Finding a job

[zelda2fanboy]

I know I'm probably asking in the wrong place, but does anyone know how to get a job? Over the past two months, I've applied for at least 3 dozen positions across two states. I haven't heard back from a single one. Sure, I get the "we're looking over your resume" and "we don't want you" rejection e-mails, but I haven't gotten an interview anywhere for anything. A little background - I'm 25 years old and I have a bachelors degree in Business Administration. I've been working in the back room at a retail store for over three years. I've applied for jobs in my area of study, both those that require experience and those that don't. I've applied at various other retail stores doing literally the exact same job I have now (in total, I think I've applied to Best Buy five times over the years). I've applied for jobs that require no education or experience whatsoever.

The only reason I have my job now is because my dad happened to work in the store when they were looking for people three years ago, and he had to hassle my then boss to interview me at all. This is the only job I've ever held. I suppose "You've got to know people" as ridiculous as it sounds in this day and age, but I don't know anyone. I recently dated a girl who's been working mandatory overtime for the past month at her workplace in customer service at an insurance company (she has a degree in music theory). She was nice enough to check for me, but they aren't hiring either.

So how the hell do you get money and where can I get some? Do you live in either the Chicago or Detroit areas (strangely enough, Detroit has more posted jobs than Chicago)?

 

[Colour Scientist]

Finding a job in this economic climate has a lot to do with being in the right place at the right time. Luck, unfortunately. Other than that, keep the job you have now until something better comes along, it's better than nothing and makes you look employable. Especially as you only have one position under your belt at 25, that's probably going to be a hindrance.

 

[SilentCom]

I'm having the same trouble except I'm probably not as qualified as you. I have a bachelors degree in World History and the only work experience I have is a few months working in a factory...

It's ok, you can laugh. FML

 

[Doc Theta Sigma]

Welcome to the current economic climate. I've been unemployed a year and out of full time education for six months. I have four A-Levels to my name and a years experience of bar work. I have applied for dozens of jobs since I left Sixth Form six months ago. I have had a single interview and I've heard back from 3 of them. All rejections. I feel your pain man.

The government would have me doing a work experience course that consists of working 30 hours a week for two months for less than minimum wage for the chance of getting an interview at the end of it. Maybe. If I'm lucky.

Jog on Mr. Cameron.

 

[triggrhappy94]

I always wanted to post a thread like this, but never really got around. Thanks, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

I've kind of been wondering the same. I'm currently unemployed, but I'm hoping my Eagle scout, having experience with different programming languages, and having a good understanding of spanish counts for something when I really start looking for a jod.

The only advice I can really give is that you have to be connected, know people. It's the way the kids of wealthy people become even weathier, they have all the money they from their parents and they know influencial people (it has little to do with hard work).

Spoiler: I know I have a couple people that might be able to hook me up

My uncle own a tree planting/removal business
I'm friends with a guy who owns a landscaping company
I have plenty of friends who work at various different movie theaters
I know one of the managers at the local Home Depot
and, a friend's dad own a local bearing company
just to name a few

 

[Colour Scientist]

The government would have me doing a work experience course that consists of working 30 hours a week for two months for less than minimum wage for the chance of getting an interview at the end of it. Maybe. If I'm lucky.

Jog on Mr. Cameron.

I think it's a good system, considering the difficult situation. It's very difficult to come up with schemes to combat unemployment rates, I think it's a step in the right direction.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

YOU GET REJECTION EMAILS?! HOW! Seriously welcome to my fucking world. Except in yours companies actually register your existance. I have applied on 14 seperate occasions to various places, and not been contacted ONCE EVER. One company even had the audacity to give me an interview, never tell me about it by ANY means, then make it so i cant apply again for another 6 months. Yeah i only found out by trying to apply again.

Youve got to know the people... i hear this a lot. My friends all got jobs by the tried and tested method. Apply again. And again. And again and again and again and again. EVENTUALLY someone takes you. Try weird places no one else thinks of. Most people i know have jobs not in obvious places but in pharmecies in small towns or Gp's or hospitals (my friends have mostly applied for medicine like me). Im just trying endlessly. Youre lucky to have heard anything, Silent rejection is a constant here in england. And it sucks. Keep going, someone eventually takes you.

 

[CODE-D]

I think most employers are looking for 30 year olds who can devote a whole week to work.

Also this and the last 3 months arent the best hiring time. March and october I hear are the best, march for summer and october for winter jobs.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Just keep at it, is all I can say. It took me five months of constant job searching which even resulted in me becoming ill (so don't do as much as that) but I eventually found something.
I rarely got rejection letters or emails either so don't worry about that.
Maybe they don't think you have experience? The only thing I can suggest is doing some volunteer work at a charity shop or something, just something to add to the CV.

