Lots of friend's kids aren't getting jobs post college. Is this common?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two friends whose daughters are still living at home and refuse to work, even at waiting tables. They travel often to visit college friends. We have others where the work is very sporadic. Their kids keep moving in and out. It seems like most of the couples are still paying for cell phones, help with rent, travel expense, etc. well into adulthood. One couple has paid for extended grad study for two kids, who are finally employed, one marginally. My sister is doing this too. My nephew is 30, back in grad school again, and, as far as I can tell, has never had a job that was more than a part time gig in a restaurant or bookstore. One friend whose son was a national merit scholarship winner worked for years at a pizza joint, got on with a start up, now laid off and now working at a furniture factory. A couple others have formerly promising sons who are now fathers but unemployed or PT employed, living at home.

This is all on your friends. I lived with my parents after graduation, but I worked. My parent did not pay for cellphone, cars, trips etc. I also made them a small amount of rent.


As for working part-time I think this is somewhat of a generational thing, A rebellion of sorts they grew up with parents who worked60+ hours a week and their job was their life. It seems like the younger generation is moving away from the work as life concept.

[Anonymous]

Honestly I am just not seeing what you all are seeing. My 25 year old and her friends did internships and have jobs. My 21 year old and his friends actually did even better jobs and internships. They are seniors and many already have offers for next year. Mine is getting a ton of interviews and I’m sure will have options. These are kids from a range of colleges and plenty of them including mine are liberal arts majors. Unemployed college grads was an issue a few years ago but I am just not seeing it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I am just not seeing what you all are seeing. My 25 year old and her friends did internships and have jobs. My 21 year old and his friends actually did even better jobs and internships. They are seniors and many already have offers for next year. Mine is getting a ton of interviews and I’m sure will have options. These are kids from a range of colleges and plenty of them including mine are liberal arts majors. Unemployed college grads was an issue a few years ago but I am just not seeing it now.

I don't see it so it must not exist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of our friends kids have found jobs post college. For a few it took a few months, but they eventually found something. The unemployment rate is low- especially in this area. Plenty of jobs out there.

I'm assuming they're counting baristas with bachelor's degrees as employed. Which they are... but they'd be similarly employed if they didn't have the degree (and they wouldn't be paying back loans on their meager incomes). Underemployment was 13.7% a year ago. That's more the issue. There are some people who can't find jobs at all, but being underemployed (someone with a bachelor's degree who is working at Target or Macy's or Wendy's as a cashier) is more common.

There are also people with degrees who are doing the same jobs as those without degrees. Maybe they're making a reasonable income. They are underemployed, but not grossly so. So maybe someone with a degree is history is an EMT or someone with a degree is sociology is a receptionist at a doctor's office or works at a bank. Those jobs are available to those without degrees and they pay reasonably well.

No, most of them are in jobs that relate to their majors. Across the street has 3 of four out of college. The engineer works at Boeing, the computer scientist works at google, the finance major got a job at one of the consulting groups- cant remember the name. The kids we knew in Scouts are mainly engineers and have several offers already despite not graduating until June. One is in med school. Others are teachers. Others found accounting jobs very easily.

OK, but just because YOU’RE not seeing it doesn’t mean it’s not an issue. Go ask around at your local mall or Starbucks. I bet you’d be surprised at how many have college degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very few places are willing to rent to groups of young professionals anymore.

So you're out of luck if your parents can't pay you rent and you're only making $30,000 , have to pay $1000 in rent/utilities as well as $500 a month in student loans. It makes more financial sense to stay with mom or dad for a few years.

OMG. You represent the entitled jackass this thread is lamenting. Grow professional expecting their parents to pay their rent?!?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I am just not seeing what you all are seeing. My 25 year old and her friends did internships and have jobs. My 21 year old and his friends actually did even better jobs and internships. They are seniors and many already have offers for next year. Mine is getting a ton of interviews and I’m sure will have options. These are kids from a range of colleges and plenty of them including mine are liberal arts majors. Unemployed college grads was an issue a few years ago but I am just not seeing it now.

