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Business Insider
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
I found a job after graduating during the Great Recession. Here's my advice for fresh grads struggling to get hired.
Allyson Noonan, 39, is a PR consultant and adjunct professor based in New York. In July, Business Insider wrote about how Allyson Noonan and seven other Americans who graduated around the Great Recession navigated early career challenges — and what Gen Z college grads can learn from them. The following has been edited for length and clarity. It was 2008. The job market had taken a turn for the worse, and I was living off retail shifts and babysitting gigs. But after more than 100 job applications, I finally caught a break — from someone who'd already told me no. Now, I'm a PR consultant and an adjunct professor at the college I graduated from. Anxious students constantly ask me for my advice on finding a job in this tough market. Here's what I tell them. No one was hiring at the start of the recession I had graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in December 2007 — the first official month of the Great Recession — with a degree in communication arts. While I had excellent internships, few companies were hiring when the recession started, so I worked part-time at Anthropologie and babysat. I already lived in New York City because of college, and I spent seven months aggressively looking for a job. I hoped to land a public relations role. I mostly used the popular job sites at the time — Media Bistro, Craigslist, and I got a handful of interviews from those applications, but struggled to land a job. A rejected application eventually led to my first job One day, someone who interviewed me for a job I didn't get contacted me, saying she had a friend in the industry looking for an entry-level position that she thought I'd be a fit for. This position turned out to be my first full-time job at a PR agency, which I started in June 2008. This experience taught me that it's wise to take every interview you can — even if you're not sure it's a good fit. While I was happy to be working, my first position was definitely not my dream job. All my college internships had been in the entertainment and the arts, including one at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). This agency specialized in wholesale technology, and their big client was a company that made deep-sea underwater cables — something I honestly didn't really care much about. I also had to accept an annual salary of $28,000, much lower than the salaries of many of my peers who graduated just a couple of years ahead of me. I believe my lower pay was due to the recession. However, the job helped me learn the foundational PR skills that have served me well in my career, including how to communicate with clients and run meetings. I also received good mentorship that turned out to be very valuable down the road. We want to hear from job seekers and people who recently landed a job. If you're open to sharing your story, please fill out one or more of the linked Google Forms. I eventually built a successful PR career — but not the one I'd dreamed of Despite the rough start, I've had a successful career in public relations that's spanned more than a decade. However, I do think the Great Recession ruined my chance at my dream of working in PR in the entertainment industry. That said, I think my experience allowed me to learn about other interests I didn't realize I had. I now do a lot of healthcare public relations work, which I don't think college-aged me realized I was interested in. The experience of looking for my first full-time job during a recession also built resilience — and pushed me to explore other options besides work. In the fall of 2009, I started a graduate program at University College Dublin. I decided to enroll because, even though I was employed, I thought it would be difficult to find a higher-paying job in the market at the time, and it was less expensive to attend graduate school in Ireland than in the US. My advice for recent grads While my first job paid little, I eventually caught up to the pre-recession market salaries when I returned to the workforce, though it took me a few years to do so. I always tell my students to take a deep breath and that things will work out, even though it may take longer than usual to start their careers; the market will eventually swing back. I also suggest taking a job that might not be in their dream industry if they think they can learn valuable skills. Additionally, I tell them that this could be a great time to have a life adventure, particularly if they're interested in going to graduate school. I share my experience of studying in Ireland and how I am still close with many of the friends I made during that time. For recent graduates who want to enter the workforce right away, keeping in touch with college professors — particularly adjunct professors and those currently working in the industry — could help them find work. Ask your past professors if they'd be open to introducing you to their industry friends; I've had students ask this of me in the past, and it's helped some of them land roles. My last piece of advice is to take every interview you can, even if the company isn't looking for someone right away or if you aren't sure you're a fit. You never know what it might lead to.
