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I've never been as depressed as I was back in the university when I was looking for open jobs and realized the employers want a completely different set of skil

I've never been as depressed as I was back in the university when I was looking for open jobs and realized the employers want a completely different set of skills than what I had. It hit me like a hammer when I realized all this time I had spend studying didn't even pay off in the end. I know how to code (no thanks to our education system), so I ended up getting a job anyway, but I have unemployed friends who are around 30yo with master's decrees and the best they can get is a part-time job as a cashier. They've mostly just given up on life at this point and live on welfare. They're very civilized though. How's that opioid crisis going on btw?

educated 4y ago
What exactly is the point you're making? That treating people like replaceable cogs in an economic machine is bad or do you have some other point?
- gloryjulio 4y ago
  I think the point is that we need to be honest and transparent with ppl. We don't have enough good jobs to accommodate, and there won't be. The so called middle class positions is and will be shrinking and we have to face the fact.
  - educated 4y ago
    What exactly is a "good" job in your opinion?
    - gloryjulio 4y ago
      What I mean is on macro perceptive, a good job should sustain a 'middle class' life style, let the ppl to afford housing, cars, children etc. And apparently by this standard, the percentage of good jobs are shrinking, and it's a global phenomena. Shrinking middle is not something I come up with. I just totally agree with it. Think about the good old days in America We have increasing number of ppl getting higher educations, coupled with shrinking good job markets, the competitions to get good jobs is only more fierce by the day. Whatever the reason, the automation, the shifting economy, the depletion of resources, the fact doesn't change. The supply of university graduates just outpase the shrinking 'good middle class' job markets.
      - TapWaterBandit 4y ago
        In the developed world there are so many industries that pay well screaming for more workers. Go on any job board and you can see this. The problem is people get some random "lifestyle" degree (like in Classics say) and then say "why can't I get a job with this?". Maybe because the modern economy has very limited demand for archaeologists? But if you learn virtually any trade, anything to do with IT, many forms of social work/healthcare, many parts of accounting/bookkeeping, then a middle class job is possible. The problem is then you start getting all these qualifications to why that isn't the "right" job they want. Maybe you need to do physical work, or work outside, or work with computers/software, or work with numbers, or work somewhere dirty, or work outside a global city, or work with sick people, or join the military etc. And then suddenly it isn't a "good job" anymore. Being a university graduate means so little these days because you can graduate in so many things that should basically be (or are) hobbies. There is no demand from customers, business, government for any of these "qualifications" so all people end up with is an inflated ego and debt.
        gloryjulio 4y ago
        You are talking about micro. I am talking about macro as I indicated in my first sentence. I am not interested in discussing anecdote. As someone who lives comfortably for now I can't imagine the new graduates are able to get a home, raising children. It's just too expensive. Majority of the ppl would live working poor no matter how much cost they cut. Think about this simple question. Do you think the percentage of ppl are capable to become home owner are comparable to 50-60 years ago in America? Is the cost of living getting higher or lower?
        TapWaterBandit 4y ago
        Depends where they want to buy a home and of what size/quality. As it always has. I agree the housing market is a bit fucked but that is a problem with the housing market, not the job market. Don't get the two confused. Land taxes should be implemented to help fix the morally bankrupt way housing is treated in this country.
- janmarsal 4y ago
  My point is that I completely disagree with your article and that schools should focus more on teaching skills that are useful. Better to be a cog than nothing.
  - educated 4y ago
    It's not my article but thanks for clarifying. In the future you can just say you disagree with the expressed viewpoint without reducing people to drug addicts to make some point about being a cog in an economic machine.
    - janmarsal 4y ago
      No, I'm going to speak up my mind in the future just as I did now. False promises and it's side effects was part of my point after all - and it was you who brought the cogs to the discussion.
      - educated 4y ago
        Great, keep up the good work.
  - charlieyu1 4y ago
    Let's teach the latest Javascript framework that will become obsolete by the time the student graduates
ako 4y ago
There are enough studies that will prepare you for a job, it's just that most young people are more interested in doing something interesting or fulfilling, and make economically unwise decisions.
- mellavora 4y ago
  yes, very true. I had to give up on environmental advocacy because the career path was non-existent. Money must be like democracy. The worst possible way to organize society with the possible exception of everything else we have tried.

