time to level the playing field and let all voices be heard (yes business too). Only then can we face the challenges ahead. It may be economics that woke us from our apathy but the last thing we want is a return to the status quo.
I'd be happy to work anywhere doing anything physically possible, honest, and moral. Problem is I was injured a year ago and have 2 herniated discs and major nerve root compression. Unfortunatly the work comp insurance company is only concerned with finding a way out of "insuring" me rather than helping me recover from an injury sustained at a job where I volunteered to do all the jobs no one else wanted to do, had no vacation time, no paid holidays, no salary increase for 2 years, and worked countless hours of overtime for NO pay...not regular pay overtime...no pay overtime! Work comp and their infinate money has lawyers whose job is to get out of claim responsibility...not inquire or establish an honest agreement. We are not lazy unemployed freeloaders looking for a handout. I don't want your money, or wall streets, or the governments, or anyones. I just want a chance at survival and a decent life where me and my families needs are met. (I have 2 kids to support). It's not as easy as just going out and getting a job or starting a company for some of us. Those are great ideas but I can't get there from here. Regardless of what everyones personal capabilities are it's blatently obvious that our systems, govt.,insurance companies, financiers are seriously corrupt.
Its too late for this kind of BS. 46 million in poverty, 30 million unemployed or underemployed. Too late.
You can't fix a recession by giving up.
on the contrary, I espouse immediate action as set forth in the declaration:
https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/
USA IN ALL CAPS GUARANTEES THE FRADULENT CORPORATION REMAINS VIABLE! Check the fine print on these laws. This system is so deep in the fineworkings it can only be rebuilt from the ground up.
I'm all in favor of taking down today's ineffective and inefficient Top 10% Management Group of Business & Government, but there's only one way to do it – by fighting bankers as bankers yourselves. Consequently, I have posted the Strategic Legal Policies, Organizational Operating Structures, and Tactical Investment Procedures necessary to do this at:
http://getsatisfaction.com/americanselect/topics/on_strategic_legal_policy_organizational_operational_structures_tactical_investment_procedures
Join
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/StrategicInternationalSystems/
if you want to support a Presidential Candidate Committee at AmericansElect.org in support of the above bank-focused platform.
I'd be happy to work anywhere doing anything physically possible, honest, and moral. Problem is I was injured a year ago and have 2 herniated discs and major nerve root compression. Unfortunatly the work comp insurance company is only concerned with finding a way out of "insuring" me rather than helping me recover from an injury sustained at a job where I volunteered to do all the jobs no one else wanted to do, had no vacation time, no paid holidays, no salary increase for 2 years, and worked countless hours of overtime for NO pay...not regular pay overtime...no pay overtime! Work comp and their infinate money has lawyers whose job is to get out of claim responsibility...not inquire or establish an honest agreement. We are not lazy unemployed freeloaders looking for a handout. I don't want your money, or wall streets, or the governments, or anyones. I just want a chance at survival and a decent life where me and my families needs are met. (I have 2 kids to support). It's not as easy as just going out and getting a job or starting a company for some of us. Those are great ideas but I can't get there from here. Regardless of what everyones personal capabilities are it's blatently obvious that our systems, govt.,insurance companies, financiers are seriously corrupt.
"You guys are talking about the bailout of wall street (they took a 700 billion loan and paid it back"
You pro-bank people need to stop saying this. 40% of the bailout money has not been paid back and besides that, if my business starts to fail, can i go to congress and demand anything to help me out? No, I can't. Case closed.
Look I am not a big fan of the large banks. I happen to think that the more you concentrate them, they become ever more systematically risky. They should be broken up and not be allowed to get so large in the first place. But the amount spent bailing out the banks are peanuts compared to the debt tsunami on the horizon from entitlement obligations and unfunded public pensions to the tune of tens of trillions. And guess who is coming to back your movements? Public pension unions. Hell even FDR was against the concept of public employee unions.
Good, we agree on the fact that "too big to fail" shouldn't be possible.
I know in my state, the pensions were fully funded. Starting in the late eighties/early nineties, we had a Republican governor who lobbied our assembly to make it possible for the state to use the worker's pension funds to pay for other obligations.
Now the pension funds are broke and the state can't pay the money back. It is not the worker's fault. It is the govt's fault, specifically, Republicans in my state. Those pensions were funded.
Having said that, I just posted on another thread, if you want to hold up an icon of a bad public employee's union - the California correction officers should be it. They've turned even me against the concept of a public employee union.
We understand what's going on. We live it every single day. The constant inner turmoil of do I pay the rent or feed my children. We pray every night that we all stay healthy because we don't have health insurance let alone an extra $200-$1000 to throw behind a course that may or may not advance us in our professions. Some of us, lost our jobs years ago and are lucky to pick up a couple shifts a week slinging burgers so our children can have shoes. I went to college, I have worked hard all my life, I have struggled and I have seen good times. My family is hanging on by a shoestring, but it's a strong one. We consider ourselves lucky to have a home, a car, food, and internet service. However, we still feel deeply for the thousands of people who wander our county daily who don't have those things. Those are the people we fight for. The homeless veterans, the homeless mothers and fathers, the people who don't know where or when they will get their next meal. Getting the hands of polititans (republican or democrat) out of the pockets of corporations and putting their minds back on "we the people for the people" is what this movement is about for me.
Then you have a real concern, I am simply speaking to the healthy 20 somethings that are just wasting away instead of doing something productive.
these problems can be solved if we get corporate bribery out of politics. that is the first step
I dont support this movement, but the lack of genuine care isnt there enough. Most of it is just complete nonsense. I applaud you.
