General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumslaw firm only hires people with BA degrees, including the office "runner"
It Takes a B.A. to Find a Job as a File Clerk
The college degree is becoming the new high school diploma: the new minimum requirement, albeit an expensive one, for getting even the lowest-level job.
Consider the 45-person law firm of Busch, Slipakoff & Schuh here in Atlanta, a place that has seen tremendous growth in the college-educated population. Like other employers across the country, the firm hires only people with a bachelor's degree, even for jobs that do not require college-level skills.
This prerequisite applies to everyone, including the receptionist, paralegals, administrative assistants and file clerks. Even the office "runner" the in-house courier who, for $10 an hour, ferries documents back and forth between the courthouse and the office went to a four-year school.
--------------
"It sure beats washing cars," said Landon Crider, 24, the firm's soft-spoken runner.
He would know: he spent several years, while at Georgia State and in the months after graduation, scrubbing sedans at Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Before joining the law firm, he was turned down for a promotion to rental agent at Enterprise a position that also required a bachelor's degree because the company said he didn't have enough sales experience.
His college-educated colleagues had similarly limited opportunities, working at Ruby Tuesday or behind a retail counter while waiting for a better job to open up.
"I am over $100,000 in student loan debt right now," said Megan Parker, who earns $37,000 as the firm's receptionist. She graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta in 2011 with a degree in fashion and retail management, and spent months waiting on "bridezillas" at a couture boutique, among other stores, while churning out office-job applications.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100474974
treestar
(82,383 posts)Someday they are going to need a clerk and not be able to find one with a degree. And what difference does it make to them anyway? So long as the work gets done. What a weird law firm. Maybe the college grads see it as a foothold to make the contacts.
bobclark86
(1,415 posts)and unless something really special happens (like they ALL get jobs or there's a horrible plague), they'll always find somebody with an art degree, $100k in debt and no shame about fetching coffee.
TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)Until the last 18 months, the job market was so tight that I would have had to compete with candidates that had BAs and Masters that were displaced from their previous administrative positions.
People with Masters degrees are settling for positions that previously only required Bachelors degrees and people with Bachelors degrees are settling for positions that previously only required diplomas and experience.
It's rough out there.......
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)My younger daughter has a BA in Education with 5 years in teaching and tutoring. No public school jobs, so she is looking into private school. Can you say they want all these credentials and pay $12/hour? In NYC??????
My older daughter, with only some college, but has over 10 year experience in Loss Prentention. They want to pay her $9/hour, which is what the President wants for MINIMUM wage. Both my kids live in NY, about 30 miles from NYC.
Me? I live in Florida now, and have about 15 years experience with special needs kids, and adults, and an AA. Jobs I have seen want to pay $8/hour (below the President's proposed minimum wage) with a REQUIRED of at LEAST 2 year degrees. They prefer a BA. For $8/hour????? I made that in 1971 as a secretary with NO DEGREE.
Barons and SERFS. This is what is happening today.
PM Martin
(2,660 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)as are entry-level jobs in fields like publishing and advertising. Check out the section "College Graduates" in the NYT's Help Wanted scetion.
Who takes them? Rich kids whose mumsy and daddy can co-sign for the apartment. And who ends up being promoted within these organizations? You got it.
RedCappedBandit
(5,514 posts)Unfortunately.
lpbk2713
(42,757 posts)I knew BushCo's legacy would last for generations.
sadbear
(4,340 posts)Thank goodness my wife has a Pharm.D..