I've been underemployed before, though neve this underemployed.

I make less money than I did 15 years ago when I made slightly higher price-point food to pay my way through college.

6 and 1/2 years of college resulted in me living in someone else's house and generally being worse off than when I was 18.  This is not to say my Sister's family hasn't been supportive etc.  They've been great... to the point I have no idea how I'll ever repay them.  That's part of what makes me worse off.

 Nobody out there in the great US Job market (or lack thereof) wants me to do the stuff I know how to do,  or at least they can find someone who knows more  cheaper or something.

 The worst part is I find meyself chasing too many things.  The skills I have now are all voer the map, don't seem to be in demand as a package...  but I can't lock down somthing specific to do instead.  I end up learning a lot of new stuff, but spread over lots of different areas.  This is proably not the best option when everyone is searching for super specialized people.  Nobody wants a "jack of all trades" type anymore. 

It is all 8-10 year experience senior positions, or even 2-3 yerars for stuff that would be considered entry level 2 years ago.  There is no way to get in anywhere unless you are already in.

 I can't help but feel discouraged.  Resume after resume, cover letter after cover letter... hurdling into the black hole of the interent never to be see nagain.  The rare phone call or email to verify I don't have some qualification they want, while the even rarer interview results in crypitic responses about "not a good fit" or "does not meet our needs at this time...  

 Often the job gets reposted.  That's a kick in the head.  Really?  None of the 6 people I met in the lobby (and maybe more) were good enough?  Really?

The only  companies that tend to defy this is videogames places.  For some reason everyone seems to be super nice.  I've had COOs reply to unsolicited applications pointing me at other places they heard rumors of writing jobs at.  The HR people have been healpful and professional (and they actually answer email!?!?! go figure).  The whole industry must have missed the faceless jerk memo.  Then again, with all lthe layoffs /closings, someone better thasn IU ma is always around.

Otherwise,  Corportate culture rigns supreme...

What has happened to us as a society?

When did we become statistics and checklists?

How did the stockholders become more important than everything and anything else?

When did doing the right thing start being the wrong thing to do?

How did we let it happen?

Why don't we exist anymore?

(Don't get me started on health insurance...)