Wow, that is the saddest story yet.

Condolences

Things will get better, keep your spirits up.

Our business has definitely taken a hit over the last 6 months,unfortunately some business owners think when times get tough that's the time to reel in on their advertising when it should be the opposite.I've got local restaurants that are complaining about business and yet their not willing to put out a decent coupon when the trend nationally with the "big boys" is just that.I've even heard the likes of Ruth Criss's on the radio recently with dinner for two specials.

Overall,it's getting very interesting being in outside sales and listening to numerous business people's complaints.As for us I'm about fed up with health insurance,my mrs has rheumatoid arthritis and as small business owners we're now paying $1226 month for coverage and there's absolutely no help because no other company is going to touch a pre-existing condition.

so what's the bad part?

Nope.

My portfolio is taking a beating right now, but that's a short-term hit. INVESTMENTS are for the long term. If it's <5yrs, that's SAVINGS. (I'm a saving mofo; on par with investing - probably to my long-term detriment, but it is prudent in short to mid-term situations)

Wait until after the first of the year, but being a grad with no experience is hard anywhere in any field. Did you co-op or do any summer jobs in accounting? Ever worked in a bank as a CSR? These are all things you should have done.

I did bookkeeping for a company during my senior year.

Have to start low & work your way up. High/unrealistic expectations are the cause of most post-grad's distress. WAAY too many spend years in an academic cocoon only to emerge unprepared for the harsh realities of the job market.

"I'm going to get a degree, graduate, and make $100k!"

"Uhh, no you're not, sparky. Now go brew some coffee and get the mail, FNG."

I've been pretty realistic, I'd have to say. I've had several interviews, and was told I did well in them, but there are people with absurd amounts of experience being pressed into lower jobs, especially in the financial industry, which is where I am applying a good amount of the time.

Actually, out here it isn't too bad for the most part. The oil companies are doing a lot of drilling and field work in this area so for the most part, energy prices, and retirement savings plummeting are the only major problems for us. We are having employment problems in that there aren't enough workers to fill positions - restuarants are really hurting - a lady in our church that manages one was told by her District Manager that if the person is breathing, she needs to hire them.

Build it up more than it is if you haven't. Are you just not getting interviews?

I don't know if the economy is hitting me as hard in the wallet as my ex-wife....

I remember my college recruiter telling me all the money I was going to make when I graduated. I fell for that sales tactic hook, line and sinker. 8 years later and I'm still trying to get paid. Plus you're not thinking about all the loans you're having to pay back once you're out there.

That's good wrt being realistic. I have seen way too many post-grads trying to land high paying gigs. Any more, experience trumps a diploma (with the exception of most professional fields). Experience + diploma is always a good thing.

Only way to get experience in most cases is to take a low paying, brutal job. Bust your ass and do the best you can for a couple of years, learn the ropes until you can do your job backwards, forwards, and sideways, then move up.

Heh, I interviewed a guy two weeks ago who was all diploma. He got so flustered in the interview I thought he was going to start crying. You CANNOT bullshit the interviewer if said interviewer has expertise in the field. It is better to say "I don't know off the top of my head, but it wouldn't take me long to look it up", then site WHERE one would "look it up", than try to BS your way through it.