[Leica] Leica Monochrome

[alal at poly.edu (Akhil Lal)]

I posted this over  on the lug forum a few days ago:

http://chronicle.com/article/From-Graduate-School-to/131795/

Also see: 

http://www.thetakeaway.org/2012/may/11/phds-food-stamps/

and 

http://chronicle.com/article/4-Academics-on-Food-Stamps/131782/


Anyone who thinks we  have been experiencing just another recession is in
denial. 
-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+alal=poly.edu at leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+alal=poly.edu at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Tim Gray
Sent: 11 May 2012 14:39
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica Monochrome

On May 11, 2012 at 06:56 AM +0200, Nathan Wajsman wrote:
> But I also know that my almost-23 year old son will graduate with a 
> Masters in aerospace engineering next year (2013) and I know that 
> thanks to his hard work at university, he will have good grades and 
> will very likely find a well-paying after graduating.

I wish him better luck than I've had.  Which is better than Phil's from the
sounds of it, but it still hasn't been awesome.  I was told the same thing
you are saying.  I worked hard in school, got into a very good college,
worked hard there, got into a very good graduate school, got a Ph.D. in
physics, got a postdoc, and have been looking for jobs for the last three
years.  It took 30 years for my rope to run out, but I've hit the end of the
line.  I've had ONE phone interview; I did not get the job.  While I do
currently have a job, our funding is not permanent, so I could lose it at
any moment.  And I simply have been unable to get any kind of job.  Jobs I'm
qualified for, jobs I'm over qualified for.  I've even applied for secretary
jobs.  I've been living apart from my girlfriend, 7 hr drive, for the last
three years as well.  As it turns out, I'll probably having my position
end/just end up quitting, and move out to where my girlfriend lives and be
supported by her.  Hopefully I'll be able to find something there, even if
it is $8/hr.

The job market sucks for younger people, and I'm one of the LUCKY ones.  
I have a good education, I have my health, and I have no debt.  My degrees
are even in the sciences, you know the ones where all the good jobs
supposedly are.  I got to go to *awesome* schools for free, yet I have no
real career prospects to speak of.  I can only imagine what it's like for
the portions of the population that routinely get crapped on: 
the poor, veterans, art majors, working class, high school educated, etc.

Also, Phil, that sounds like a raw deal.  I hope things get better for you.