Just A Rant

[CalixPapi]

I know I don't participate much on this forum, I am just another one of those silent watchers and don't care if anyone reads this, just needed somewhere to vent.

I am 21, in college, with two kids. I have a part-time job here at my school as a front desk person, moving to student IT next week so I am excited about that but it is still part time work. I just had to take out another loan just to finish school  which I am hoping to graduate this June, March will be my last set of classes. I don't make enough to do anything. I have $35 in my bank account right now and don't get paid again until next week. Hard to manage money when you don't make enough. We live comfortably enough and have support but since getting this loan thats another $100 I have to put aside to make monthly payments as I wasn't able to get a better loan from the banks. I have to take a larger school load this coming week as well because if not that means more money and more time so I loaded up on an extra class and hoping I can keep up. And to make things worse I started thinking more into the near future and joining the real work force is a bit intimidating. I have been in school my whole life and don't know much else than taking classes. I have had seasonal jobs and weekend jobs but I am about to enter the real work force and I am intimidated. The economy has been bad and I hear about all of these lay offs and nobody is able to find a job and that is scary considering I have thousands of dollars in loans that I have to repay. I am just stressing myself out thinking about it all and I have no time to relax. I have been buried in homework and finals that I have not touched my laptop for my build in a few weeks and I won't even be able to work on making my bartop until I find better work. The silver lining that I keep looking for does make things less stressful. My last set of classes will be something I enjoy, learning web game programming since that is my concentration in my computer information systems degree.

I just want to hit the skip button and find myself graduated with a good job that makes it all easier. 

I will say this though, everyday while I am chained down to this depressing desk I am always looking at this forum admiring all of the work everybody does and it makes me happy to see everybody complete their projects. You people are very talented and is something seriously to aspire to with all of your knowledge.

[Nephasth]

I am 21, in college, with two kids.

Yikes!

[matt4949]

Hey I'm 40 and unfortunately things don't get any easier but I will tell you couple of things that everyman should know.
1 WORRY IS THE GREATEST THIEF OF JOY.
2 THE SUN COMES UP EVERYDAY.
oh yeah, don't forget to play some video games every once in a while.

[Monkeyvoodoo]

Not trying to one up you, just want to offer perspective.

I'm 34, divorced with one child, left in debt from said divorce and don't even have my HS diploma. I had no idea where I was going while I was in my 20's. I was constantly unemployed and any job I did have was entry level/non skilled labour. Things were tough for quite awhile but you know what I discovered? Things get better. You can't focus on the negative things that are happening to you, it will just drag you down and make everything worse. You seem to have a good goal set for your life. Keep going after it and don't let the bad things trip you up. Before you know it you'll find yourself past this low point.

I hope this helped a bit.

[eds1275]

Well I am not in a bad place by any stretch of the imagination, however I have been there and back. It's hard but you just have to keep your head up. It is so easy to focus on the negative things in life, but you have to learn to roll with the punches and pay attention to the good things that do happen. I'm not saying don't worry about the bad, because that's unrealistic - just don't let it consume your soul, because it will beat you down, and carrying that burden to job interviews and throughout your everyday life will not help you, it will harm you. If there is nothing you can do about a bad situation now, work on improving something else.

[ark_ader]

I just finished an IT Degree with  Honors  (Magna Cum Laude) with 25+ years in IT thrown into a job market that is very, very difficult to navigate.  I have dependants with a College Loan (so I know your situation) but comfortable.. I worked part-time too.  It can get to you, and make your final work appear worthless and all you do is think of ways to escape it.   My final year exams were easy but the year long dissertation nearly killed me, and life became a blur towards the end until I completed it (most people believe the dissertation is the hardest part in any degree) at over 30K words. 

It seems you have bitten off too much too soon.  I was self employed at 21 and didn't consider college until the recent economy dip presented the opportunity.  But since you have plunged in the deep end you will have to swim for shore.  Your life will be full of uncertainty, jobs will look like gold dust one day only to appear like a ball and chain the next.  Maybe you need to look at shorter contracts, and get yourself self employed.

