In this economy, what was the purpose of my getting my degree?

I worked for many years in purchasing without a degree. It was apparant that I wasn't getting the pay for the amount of work I did, for the reason that, I didn't have a degree. So I went back to school & got my degree in the hopes of getting a better job with better pay. Now I feel like o.k. I have a ton of experience, I spent all that money in order to get a degree, but now there are no jobs. I cannot move out of state because my husband has a job working for Chrysler in Michigan and he would not make the same amount of money he is making now somewhere else. So we are not moving unless he loses his job permanently and we are unable to continue living here.

The buyer job availability in Michigan is scarce & so many people are applying for the buyer jobs that are available that it has lowered the amount of money a buyer would normally be paid - supply and demand - too many buyers chasing too few jobs. The market is saturated with buyers. For this reason companies are getting buyers for the least amount of money that they are able to because they know there are few jobs for buyers these days. Its terrible because I feel like what was the point of my spending all the time & money to get the degree when I'll be making the same amount of money as if I didn't have a degree.

My question is, do I accept a job offer for a job that I could have gotten without a degree or do I hold out for something better because I do have a degree?

Can anyone give me some advice on this?

Thanks

I have three college degrees - court reporting, BS in Business Administration (and pretty worthless, paralegal). I have teacher certifiction in Florida.

I have no job. I suggest you take the job that pays the most amount of money right now. If you wait for something that comes along because you have a degree, you will be competing with all those other people who have a degree too. Also, do a job that makes you happy. You will ALWAYS get some use out of your degree.

wrknfrlvn75@wowway.com in Warren, Michigan said: I worked for many years in purchasing without a degree. It was apparant that I wasn't getting the pay for the amount of work I did, for the reason that, I didn't have a degree. So I went back to school & got my degree in the hopes of getting a better job with better pay. Now I feel like o.k. I have a ton of experience, I spent all that money in order to get a degree, but now there are no jobs. I cannot move out of state because my husband has a job working for Chrysler in Michigan and he would not make the same amount of money he is making now somewhere else. So we are not moving unless he loses his job permanently and we are unable to continue living here.

The buyer job availability in Michigan is scarce & so many people are applying for the buyer jobs that are available that it has lowered the amount of money a buyer would normally be paid - supply and demand - too many buyers chasing too few jobs. The market is saturated with buyers. For this reason companies are getting buyers for the least amount of money that they are able to because they know there are few jobs for buyers these days. Its terrible because I feel like what was the point of my spending all the time & money to get the degree when I'll be making the same amount of money as if I didn't have a degree.

My question is, do I accept a job offer for a job that I could have gotten without a degree or do I hold out for something better because I do have a degree?

Can anyone give me some advice on this?

Thanks

its a bummer now in this economy. Have you thought of working from home?? Sometimes if you make too much money you get penalized because your in a higher tax bracket. If you work from home you get more write offs and potentially could have tax free income because of all the write offs. Do you have children??

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have thought of working from home. I would have to come up with something on my own or figure out which one of these work-at-home job sites is ligit. There is so many scams going on with the work-at-home jobs so its hard to tell which one is real and which one is not. I've cautiously been looking into it as an option.

Hi Mary,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I'm seriously considering taking on a job in which I don't have to have a degree. I have bills to pay like everyone else and if I have to grin & bare it, I will. I just don't like the fact that when the economy does pick back up again, I say when....., that they will look at my resume and say, well you were working at such & such a job making this amount of money, why should we pay you any more than that for the same type of job if you worked for that previously. How do you combat that?

You really should give yourself a pat on the back for all that you have accomplished. It really is something to be proud of. I believe that once this economy picks back up, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, that you will be able to find a job because this country will be looking for teachers. Maybe try becoming a math, science, or language teacher because thats where alot of the teaching jobs will be in the near future.

I'm sure my degree will be beneficial some day. For now, I'll just have to take what I can get in the meantime.

Thanks for your input

wrknfrlvn75@wowway.com in Warren, Michigan said: Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have thought of working from home. I would have to come up with something on my own or figure out which one of these work-at-home job sites is ligit. There is so many scams going on with the work-at-home jobs so its hard to tell which one is real and which one is not. I've cautiously been looking into it as an option.

I do have to say one thing.. do not try one of the mystery shopping gigs. Its a big scam. They send out blast emails and who ever contacts them back actually ends up getting a counterfit check. They tell you you will be doing shopping then of course they want to make sure the Western Union is doing its job>>> I just received two checks totally $2000 the mystery shopping company said "deposit in your bank" I took the checks to where they were supposed to be drawn on. Found out they were counterfit.
What they want you to do is deposit the checks, take out the money, you are supposed to keep your commission between $200-$300. Then send money to someone else. That is the scam part. Dont do it. The bank will force you to cover the check.

