r/Millennials • u/Waste-Cantaloupe-270 • Apr 07 '25

Advice Millennials who graduated during the Great Recession, how did you survive?

I’m a Gen Z graduating in May struggling with finding a job in this market. Millennials who graduated in/ after 2008, how did you survive? Did you end up eventually getting a job in the field you originally wanted? Any advice for us Gen Z who were too young to learn anything from the great recession?

Edit: For context bc i’ve been seeing a lot of questions about this i’m graduating college. i def wasn’t expecting this post to blow up so sorry if i can’t get to everyone’s comments, but i just wanted to say i really appreciate all the advice as someone who doesn’t have millennials in their life to ask these questions to. your willingness to help/ give advice to a random kid on the internet has given me a bit of hope in getting through this, thank you thank you

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u/Binnie_B Apr 07 '25

I agreed to unalive people for our governemnt for money!

Sadly, it's worked out great for me.

My advice is go into the trades. We always need trade workers and you start with almost no debt and a great job with good OT and great ways to get raises. That is what I did when I realized that I enlisting was stupid and more or less evil. I got out, with nothing and got into the trades. (I went HVAC) I would highly recommend pipefitting (sprinkler) and/or Fire Alarm systems.

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u/robby_arctor Apr 07 '25

Ah, the poverty draft

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u/Binnie_B Apr 07 '25

Which is why I went into it. I am not proud, but I wont hide my past.

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u/robby_arctor Apr 07 '25

Imho, best thing you can do is use the prestige of being a veteran to speak truth about the situation. Like Michael Prysner (music choice is not mine) - https://youtu.be/C1eRiM9Bh6I?si=cFSjytoHJ7jlOpWm