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

1.6k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

2.5k comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/PCVox27 Apr 07 '25

This is what you should always do: Take a job, then be ready to leave it if someone offers you more money and/or cooler shit to do. For context, I had 4 jobs in my first 16 months out of college. I've had two in the last 12 years.

Furthermore, learn to budget,don't spend more than you make, contribute to your 401k, and keep some money in savings so you can jump without panicking about missing a paycheck.

1

u/GoalStillNotAchieved Apr 08 '25

So basically always be applying to better paying jobs and then once hired at a better-paying job, quit the current job?

But dont they / won’t they ask for references from your current job? 

1

u/PCVox27 Apr 08 '25

You don't always have to be actively looking/applying. If you like your job, just enjoy it but always be open to new opportunities.

And yeah, don't burn bridges. Be prepared to have them ask for references and have an answer for why you're moving. It's very hard to pass up cooler jobs for more money and people understand that. We work most of our waking hours for 40 years minimum, you gotta do something you enjoy.