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Alexander Skarsgård says he retired from acting at 13 after early fame: 'It was rough'
Alexander Skarsgård revealed how his first taste of fame as a teenage TV star in Sweden turned him off from acting for years. The "True Blood" alum, 48, opened up on the July 21 episode of the "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard" podcast about feeling "incredibly self-conscious" after his breakout role in the 1989 Swedish movie "Hunden som log." "It was rough. I didn't like being recognized. I didn't like going to school and kids at school being like, 'I saw the movie!'" Skarsgård told Shepard and cohost Monica Padman. "My confidence was down the drain." He continued: "I was like, 'This is terrible. And I've (only) done one 50-minute made-for-TV movie. I don't want to keep doing this.'" That was nearly the end of his acting career, which has since seen Skarsgård earn Emmy and Golden Globe awards. "I retired, threw in the towel at 13," he added. Alexander Skarsgård on his first role: 'Classic case of nepotism' Skarsgård first acted as a 7-year-old in 1984's "Ake and His World." This happened due to a "classic case of nepotism," he admitted on the podcast, explaining that his dad's friend, the late actor and director Allan Edwall, offered him the gig. Skarsgård's father is Stellan Skarsgård – of "Good Will Hunting," "Mamma Mia!" and "Dune" fame – and three of his seven younger siblings – brothers Gustaf, Bill, and Valter Skarsgård – are also actors. "Even though my dad was an actor, my younger brother, from when he was like 5, 6, he was adamant about 'I'm going to be an actor.' And I wasn't," Skarsgård said on the podcast. "I'd done a couple of odd jobs here and there, but it wasn't like I was pursuing it." "It wasn't a difficult decision," he explained of quitting acting as a teen. "I was like, 'I don't want to be an actor; I just want to drive a Saab. So I just kind of stopped doing it." He went in the opposite direction from his "bohemian" parents and eventually enlisted in the Swedish Navy. 'Stupid choice': Alexander Skarsgård regrets painful 'Murderbot' full body waxing "My teenage years, (I was) adamant about not following Dad and becoming an actor," Skarsgård said. He'd thought at the time: "You know what? I'm going to go off and be out all on my own on an island in the archipelago far from all the Skarsgårds," he said, adding: "And I hated it. I don't recommend doing it." He later continued: "You don't want to have to join the military for a year and a half to get independent. I don't recommend it." 'Zoolander' got Alexander Skarsgård back into acting Skarsgård briefly attended New York City's Marymount Manhattan College and then returned to Stockholm, where he worked "odd jobs" at a coffee shop, a clothing store, and as a busboy. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he booked several Swedish TV shows and movies. He found his way to Hollywood when another opportunity landed in his lap courtesy of his famous father. His father's manager sent him out to an audition for "Zoolander," Skarsgård said. "And I booked that baby." "I was just like, 'Oh, I guess this is how Hollywood works. You walk into a room and Ben Stiller's sitting there and you're like, all right!'" he joked.
