Second bit of advice:
1. You basically have a business degree.
2. The richest self-made people I know learned a trade and then started their own business. Made a bunch of business mistakes initially, figured it out, and now have a bunch of people that work for them.
3. Your knowledge allows you to avoid the business mistakes. All you need is the trade certifications. Electrician or HVAC are what I tell everyone to do. Learn the trade, get really good at it, save up your money instead of spending it, and then start your own business and I might be working for you someday.

If you have CADD/drafting experience there is a world of opportunities, particularly in power transmission and distribution design. Many of these jobs are remote as well.

dyro said:

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I need someone who is willing to take a chance, but it seems like everyone only wants the best. Having a degree only says you showed up somewhere every day for the past 4 years. What ever happened to companies training new employees? Now everyone expects you to have a masters degree at least with 5+ years of super industry specific experience. I just don't know what to do anymore. If anyone could offer advice I'd greatly appreciate it.

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Unfortunately this is what happens in a bad job market/bad economy. You have to be a unicorn to get hired. Let that be a lesson to never vote Democrat.

One way to get into coding (assuming you still want to do that) is to start off testing/QA then move up. Usually the skill/experience requirements are lower to get in. Learn the ropes then move up/on.

StinkyPinky said:

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Moral High Horse said:

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But did you have fun?

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Not the right time, but you till get a pass because that was pretty damn funny

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Can't take all the credit:

Coding lesson 1:

select
from
where

memorize those 3 words and you know more coding than most morons in the corporate world.

Also vlookup. Olds and hr will think you're a gd wizard.

gabehcoud said:

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Coding lesson 1:

select
from
where

memorize those 3 words and you know more coding than most morons in the corporate world.

Also vlookup. Olds and hr will think you're a gd wizard.

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Upgade to xloopup, friend.

You can outsource all that goobitygop by posting attractive women pics and describing the problem here.

What jobs are you looking for? Sometimes I think it's harder to find something when you're looking for ANYTHING rather than going after something specific.

Great advice my buddy told his oldest before senior year of high school. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it comes with a license or certificate. You will always be in demand. There are so many things you can do to gain a license or certificate. My buddy was in the navy, went to LSU after his service and then wound up at a very large vessel company after graduation. He was laid off in 2017 or 2018. After 6 months the company called him back and offered him a job as a deckhand on an offshore boat. He jumped on it. In his off time the company paid for him to go to boat school and he ended up with a captains license for all manor of big boats. He now works as a tug boat captain working 7 on/7 off and makes well north of $500k operating large tugs in a midsize port docking and escorting large tankers and cargo vessels.

As others have said, you can make a lot of $ as a tradesman. $75k/yr is not off the table as an electrician/plumber/hvac starting out. Welders can make insane $. So many people write off the folks that work with their hands. But it's those hands most people will pay big $ to in order to fix something simple that they don't want to mess with.

Look at the navy. Screw carrying a rifle as an infantryman. Go ride on boats. It's not difficult work. You gain valuable leadership and management experience that many of the big companies value above industry experience.

Best of luck to you.

Ever thought about law enforcement? Many agencies, including smaller ones, will now pay your way through the police academy while paying you a salary. Many agencies are desperate for officer recruits.

Go to TSTC get a trade under your belt, learn the trade a few years (starting pay for general maintenance is $28 but you have to have a great work ethic) and start your own business when the time is right. I have skilled trades who have taken this path and will retire when i do with more money.

Some of this is awesome advice. Also remember you can go back to school and end up exactly the same spot with more debt if you don't pick well.

I loved being frugal, paying off and saving, when I first started out. No wife and kids to pay for, just living for me.

I'm sorry about the Covid situation. None of y'all should have had to deal with that.

You've gotta ask yourself…am I hungry? You gotta be a little hungry.

