2024 College Graduates, how’s the job market?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About to graduate from Brown CS major and received a rescind email from the employer. Back to the square one.

Wow, that’s rough. Sorry.

+1. So much of this happening with CS majors right now. Too many CS majors, not enough jobs.

This. Diversify people.

Diversify into what? There have literally NEVER been enough jobs that require a college degree for liberal arts majors, which is why a massive %age are forever underemployed.

So, are you saying pick engineering and accounting?

The problem is all of these engineers are not equipped to actually lead anything. They have no leadership or communication skills. Pick us soft major and a hard major.

Yes, much better to pick some comms major who doesn't know anything but is slick to lead. That really inspires the other engineers too.

It will “inspire” the hiring manager.
Otherwise just network/talk/golf your way into a job. Working for most of grads I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:About to graduate from Brown CS major and received a rescind email from the employer. Back to the square one.

2002 all over again.

Another firm will pick them up. Hang tight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an apartment over our garage in a desirable neighborhood and because of that we've housed 4 kids from the class of 2023 while they've searched for jobs over the last year (including my DS). The physics major landed a job first at a cybersecurity start-up paying $65k a year. The business major, a kid who had the best EQ of the 4, landed a job paying about $80k but it took way more time than he expected. The English major who never had an internship in college really struggled and ended up as a health tech for about $45k a year. The math major is still looking (he had a late start) but he has had good offers that he has turned down, unfortunately because now it is getting tougher to get another offer. Just listening to them, math or physics could be a good alternative to CS.

? both the math and physics majors had offers in CS. So, why not just major in CS?

FWIW, my kid is a dual major, math and CS, and DC has excellent verbal skills (debate team) and writing skills (IBPD). Not graduated yet.

I do agree that graduates need both hard and soft skills, no matter your major.

Many kids do excel at more than one thing. Pretending that STEM kids are unable to communicate is just an old trope with little merit.

No, they're as rare as ever. Just read the posts around here--the STEM posters have tunnel vision and arrested world view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an apartment over our garage in a desirable neighborhood and because of that we've housed 4 kids from the class of 2023 while they've searched for jobs over the last year (including my DS). The physics major landed a job first at a cybersecurity start-up paying $65k a year. The business major, a kid who had the best EQ of the 4, landed a job paying about $80k but it took way more time than he expected. The English major who never had an internship in college really struggled and ended up as a health tech for about $45k a year. The math major is still looking (he had a late start) but he has had good offers that he has turned down, unfortunately because now it is getting tougher to get another offer. Just listening to them, math or physics could be a good alternative to CS.

? both the math and physics majors had offers in CS. So, why not just major in CS?

FWIW, my kid is a dual major, math and CS, and DC has excellent verbal skills (debate team) and writing skills (IBPD). Not graduated yet.

I do agree that graduates need both hard and soft skills, no matter your major.

Many kids do excel at more than one thing. Pretending that STEM kids are unable to communicate is just an old trope with little merit.

No, they're as rare as ever. Just read the posts around here--the STEM posters have tunnel vision and arrested world view.

+1

Most SWEs can't communicate with other people. Ask them to go participate in activities like tennis or golf and they have no clues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A plumber yesterday told me they charge $420 per hour. I was shocked inflation drove plumbing service to $420 per hour! Now how many college majors offer $420 per hour, even ten years post-graduation? And the icing on the cake is AI will not replace residential plumbing maintenance jobs!

Earlier this week, I had a plumber snake a clogged kitchen sink drain - he charged $350 for 35 minutes of effort!

yes, I got hit for $500 to fix my dishwasher drain. He was here for 45 minutes and is an independant (no overhead). I was bitter. Its getting outrageous. But cant help but hit the panic switch when water is leaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A plumber yesterday told me they charge $420 per hour. I was shocked inflation drove plumbing service to $420 per hour! Now how many college majors offer $420 per hour, even ten years post-graduation? And the icing on the cake is AI will not replace residential plumbing maintenance jobs!

Earlier this week, I had a plumber snake a clogged kitchen sink drain - he charged $350 for 35 minutes of effort!

yes, I got hit for $500 to fix my dishwasher drain. He was here for 45 minutes and is an independant (no overhead). I was bitter. Its getting outrageous. But cant help but hit the panic switch when water is leaking.

Do people not have trusted HVAC, plumbers, etc? Mine wouldn’t charge anything close to that…around 1/2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an apartment over our garage in a desirable neighborhood and because of that we've housed 4 kids from the class of 2023 while they've searched for jobs over the last year (including my DS). The physics major landed a job first at a cybersecurity start-up paying $65k a year. The business major, a kid who had the best EQ of the 4, landed a job paying about $80k but it took way more time than he expected. The English major who never had an internship in college really struggled and ended up as a health tech for about $45k a year. The math major is still looking (he had a late start) but he has had good offers that he has turned down, unfortunately because now it is getting tougher to get another offer. Just listening to them, math or physics could be a good alternative to CS.

? both the math and physics majors had offers in CS. So, why not just major in CS?