Business Insider
06-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Millennials who graduated in the Great Recession share advice from their job-hunting trauma
Gen Zers are starting their careers in a tough job market. Millennials and Gen Xers can relate. Business Insider interviewed eight Americans who completed an undergraduate or graduate degree between 2007 and 2010, during the heart of the Great Recession. They found themselves launching their careers in a job market that was even more daunting than the one recent grads are facing today. As of March, the most recent data available, 5.8% of recent college graduates ages 22 to 27 were unemployed, compared with 4% of the overall workforce ages 16 to 65. That gap is the widest it's been in 35 years of jobs data, according to an analysis by the New York Fed. The recent grad unemployment rate hasn't been this high since October 2013, and in 2010, it peaked at more than 7%. While early job search challenges disrupted the careers of many of the millennials BI heard from, most said they've managed to not only find work but also build successful careers. One Gen Xer with two master's degrees had to start off in an unrelated field, but now has the career she desired. They all shared how the Great Recession affected their job searches, how they found their first jobs after graduation, and their top advice for today's recent college graduates. Here are their stories, in their own words. Their quotes have been edited for length and clarity. Have you landed a new job in the last few years and are open to sharing your story? Please fill out this quick Google Form. Struggling to find work? Please fill out this Google Form. Take every interview you can Allyson Noonan, 39, is a PR consultant and adjunct professor based in New York. I graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in December 2007 with a degree in communication arts. I hoped to land a public relations role. While I had excellent internships, no one was hiring when the recession started. While I was job searching, I worked part-time at Anthropologie and babysat. After submitting more than 100 applications, I still couldn't find work. But then, someone who interviewed me for a job I didn't get contacted me, saying she had a friend in the industry looking for an entry-level position that she thought I'd be a fit for. This position turned out to be my first full-time job at a PR agency, which I started in June 2008. This experience taught me that it's wise to take every interview you can — even if you're not sure it's a good fit. My first position was definitely not my dream job. The company focused on an industry I wasn't especially interested in, and I had to accept a salary that was much lower than my peers who graduated just a couple of years before me. However, I learned the foundational PR skills that have served me well ever since. Your first job doesn't have to be your dream job — or even related to your career Alicia Strata, 38, is a marketing director at a luxury travel agency based in Alabama. I graduated from Columbia College Chicago in May 2010 with a marketing communications degree. I hoped to land an internship that would help me get a job at an advertising agency, but the job market was tough. During the second semester of my senior year, I decided to apply to Teach For America and was accepted. Teaching was completely out of my area of study, but I was looking for something that felt both purposeful and possible in a shrinking job market. TFA offered that: a paycheck, a mission, and structure during chaos. The summer after graduation, I moved to South Dakota to begin my placement as a 4th-grade teacher. Although TFA didn't directly further my marketing career, it did give me valuable leadership skills and life experience that a traditional path wouldn't have afforded me. My biggest advice for new college grads is that you don't have to start in your dream job, but you do have to start. Take whatever you can to get going, but keep your eyes open and continue to pursue what you really want. That's what eventually led me back to marketing. Looking for a job is a job in itself Kourtney Jason, 39, is the cofounder of Pacific & Court, a digital marketing company. She is based in New York. I officially graduated from California State University with a journalism degree in May 2008. However, I'd wrapped up my coursework and was available to work in December 2007. While I applied for journalism jobs all through my last semester of college, I was told I didn't have enough experience despite having multiple internships on my résumé. I accepted an unpaid internship at Seventeen magazine from January to May 2008. During these five months, I continued to network and apply for jobs until I finally landed a full-time role at TWIST magazine. This was, in many ways, my dream job, but in July 2010, I was laid off. Despite my early career challenges, I think I've absolutely been able to recover. From that first job, I made so many connections personally and professionally that still impact and influence my work today. My biggest advice for college grads is to remember that looking for a job is a job in itself. You need to invest time and effort into your search and network. Stop chasing name-brand companies