Try to imagine that you don't have grandparents that are willing to take you in, no money coming in from anywhere. I think if that were the case, you would be more apt to take some of these temporary gigs that some of these folks suggested. You may need to work a menial job or two that makes you hungry for more. A very strong want to get up and out. That's when things will start to come through for you.
Get up every morning a little before your grandparents. Go to bed not too long after they do. Prepare yourself for the real world so you don't have a hard time adjusting when something comes up.
I definitely can tell you are trying everything you can think of - be sure to take in the good advice.
I proofread judgements at the local courthouse for 6 months and I looked around and said, I'm out. And that's when the light came on for me.

Good luck - you do have the world by the tail even if it doesn't seem like it right now.

Have you considered joining the US Army?

Consider serving your country and seeing the world. Take a look at how many different jobs there are and commissioning from OCS. I got to lead and manage 45 people at the age of 23 in austere environments. You will gain valuable leadership skills that will help you out in the long run in your career. I'm currently a Major in the Army Reserve. Not a day goes by regretting that I joined. I love being with my Soldiers and taking care of them. If you want to chat, feel free to send me a PM.

Commission/enlist in Texas and you will receive access to the Hazlewood Act. The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption.

You will also have access to the GI BILL from the federal government. This covers the cost of tuition, fees, books and housing for up to 48 months while you are in school.

I have an undergraduate and master's degree completely paid for by the Army and GI Bill. I haven't even used my Hazlewood yet. I recently purchased my first house utilizing the VA Loan. I commissioned right out of Texas A&M and began my Army journey. I did 10 years active duty then joined the Army Reserve, which I'm currently in. I am married to my beautiful wife and have two kids. TriCare health insurance has been incredible and is unmatched free health insurance for all active duty service members. All hospitals costs for babies and medical costs are $0.

On the army reserve side of the house, I pay about $260 a month to insure a family of 5 and their medical needs with TriCare Reserve Select.

I have been to hell and back with some of the experiences I have had in the Army. I've lost my best friends, been pushed to my limits, said "**** the Army" hundreds of times and have been absolutely miserable while serving.

But….it's the best job I've ever had.

Wolfpac 08 said:

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Don't join the military, kid

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Because it needs to be said on every page of this thread

Wolfpac 08 said:

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Wolfpac 08 said:

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Don't join the military, kid

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Because it needs to be said on every page of this thread

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I can't tell if you are joking or using reverse psychology.

Apache said:

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Quote:

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I literally can't do anything else except go back to school, which even then doesn't promise a job.

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You're young, presumably you have your health. You have family that loves you & your grandparents are still alive. Many on this site would trade untold thousands of dollars to have a few of these things.

"Literally" you have hundreds of possible choices. The world is your oyster. You have a degree & a drive to work. It's just a matter of time before something falls into your lap. Might not be your dream job, but every door you walk through is an opportunity to learn, network & explore this roller coaster called life.

Get into a daily routine of working out, eating healthy, applying for jobs & networking like crazy. Go to Aggie happy hours. Volunteer somewhere. You got this.

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Cant reiterate this enough. Network. Every job I've had since graduating I got by networking, not by sitting behind a screen and clicking through fake postings. I don't know where you're at, but find some Aggie clubs. Network. Search for industry specific events/conferences. Network. Job fairs. Network. There's a job fair in Houston just about every week it seems. Also look at municipal/non-profits. I know a lot of people here in Houston in those circles and they are routinely looking for recent grads for various positions. NETWORK.

Keep your head up. Something will come to you when you least expect it. So stay ready.

https://texags.com/forums/18/topics/3479786

atmtws said:

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Apache said:

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Quote:

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I literally can't do anything else except go back to school, which even then doesn't promise a job.

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You're young, presumably you have your health. You have family that loves you & your grandparents are still alive. Many on this site would trade untold thousands of dollars to have a few of these things.

"Literally" you have hundreds of possible choices. The world is your oyster. You have a degree & a drive to work. It's just a matter of time before something falls into your lap. Might not be your dream job, but every door you walk through is an opportunity to learn, network & explore this roller coaster called life.

Get into a daily routine of working out, eating healthy, applying for jobs & networking like crazy. Go to Aggie happy hours. Volunteer somewhere. You got this.