Don't look at credit, stay liquid and instead of wanting to play the latest game, stick to the old ones you have or build your cabinet.  Time management helped me look at school, work and commitments.  Build a schedule and stick to it regardless of the aggravation you might get. 

Take some advice:

Don't listen to people who advise you to just pass.  Employers are keen to know your GPA and it might be the difference between a crap help desk job or a much better specialist one.  Don't get hung up on failure.  It is great to have goals, but it might mean you have another 20 years to go before you realise them.  Oh and ditch the programming idea and concentrate on getting your certifications.  If you get certified, it will make the job application process easier, but just remember to keep them up to date.  Green IT graduates are a dime a dozen, be prepared. It wouldn't hurt to get your Masters, and hopefully a doctorate to snag your dream job.  You can always program later when you have more time and resources.

Life might suck at the moment, believe me it gets better. 

[Vigo]

Don't listen to people who advise you to just pass.  Employers are keen to know your GPA and it might be the difference between a crap help desk job or a much better specialist one.  Don't get hung up on failure.  It is great to have goals, but it might mean you have another 20 years to go before you realise them.  Oh and ditch the programming idea and concentrate on getting your certifications.  If you get certified, it will make the job application process easier, but just remember to keep them up to date.  Green IT graduates are a dime a dozen, be prepared. It wouldn't hurt to get your Masters, and hopefully a doctorate to snag your dream job.  You can always program later when you have more time and resources.

The last thing you need right now is to to pile on more debt and go for your masters and doctorate. The problem we are facing right now is not just that there are a number of unemployed out there, but a lot of unemployed have gave up on finding a job and sought their next level of education. There is a lot of highly educated, under-experienced people out there, and $100,000 of degrees will not necessarily put you above the rest when any employer can see that you never worked a full time job. Over education can even be a red flag these days. With certs, if you work for a good employer, they will help you take care of those getting those if they want to see you grow.

I also have found that in my experience, employers never cared about my GPA, I coulda passed by the skin of my teeth, and it wouldn't have made a difference. Maybe things are different in the IT field, but my experience is that entry level employers care about when they meet you, if you look competent and eager to work and learn. After you get above the entry level mark, it becomes more about what you did in your previous job, and often what connections you have made.

Your biggest challenge will simply be standing out from the masses. It is depressing when you apply for a job, and then find out that 1500 other people applied to it as well. My advice there is simply that you need a resume that stands you out. I know a few years back, my wife was looking for a job, and she had gone from no calls back to almost always getting an interview, simply because we changed up her resume from a standard dry, professional document into something that looked like a brochure after reworking her resume in Illustrator. The average employer looks at a resume for less than 5 seconds, and that is only if they make it to the interview stage. You want something that will simply catch their eyes for more than 10 seconds to get interview time. Just do an image search of "graphic design resume" to get some ideas.

This photo sums up my point:



bottom line is, you will be fine. You just need to dive in and look for a job, preferably with a good company, but no matter what, getting a year or two of experience will help you start opening more doors.

[rpgposer]

I am pushing 50 and am now a state contractor.  What employers are looking for now is ...everything... due to many job seekers chasing too few jobs.  Try to balance your experience and education.  I know it's hard.  Life has its ups and downs, but at least you have support.  Use it.  My daughter is 29 and my wife and I assist her when she asks.
Take some time to go to a park to unwind every once in a while.  It's all too easy to get caught up day to day stress.
 

[Dawgz Rule]

First and foremost, you are doing the right thing by working on your education.   I do volunteer work on some employer panels (mostly for transitioning vets) and the job hunt can be a job all in itself.  Invariably, if you are going to be in IT, you will more than likely need to start in a help desk role.  However, you can move up quickly with a positive attitude and good customer focus.    As Vigo pointed out, a good resume is the key to getting noticed.   To add to that, remember, each part of the job hunt is merely a step to the next part.  The only function of the resume is to get the phone call.  The initial telephone call is to pre-screen, and so on.  Each step builds on the next one.    The number one thing that an employer really looks for is a "good fit" so that is something that is important during the face to face interview.  Last, practice, practice, practice, interviewing skills.  You can google "proven interview questions" and find a lot of information.

