Are you having trouble finding a job even though you have an education?

Question

I know a guy who has a Bachelor's in History and he works at the mall and says he cannot find a job. I know a guy who has an Associate's in Computers and the only job he could find was two towns away and he couldn't afford the move so he works at Target. I want to go to college but I am scared I will spend all my money and still be in the same place I am in. I am more interested in liberal arts which I hear makes it harder to find employment.

Answer 1

Your questions and concerns have been with us since the 1970's. Going to college was not about getting a job. There are plenty of people who DON'T have college educations that are unemployed as well. Getting an education is about making yourself knowledgable so you can make the best decisions for yourself or another entity. There are no jobs for a person with a B.A history degree and many other liberal arts majors. However, you can use your B.A. history degree to assist you in making good decisions or picking the right kind of career. For example, your friend should think about working for the U.S. Department of State as a foreign attache. His history degree will help the embassy in matter relating to foreign affairs. Or your friend could join the FBI or become an officer in the Army. Perhaps your friend could work in a museum. Either way he won't be able to do any of these jobs without a degree.

If you don't get an education you won't find a job any faster and you won't be educated. You may not find a job quickly with a college education but at least you will be educated.

Answer 2

It's true that a lot of the liberal arts degrees are either too broad to be applicable (like English or Psych) or to useless (like history or art) to be able to get you a variety of jobs. Athough it's great your friend has an associates in computers - it's just not enough education to get him into the field. Some fields require a specific amount of education before opportunites start going your way. If your history friend wants a job that will utilize his history - he needs at least a master's degree.

When deciding what to pursue, you have to think about how your degree will help a prospective employer AND what you want to do with that degree when your done. If your answer to either is "I don't know" or "I can coordinate the colors of the walls," then there's your sign.

When picking a degree, I think it's most helpful to figure out what you want to do for a career - then back track and think about what education will give you the best chances of success in that career and how far you need to take your education to get there.

Right now, degrees in any kind of engineering and healthcare can open many doors for you. I also think teaching degrees in general fields - reading, writing, math, or science - will also give you many opportunities.

If you have something in mind, check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook to see what you need, and also what degrees will help you there. Here is a snipet of what this book provides:

For hundreds of different types of jobs—such as teacher, lawyer, and nurse—the Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you:

the training and education needed
earnings
expected job prospects
what workers do on the job
working conditions
In addition, the Handbook gives you job search tips, links to information about the job market in each State, and more.

Answer 3

I have not had trouble since I graduated. I've got a BS in Chemical Engineering, though. Does liberal arts make it harder to find a job? Not necessarily. Motivation plays a much larger role than what degree you obtain. I know a guy that has a history degree, but he works for Pfizer and makes over a $100K a year as a sales rep. It sounds to me like your friends are looking for excuses and not for work (especially Computers guy).

If you have a good work ethic, you'll be just fine with a liberal arts degree. Look at this way, without the degree, you'll be doomed to jobs like Target and the mall. With a degree, you can always achieve more.

Answer 4

Have you considered the possibility that your friends aren't very gifted in the fields they've chosen? Also, to what jobs have they applied, and does the degree fit the occupation?

If they're decent at what they do, maybe the issue is they aren't trying hard enough to get a career going. Getting a degree is a good start, but it's not like businesses just show up at the graduation and say "Here, you can start as our systems analyst tomorrow!" They have to look, they have to apply, do interviews, and be willing to relocate if necessary. Sometimes, the reality is the job you're looking for may not be conveniently located right next to your hometown, or Maui, or whatever location it is you're looking to stay in.

If you'd like to get a degree in Liberal Arts, speak to a counselor, get some ideas as to what such a degree could be applied to, and look for information regarding what region of the world is most interested in your skills and where it will bring you the best money.

Answer 5

I think this depends upon where you are located and your willingness to be flexible. I'm always having to tell students that they can't guarantee that they will find a job in their own neighborhood which fully utilizes their capabilities (and they don't need to move; they just need to commute farther). I'm in a major city, so it generally is possible for people to stay within the metropolitan area for work, but I've talked to a lot of people who work in small towns whose graduates insist on staying local, and then complain when they can't find appropriate jobs. I'm seeing a lot of jobs listed, and I haven't heard a lot of complaints from recent graduates that they were having trouble finding jobs. For a great career, though, you have to be willing to make some sacrifices, and for many, if not most, people, this means moving wherever the job takes you.

Answer 6

Yup, that's the reality. You have to have a skill. I don't know why your computer friend isn't working. Maybe he's lazy. How hard can it be to move 2 towns away? You have to be willing to give also. I would suggest getting a degree in something you can use in actual life. You're right. School life/education is a lot different from the real world/street smarts.