FWIW, my kid is a dual major, math and CS, and DC has excellent verbal skills (debate team) and writing skills (IBPD). Not graduated yet.

I do agree that graduates need both hard and soft skills, no matter your major.

Many kids do excel at more than one thing. Pretending that STEM kids are unable to communicate is just an old trope with little merit.

No, they're as rare as ever. Just read the posts around here--the STEM posters have tunnel vision and arrested world view.

+1

Most SWEs can't communicate with other people. Ask them to go participate in activities like tennis or golf and they have no clues.

You talk about communication and don't know when to use a plural

How many SWEs did you observe, survey to determine that they have no "clues" about tennis or golf? Clown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prediction (without dog in fight) CS and most STEM over or almost over. Glut of kids from the over focus on this for last 10-15 years and skills moving to AI. Will still need human implementation and judgement, though.

Who makes AI work?

English majors to write prompts. Sort of kidding but not really. I’m in data science and huge upheavals are happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About to graduate from Brown CS major and received a rescind email from the employer. Back to the square one.

Wow, that’s rough. Sorry.

+1. So much of this happening with CS majors right now. Too many CS majors, not enough jobs.

This. Diversify people.

Diversify into what? There have literally NEVER been enough jobs that require a college degree for liberal arts majors, which is why a massive %age are forever underemployed.

So, are you saying pick engineering and accounting?

The problem is all of these engineers are not equipped to actually lead anything. They have no leadership or communication skills. Pick us soft major and a hard major.

umm.. Pretty much every company in Silicon Valley, the engine of growth in California, the largest economy in the US and 5th largest economy in the world if it were its own country, disagrees with your take.

Soft skills are something you have. You can choose to hone it on the job. Hard skills need brains and a lot of training. For every liberal arts major that became CEO, there are a thousand that stopped at barista (which needs great communication skills to get that 25% tip).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A plumber yesterday told me they charge $420 per hour. I was shocked inflation drove plumbing service to $420 per hour! Now how many college majors offer $420 per hour, even ten years post-graduation? And the icing on the cake is AI will not replace residential plumbing maintenance jobs!

Earlier this week, I had a plumber snake a clogged kitchen sink drain - he charged $350 for 35 minutes of effort!

yes, I got hit for $500 to fix my dishwasher drain. He was here for 45 minutes and is an independant (no overhead). I was bitter. Its getting outrageous. But cant help but hit the panic switch when water is leaking.

I told my DH who is an engineer and good at fixing stuff that he could always be a handy man when he retires around our UMC neighborhood to earn extra cash. He also likes working on the house. A very educated friend of his was being charged $700 for something that DH fixed in 30min with a $35 part.

DH is trying to teach our college aged DS how to fix stuff. DS is interested in learning.

We have so many well educated people in this area who can't fix things around the house. A plumber can easily make a ton of money around here. But, it's also physically harder to be a plumber. Don't see a lot of 60 yr old plumbers around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A plumber yesterday told me they charge $420 per hour. I was shocked inflation drove plumbing service to $420 per hour! Now how many college majors offer $420 per hour, even ten years post-graduation? And the icing on the cake is AI will not replace residential plumbing maintenance jobs!

Earlier this week, I had a plumber snake a clogged kitchen sink drain - he charged $350 for 35 minutes of effort!

yes, I got hit for $500 to fix my dishwasher drain. He was here for 45 minutes and is an independant (no overhead). I was bitter. Its getting outrageous. But cant help but hit the panic switch when water is leaking.

I told my DH who is an engineer and good at fixing stuff that he could always be a handy man when he retires around our UMC neighborhood to earn extra cash. He also likes working on the house. A very educated friend of his was being charged $700 for something that DH fixed in 30min with a $35 part.

DH is trying to teach our college aged DS how to fix stuff. DS is interested in learning.

We have so many well educated people in this area who can't fix things around the house. A plumber can easily make a ton of money around here. But, it's also physically harder to be a plumber. Don't see a lot of 60 yr old plumbers around.

My dad did that when he got laid off in his late 50s and wasn't able to get another professional position. I think he was a lot happier doing that! And he taught my nephew, who lived nearby, how to do it too and now nephew earns cash for college as handyman with a few regular clients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A plumber yesterday told me they charge $420 per hour. I was shocked inflation drove plumbing service to $420 per hour! Now how many college majors offer $420 per hour, even ten years post-graduation? And the icing on the cake is AI will not replace residential plumbing maintenance jobs!

Earlier this week, I had a plumber snake a clogged kitchen sink drain - he charged $350 for 35 minutes of effort!

yes, I got hit for $500 to fix my dishwasher drain. He was here for 45 minutes and is an independant (no overhead). I was bitter. Its getting outrageous. But cant help but hit the panic switch when water is leaking.

I told my DH who is an engineer and good at fixing stuff that he could always be a handy man when he retires around our UMC neighborhood to earn extra cash. He also likes working on the house. A very educated friend of his was being charged $700 for something that DH fixed in 30min with a $35 part.

DH is trying to teach our college aged DS how to fix stuff. DS is interested in learning.

