Rant: Is “Lack of Jobs” Really The Problem?

My editorial calendar originally had a podcast scheduled to go out today, but due to some scheduling issues, I haven’t had a chance to record it yet. Hey, things happen. 🙂 Later this week, I will be starting up something which I think will be pretty fun… and it will last the entire month of August here on this blog. Stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, the following post is actually one I wrote at the end of 2011. It is a bit of a rant – but still something I believe. It also happens to apply a simple lesson I teach here at the Academy to the regular world of the job market. Enjoy!

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Unemployment is a big news item these days. And a lot of people who are looking for work are chalking up all their difficulties to the bad employment situation.

It is the bad economy… and that’s why there aren’t enough jobs. Right?

Believe it or not, there are companies who WANT to hire people and can’t find anybody qualified enough. For example, the company my wife works for (she’s an engineer) is having a difficult time finding good, qualified engineers to hire.  They have unfulfilled job openings.

So, is the problem really about “lack of jobs”?

Majoring In Art History? There’s Your Problem!

I think a cold, hard truth that many don’t want to acknowledge is that too many people are going to college these days and wasting their time and money on useless degrees.

If somebody went to college and majored in art history, philosophy, music, English lit… or some other liberal art…. well, don’t be surprised when you get out into the real world and can’t find a job. Because you’re not qualified for anything worth a sh*t.

When did college kids lose sight of the fact that, in order to make good money, you have to deliver a real, valuable product to the world?

A REAL product. It doesn’t have to be physical (obviously), but it certainly has to be valuable to others. What you produce has to add value to the lives of other people… so they will pay you.

This should be “Basic Economics 101”, but alas, most kids aren’t even properly trained in that. Instead, they take classes in “gender studies” or psycho-babble.

Supply And Demand – REAL WORLD, Not Stupid Theory

Many people hear the words “supply and demand” and their eyes glaze over. Well, your economics teacher should be fired.

When you have a large supply of something and very little demand, the value is worthless. A large supply of anything brings the value down… because people can just go get it anywhere they want.

On the other hand, when demand is high but supply is limited, value is high.

So, translate this over to what you produce for the world… or what you learn in college.

My wife went to school for chemical engineering. Not a lot of people do that, yet companies need people like that. My wife will never have a problem finding work for as long as she wants it.

On the other hand, if you major in English Lit (for example), what is it you produce that would actually be in demand by others? Pretty much nothing. No demand. And so you’ll end up in the big pool of “general laborers” and, if or when you find a job, chances are it will have nothing to do with what you went to college for.

Or if you major in something that a lot of others major in (like Communications), then you have too much supply. While there are jobs out there for communications majors, there are a LOT of people majoring in general degrees like that. Lots of supply, not enough demand.

See how that works?

Blaming “The Economy” Gets You Nowhere

Sitting around and lamenting unemployment or lack of money isn’t going to solve anything. Blaming “the economy” for not having a job certainly solves nothing. Hell, blame has NEVER solved anything.

Only taking responsible action solves things.

Responsibility isn’t joining your local “Occupy” protest. Responsibility isn’t found in blaming “rich people” or “big corporations”. Responsibility isn’t complaining about government or politicians, or thinking “If we can just vote XXXX out of office, everything will be better”.

The only person who controls your income and job situation is you.

If you want income, you can produce it by providing something valuable to the world. Get trained in something useful and in demand. If you go to college, don’t waste your time with dumb degrees that don’t translate into an in-demand position. And, remember, if you’re willing to major in something hard that not many are willing to do, then you’ll be in demand even more due to limited supply.

Or you can go “Plan B”…

… And start your own business. Maybe even an online one.

Hell, I can even help you with that. 🙂

But, even then, you have to produce and offer something real and valuable in the real world. I teach this to online entrepreneurs all the time. Find the problem and the demand for a solution, then provide it.

It is NO different when it comes to getting a J-O-B.

OK, end rant. Help save a college student by forwarding this to them, if you think they need to read it. 🙂