The Debts of the Spenders: The Job Market Then and Now

The Dot Com Years:

Employer: Do you know C++?
Job Seeker: No.
Employer: Are you willing to learn?
Job seeker: Sure
Employer: You're hired. Here's 15000 shares in stock.
Job Seeker: Hell yeah. I'm retiring in 5 years. Work is easy!

The Housing Bubble Years:

Employer: Do you know how to process a loan?
Job Seeker: No.
Employer: Are you willing to learn?
Job seeker: Sure
Employer: You're hired. Here's 5 people who want to buy mansions for no money down.
Job Seeker: Hell yeah. I'm retiring in 5 years. Work is easy! Now, how many houses do I have to flip?

Now:

Employer: Do you have experience?
Job Seeker: Yes.
Employer: Are you willing to learn?
Job seeker: I said I have experience
Employer: Sorry. There's 500 other people who also have experience. Times are tight we got to watch the bottom line.
Job Seeker: But you just got a government bailout. Your share price is up 200% since last year.