educated 4y ago

What exactly is the point you're making? That treating people like replaceable cogs in an economic machine is bad or do you have some other point?

gloryjulio 4y ago
I think the point is that we need to be honest and transparent with ppl. We don't have enough good jobs to accommodate, and there won't be. The so called middle class positions is and will be shrinking and we have to face the fact.
- educated 4y ago
  What exactly is a "good" job in your opinion?
  - gloryjulio 4y ago
    What I mean is on macro perceptive, a good job should sustain a 'middle class' life style, let the ppl to afford housing, cars, children etc. And apparently by this standard, the percentage of good jobs are shrinking, and it's a global phenomena. Shrinking middle is not something I come up with. I just totally agree with it. Think about the good old days in America We have increasing number of ppl getting higher educations, coupled with shrinking good job markets, the competitions to get good jobs is only more fierce by the day. Whatever the reason, the automation, the shifting economy, the depletion of resources, the fact doesn't change. The supply of university graduates just outpase the shrinking 'good middle class' job markets.
    - TapWaterBandit 4y ago
      In the developed world there are so many industries that pay well screaming for more workers. Go on any job board and you can see this. The problem is people get some random "lifestyle" degree (like in Classics say) and then say "why can't I get a job with this?". Maybe because the modern economy has very limited demand for archaeologists? But if you learn virtually any trade, anything to do with IT, many forms of social work/healthcare, many parts of accounting/bookkeeping, then a middle class job is possible. The problem is then you start getting all these qualifications to why that isn't the "right" job they want. Maybe you need to do physical work, or work outside, or work with computers/software, or work with numbers, or work somewhere dirty, or work outside a global city, or work with sick people, or join the military etc. And then suddenly it isn't a "good job" anymore. Being a university graduate means so little these days because you can graduate in so many things that should basically be (or are) hobbies. There is no demand from customers, business, government for any of these "qualifications" so all people end up with is an inflated ego and debt.
      - gloryjulio 4y ago
        You are talking about micro. I am talking about macro as I indicated in my first sentence. I am not interested in discussing anecdote. As someone who lives comfortably for now I can't imagine the new graduates are able to get a home, raising children. It's just too expensive. Majority of the ppl would live working poor no matter how much cost they cut. Think about this simple question. Do you think the percentage of ppl are capable to become home owner are comparable to 50-60 years ago in America? Is the cost of living getting higher or lower?
        TapWaterBandit 4y ago
        Depends where they want to buy a home and of what size/quality. As it always has. I agree the housing market is a bit fucked but that is a problem with the housing market, not the job market. Don't get the two confused. Land taxes should be implemented to help fix the morally bankrupt way housing is treated in this country.
janmarsal 4y ago
My point is that I completely disagree with your article and that schools should focus more on teaching skills that are useful. Better to be a cog than nothing.
- educated 4y ago
  It's not my article but thanks for clarifying. In the future you can just say you disagree with the expressed viewpoint without reducing people to drug addicts to make some point about being a cog in an economic machine.
  - janmarsal 4y ago
    No, I'm going to speak up my mind in the future just as I did now. False promises and it's side effects was part of my point after all - and it was you who brought the cogs to the discussion.
    - educated 4y ago
      Great, keep up the good work.
- charlieyu1 4y ago
  Let's teach the latest Javascript framework that will become obsolete by the time the student graduates

ako 4y ago

There are enough studies that will prepare you for a job, it's just that most young people are more interested in doing something interesting or fulfilling, and make economically unwise decisions.

mellavora 4y ago
yes, very true. I had to give up on environmental advocacy because the career path was non-existent. Money must be like democracy. The worst possible way to organize society with the possible exception of everything else we have tried.