Patrice Williams-Lindo, 52, is the CEO of a career coaching platform based in Georgia. I finished my MBA in 2006 and earned a second master's in instructional technology in April 2008 — both from American InterContinental University. I was seeking consulting roles, but the Great Recession made my search feel impossible, especially since I was coming from a lesser-known university. I knew I had to change my job search strategy. A career coach told me not to chase name-brand companies but to target smaller, boutique consulting firms that would be more likely to value my skills. I took that advice. In September 2008, I got my first consulting role at a small firm — a job that finally put my degrees to use. That opportunity became the foundation for a consulting career that eventually led me to start my own business. While I searched for a job, I worked full-time teaching Spanish and business at a private high school. Although education wasn't my desired field, it allowed me to stay employed while I kept looking. My biggest advice for recent graduates is that your job title doesn't determine your value. If you're overlooked, use the skills you have — even in unconventional ways — while you aim for the career you want. You'll have to get creative if your industry is hit especially hard Tye Davis, 40, is the CEO of an interior design firm based in Florida. I graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in December 2007 with a degree in interior design. Given that some interior design jobs were commission-based, landing one wasn't too difficult. The main challenge early in my career was that I was offering an inessential service in a declining housing market tied to the recession. In searching for a position, I sought out high-end stores, thinking that high-income individuals were at less risk of losing their homes. In January 2008, I started a full-time position as an interior designer at a local furniture store. Looking back, I don't think the Great Recession had a lasting impact on my career. If anything, it made me more prepared for a cooled market or downturn. My biggest advice for new college grads is to attend in-person networking events within the field you are searching in. An unpaid internship was worth it for the experience Libby Dugan, 38, is an independent PR consultant based in Indiana. I graduated from Indiana University in May 2009 with a degree in political science. I was looking for jobs in state government and public affairs. However, the recession made it extremely difficult to secure a career in the months after graduation. I continued to search for a full-time paid role while I did an unpaid internship at the Department of Agriculture, followed by a paid internship at a law firm. Working, even unpaid, kept me busy and added experience to my résumé. In August 2010, I found my first full-time position as a special assistant to Indiana's lieutenant governor. My biggest advice for today's recent grads is to be open to a job that may not fit your college degree. I work in PR now, and I don't have a degree in marketing or communications. I learned far more from real-world experiences. In-person networking could help you get noticed Mandi St. Germaine, 38, is an elementary curriculum coach based in Louisiana. I graduated in December 2009 from Nicholls State University with a degree in General Studies. I hoped to find a job as an educator in a private school setting while I pursued my alternative teaching certification, but the challenging job market disrupted my plans. I secured my first full-time teaching job in the summer of 2010 after relocating to North Carolina, where my husband was deployed as an active-duty soldier. Being persistent and flexible helped me in my search. I met with school personnel, attended hiring fairs, and was open to accepting temporary work until a permanent job was offered. My biggest advice for recent college graduates is not to be discouraged if your career path doesn't play out like you hoped it would. Take this time to strategically network and be willing to take on positions that may not be your dream job. The setback may just be the reason a door opens in the right places. I prioritized stability and found it Judnefera Rasayon, 41, is an independent communication coach based in Maryland. I graduated from Princeton University in 2006 with a degree in public and international affairs. In June 2008, I received a graduate degree in public policy from Harvard University. In July 2008, I started my first full-time job as a foreign service officer with the US Department of State. While I was in school, I applied for a fellowship at the Department of State that essentially guaranteed I'd have a job for a few years after graduation. I hoped that would help me weather the storm of the Great Recession, and it did. I worked there for the first six years of my career. My job search strategy consisted of looking for a job and career in a stable industry and then relentlessly pursuing that. My biggest advice for recent college graduates is to be flexible about what you are willing to do for work, even if it's not what you studied or thought you'd be doing. The traditional 9-to-5 isn't the only option for stability and success, and being open to different career paths can be helpful.