Last, I have a lot of experience with resumes and have assisted hundreds of people with creating a solid resume.  You can PM me and I would be more than happy to take a look at your resume and help you out.

Regards.

[Slippyblade]

I am of the jaded and cynical viewpoint here.  Anymore, a Bachelor's is about what a HS Diploma used to be.  It's considered a base level to do ANYTHING and yet means almost nothing on it's own.  The current market sucks in ways I can't begin to fathom.  It's not uncommon to see an ad that says, "Need degree, 5 years job experience, own tools.  Position is part time, no benefits, $8/hr, must work nights, weekends, and holidays" and the scary part is, they will fill the position because there are so many people who NEED the money and will do nearly anything at this point.

I don't envy your situation at all and the future is bleak.  Good luck.

[knave]

There is some good stuff here but always remember that opinions are like a-holes...everyone's got one.

I was in the IT field had my masters degree but no experience...Best thing I did was take a low paying internship get some certificates and work on myself to become well rounded.

...it's hard, I see it every day. I still have an IT job but now I work at the local career resource center. I see people looking for work every day...some for a very long time.

Best advice I have is to stay motivated, take action to better yourself and avoid the worry. The part time IT work is a great step...get your foot in the door and work hard.
Second, the above resume advice is spot on. I work with resumes but that is the best before and after I have seen in a long time.  You don't have to get that fancy but standout.
Third, Do listen to those that encourage you to take time for yourself. I have a job, kids, fiancé, ex-wife and in place of school I have part time military...life is busy, take time to enjoy parts while you can.
Lastly. I will also offer to help in any way I can with your resume. I can have the job counselors here look at it etc. PM me and we can check it out.

Vigo: Can I steal your resume photo as an example for my clients? I think its awesome.

[CCM]

I am 21, in college, with two kids.

Yikes!

Yikes is right!   Unless your kids were surprises, I never understand why people decide to have kids without being financially stable.   

[jdbailey1206]

I am 21, in college, with two kids.

Yikes!

Yikes is right!   Unless your kids were surprises, I never understand why people decide to have kids without being financially stable.

Going out on a limb here but....SEX FEELS GOOD!   

[CCM]

I am 21, in college, with two kids.

Yikes!

Yikes is right!   Unless your kids were surprises, I never understand why people decide to have kids without being financially stable.

Going out on a limb here but....SEX FEELS GOOD!   

And protection is easy to use...   

[yotsuya]

You guys are being a bit assumptive. I was 23 with three kids- and none of them were mine biologically.

[Dawgz Rule]

Was 21 and had a kid.  Then again, was in the military at the time.  The good news is that when you have them young, you are still young when they move out.  My wife and I are enjoying every bit of no kids in the house.    Amazing the reduction we have seen in expenses alone. 

[CCM]

You guys are being a bit assumptive. I was 23 with three kids- and none of them were mine biologically.

What assumptions am I making?    I said nothing about age.  I only commented about being financially stable before having kids.   If you are financially stable at 21, 23, 18... then go for it.    I don't think it is an assumption that the OP can't afford 2 kids while working part-time and going to school full time.

[ChadTower]

Don't have to assume.  He told us right out money is super tight.

[yotsuya]

You're assuming he may have made the decision to have kids without being financially stable.

Regardless, I had a guy on an airplane (who had 6 kids) once tell me that if you waited until you could afford to have your kids, you'd never have them at all. You just have them, and you learn to make due. Made sense to me. 

[Nephasth]

You guys are being a bit assumptive. I was 23 with three kids- and none of them were mine biologically.

Been there, done that. Still... yikes!

[yotsuya]

You guys are being a bit assumptive. I was 23 with three kids- and none of them were mine biologically.

Been there, done that. Still... yikes!

You got 99 problems, bro. 

[Nephasth]

And they're all starting to resolve themselves!

[yotsuya]

And they're all starting to resolve themselves!

[Nephasth]

Slave driver!

[CCM]

You're assuming he may have made the decision to have kids without being financially stable.

