So it seems to me that THE JOB MARKET SUCKS

[CommonSensePLZ]

It seems the job market is crappy and biased against the young, for example all jobs seem to ask for years and years of experience, but how can you have that if they don't give you the job first? Company jobs are getting sent to third world countries to save rich people some money and prospective American employers seem to love to play games and dillydally while applicants need money, employment, experience and benefits to provide for themselves and their families. Often people get turned down for jobs because the boss dislikes some stupid, shallow thing about the person, like their name, a color of clothing they wear, even bigoted reasons as probably all of us here know a person can legally be fired in most states if the boss finds out an employee is gay and they're homophobic.

Care to discuss? I am being too pessimistic? Is it possible to get a job without lying or playing stupid games?

[defendandprotect]

1. We need to overturn the trade agreements and take corporations off of WELFARE!!

[handmade34]

2. so difficult right now

it is difficult to get a job without experience and you can't get experience without a job...

if you are too old it is difficult to get a job... and if you are stuck in a deadend lowpaying job you can't quit... it is very difficult for some people right now...

[matt819]

3. Here's an anecdote

A young person I know applied for a job with the federal government. The job was designated as part of something called the federal career internship program, or something along those lines. In short, this is (was?) a program designed to hire bright young college grads and then groom them for more senior positions over time - basically, management trainees for the USG. Okay, I may not have that entirely accurate, but I think I'm right and you get the point anyway.

In any case, this young person was interviewed and did pretty well. The job was offered to someone identified as a retiree. So, here's a program directed at young college grads, but the job is offered to a double-dipping retiree, one who is unlikely to stay with the government over a long period of time. So, what is this? Waste? Fraud? Mismanagement? In any case, just an anecdote.

Next comment is the observation by this same young person (and others) that many college grads are taking unpaid internships in the hope - mind you, just the hope - of being hired for a permanent position. This is fine, I suppose, as far as it goes. But, surprise, surprise, many young people need to work to, oh, I don't know, earn money for such things as rent and food. So, who can afford the luxury of unpaid internships? The children of the wealthy, who can afford to take as much time as they need in this volunteer world.

[rox63]

4. It ain't easy being older and unemployed either

Lots of folks out there in their 50's and 60's are afraid no one will ever hire them again.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. I think it's biased against American workers.

Not just the young, facing the catch-22 of hiring nobody without experience, but also against older workers who would expect higer pay reflecting their experience, and unemployed workers who, I guess they figure, are unemployed for a REASON. The only people who can expect to find a job are 30-somethings who are already employed.

[customerserviceguy]

6. It sucks for older people, too

We're the ones they think are going to cost them plenty in healthcare insurance expenses. Also, some of us have significant years of experience, and they think we're going to flee the second the economy comes roaring back, and go to someplace where our experience is valued.

If you're out of work, it sucks no matter who you are, how old you are, or any other thing you want to assign blame to for why you have had lousy luck in the job search so far.