Jobs in a Down Economy
Now that I am in law school, I am inundated with articles from friends and classmates about the extreme
competitiveness of relatively low paying jobs. Partly because we are all glad to be under the protection of graduate school, partly out of fear over what the job market will look like when we graduate.
A recent article by the NY Times reported how a now unemployed manager of PNC bank posted 3 job openings in March for tellers, paying $10/hour and received 1,008 applications.
Another article talked about a job opening for an administrative assistant at a truck driving school, paying $13/hour. Over 500 people applied for this job. Some of the highlights, who weren’t considered on grounds of being overqualified, included “a former I.B.M. business analyst with 18 years experience; a former director of human resources; and someone with a master’s degree and 12 years at Deloitte & Touche, the accounting firm.” One applicant had previously owned their own trucking school.
WOW! I knew it was tough, but c’mon…
Having spent a year in this job environment for a year between undergrad and law school, these articles give me a sense of pride and perseverance for what I was able to accomplish in the “real world”.
While I did pursue traditional jobs, even offering to be an “intern’s intern”, these efforts were fruitless and I found the bulk of my employment through Craig’s List (CL). Unlike the above articles and many low-paying jobs that I didn’t apply to, my CL gigs paid in the range of $14-20/hour cash.
Working these jobs allowed flexibility in my schedule, a constantly changing work environment and challenged me to transform myself into a different professional on a daily basis. Always looking for a stable income, this instigated me into starting my own businesses. I sealed grout in downtown lofts and did residential window washing. These self-created jobs paid even better than individual postings, though I always turned to Craig’s List to help get more customers.
I did start out with a job as an equities trader at a prop shop, cue S&P charts from Q3/Q4 of 2008. Sitting in a dark room with a bunch of smelly guys wasn’t exactly socially stimulating either. How did I manage to eat while on the learning curve? You guessed it, Craig’s List.
I also had a later job as a financial analyst for an online software firm. This job was great fun and paid relatively well, but all that came at a price. My checks would bounce and I’d often go weeks without being paid – in the negative. No worries though, CL was always there when I needed it.
The take home message is that you don’t have to always rely on traditional jobs for your income. With a little creativity and a go-getter attitude, you can create opportunities for yourself! Don’t like unemployment? Try Craig’s List! It worked for me as I’m sure it can for you.
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