Regardless, I had a guy on an airplane (who had 6 kids) once tell me that if you waited until you could afford to have your kids, you'd never have them at all. You just have them, and you learn to make due. Made sense to me. 

This may be true... but is it too hard to wait until you graduate from college and have a full time job?   

[yotsuya]

You're assuming he may have made the decision to have kids without being financially stable.

Regardless, I had a guy on an airplane (who had 6 kids) once tell me that if you waited until you could afford to have your kids, you'd never have them at all. You just have them, and you learn to make due. Made sense to me. 

This may be true... but is it too hard to wait until you graduate from college and have a full time job?   

Sure.... if that circumstance applied to the OP.

[Dawgz Rule]

This may be true... but is it too hard to wait until you graduate from college and have a full time job?   

Ironically, that is what I tell my daughter. 

[ark_ader]

Kids show up no matter how well you prepare yourself.  If the other half wants kids, it is going to happen.  Nature finds a way.

Our OP is feeling insecure when it comes to the problems of having a slave driver of a boss (they all are), knowing full well he is going to be taken advantage of.  Well we have all been there, and it is like having kids - new experiences builds character.  I would say college was the worst slave driver in my entire career.  Having to come out with better and better work every class.  Keeping a busy help desk running like clock work is a piece of cake in comparison.

I'm finding out that US degrees are not worth the paper it is written on (no disrespect to the OP).  I was speaking to a young car salesman (hint hint) that his major was architecture and minor in human movement.  WTF would you study that?  Spending all that money on crap like that.  It made me LOL.  He wasn't impressed but I'm sure the penny dropped when he got out of college and all he could get was a car sales. IT degrees are worse due to the time spent on general education before you reach the core classes, and what they are being taught is not compatible with the current job market.  Once you finish college you should be ready for the job market with skills any employer would want.

I have had my share of graduates over the years I had to train and most of them had poor motivation and work ethic.  Seeing how much they are in debt, would have the opposite effect, due to the challenges of defaulting on a student loan that could jeopardize their credit and future employment.

I was reading on CNN that young graduates are not getting the positions due to the people coming up for retirement, not leaving work until their 70s.   don't know how much of that is true, but we are living longer.  So there is a fine line between entry level work and qualified professional?   

I think US colleges are offering easy courses just to maintain their national averages, and that is where the problem of saturation of job seeking graduates is coming from.   The technology market is also becoming competitive due to Indian and Chinese graduates and their outsoucing potential or ability to take less money and work harder for a green card.

[thehammer12]

Dam guys, for a second there this thread actually made me a little sad haha. Im 29, about to turn the big 30 in a few months and I been self employed since I was 20. Dropped out of my senior year in college because I realized early on that Im too stubborn to work for anyone but I also have expensive habits.....like buying arcades haha. I took out a "stated income" loan when they were easy to get and started rehabbing houses (yup Im a full time real estate investor/flipper now) and while I did have NUMEROUS ups and downs... life only gets better.  Sure as I got older I dated women who had children, but as we all know thats a package deal....

For those of you that arent happy with how your lifes going or how its going on right now, (no disrespect to the poster) try to sit down and figure a plan out for yourself on how you can make it better. Make a plan and stick to it, get a mentor or life coach if you have to....believe me, it works.

[thehammer12]

Kids show up no matter how well you prepare yourself.  If the other half wants kids, it is going to happen.  Nature finds a way.

Our OP is feeling insecure when it comes to the problems of having a slave driver of a boss (they all are), knowing full well he is going to be taken advantage of.  Well we have all been there, and it is like having kids - new experiences builds character.  I would say college was the worst slave driver in my entire career.  Having to come out with better and better work every class.  Keeping a busy help desk running like clock work is a piece of cake in comparison.

I'm finding out that US degrees are not worth the paper it is written on (no disrespect to the OP).  I was speaking to a young car salesman (hint hint) that his major was architecture and minor in human movement.  WTF would you study that?  Spending all that money on crap like that.  It made me LOL.  He wasn't impressed but I'm sure the penny dropped when he got out of college and all he could get was a car sales. IT degrees are worse due to the time spent on general education before you reach the core classes, and what they are being taught is not compatible with the current job market.  Once you finish college you should be ready for the job market with skills any employer would want.

