2024 College Graduates, how’s the job market?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend's kid in electrical engineering is very discouraged. Graduated top of class two years ago, and has started a masters in hopes that it would improve chances. Spoke with a friend-of-a-friend in the industry and was told they post internships, but haven't actually been hiring those positions for a while. Said the outlook is bleak, and masters is useless, might be better to bide time completing a PhD.

Try Electric Boat...hiring tons of engineers to build subs.

Thanks, I'll let him know.

[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 recently had a plumber come to fix our shower steam unit. He was probably in his 60s and very chatty. He told me his company has been actively trying to find young apprentices to learn the trade for the past three years and in his words, "nobody wants to be a plumber anymore."

AI can't install bathroom fixtures, wire a house/building for electricity, install or fix HVAC units. We need strong programs in schools or centers like this one that was very popular in the 1970s where I grew up:

https://www.tcdupage.org/apps/pages/DAOES

Students spend part of their school day attending classes there and focus on a career path.

Anyway - I have a DC graduating from a top 20 school this year who doesn't have a job yet. But neither do most of DC's friends. I'd say about 25% have a job. It's a tough market for everyone.

My BIL is an electrician, smart guy, hard working, but if you aren't the owner it's not a great living. Also, industry standard is only mandated benefits, no possibility of family coverage, etc. The fantasies that get spewed about trade jobs, based on sticker shock and chitchat are also bubble.

At the very least, I would recommend pursuing a trade at a large company where you may at least have stable hours and benefits. WSJ just ran an article about more kids looking at the trades and point out how large manufacturing companies need welders, electricians, etc., and also have apprentice programs. No mention of working for small companies serving residential.

I guess this is the new DCUM anecdote...getting overcharged by a plumber or somebody and then thinking everyone must make that amount.

+1 commercial work is where it's at. My wealthiest relative is an electrician - and now CEO of a large commercial electrical contracting company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 recently had a plumber come to fix our shower steam unit. He was probably in his 60s and very chatty. He told me his company has been actively trying to find young apprentices to learn the trade for the past three years and in his words, "nobody wants to be a plumber anymore."

AI can't install bathroom fixtures, wire a house/building for electricity, install or fix HVAC units. We need strong programs in schools or centers like this one that was very popular in the 1970s where I grew up:

https://www.tcdupage.org/apps/pages/DAOES

Students spend part of their school day attending classes there and focus on a career path.

Anyway - I have a DC graduating from a top 20 school this year who doesn't have a job yet. But neither do most of DC's friends. I'd say about 25% have a job. It's a tough market for everyone.

My BIL is an electrician, smart guy, hard working, but if you aren't the owner it's not a great living. Also, industry standard is only mandated benefits, no possibility of family coverage, etc. The fantasies that get spewed about trade jobs, based on sticker shock and chitchat are also bubble.

At the very least, I would recommend pursuing a trade at a large company where you may at least have stable hours and benefits. WSJ just ran an article about more kids looking at the trades and point out how large manufacturing companies need welders, electricians, etc., and also have apprentice programs. No mention of working for small companies serving residential.

I guess this is the new DCUM anecdote...getting overcharged by a plumber or somebody and then thinking everyone must make that amount.

+1 commercial work is where it's at. My wealthiest relative is an electrician - and now CEO of a large commercial electrical contracting company.

That's still studying exceptions. There's no job, trade or otherwise, where everyone gets to be the boss. People aim for jobs that require education because the average outcome is better.

My BIL is working for builders, not making house calls. He's in an area where there isn't much else. Yes, that's his issue wanting to live where he does, but he's not alone in that. Half of Silicon Valley has moved to town and that's why luxury residential is booming. He's not hurting for work, but compensation doesn't reflect demand or approach the work-from-home salaries that are driving cost of living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1…also the Chaminade network is fantastic for kids in nyc area and beyond

DS will graduate in next week from UVA, and had been looking for jobs since January without much lucks. Submitted over 1500 job applications with three interviews but no offers. He reached out to one of the parents of a regular friend from his days at Sidwell Friends. The friend's mother is a Fed SES and got him a Project Management (PM) contracting job with 95k/yr salary. DS's boss tole him that there are over 800 applications for that position and he would not have been hired without knowing the SES Fed. YMMV.