I don't see it so it must not exist

I didn’t say it didn’t exist but at least among my kids friends, who are the people we are talking about, I don’t see it. Sorry your kids experience is different. What kinds of jobs are they looking for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience the real issue is that they're not willing to take jobs "beneath" them. They come out of college expecting to earn at least $50K without any prior work experience and then want to be rewarded/promoted for doing the basics of their job. Their outrageous expectations and entitlement have led them to believe that no job at all is better than a lower paying job.

This. My brother who’s in his late 20swas like this. So frustrating

They also feel entitled to their own office, work-from-home, etc. I had someone who was just out of college and three months into the job explain how he had paid his dues and earned trust and expected to be able to travel and work remotely for our company in a few months.

LOL. what world is he in?..

What world do you live in.

People work remotely, there is no office space for everybody.

We don't run babysitting services ... if you are qualified to get the job you work remotely.

Was the last time you worked 1995?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takes two (or three) to tango. If you allow them to continue being children, they will continue being children as long as possible.

This. I have two college grads who found employment before graduation in their fields and live on their own. They are still on our health plan with the expectation that what they save in premiums they use to hammer away at student loans. Yes, we did not fully fund their college educations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son sat around for 3 months after college graduation. I politely found a 4 month sublet, gave him a days notice and we drove to another state where his girlfriend was in grad school. I paid his rent for the sublet for 4 months, and cell, car insurance for a year. These parents have to put their kids out. It was hard but the best thing I ever did. He figured shit out and grew up.

You carried him for a year after dumping him on his girlfriend. You don't win any parenting awards here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very few places are willing to rent to groups of young professionals anymore.

So you're out of luck if your parents can't pay you rent and you're only making $30,000 , have to pay $1000 in rent/utilities as well as $500 a month in student loans. It makes more financial sense to stay with mom or dad for a few years.

OMG. You represent the entitled jackass this thread is lamenting. Grow professional expecting their parents to pay their rent?!?!?

I'm surprised you earned a degree and hold down a job with your level of comprehension. Your parents must have bought your degree and someone owed them a huge favor for your job.

[Anonymous]

And yet we are hiring computer science majors straight out of undergrad at $70k a year and can't find good candidates. Gpa of 3.5 and above and certain languages and some experience: college class project counts if they did a significant portion themselves and can talk about it. Oh and take and pass a programming test we give.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two friends whose daughters are still living at home and refuse to work, even at waiting tables. They travel often to visit college friends. We have others where the work is very sporadic. Their kids keep moving in and out. It seems like most of the couples are still paying for cell phones, help with rent, travel expense, etc. well into adulthood. One couple has paid for extended grad study for two kids, who are finally employed, one marginally. My sister is doing this too. My nephew is 30, back in grad school again, and, as far as I can tell, has never had a job that was more than a part time gig in a restaurant or bookstore. One friend whose son was a national merit scholarship winner worked for years at a pizza joint, got on with a start up, now laid off and now working at a furniture factory. A couple others have formerly promising sons who are now fathers but unemployed or PT employed, living at home.

Your friends - and your sister -- are idiots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Economy sucks. I'm 29 and my friend with a dual MA in Architecture and Urban Planning just got laid off from the job she's worked since grad school. She was a hard worker but the pay was so shitty that she couldn't afford to keep apt and had to move back in two years ago.

I'm guessing this is not completely accurate.

What you mean is that your friend couldn't afford to keep her $4,000 a month penthouse apartment in the hot part of town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All depends on a college degree. If you have any kind of tech, science or anything dealing with numbers degree you are in good shape. Sociology or Art History, well not so much.

+1. If one of my kids comes home from college announcing the intended major is Women's Studies, or something equally inane, that will be the last day they see a penny for tuition. After I stop laughing at them, of course.

[Anonymous]

All my BSN younger friends have jobs. And $$.