I have many intelligent, talented friends in my social circle, most with college educations and a wide range of skills, who are currently unemployed. Many lost jobs from being laid off during the downturn, many more have not had the opportunity to hold a career-track job since graduating from college.
I consider myself lucky. I essentially gave up on degree-track college, and occasionally take a class if I really want to learn something, and avoided tens of thousands of dollars of debt. I manage a wine bar, and do okay. I've had this job for almost 4 years, and it's served me well through my late 20's. During my early 20's, I would skip from job to job, with ease, essentially taking whatever job best suited my purpose at the specific time. I worked in child care, restaurants, photography, digital media, real estate, sales, retail, you name it. I'm a master of the cover letter, and my resume is amazing, because I know how to sell myself to potential employers.
The point of this is that I have never had trouble getting jobs, and I have always firmly believed that if you want the jobs bad enough, you aren't miserably unqualified, and you sell yourself properly, there should be no issues. The job will be yours, IF you play the game properly.
I no longer believe this.
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