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Cant reiterate this enough. Network. Every job I've had since graduating I got by networking, not by sitting behind a screen and clicking through fake postings. I don't know where you're at, but find some Aggie clubs. Network. Search for industry specific events/conferences. Network. Job fairs. Network. There's a job fair in Houston just about every week it seems. Also look at municipal/non-profits. I know a lot of people here in Houston in those circles and they are routinely looking for recent grads for various positions. NETWORK.

Keep your head up. Something will come to you when you least expect it. So stay ready.

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Spot on. I was fresh out of college, waiting tables during the thick of the freaking Global Financial Crisis, and had no idea what I wanted to do. Whenever I made small talk with my tables, I made it a point to let them know that I was a recent grad looking for a career office job. This led to several encounters with recruiters and hiring managers for pharmaceutical sales jobs and other sales type positions. They asked me to send them my resume and theyd see what they could do.

People like helping people they know and like.

Well that led to an inside sales interview for a fortune 500 company that one of the regulars at the restaurant was able to arrange for me. I didnt get that job, but the interview experience was invaluable because I ended up getting another job a few weeks later because a friend of a friend knew I was looking for work. 14 years later Im doing the same type of work, worked for a few large fortune 100's, making great money, on track for early retirement, travel often, and life is good.

Keep going and networking! Tell everyone and anyone youre a recent grad and looking to start your career. You never know what job, encounter, person etc will lead to your dream job.

Quote:

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Whenever I made small talk with my tables, I made it a point to let them know that I was a recent grad looking for a career office job.

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This is a great point. Everyone you meet is a potential employer or a connection to one.

AgTrip said:

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Al Bula said:

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If this post is serious, look at learning a trade. Electrician, HVAC, welding, demo/restoration, plumbing... Apprentice for a few years. Start your own business after that.

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I'm constantly looking for welders! It's hard finding someone who wants to physically work. They're all holding out for management positions!

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Are you in BCS? If so would love to reach out to you (my email is in my profile).

I was in a very similar boat after graduating with a predatory degree from A&M (my own fault). Keep seeking credentials of value in any field, it will get better. Sadly, for most, college degrees are high school diplomas now. Discouragement is for losers.

IT for TAMU regularly posts entry level positons that just require a degree. The TAMU police station has two open positions - one looks like it requires no experience, one looks like it requires you to be a peace officer (not sure what that entails). The first job on TAMU's jobs is an event coordinator that doesn't require experience.

Best of luck, I know it can be hard out there.

dyro said:

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I grew up in a fully Aggie family. Both sides were Aggies. I had been brainwashed since I was a kid so I always told myself I would go there even though I didn't know any better. After being there a year I often wish I would've applied elsewhere to just see what I could've gotten. 3.94 GPA in High School and fourth in the class so I would've had a pretty good chance. But senior year me didn't know any better, or even think to do what I wanted instead of what others wanted for me.

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As Aggies, we tend to get insular. That is bad.
I have no Aggie legacy. My father went to a big famous top ranked school on the West Coast. I applied there but could not get in.
We don't live in Texas but a couple of years ago, when my son was applying, I dissuaded him from applying to A&M as it was not a top school for Computer Science. He ended up getting into a Top 5 school and going there and I am happy he did. If he was into Petroleum Engg or something like that, I would have told him to apply to A&M also.

With 3.94 and 4th, you could have gotten into a much better school. But all that is past. Think about the future and make changes as needed.

Not joking - completely serious

From an earlier post:

Quote:

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have been to hell and back with some of the experiences I have had in the Army. I've lost my best friends, been pushed to my limits, said "**** the Army" hundreds of times and have been absolutely miserable while serving.

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My first couple of years post-grad absolutely sucked…but I didn't lose any friends and no one was trying to kill me…

don't really have anything to add to the good advice above, but

Quote:

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I'm one semester away and A&M decides to take my major out of Mays and discontinue the degree. I was the last graduating class in that major. Every semester before the degree had read Mays. Mine read University Studies

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that sucks.