So she leveraged her Fed position to get the government contracting company to place your kid? Sounds highly unethical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 recently had a plumber come to fix our shower steam unit. He was probably in his 60s and very chatty. He told me his company has been actively trying to find young apprentices to learn the trade for the past three years and in his words, "nobody wants to be a plumber anymore."

AI can't install bathroom fixtures, wire a house/building for electricity, install or fix HVAC units. We need strong programs in schools or centers like this one that was very popular in the 1970s where I grew up:

https://www.tcdupage.org/apps/pages/DAOES

Students spend part of their school day attending classes there and focus on a career path.

Anyway - I have a DC graduating from a top 20 school this year who doesn't have a job yet. But neither do most of DC's friends. I'd say about 25% have a job. It's a tough market for everyone.

My BIL is an electrician, smart guy, hard working, but if you aren't the owner it's not a great living. Also, industry standard is only mandated benefits, no possibility of family coverage, etc. The fantasies that get spewed about trade jobs, based on sticker shock and chitchat are also bubble.

At the very least, I would recommend pursuing a trade at a large company where you may at least have stable hours and benefits. WSJ just ran an article about more kids looking at the trades and point out how large manufacturing companies need welders, electricians, etc., and also have apprentice programs. No mention of working for small companies serving residential.

I guess this is the new DCUM anecdote...getting overcharged by a plumber or somebody and then thinking everyone must make that amount.

+1 commercial work is where it's at. My wealthiest relative is an electrician - and now CEO of a large commercial electrical contracting company.

I am PP...not even talking about this...mean going to work for Lockheed or an auto manufacturer as a welder or electrician or pipe fitter. These jobs have apprenticeship programs and are paying well over $100k, especially if you consider overtime. You work normal hours at a factory with good benefits and opportunities to advance into managerial operational roles, and they will pay for you to attend college if you want to "up" your skills.

[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!

I did it by myself, I mean teamwork with spouse, both phd, got the snake from home depot, took us an hour with cleaning and everything. More and more people are going to DIY.

[Anonymous]

I know several UMD & UPitt CS seniors (all MoCo) doing internships last summer and getting FT return offers. If school is T20 and GPA> 3.0, then should have no issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I know several UMD & UPitt CS seniors (all MoCo) doing internships last summer and getting FT return offers. If school is T20 and GPA> 3.0, then should have no issue.

Are these employers asking to see a transcript in their review process? Sincere question as you mention GPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I know several UMD & UPitt CS seniors (all MoCo) doing internships last summer and getting FT return offers. If school is T20 and GPA> 3.0, then should have no issue.

Are these employers asking to see a transcript in their review process? Sincere question as you mention GPA.

I'll have to ask my DC but the GPA is in the resume, yes, I know from all the resumes I've seen while hiring in my field.

[Anonymous]

Chesapeake Shipbuilding is hiring electricians.

https://www.chesapeakeshipbuilding.com/careers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1…also the Chaminade network is fantastic for kids in nyc area and beyond

DS will graduate in next week from UVA, and had been looking for jobs since January without much lucks. Submitted over 1500 job applications with three interviews but no offers. He reached out to one of the parents of a regular friend from his days at Sidwell Friends. The friend's mother is a Fed SES and got him a Project Management (PM) contracting job with 95k/yr salary. DS's boss tole him that there are over 800 applications for that position and he would not have been hired without knowing the SES Fed. YMMV.

So she leveraged her Fed position to get the government contracting company to place your kid? Sounds highly unethical.