I have had my share of graduates over the years I had to train and most of them had poor motivation and work ethic.  Seeing how much they are in debt, would have the opposite effect, due to the challenges of defaulting on a student loan that could jeopardize their credit and future employment.

I was reading on CNN that young graduates are not getting the positions due to the people coming up for retirement, not leaving work until their 70s.   don't know how much of that is true, but we are living longer.  So there is a fine line between entry level work and qualified professional?   

I think US colleges are offering easy courses just to maintain their national averages, and that is where the problem of saturation of job seeking graduates is coming from.   The technology market is also becoming competitive due to Indian and Chinese graduates and their outsoucing potential or ability to take less money and work harder for a green card.

I agree 100% with you, college is a big waste of time IMHO.  Everybody and there mom has a bachelors but its all basic like marketing and etc. I was a CIS major my first 2 years then switched to finance (thank god haha) because today, I know IT Security guys that are making well over $100k+ a year and they only have high school degrees and there on a contract basis meaning they can work for whoever whenever. Times are changing and people need to adapt.

[Dawgz Rule]

College can be a big waste of time for some.  I have a stepson who took "the easy path" through college and is now paying for it.  That aside, many opportunities require a degree and because of that, it does open doors that may not otherwise be available to a person.  Like a lot of things, the college degree is one of many things in the tool set.   When I knew I was going to get out of the Navy, I finished my degree and also obtained network engineer certification.  If it weren't for those two things, I wouldn't have gotten my first IT position.    Sure, there are many IT workers out there without a degree.    BUT, what I have been seeing is that more and more IT related jobs require a degree and/or certification.   

[knave]

College is more than just the degree, it is networking and experience in lots of areas, sure some of them are beer drinking and laidies 101 (for me anyway)

But I got so much more from it than just the degree.

[ark_ader]

Collage is more than just the degree, it is networking and experience in lots of areas, sure some of them are beer drinking and laidies 101 (for me anyway)

But I got so much more from it than just the degree.

It shows! 

[knave]

College is more than just the degree, it is networking and experience in lots of areas, sure some of them are beer drinking and laidies 101 (for me anyway)

But I got so much more from it than just the degree.

It shows! 

Thanks, I knew I turned out alright after all...

...Must have learned it in college.

[jdbailey1206]

Collage is more than just the degree, it is networking and experience in lots of areas, sure some of them are beer drinking and laidies 101 (for me anyway)

But I got so much more from it than just the degree.

A 'Collage' degree?  Wouldn't that be a protractor?  Wocka Wocka.   

[CalixPapi]

Wrote a big ass reply last night and did not hit the post quick enough because I timed out. But first wanted to say thank you to those that gave supportive posts. I think it all just hit me that day and brought me down because I am normally a happy person that just keeps moving forward. everybody has problems in life I understand that and circumstances are different for everyone. To the questions about kids, no I did not plan on having a child at 17 and certaintly did not plan on having the second at 20. First time was young and dumb, the second was just not being as careful as we needed to be. but I will say this MY GIRLS ARE THE BEST TWO THINGS TO HAPPEN TO ME! They make me feel 100% better after a long stressful day and I try to spend as much time with my family as possible. To those that say college is a waste of time, I am glad things worked out for you but without it I probably would not have gotten good work IMHO. School has done a lot more me honestly and it has given me skills that I think will help. Regardless I am almost done and will really see if it was a waste of time and money or not. On some arcade related news my dad offered to help me build my control panel better, as of right now it is a joystick and buttons in a shoebox so moving it up to a plywood box.

Thanks again for the comments supportive or not.

[Malenko]

35(in a couple weeks), no kids I know of. No debt other than the last 4 on my car loan and the mortgage. In the IT field cause I used to LOVE computers, its starting to wear on me. Im not where I wanted to be professionally, but I had a late start into the IT field, I actually worked at Chrysler for about a decade.

Do your best to pay off your loans and debt as fast as possible and avoid credit cards, they are the gateway to real debt.

and keep your head up, you have a ton of life left to live bro.

