Where are you going next? That's the question that has hounded me for the last few months. My post-doc here in Marburg is almost done. At the end of January, it will be time to move on, and hopefully, move up. (But not to the Eastside, Jeffersons) I have been searching for jobs in every part of the world, wondering where the next opportunity will take me. Fortunately, there are job opportunities out there for me, which isn't allows the case, say if you were an autoworker or bank manager.
So I have applied to many countries: Germany, Ireland, China, USA, and Singapore. In the US, I have applied to a company in Huntsville, AL. I have never been to Alabama before, but I figure the state can't be too bad since Lynyrd Skynyrd made one of his number one hits about how sweet this state really is. I have an interview there on Dec. 19th--hopefully it is just before the xmas party.
I had another interview with Singapore, the day after I got home from Belgium. It was one of the strangest I ever had. I had to give a presenation over the internet while using Netmeeting Videoconferencing software. I was on camera so they could see and hear me, and was using my computer to control the powerpoint presentation--which they were also seeing on a projector in Singapore. It was bit difficult as I could always hear myself speaking in the background, as their speakers were right next to the microphone. Kinda felt like I was having a conversation with myself for 35 minutes. But it went OK, and last week they offered me the job, and at the moment they are putting together a 'salary package'--so I am a little excited to see what that will be.
So it should be a fun month of traveling. I believe next week will be a14 hr plane ride to Singapore if the salary package is acceptable. I want to see what I am getting into before considering going there. I wonder how I will like all that tropical weather, since I hear that it doesnt drop under 80-90 degrees F (30 C) all that often--it lies near the equator. I would also be the white minority there in a sea of Chinese, Malaysians, and Indians. The week after that, I will be hopscotching all over America. Frankfurt to Boston to Huntsville to Phoenix to (finally) Minneapolis on Dec 23 and back to Frankfurt on Jan 3. You cant imagine my airline bills. My credit card is filling up fast, just when I had it at zero.
My parents reminded me that I am their eyes as I go around the world--so I will try post some pics and videos soon--if I can keep from losing my camera all time. I am waiting for the credit card camera--so i can keep it in my wallet and take it out when I need it.
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Hey Terry, congrats on the post-doc success. Singapore... that should be interesting.
The ice fishing trip will be the 13-15 of Feb. Going to URL this year and revisiting Buddy. I will tell the two random 40 something year old trailer trashies from the bar you said "what's up, ladies".
The number of college grads seeking work is at an all time high, which means more bad news for the broader economy.
By Jessica Dickler, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: December 5, 2008: 2:57 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There are currently a record number of unemployed college graduates seeking work. So many, in fact, that they outnumber high school dropouts on the job hunt.
In November the number of people with a higher degree who were out of work rose to 1.413 million from 1.411 million in the previous month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Comparatively, there were 1.282 million unemployed high school dropouts, up slightly from 1.273 million in October.
"College graduates are not going to get away unscathed," said Dean Baker, director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC, "everyone is being hit by this."
While the manufacturing and construction industries were hardest hit by layoffs last month - 85,000 and 82,000 jobs lost, respectively, according to the Labor Department - it is the professional and business services category that many economists view as a barometer for overall economic activity.
In its November jobs report, the Labor Department said that firms in the business and professional services category cut 136,000 jobs, the largest one-month drop on record. Additionally, financial services jobs fell by 32,000, another record decline.
Those job cuts are hitting college educated workers the hardest, according to Dr. Reena Aggarwal, a professor of finance at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.
"A lot of the job losses are the more higher paying jobs and it's just going to mean far fewer dollars flowing into the economy," she said.
A glass half full
But even though business and professional services saw significant layoffs, the unemployment rate among those with a higher degree held steady at 3.1% in November. The overall unemployment rate rose to 6.7% from 6.5% in October.
"You're still less than half as likely to be unemployed if you have a college degree," Baker said.
"The numbers say, despite these conditions, we still have a strong job market within the professional skills category, nearly 97% of college-educated workers are employed," said Janette Marx, senior vice president of Ajilon Global, professional staffing firm.
Going forward, "you may see an increase but it will probably remain at half or less than half of the overall unemployment rate," Marx said.
Experts agree that overall unemployment is likely to rise substantially in the months ahead. The Labor Department announced that the economy shed 533,000 jobs in November, the largest monthly job loss total since December 1974. The year's total job losses is now 1.9 million, not including the slew of large-scale job-cut announcements on Thursday.
But Baker said college graduates shouldn't panic, yet. "In a way, there's been a little bit of a lead time," she explained. "Students understand this is not going to be a market where they will have three or four offers."
Well son your doing what u all ways wanted to do, we are with u no matter where it takes you............love dad
son, you are doing what I always wanted to do. You are doing, what you always said you would do. Go full blast, but please b careful.
and have safe fun while doing it. keep us informed on ur work. You are our eyes and ears, please send us some great pictures home, don`t loose ur camera....have fun and eat good....love always
MOM
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