Quote from pitz:
I think everyone was in complete denial back in 2001. The lack of jobs for grads was just temporary. Things would improve, "next year". Google would grow enough to hire literally everyone cast off by the rest of the sector. Techies who can't find jobs are just 'unemployed losers', 'whiners', and 'self-entitled'. Microsoft/Google/Cisco must have hired all the domestic talent, since they've resorted to hiring foreigners!
If the problems in the tech industry had been properly addressed back in 1999, it is very unlikely that the economy would have devolved into this sort of mess. The complete mismanagement of the latest mess, dealing with the banks, and the propping up of unsustainable firms, is going to ensure that the finance industry never recovers to health. In short, we're scr*wed, and people are quickly realizing that the fault lies not in their own efforts, to live honourable lives, to manage their affairs well, and to give 110%, but rather in the leadership. Its an unescapable conclusion.
That's a whole lot of excuses, right there.
Here's a newsflash: the whole job market has gone to crap. Tech is no exception. Is it more hard hit then construction? Banking? Financial services? Real estate?? Customer service? Manufacturing???
Look around. We've lost 9 million jobs in the past 3 years. For the last decade? Who knows.
Stop acting like Tech is special. That tech is more hard-done-by, that you're more hard-done-by, than anyone else. You're not.
It's the millions of people who swallowed their pride and settled for a paycheck, who are paying your way. So you don't have to settle.
Time to man up, kid.