General Discussion

fujiyama

(15,185 posts)

42. I'd be curious what he majored in...

Mon Dec 16, 2013, 03:11 AM

Dec 2013

It's clear he's a hard worker and he's capable of learning (hence the degree to show for it).

The recovery has been rewarding for those in the right fields (primarily health care, oil/gas, and engineering/technology), but the service industries, while also in "recovery", just don't pay anywhere near enough to survive on. And that's where a lot of liberal arts majors have been forced into.

The debt for one is staggering. You need a job of any sort to pay off crushing debt. So we have a lot of "overqualified" bartenders, servers, and others in the service industries. But another problem is that schools and universities are doing an absolutely terrible job in counseling students with their career plans and advising them about developing practical skills and bodies of knowledge.

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college educated guy works 60hrs, 4 jobs, makes 20k/year - what his life looks like: [View all] Liberal_in_LA Dec 2013 OP

damn! people are stiffing the hell outta him on tips! Schema Thing Dec 2013 #1

There's Another Sandwich Chain Around Here, Milio's (Formerly Big Mike's) Bigredhunk Dec 2013 #17

Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts??????? yeoman6987 Dec 2013 #48

That was my first thought too. nolabear Dec 2013 #76

Word to the wise for folks who read this article: enlightenment Dec 2013 #2

After seeing... Bryce Butler Dec 2013 #5

welcome to DU niyad Dec 2013 #23

I guess its not surprising that someone who struggled to get by before his degree... aikoaiko Dec 2013 #3

With that kind of work ethic . . . MrModerate Dec 2013 #4

perhaps you could tell us what firms are actually hiring at decent, living wages in his area? niyad Dec 2013 #25

I have no particular knowledge of Kansas City . . . MrModerate Dec 2013 #34

Companies are hiring more than they were, but not nearly enough to hire all those seeking jobs. JDPriestly Dec 2013 #44

This guy can't get through your recruiter's screening process, nor could he, Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #62

Based on my experience . . . MrModerate Dec 2013 #77

That's the point gollygee Dec 2013 #47

I'd say he's not looking in the wrong places. xmas74 Dec 2013 #49

Our economic game of musical chairs, brought to you by our ruling class. Orsino Dec 2013 #6

It is our own fault. Drahthaardogs Dec 2013 #22

He could be making $60 plus per massage Beaverhausen Dec 2013 #7

I was thinking the same thing. Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #9

He is probably just getting a cut ohheckyeah Dec 2013 #12

Wow, that would be quite a fee. Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #21

Yes, it would but ohheckyeah Dec 2013 #35

It's a cut. xmas74 Dec 2013 #50

I was thinking the same. pangaia Dec 2013 #11

I agree that he should make more on massages mike dub Dec 2013 #14

maybe he's a wage slave for a massage co Liberal_in_LA Dec 2013 #16

In Kansas city? Tunkamerica Dec 2013 #19

He picked a major that must have a huge influx of graduates. Initech Dec 2013 #8

Yes, Accounting was my major and it paid me well. dem in texas Dec 2013 #33

Yes. Math skills are more in demand, but I know people with advanced degrees in science or JDPriestly Dec 2013 #45

True...so true. onpatrol98 Dec 2013 #46

I think we have a really skewed economy now fujiyama Dec 2013 #41

An attorney of my acquaintance recently advertised an opening for a receptionist Ex Lurker Dec 2013 #10

Law is a very difficult field these days goldent Dec 2013 #37

Organize. TxVietVet Dec 2013 #13

Here's the ticket: Brigid Dec 2013 #15

I absolutely love that movie and esp this scene - best acted, written, directed movie ever - eom rosesaylavee Dec 2013 #30

I just wish the DVD presentation was better. Brigid Dec 2013 #32

I have a book by John Sayles rosesaylavee Dec 2013 #51

I'm confused. Is the $20,000 gross or net? 1000words Dec 2013 #18

I get $331.62 for his base pay (gross) hfojvt Dec 2013 #39

However, this nation is the only nation in the society of industrialized nations that taxes truedelphi Dec 2013 #67

Good conversation to have.... shot to hell by CNN's dishonest journalism KentuckyWoman Dec 2013 #20

I am surprised there is such a thing hfojvt Dec 2013 #40

Holy s*&%! blur256 Dec 2013 #24

thank you for posting. it brings things closer to home when there is a personal connection. niyad Dec 2013 #27

Well he needs to strike out on his own as a massage therapist... Historic NY Dec 2013 #26

it's a really easy thing to say. I know a fair number of massage therapists in this area, and even niyad Dec 2013 #29

I see it as a matter of location. People I know in the south, charge $100 an hour; where I live it's freshwest Dec 2013 #43

Where oh where are the street protests? GoldenOldie Dec 2013 #28

A BA at age 32 is not going to significantly help job prospects. FarCenter Dec 2013 #31

It might. shanti Dec 2013 #36

He'd have to know someone to get a governmental job. He's a 37 yo white male. FarCenter Dec 2013 #53

Sorry, but that's not true. eqfan592 Dec 2013 #56

My oldest got a job with the Feds as a 34 yo wm shanti Dec 2013 #57

And what makes part-time employment even worse pnwmom Dec 2013 #38

I'd be curious what he majored in... fujiyama Dec 2013 #42

I got an associates in Electronics madville Dec 2013 #61

massage therapy degree, 9.5k in loans, per the article. dionysus Dec 2013 #65

Only in America can working 60 hours per week be "legally considered" part time labor. NT Trillo Dec 2013 #52

This is my family's life Tree-Hugger Dec 2013 #54

sorry to hear this, I hope life improves (financially) for you in 2014 Liberal_in_LA Dec 2013 #75

This is a terrible story for our cause..... cbdo2007 Dec 2013 #55

RABBIRAWR! Bootstraps and personal responsibility! Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #63

I don't care what degree someone has, or if they have no degree at all gollygee Dec 2013 #64

fwiw, massage therapy is expensive, it's not the relaxing kind of massage you think of. dionysus Dec 2013 #66

He works at a day spa.... cbdo2007 Dec 2013 #68

you're doing a wonderful job at filling in the holes with allegations and guesswork... LanternWaste Dec 2013 #69

No allegations or guesswork needed, just use The Google. cbdo2007 Dec 2013 #70

i know, i'm saying his degree seems to be in massage therapy, which is very expensive. dionysus Dec 2013 #71

He probably doesn't want the IRS to know how much he's really making taught_me_patience Dec 2013 #58

Maybe I'm missing something. progressoid Dec 2013 #73

People graduating into a "service economy" can have little expectation SoCalDem Dec 2013 #59

"bachelor's degree in liberal arts" - I think I found the problem. nt hack89 Dec 2013 #60

On being 'college educated' econoclast Dec 2013 #72

Very good thoughts! Phentex Dec 2013 #74