We have so many well educated people in this area who can't fix things around the house. A plumber can easily make a ton of money around here. But, it's also physically harder to be a plumber. Don't see a lot of 60 yr old plumbers around.

My dad did that when he got laid off in his late 50s and wasn't able to get another professional position. I think he was a lot happier doing that! And he taught my nephew, who lived nearby, how to do it too and now nephew earns cash for college as handyman with a few regular clients.

PP here..

Schools need to go back to having shop or woodworking class as a requirement. I had to take home ec in MS, and also took woodworking. And I'm a female.

DS took some kind of shop class as an elective in HS as an "easy A" type class, and he had a lot of fun. He was in a magnet program, but wanted to take a fun class for once. They made some interesting things.

DH also has taught our DD to use power tools. She loves using those; she feels so empowered when she's got a power tool in her hands. Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A plumber yesterday told me they charge $420 per hour. I was shocked inflation drove plumbing service to $420 per hour! Now how many college majors offer $420 per hour, even ten years post-graduation? And the icing on the cake is AI will not replace residential plumbing maintenance jobs!

Earlier this week, I had a plumber snake a clogged kitchen sink drain - he charged $350 for 35 minutes of effort!

yes, I got hit for $500 to fix my dishwasher drain. He was here for 45 minutes and is an independant (no overhead). I was bitter. Its getting outrageous. But cant help but hit the panic switch when water is leaking.

I told my DH who is an engineer and good at fixing stuff that he could always be a handy man when he retires around our UMC neighborhood to earn extra cash. He also likes working on the house. A very educated friend of his was being charged $700 for something that DH fixed in 30min with a $35 part.

DH is trying to teach our college aged DS how to fix stuff. DS is interested in learning.

We have so many well educated people in this area who can't fix things around the house. A plumber can easily make a ton of money around here. But, it's also physically harder to be a plumber. Don't see a lot of 60 yr old plumbers around.

When I was in between jobs, I was substitute teaching and sometimes I would do so at the local vocational technical school (i'm not in dc).

I hate how this country has split up by SES in schooling. I loved the curriculum and structure of the vocational tech school but the county/district i was in would use it send a lot of 'problem kids' there so it was a lot more violent/fighting vs the UMC 'normal hs' i also had experience at.

i am from a 'test prep' fam so i get the whole scoring 1500 on the sat etc...and i don't think it's a bad thing to be a test 'gunner' but i think you can still do that but also have all kids train in some fundamental skills (plumbing, electrical, small engine, woodworking/construction, auto, etc).

schooling (k thru undergrad) is totally broken

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A plumber yesterday told me they charge $420 per hour. I was shocked inflation drove plumbing service to $420 per hour! Now how many college majors offer $420 per hour, even ten years post-graduation? And the icing on the cake is AI will not replace residential plumbing maintenance jobs!

Earlier this week, I had a plumber snake a clogged kitchen sink drain - he charged $350 for 35 minutes of effort!

yes, I got hit for $500 to fix my dishwasher drain. He was here for 45 minutes and is an independant (no overhead). I was bitter. Its getting outrageous. But cant help but hit the panic switch when water is leaking.

I told my DH who is an engineer and good at fixing stuff that he could always be a handy man when he retires around our UMC neighborhood to earn extra cash. He also likes working on the house. A very educated friend of his was being charged $700 for something that DH fixed in 30min with a $35 part.

DH is trying to teach our college aged DS how to fix stuff. DS is interested in learning.

We have so many well educated people in this area who can't fix things around the house. A plumber can easily make a ton of money around here. But, it's also physically harder to be a plumber. Don't see a lot of 60 yr old plumbers around.

My dad did that when he got laid off in his late 50s and wasn't able to get another professional position. I think he was a lot happier doing that! And he taught my nephew, who lived nearby, how to do it too and now nephew earns cash for college as handyman with a few regular clients.

PP here..

Schools need to go back to having shop or woodworking class as a requirement. I had to take home ec in MS, and also took woodworking. And I'm a female.

DS took some kind of shop class as an elective in HS as an "easy A" type class, and he had a lot of fun. He was in a magnet program, but wanted to take a fun class for once. They made some interesting things.

DH also has taught our DD to use power tools. She loves using those; she feels so empowered when she's got a power tool in her hands. Lol

that isn't enough. i'm class of 2002 and we had shop/woodworking requirement in our 'college prep school' but that really isn't enough looking back at it. I think it needs to be 50% regular school and 50% vocational classes.

and the culture has to change because right now the vocational schools (well many of them) are used as 'dumping grounds' for many kids that the regular schools don't want to deal with

[Anonymous]

Live and work in finance in NYC and high school matters, but not always in the Choate kinda way. We have some many Xavier HS guys - wish is not a top private high school in nyc. It's not even the best all-boys jesuit high school in nyc. But it's got a huge presence in finance. Go figure.

Also, my kids roommate just had a job offer rescinded. These are cyber security majors at RPI. It was 150K job! but they seem to think they can get another one in a minute, as Beyonce might say.