There are a lot of jobs you can do from home. I know Im going to say one and you might not like it but You can actully make nice money doing child care from your home. Im not talking about watching 10 kids. If you watch one maybe two younger children and thats it. Some professional couples are willing to pay big money to make sure you spend more time with their child. You might be able to make $300 per week. Then you consider potential write offs of your mortgage electric bill etc. Not too bad. If you have kids I think thats a perfect way to stay home with your own and make a little money. Then there is doing medical billing. Maybe even working part time as a finder for sales people. Thats a legit job. If there are good producing realtors they can actually give you a fee for work.

ptownealtor in Pleasanton, California said: I do have to say one thing.. do not try one of the mystery shopping gigs. Its a big scam. They send out blast emails and who ever contacts them back actually ends up getting a counterfit check. They tell you you will be doing shopping then of course they want to make sure the Western Union is doing its job>>> I just received two checks totally $2000 the mystery shopping company said "deposit in your bank" I took the checks to where they were supposed to be drawn on. Found out they were counterfit.
What they want you to do is deposit the checks, take out the money, you are supposed to keep your commission between $200-$300. Then send money to someone else. That is the scam part. Dont do it. The bank will force you to cover the check.

There are a lot of jobs you can do from home. I know Im going to say one and you might not like it but You can actully make nice money doing child care from your home. Im not talking about watching 10 kids. If you watch one maybe two younger children and thats it. Some professional couples are willing to pay big money to make sure you spend more time with their child. You might be able to make $300 per week. Then you consider potential write offs of your mortgage electric bill etc. Not too bad. If you have kids I think thats a perfect way to stay home with your own and make a little money. Then there is doing medical billing. Maybe even working part time as a finder for sales people. Thats a legit job. If there are good producing realtors they can actually give you a fee for work.

Thats terrible that you were scammed. Your out $2,000 dollars because of it. Wow! Its hard to put your trust in anything today. Even applying for jobs over the internet some of them are a hoax too. I heard on the news the other day that people are going to interviews thinking their real, told they have gotten the job, person gives them their personal info and its a scam. They now have their info

The economy is in a slump. I have experience with two(2) major defense companies although that was a while ago, but figured I could break back in after a few years absence after having worked in state gov't for 20 years, but so far no luck and probably won't get anything anytime soon. Too many people looking and not enough positions. Luckily, I have the permanent income of my state ret. and the kids are grown and out of the house.But it is frustrating to say the least, oh did I mention I am a military veteran(wartime from the 70s)but nothing yet.Out

wrknfrlvn75@wowway.com in Warren, Michigan said: Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have thought of working from home. I would have to come up with something on my own or figure out which one of these work-at-home job sites is ligit. There is so many scams going on with the work-at-home jobs so its hard to tell which one is real and which one is not. I've cautiously been looking into it as an option.

Do not forget the mess this country is in. The current condition is not the same as before this financial disaster, similar to the Great Depression of 1930. Things are not the same as you new it. We are at War economically in this country, and there are thousands of victims whose lives have been destroyed. People have lost millions of dollars, their homes and even their marriages and families. I have been out of work since March of this year. I have an MBA in Business and I am a pretty good buyer. However, there are no jobs, because businesses are downsizing due to their own financial shortcomings. Being frustrated will only add to your dimise and emotional stress. Everyone in this country is going through the same thing you and I are going through. Chill out, make the best of your time. Here is what I recommend. Offer your time to some organization that can use your expertise. Do something for humanity, instead of only yourself. Help other get their lives together. Join the Big Brother, help a kid get his act together, go visit the sick and bring a little joy to those who are in worst shape you are.
And wait until the right job comes along and it will come. We are all in this thing together. Your situation is the same as millions of other. Enjoy the life you have right now, for tomorrow is promised to no one.

Jhon

Hi Jhon,

Thanks for your insite & wisdom. People should try not to let the economy come between them & their spouse. I know its hard but if you were doing fine before this economy turned then you should be able to stick it out until the economy picks back up. It actually might make you stronger as a couple and know what is really important in life that you have eachother and are able to overcome anything as long as you are together. Don't make the management of money the reason you break apart. As for getting involved in something, I believe Big Brother is located somewhere in downtown Detroit in which I'm not real familiar with driving around downtown. Visiting the sick at a hospital is something I could look into.

Buyer to Buyer what do you think about headhunters? I was told by a headhunter that if a job is offering for example: $40,000 to $50,000 a year that because the headhunter gets 10 to 15% of the take on the job that the company offering the job will only want to pay you $40,000/yr & no more because the larger the amount offered the more the company will have to pay the headhunter. Cost Savings for the company both ways if the amount stays at $40,000, paying you less as well as the headhunter. Cost Savings of $17,500. So the companies offering $40,000 to $50,000 is somewhat of a hoax because in todays job market there isn't much room for negotiation if any. It's basically take it or leave it because companies have more than enough applicants that will take it for the amount of $40,000. Its unfortunate but its true. So companies feel that it is worth it to bring on a headhunter for them to find employees because it saves them time & money.

wrknfrlvn75@wowway.com in Warren, Michigan said: Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have thought of working from home. I would have to come up with something on my own or figure out which one of these work-at-home job sites is ligit. There is so many scams going on with the work-at-home jobs so its hard to tell which one is real and which one is not. I've cautiously been looking into it as an option.

Check out the website workathomedesk.com; every job is legit and the site actually warns that if you have to pay for a work at home position it is a scam. Good Luck

Thanks! I'll check it out.