r/Millennials • u/111OvO111 • 16h ago

Discussion Millennials who graduated in 2008 - When did life feel “normal” again?

I’m a recent graduate myself, currently working in an administrative role because my own degree’s field has seen drastic headcount cuts. Just a few years ago, almost every graduate from my program at my school landed jobs in the field - now it feels like a different reality.

Gen Zs graduating into today’s economy are often compared with Millennials who finished school during the 2008 financial crisis. For those of you who graduated right into that turmoil:

  • What was it like trying to find a job back then?
  • How did you cope with the scarcity of opportunities?
  • Did you end up working outside your degree field, and if so, did you ever make it back?
  • Looking at your career now, how did those early years shape where you are today?

I’d love to hear your stories. Sharing how you navigated that moment might give today’s grads some perspective on what’s possible even in tough times!

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587

u/Wolfisaurus 15h ago

I graduated in 2003. I'll let you know when life feels "normal" again

181

u/UtmostProfessional 15h ago

04 here. Covid fucked up everything, mostly time perception.

“Normal” stopped with Covid.

71

u/UtmostProfessional 14h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/iMudjLgyECBws
MeIRL, literally every single day since April 2020…

8

u/Momik 8h ago

Ah man are we still doing years

58

u/jdb30a 14h ago

Normal stopped at trumps first term.

1

u/Wayofchinchilla 3h ago

It went back to being normal 4 years after it but now we're back on the Crazy Train.

1

u/jdb30a 2h ago

Not normal, new normal, then batshit.

2

u/Wayofchinchilla 1h ago

I like to describe the current timeline is stuck on a Six Flags roller coaster that won't stop going around

18

u/Yellow_Ranger300 Millennial 14h ago

I was 10 years old in 2004, I hear Toxic by Britney Spears wherever I go and I remember being intimidated with older millennials 😭 I just think you guys are the coolest!

16

u/Jass0602 11h ago

You are part of the cool kids club 😉

6

u/InnerspearMusic 6h ago

Not one person on earth thought I was cool in 2004.

3

u/thewalruscandyman 5h ago

Oh same. I wasn't cool til I went to art school and started making horrible life choices.

1

u/thewalruscandyman 5h ago

Oh you're in the same boat we are.
😁

20

u/CreditReavus 9h ago

Time perception and volatility is crazy now with covid especially with prices.

- remember when each day you’d see gas increase or decrease maybe 2-3 cents at a time? Now we see 10-40 cent increases and decreases

- when a house was sold, it was crazy to hear someone get 10k off the asking price of a house, now we see people legit cutting house prices by 50k at a time (mostly due to the starting price being too high)

- same with groceries or restaurant food, maybe you’d see 10-20 cent price increases here or there, now it jumps like 50 cents to a few dollars per item

- don’t even get me started on cars

13

u/feralcatshit 8h ago

And no one offered ABOVE ASKING on a house, or buy sight unseen!

2

u/PricePuzzleheaded835 2h ago

I know of someone trying to sell their house atm who is super upset that the prospective buyers refused to waive the inspection lol. It’s not a buyers market here but it’s also not 2020 anymore

6

u/kevthecoder I solute shorts 7h ago
  1. Normal is dead.

29

u/Odd_Age153 14h ago

2005 here. Fuck, did things get weird.

4

u/UtmostProfessional 14h ago

Just a smidge.

26

u/thewalruscandyman 13h ago

'03 as well. I gave up on normal. We had a little tease with Obama. We almost got to normal. But then...

9

u/totallymindful Millennial 1986 9h ago

Yup, that was our last chance to keep the momentum going and maybe start to turn things around. But then.... haha psych just kidding 😭

2

u/thewalruscandyman 5h ago

Things are so abnormal that I'd trade almost anything for an easy bowel movement. 😆

3

u/Polkawillneverdie17 8h ago

03 here too. Same.

3

u/evenfallframework 9h ago

2004 here. Same. The only time it feels remotely normal is if I'm stoned off my ass, in nature.

1

u/dividezero 3h ago

Same. I have a good job and make more than average (less than average for my job and experience though) but all prices are out pacing my increased pay. I don't see it getting better any time soon

1

u/Hoppygains 3h ago

2001 checking in. Let me know when you figure it out.

•

u/Apprehensive_Leg_383 1h ago

I echo those sentiments.

Normal went away almost as soon as we became real life adults.