Happens all the time

It’s gross and unethical

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 2 years out - almost all of her friends have been laid off at least once. She hates her job but is sticking with it until she returns to grad school next year - it's tough right now. My observation knowing quite a few of these recent grads is that it's equally hard to find a job AND keep it.

My DC has seen the same. One year out, happy where she is but many friends have already changed positions, or clinging to a job that makes them miserable.

I was laid off after a year from my first job in the early 90s. It was the best kick in the pants ever. I eventually ended up in a different field, earning much more and also much happier in that field.

I live by the "one door shuts, another opens" motto, and I'm not normally a "glass is half full" kind of person.

But, you have to hustle. I was poor for a couple of years before I eventually found this new career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Navigating the intricate web of connections that lead to high-paying jobs after graduation from prestigious universities like Yale can be a daunting task. My DS recently shed light on the challenges faced by those from LC or MC backgrounds in accessing these coveted opportunities. It seems that a significant barrier exists, with affluent students seemingly monopolizing access to influential networks through familial connections and social circles.

The disparity is stark: while the affluent students effortlessly navigate the corridors of privilege, those from less privileged backgrounds find themselves on the outside looking in. Unless one possesses exceptional athletic or musical talents, breaking into these exclusive circles seems like an insurmountable feat. It appears that prowess in sports or the arts grants access to the coveted inner sanctum, where one's social capital is measured by their ability to attract attention and admiration.

In this ecosystem of privilege, the currency is not merely wealth but also influence and status. Athletes and musicians, despite their modest backgrounds, possess a certain allure that transcends monetary means. Their ability to captivate and charm earns them coveted spots within the elite social circles, where they are sought after not just for their talents but also for the doors they can open.

It's a transactional world, where relationships are forged on the basis of mutual benefit. While it's disheartening to acknowledge this reality, it's important to recognize the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequality within these institutions. As my DS has pointed out, it's not merely about merit but also about who you know and how you can leverage those connections for personal gain.

You are fooling no one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1…also the Chaminade network is fantastic for kids in nyc area and beyond

DS will graduate in next week from UVA, and had been looking for jobs since January without much lucks. Submitted over 1500 job applications with three interviews but no offers. He reached out to one of the parents of a regular friend from his days at Sidwell Friends. The friend's mother is a Fed SES and got him a Project Management (PM) contracting job with 95k/yr salary. DS's boss tole him that there are over 800 applications for that position and he would not have been hired without knowing the SES Fed. YMMV.

So she leveraged her Fed position to get the government contracting company to place your kid? Sounds highly unethical.

Happens all the time

It’s gross and unethical

Disgusting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Navigating the intricate web of connections that lead to high-paying jobs after graduation from prestigious universities like Yale can be a daunting task. My DS recently shed light on the challenges faced by those from LC or MC backgrounds in accessing these coveted opportunities. It seems that a significant barrier exists, with affluent students seemingly monopolizing access to influential networks through familial connections and social circles.

The disparity is stark: while the affluent students effortlessly navigate the corridors of privilege, those from less privileged backgrounds find themselves on the outside looking in. Unless one possesses exceptional athletic or musical talents, breaking into these exclusive circles seems like an insurmountable feat. It appears that prowess in sports or the arts grants access to the coveted inner sanctum, where one's social capital is measured by their ability to attract attention and admiration.

In this ecosystem of privilege, the currency is not merely wealth but also influence and status. Athletes and musicians, despite their modest backgrounds, possess a certain allure that transcends monetary means. Their ability to captivate and charm earns them coveted spots within the elite social circles, where they are sought after not just for their talents but also for the doors they can open.

It's a transactional world, where relationships are forged on the basis of mutual benefit. While it's disheartening to acknowledge this reality, it's important to recognize the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequality within these institutions. As my DS has pointed out, it's not merely about merit but also about who you know and how you can leverage those connections for personal gain.

You are fooling no one.

What does this mean? How is PP fooling us?