[stu33]

On the job hunt, when you get to that point, do everything you can to network.  If you have time, volunteer in the community.  Join a fraternal organization.  Local community organizations/boards.  Get your name and face out there, as much as you can.  Nepotism and favoritism are powerful allies, whether you feel moral about them or not.  If you aren't using them, the next person is.

Just my personal experience.  Also, as a previous young guy with children (myself and they are older now, thank goodness), just try to find five minutes a day to have for yourself.  Get a hobby, or do nothing.  Just be zen.  For me it's either my drum kit or Mr. Do!

[Vigo]

Vigo: Can I steal your resume photo as an example for my clients? I think its awesome.

It's not mine. I think it is from a resume service, but it is floating around the internet.

[shponglefan]

I flat out disagree that college is a "waste of time".  It all depends what you study and what the job market is like.  The best thing to do prior to picking a degree is research the job market; figure out what is useful and what will get you a real job.  The problem, IMHO, is too many people pick things they are interested in rather than things that have practical use and returned on investment.  One should NEVER go into debt over something that is not going to have a future return.  That's just silly.

FWIW, I returned to school in my mid-late 20's to get a B.Comm degree, which led to full-time employment and getting a professional designation, and in turn opened up future opportunities.  It's all about picking the path that has a higher chance of reward down the line.

[Rick]

It's all about picking the path that has a higher chance of reward down the line.

And sometimes, nothing you can do can help you find the perfect job.

I was lucky to make upwards of $75K for the past fifteen years, working for a fantastic company. Unfortunately, last year, they were forced to downsize, and my position was no longer required. Even though I have a number of certifications, a large, varied (yet focused!) amount of experience, I am starting a new job next week, making less than half of this. I've had a number of recruiters working for me, my own search on the go, and yet, this is the best solution I've come up with that fits.

But you know what? I'm happy with my choice. I'm going to be managing a team of people, and working to improve a department in what can be a very great company. I'm excited to try this new opportunity, and damn it if I'm not going to work my hardest to succeed.

Chin up!

[Vigo]

Congrats, Rick. I know you had a tough roll these past couple years.



I have to agree with Rick. My story right now is that I make piss poor pay, but I am finally at a position that I love what I am doing. My job now is just like this hobby. Part technical, part creative, part problem solving. And I work for people who are fighting for me to get my certifications, get me travelling, get me better pay, and giving me the authority to make the changes I need to do to help the company. I am in a field I never thought about before, and is not exactly what I went to college for. I am happy with what I do now.

Even if after college you don't find that job you like (It took me 8 years to get to this point, and I still need my pay to catch up with my title, this stuff takes time.) Just stick it out and never do a sub-par job. Be frugal as possible until you can breathe easy. 10 years from now money won' be such an issue and you will have that nice house with a 3 car garage, and taking your girls to the Bahamas for vacation. 

[CalixPapi]

So just thought I would give a little update since the rant. I have graduated with my bachelors degree  . My oldest is in kindergarten. Little one hit terrible twos  Found a full-time job, finishing my first week tomorrow,  two months after graduation and it pays pretty well  .  All in all it is getting better and am very optimistic now. There are still hardships but everybody has those. The good thing is now I have a steady income which means I should be able to post a new project announcement thread soon   

For the mentions about the degree not mattering it was basically a flip of a coin during the interviews, I got a few "Oh, you got your degree, good for you. . ."  At my place of work now plenty of them do not have schooling and are doing well but took awhile to get there and the ones who do got there a bit faster. Atleast from what I have heard so far. 

[Vigo]

  Congrats, man! I am glad to hear it. Sounds like a success story. Looking forward to that project announcement.

[yotsuya]

Good for you, my friend! 

[ChadTower]

Really, the degree is not about being better at your job.  The degree is about being better at your job search. 

[RayB]

Really, the degree is not about being better at your job.  The degree is about being better at your job search.

Pretty much every job ad I look at says "Bachelors of Computer Sciences or equivalent experience". I just have to ensure I keep up to date on the latest tech and buzzwords of the year.