News18
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Who Is Derek Dixon? The Oval Actor Accusing Tyler Perry Of Sexual Harassment
Last Updated: Tyler Perry has been sued by The Oval actor Derek Dixon for $260 million, alleging sexual harassment and assault, among other complaints. Filmmaker Tyler Perry has found himself in hot water with a fresh lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment. Derry Dixon, who is an actor on Perry's The Oval, has alleged that the filmmaker made sexual advances after inviting him to his Atlanta home in January 2020. The actor, though, rejected Perry's advances. In his lawsuit, Dixon claimed that he met the director at an event in 2019, and in his words, Perry picked him out of the crowd and asked for his phone number for a possible role. As per Page Six, things took a different turn when Dixon visited Perry's home in 2020, where he drank too much and slept in one of the director's guest rooms. The court documents reveal Dixon's claims that Perry got into bed with him and started touching his thighs. Although he rejected the advances that night, Perry remained interested. Things escalated after getting cast in The Oval when Dixon started receiving sexual messages. The actor is seeking $260 million in damages over workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery, and quid pro quo. But who is Derek Dixon? Read further to know about him. Who Is Derek Dixon? Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Derek Alexander Dixon studied at Marymount Manhattan College and later acted at the Terry Schreiber Studio in New York. He is best known for his performance as Dale on The Oval, featuring in 85 episodes of the show. Dixon has also worked in another Tyler Perry-directed American drama titled Ruthless. Derek Dixon is also known for his elaborate career in theatre, performing in plays like The Lion in Winter, Romeo and Juliet, and The Boys in the Band. He has written several full-length plays, such as Red Snow, Homewrecker, Pictures of People, Works of Art and Green Light. In 2015, Dixon joined the Working Title Playwrights and was then announced as the winner of the 2016 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award. Back when he met Tyler Perry at a party in 2019, Dixon was working with an event company and was reportedly offered a role on The Restless. First Published:
Graziadaily
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Everything To Know About Derek Dixon And His Sexual Assault Allegations Against Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry, the US film and TV giant, has been faced with sexual harassment, workplace gender violence and sexual assault accusations in a new lawsuit filed last week by Derek Dixon. Dixon has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Perry of creating a 'coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic' by using his influence in the entertainment industry. Perry's lawyer denied the allegations. Perry is one of the entertainment industry's biggest names, with a string of successful shows under his belt. The mogul is best known for creating the immensely popular Madea character, who was played by Perry in a string of widely successful films from 2005 to 2022. Naturally, people are interested to know more about Derek Dixon. On Google trends, 'Derek Dixon' is a breakout search term under Tyler Perry's name, with people searching for information about the lawsuit and which shows he worked on with Perry. Derek Dixon is an actor who is most well-known for his role as Dale on Perry's show The Oval. He was born in North California, and completed his education at Marymount Manhattan College and later acted at the Terry Schreiber Studio in New York. Alongside the Oval, Dixon worked with Perry on another American drama called Ruthless. The show is a spin-off of The Oval, and tells the story of a woman named Ruth who kidnaps her young daughter to join a religious cult. Dixon has also had multiple roles in theatre productions, including The Lion in Winter, Romeo and Juliet, and The Boys in the Band. According to People, who obtained the lawsuit, Dixon met Perry in 2019 at a party for the opening of Perry's studio in Atlanta. At the time, Dixon was working for an events company that had organised the party for the filmmaker. Dixon and Perry swapped numbers, according to Dixon. 'Perry allegedly "picked [Dixon] out of a crowd of employees present at the party, and began asking [Dixon] questions about his employment status, and whether Plaintiff was an actor,' with Perry initially offered him career advancement. Perry later offered Dixon a role on Ruthless, promising that 'it was a small role that could get a lot bigger.' Derek Dixon's is suing Perry for $260m (£194m), accusing the mogul of sexually assaulting him while working on his TV shows. Dixon's lawsuit accuses Perry of using his influence in the entertainment industry to create a 'coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic' while he was acting on Perry's shows The Oval and Ruthless. He alleges Perry promised him career advancement but then subjected him to 'escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation' when he didn't reciprocate Perry's 'unwanted advances.' Perry and Dixon worked together on Ruthless and The Oval. However, the lawsuit states: 'Mr Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendos, Dixon's character would 'die' in the next season.' It claims Perry 'always held this over Mr Dixon's head, implying that [his character] 'Dale' would survive if Dixon kept Perry 'happy'". Perry's lawyer denied the allegations and called the lawsuit a 'scam to make money.' 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' his attorney Matthew Boyd said in a media statement. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' The lawsuit outlines multiple incidents of sexual harassment and assault that unfolded over several years. 'On multiple occasions, Mr. Perry sexually assaulted Mr. Dixon, including one instance where he forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon,' it reads.