I have a genius IQ, a college degree, and I was the hardest worker in every company I ever worked at. It has gotten me nowhere. Except fired. From crappy jobs, and temp jobs. I am unemployed and I refuse to take another job like my last job as a cashier at a gas station. I will not be talked down to, and treated like I'm not equal. I will not shut my mouth while people take out their frustrations on me, because they know I can not defend myself because my crappy job is hanging over my head. Screw that and screw them!
A genius IQ does not really mean anything in the real world. Most of MENSA is filled with security guards and janitors who are addicted to puzzles. If you are really as smart as you say you are, you should have professional contacts, or you can go continue your education. Or you can go intern. Pride will be your downfall, learn to be a little bit more humble.
My downfall is I fail at interviews. I have aspergers, and no one will give me a chance to prove myself because i screw up every interview. No matter how much I practice, this will not change. I have done an "internship" where I was used to make copies, send faxes, and type. And my resume just keeps getting worse because I get fired for not being social enough at work and not fitting in, which makes interview questions even more awkward to answer. My job history is so horrible, I would have to totally lie and make up a whole fake job history to get in anywhere. So yes, I am proud of my good qualities, and it has taken me my whole life to actually see that I had anything good to offer. But I refuse to spend another 20K on college to not get past another interview. I have problems lying and bullshitting with people. I am brutally honest, and if I got fired because my last manager wanted overtime to pay her rent, and her friend told me that after she fired me, if I even try to lie, it will come out soooooo messed up, so I blurt out the truth. Since you are a business owner, what would your suggestions be if someone like myself walked in for an interview?
I would recommend working your strengths, and not falling prey to your faults. There is no place for self-pity due to the cards you were dealt... get out there dude, and make something of yourself! Motivation and hard work are your virtues. good luck
Start your own business. Its probably the only way out of your diagnosis. People like you tend to be enormously successful at running things.
I wanted to, but I am not sure this is the right time to open a business, when so many businesses are failing. I am not lazy, I want a job, like everyone else. I want a job that appreciates a hard worker that doesn't spend all day talking or playing games at work. I also want a job that pays enough to support some sort of standard of living.
What are you good at? What are you passionate about? I'd bet you would be enormously successful at running a business in something you're good at and passionate about.
I am passionate about diagnosing illnesses when doctors can't give a correct diagnosis. I would not be willing to start medical school at 32 years old though. I like fixing computer problems, but I don't even know how I know how to fix computers. The answer just kinda comes to me, and I literally don't even know what I'm talking about half the time, but it works somehow. I have no computer training except for what my husband has taught me.
You could start medical school now. A big chunk of every medical school class is people exactly like you. A little bit older than the usual 22 but still with a lot of life in front of them.
How could I start a medical school? I have no money.
Most medical schools offer scholarships for gifted students. If you really have a genius IQ, you could probably get one.
Well, people with aspergers tend to be good hedge fund managers... see michael burry. Have you considered a career there. Its a field where people don't give a shit about your personality and all that bullshit as long as you deliver in the end.
Thank you so much
The problem with our society is that we define success by how much money you make.
We need to distance ourselves from such a destructive philosophy.
Everyone here is complaining about having to do without. Money is simply an exchange of value. You work and you get a paycheck. Then you go buy an iPad. The value has been transferred. To define success can be measured how you like, but the accumulated value does speak for itself. Yet, look what Mother Theresa did. I bet she would not be on here posting about health insurance and economic fairness.
What's your point? Are you saying that Mother Theresa's life was worth more than Bill Gates?
Because then you'd agree with me.
Depends on how you measure success. The worth you are asking about can be represented in different values. Bill Gates: monetary, Mother Theresa: helping others. Take your pick on how you measure things.
I measure things differently than how society measures it.
By virtue of our Capitalist system, the average person tends to measure self worth in moola.
I'm saying that this philosophy is corrosive to the spiritual and mental health of the individual who participates in the system.
The average person does this because we all like to eat the good stuff. An individuals spiritual and mental health is solely decided upon in the individual. Whose says you can't be well off, have a religious life, and be of good mind?
No one says you can't. But our system of media persuades many people to believe that economics is stronger than ethics.
Why do you think religion, art, and modesty have been so marginalized in the past 50 years? It has a lot to do with the growth of advertising.
So, you actually have faith in the media? People can choose what they want to value.
People can only choose what they want to value if they've been taught the necessary tools to make a responsible decision about their values.
Have you ever heard that aphorism "It takes a village to raise a child?" It's true. In our case now, the boundaries of our village have extended fairly globally, and the media bears a large role in raising our children (for better or for worse, this is now true in our society).
I don't have faith in the media insomuch that it refuses to accept responsibility in raising children ethically.
So I take it you are female?
[Removed]
ahhahaha.. be a real man... If any men where in this movement then the crying would stop.
You sir, are a moron. Its NOT just about jobs and taxes. Please, for the love of christ, GTFO
I agree with a lot of what you said but I think would be a mistake to think this movement is all young unemployed people. There are a lot of full time professionals behind this. I wish I had more time away from my job - I'd love to march along with them.
Thanks for sharing this. Hopefully some of these people will be pulled back to reality-and begin to understand what is really going on.
What is really going on? I thought I just realized, but this was after 3 weeks studiing Occupy Wall Street and lots of questions that arise. I really don´t think even a 0,5% of the educated people know what is going on.