If you were in your late teens or early twenties during the Carter recession, what was it like for you?

I graduated in 1978, and I couldn’t find a job. I had no money and had to go home. My parents thought I was a loafer, and kicked me out. Eventually I ended up the The City and got work as a door to door fundraiser.

At that time, plenty of people wanted that work. As the economy got better, hardly anyone wanted it. I figure that’s a kind of growth area in recessions. Anything where they pay you on commission is a growth area, since the employer is not out any money if you fail.

The other growth area is collections, for obvious reasons.

I’m just hoping for people’s stories about those times, because I think they might be instructive about what we’re in for now.