[pbj]

Really, the degree is not about being better at your job.  The degree is about being better at your job search.

Pretty much every job ad I look at says "Bachelors of Computer Sciences or equivalent experience". I just have to ensure I keep up to date on the latest tech and buzzwords of the year.

That's because a lot of the people floating around in that field have been in it for 20+ years back when companies were desperate and you could get away with a high school diploma and a few programming classes.  It won't stay that way forever and the lack of a degree is going to preclude any serious advancement in many industries.  So, yeah, there's some guys without formal education with good jobs doing random stuff like, "director of IT for a machine shop" but c'mon.

Saying, "you don't really need college" is terrible advice to give to an 18 year old in 2014 that wants white collar work.
 

[ChadTower]

The "equivalent experience" becomes less and less relevant as the years go by.  There is no longer a shortage of young people with solid degrees in IT or MIS.  Now there is actually a glut of them.  Think about the path your (or my) resume takes during this process.  The first person who sees is it an HR rep that literally knows nothing about your job other than the buzzwords and expected salary range.  That person has no idea how to weight those terms so they do what seems like common sense - they weigh the college degree way above certifications and technologies.  They then weed out everyone but the people who have long specialized experience in exactly what they want and the people with a relevant degree.  Given the way the IS/IT field is right now it is moving so fast that the number of techs in which it's even possible to have ten years of real experience is lowering all the time.  There is no longer any room for "well I know UNIX so I can get a job in Linux" or "I know Tomcat and Apache so I can work in an Enterprise Java environment".  You're either an existing expert in exactly what they want, you have a degree, or your resume is in the recycling bin.  And this is leaning way more towards the college degree as each year goes by.

This is also assuming that they ever even look at an American for the position.  Where I work most of these jobs get immediately farmed overseas to either India or Ireland.

[jennifer]

    OP: Good for you!!!... Jennifer doesn't mind telling you now, I was a bit concerned about your well being there for awhile. But all good now, Congrats. 
Now for the rest of you, (PBJ in particular) This world doesn't need anymore unemployed Art majors, or whatever your pushing for in the name of higher education, That degree is NOT going to be the end all in jobs, and certainly does not promote free thinking in the context of ideas...And yes It is possible to be self educated, and conditioned for the job market.

[pbj]

    OP: Good for you!!!... Jennifer doesn't mind telling you now, I was a bit concerned about your well being there for awhile. But all good now, Congrats. 
Now for the rest of you, (PBJ in particular) This world doesn't need anymore unemployed Art majors, or whatever your pushing for in the name of higher education, That degree is NOT going to be the end all in jobs, and certainly does not promote free thinking in the context of ideas...And yes It is possible to be self educated, and conditioned for the job market.

You know, I clown on liberal arts with the best of them, but if our choices are educated unemployed vs uneducated unemployed, I'm going with educated.

[jennifer]

     Not to have a job is just lazy, To be all "I have a degree in this so I Will only do that" limits prospects considerably.... Work ethic is where its at, creative thinking and ultimately working for yourself (If its a character trait one possesses)... Yes Maybe Jennifer has done things the hard way, but life's been good to me.

[dkersten]

@OP - Glad to see that you are still pushing ahead.  I know from experience how difficult it can get when you can't see light at the end of the tunnel, but hear the ominous rumble of a train headed your way.. 

Here is my "rant" on all this:  One thing I always say is that your life is the sum of your choices.  Sure, bad stuff (and good) happen to people despite their efforts to prevent it, but in the end, it is ALWAYS your choices that led you there.  Can't afford kids?  Don't have sex.  Simple as that.  Saying "it was an accident" is like saying your DUI was an accident, that you had to get home and ONLY had a couple beers, and you do it all the time and were driving perfectly and if it wasn't for the random checkpoint you would never have gotten it..  NO, if you hadn't drank and drove you wouldn't have gotten it.  You make a choice, you live with the consequences.  And ignorance is never a good excuse.

