17 College Grads Who Aren't Using Their Degrees

For too many of us, these portraits hit very close to home. Candid photos of the underemployed from around the world.

1.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Jessica Mazza, a 28 year-old waitress, serves a customer at Novel cafe in Santa Monica, California April 24, 2012. Mazza studied for five years at Ball State University where she received a degree in painting and business management. She hoped to find a job as an artist but has been working in the cafe for just under a year. Picture taken, April 24, 2012.

2.

Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters

Wael Abo El Saoud, a 25 year-old farmer, harvests wheat on Miet Radie farm El-Kalubia governorate, about 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Cairo May 8, 2012. Wael studied for four years at Benha University where he received a degree in commerce. He hoped to find a job as a bank accountant but has been working as a farmer for the last five years. He earns between 30 to 60 Egypt pounds a day but does not work all year round. Picture taken, May 8, 2012.

3.

Dado Ruvic / Reuters

Almin Dzafic, a 30 year-old waiter, poses for a picture as he serves customers in the Galerija Boris Smoje cafe in Sarajevo, May 11, 2012. Dzafic studied for four years at Sarajevo University where he received a degree in civil engineering. For the last four years he has tried to find a job in art restoration but has been working as a waiter for two years. He sees his future outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina because he can not find a job. Picture taken May 11, 2012.

4.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Steffen Andrews, a 24 year-old waiter, serves a customer at Sunny Blue restaurant in Santa Monica, California April 24, 2012. Andrews studied for four and a half years at Cabrillo College where he received a degree in communications. He came to Los Angeles to work in the film industry but is now unsure what career he wants to pursue. Picture taken April 24, 2012.

5.

Rogan Ward / Reuters

Terence Kamanda, a 25 year-old waiter, poses for a picture as he serves customers in The Corner Cafe restaurant in Durban, April 26, 2012. The Zimbabwean national studied for 18 months at the London Chamber of Commerce Institute College in Gweru, Zimbabwe, where he received a diploma in marketing. He hoped to find a job in marketing but has been working as a waiter for eight months. Picture taken, April 26, 2012.

6.

Kerim Sacak, a 29 year-old sales and delivery person, carries an LCD screen in Tehnomax computer shop in Zenica, May 11, 2012. Sacak studied for four years at Sarajevo University where he received a police degree. For the last four years he has tried to find a job as a police officer but has been working in sales and delivery for three years. Picture taken May 11, 2012.

7.

Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

Francesco Foglia, 37, poses for a picture as he works as a street sweeper in downtown Rome April 29, 2012. Foggia studied for six years at university in Rome where he received a degree and a doctorate in industrial chemistry. He hoped to find a job as a researcher but has been working as a street sweeper for Rome's municipality for two years. Picture taken, April 29, 2012

8.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Abel Santiago, 21, serves a customer at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Santa Monica, California April 24, 2012. Santiago studied for one year at Universidad Anahuac Oaxaca for a degree in law. He has worked at the store for five months and hopes to return to Mexico to finish his degree. Picture taken, April 24, 2012.

9.

Antonio Bronic / Reuters

Daria Vitasovic, a 27 year-old bar manager, poses for a picture as she works on her laptop in a night bar in Zagreb, May 8, 2012. Vitasovic studied for seven years at Society of Jesus University where she received a degree in philosophy and religious sciences. She hoped to find a job in teaching or study for a PhD in philosophy but has been working as a bar manager for the past four years. Picture taken, May 8, 2012.

10.

Yannis Behrakis / Reuters

Manolis Ouranos, a 30 year-old cook, poses for a picture in the Mavros Gatos (Black Cat) tavern in Psiri neighboorhood in central Athens May 23, 2012. Manolis studied at Athens Technology University (TEI) for four years where he received a degree in civil engineering. He hoped to find a permanent job in public sector infrastructure but has been working as a cook for four months instead. He now takes cooking lessons which he funds with his salary as a cook. Picture taken May 23, 2012.

11.

Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

Francesca Baldi, 32, poses for a picture as she takes care of a seven month-old baby in a private household in Rome May 11, 2012. Baldi studied for five years at university in Pisa where she received a degree and a doctorate in literature and philosophy. She hoped to find a job as a teacher but has been working as a childminder for five months. Picture taken, May 11, 2012.

12.

Noor Khamis / Reuters

Denis Onyango Olang, (R), a 26 year-old assistant cook, prepares food in a dimly lit kitchen at a hotel in Nairobi's Kibera slum in the Kenyan capital April 30, 2012. Onyango Olang studied statistics and chemistry at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology where he received a degree in science. He has been searching for permanent employment for two years but has decided to make a living working in the slums for the last eight months. Picture taken April 30, 2012.

13.

Zohra Bensemra / Reuters

Sofiane Moussaoui, a 26 year-old waiter, poses for a picture as he serves tea for customers in a cafe in Algiers, April 22, 2012. Moussaoui studied for five years at the University 08 May 1945 Guelma where he received a masters degree in corporate finance. He hoped to find a job as an auditor but has been working as a waiter for over a year. Picture taken, April 22, 2012.

14.

Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Waleed Ahmed el-Sayed, 31, who received a BA in social services from Assyiut University in 2004, sells juice in Tahrir square in Cairo May 4, 2012. Waleed has been working as a street vendor for almost seven years as he has not found a steady job since his graduation. Picture taken, May 4, 2012.

15.

Miguel Vidal / Reuters

Tania Leon, a 29 year-old stewardess, poses for a picture inside a bus in Santiago de Compostela, Spain May 9, 2012. Leon studied psychology at the University of Santiago de Compostela and received a degree in 2006. She was hoping to find a job as a psychologist but has been working as a stewardess for the last two years. Picture taken, May 9, 2012.

16.

Noor Khamis / Reuters

Karl Moi Okoth, a 27 year-old vegetable and fruit seller, poses for a picture in front of his makeshift shop in Nairobi's Kibera slum in the Kenyan capital April 30, 2012. Okoth studied psychology and chemistry at Day Star University where he received a degree in psychology. He has been searching for permanent employment for four years but has decided to make a living working in the slums for the last eight months. Picture taken April 30, 2012.

17.

Peter Andrews / Reuters

Marcin Lubowicki, a 28 year-old deputy manager of a McDonald's restaurant, poses with his university diploma in front of the fast food chain in the Arkadia shopping mall, Warsaw May 16, 2012. Lubowicki, who has a degree in Russian language from Warsaw University, has been working for McDonald's since 2007. He is planning to stay in his job. Picture taken May 16, 2012.