[pmoriarty]

I don't think he's boasting about how poorly it prepared him for the job market. Rather, he's saying studying philosophy is worth it form him despite being poorly prepared for the job market, because he's interested in "searching, exploring, and wondering" -- which he might not be able to do on the job if he got a menial job, but could continue on his own time, after hours.

I doubt he will be working as a barista, though. With his double major, he'll probably have the option to work in academia after he graduates. Economists are also valued in industry these days, and even a philosophy major could always go to law school, which tend to accept more philosophy majors than any others.