One of the biggest problems today with the younger generation is that they tend to have a sense of entitlement and some idea that everything that happens to them is someone else's fault (or nobody's).  Adopting an attitude that you make your own destiny, that you make your own luck is what will bring you success later in life.  And nobody owes you anything.  Period.  The sooner anyone accepts that, the sooner they can start being happy with what they EARN in their life and not be sitting around wishing they had more.
/rant

Other comments about education:  A friend told me in a heated discussion over some beers the other night that college education doesn't make any difference in anything.  I understand where he is coming from, especially in the past few years where well educated (but inexperienced) kids were finding that their $50k in student loans didn't guarantee them a job, even in fields that weren't in the Liberal Arts areas.  But that doesn't mean that a college education is worthless.  You may not learn all the things you need to know to do a job, or even any of them, but college gives you the background necessary to excel in a particular field.  All knowledge is built on previous knowledge, and college gives you a foundation on which to start.  Sure, some people can teach themselves or learn from doing, but they are building their foundation from scratch, and if it isn't strong enough they will find one day that all their experience is for naught because they built it on a weak foundation, and they will constantly be going back to the beginning to learn new things.

And if you are going to go to college for anything, take a business minor.  Doesn't matter what field you want to get into, if you understand business you will be able to apply it to the real world in a better and more successful way.

My advice to the OP (and anyone else who is younger):  First off, you have to "pay the piper".. Everyone has to put in their time.  Nobody gets to skip ahead of the line, and this goes for jobs, financial success, material items, and even family.  The older you get, the more you will have.  When you are young you will want it desperately, and when you are old and have it, you will be lucky if you still have the energy and health to really enjoy it.  It is just how life is.  As much as you want to skip past the "working hard for it" part to get to the "relax and enjoy it" part, it takes years, decades in fact, and even with hard work, you still might not ever get there.  So quit worrying about it and just enjoy each day the best you can.  Don't sweat the fact that you have to work hard for pennies, or that you can't build that arcade because you have young kids who need clothes and food, or that you work and work and work and still couldn't go more than a week without your job before you have to stop eating.  Eventually you WILL get ahead if you keep at it and practice what you have learned in life, even if you never start making 6 figures. 

Make a plan and stick to it, but plan for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, and 15 years from now.  They are all relevant to today and all dependent on your action right now.  Anything you want in the future will not be as good, as well developed, or less difficult to get than if you start working toward it today.  And if you ever find yourself sitting around feeling bad about your life because you owe too much or can't pay for that cool arcade cab you want to build, then you probably have time to go out and find some more work.  Believe me, there will come a day when you have an opportunity to take on more work and make a little more money but you can say "I don't really need to trade more of my time for money, I am OK with what I have now." 

[ChadTower]

I believe the biggest lie told to college students is not "there will be a job waiting for you."  The biggest lie is "you should follow your heart and hold out for a job you love so you will never work a day in your life."

Sorry, not many people love the jobs that actually support a family.  That's why they pay well.  Get a job that is close enough and actually puts a roof over your adult head and your wife/kids if you have them.  Don't mooch off of your parents because "it has been two years and I still can't find the right job."  Be a grownup and support yourself even when things aren't as fun as you'd like them to be.   

[dkersten]

I used to have a job doing something I loved.  It was my favorite hobby, and I thought I was on top of the world being able to make good money doing it.  Did it for almost 9 years.  And the truth is, for a long time I really loved getting up and going to work.

In the 15 years since I changed careers, I have practiced that old hobby exactly 3 times.  I turned down offers to do things on the side for friends, family, and even old customers, even though the pay offered was really good.  I find zero enjoyment in it and have no little desire to do anything in that field again. 

Making what I love into a job took away everything I liked about it and burnt it out of me.  It is one thing to enjoy what you do for a living, but to say that the best thing in the world is to do what you love for a living is bad advice.  Unless you can be your own boss by doing it and you can set your own hours and only take on the jobs you want to do.  The moment you become a slave to it, it is just another job, no different than scrubbing toilets.  I know some people will disagree, and some people could do something every day for 15 hours a day and still love it after 60 years of doing it.  I found that I couldn't do ANYTHING that much and still enjoy it, and when I still had to do it even when I wasn't in the mood, it was even worse.