I am a Gen Y and “there’s no room for me”

She’d been unemployed for 6 months.

I was having a weekend lunch and listening to a story I’ve heard so many times before: a bright and ambitious young woman with a bachelor’s degree shooting out resumes left and right to no avail. The result? Moving back in with her parents.

“There’s no room for me in this job market,” she said, in despair.

You may hear these same words uttered all the way from the blogosphere to your morning papers and office water coolers – and it all may seem a bit too dramatic.

I know I thought it sounded that way the first time I heard about this type of story. After all, it’s all a part of life and growing up, right?

We’re all taught that you go through the steps growing up:
1. Graduate
2. Compete in the job market
3. Get hired
4. Work hard
5. Stabilize your career/Begin starting a family
6. Continue the rest of your adult life

However, the reality for my friend and many like her, is this:
1. Graduate
2. Compete in the job market
3. Lose
4. Take the occasional contract job
5. Work hard at each contract job only for that contract to end
6. Move back in with your parents because you have no money
7. Return to school and get a Master’s degree (or something more practical) in hopes this is the step you forgot when you graduated

I told my distraught friend that it’s tough right now, but in just a couple of years, it’ll get better. I wasn’t necessarily referring to the job market, but moreso her life, in general. I figured, like a lot of others I know, things eventually work out – just a lot later.

But for her, “a lot later” just isn’t an option she’s looking forward to:

“I want to have kids by my early thirties, but I have piles of debt and no serious career direction. What am I supposed to do?”

I didn’t have the answer. She didn’t seem to expect I would, but I felt useless nonetheless.

I’m truly hoping this conference can help people like her get through this rough patch. Those in tune with this issue know that these individuals are a dime a dozen, and it spans across all generations with various issues around the workplace.

In the following weeks, we’ll be sharing stories from both Gen X and Baby Boomer perspective as well, so stay tuned for that.

For now, readers, what are your thoughts on my friend’s current issue? Any words of encouragement or practical advice you can give her? I’ll be sure to deliver the message.