 

[Doc Theta Sigma]

The government would have me doing a work experience course that consists of working 30 hours a week for two months for less than minimum wage for the chance of getting an interview at the end of it. Maybe. If I'm lucky.

Jog on Mr. Cameron.

I think it's a good system, considering the difficult situation. It's very difficult to come up with schemes to combat unemployment rates, I think it's a step in the right direction.

Perhaps if you weren't doing the exact same work as full time, paid employees. It's basically a free labour market for huge supermarket chains and corporations. They don't pay anything.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I think it's a good system, considering the difficult situation. It's very difficult to come up with schemes to combat unemployment rates, I think it's a step in the right direction.

Perhaps if you weren't doing the exact same work as full time, paid employees. It's basically a free labour market for huge supermarket chains and corporations. They don't pay anything.

But you do get paid, right? It's work experience. Even if you don't get the interview or job at the end it could end up being beneficial down the road. Also, if you're unemployed, it's something to occupy your time with for a month or two. I think it's better than just hand-outs constantly until something comes along, it's some attempt to stimulate employment, providing some form opportunity for people who would otherwise be overlooked. Also, it's extremely short term.

 

[Duck Sandwich]

I was in the same boat as you. After graduating college last April, I had no luck with finding jobs in or out of my field. McDonalds, Wal Mart, Gamestop, Value Village, etc didn't so much as interview me, and the only job I could find was delivering newspapers. I actually liked that job, aside from the shitty below minimum wage pay and the lack of hours.

And then my dad hired me to work for him in construction. It's a steady, well-paying job, but because of my general incompetence at it, along with a few other reasons, I'm hoping to find another job soon, even if it doesn't pay as well. If by September or so, I don't find a job in my field, I'm seriously considering working as a Signal Operator for the military. As far as I know, I meet/exceed the physical fitness requirements for Basic Training, and Signal Operators are basically the closest thing to what I was studying to be in College.

Moral of this story: If you're desperate for a job, you should own a car, and be in decent physical shape (enough to walk around for 4 hours or so while carrying a duffel bag full of 30 or so newspaper bundles). Or, if you're in really good shape, join the military (and try to get a non-combat job if killing people/dying isn't your thing)

 

[Doclector]

I think it's a good system, considering the difficult situation. It's very difficult to come up with schemes to combat unemployment rates, I think it's a step in the right direction.

Perhaps if you weren't doing the exact same work as full time, paid employees. It's basically a free labour market for huge supermarket chains and corporations. They don't pay anything.

But you do get paid, right? It's work experience. Even if you don't get the interview or job at the end it could end up being beneficial down the road. Also, if you're unemployed, it's something to occupy your time with for a month or two. I think it's better than just hand-outs constantly until something comes along, it's some attempt to stimulate employment, providing some form opportunity for people who would otherwise be overlooked. Also, it's extremely short term.

I gotta admit, as somebody who just can't "not work" for too long, even though I know it's the government taking advantage, I'd take that over the alternative; Sitting at home making occasional trips to the jobcentre to have some f***ing moron with no actual life experience talk down at me when the only reason they have a job is to tell other people to get jobs.

I'm looking for part time work, even though it's probably completely hopeless. The worst part is knowing I was probably rejected by a pencil pusher, some a-hole who spends their days filling in pointless forms and talking down to the people who really work, who create, transport, and trade. How dare they think so little of me that they'd refuse to even tell me why they reject me. This useless office man telling me, someone who survived more getting through school than any man should have to survive in his entire life, and came out of it with decent grades. I'm sick of it, being judged by people who, if the infrastructure was to one day fall down, would prove entirely useless.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

If you want a job: get a PHD in mathamatics. But by the time you do that, the econamy will be good again

I declare thee thread winner.

I'm having the same trouble except I'm probably not as qualified as you. I have a bachelors degree in World History and the only work experience I have is a few months working in a factory...

You got factory work? Lucky. (Not being sarcastic. I'd love to work in a factory.)

I always wanted to post a thread like this, but never really got around. Thanks, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

Yeah, I remember back when somebody made a thread about how pointless college is or on the lack of employability of people with arts majors with all the science majors smugly waving their dicks around telling me how sweet they've got it and how everyone they know got jobs as soon as they graduated and they know exactly what companies they are going to work for. Kind of pissed me off, and I'm hoping they see this thread and think less of themselves.

 

[xDarc]

Best piece of advice is persistence. Also, tailor your resume to the position you are applying for, written to highlight your applicable experience. Write a cover letter.

Also- luck.

I'm tech support for a medium sized bank. I only recently finished the first two years of college to get an associates degree. Only 4 other people applied in the short time they needed to fill the position and they were all horrible. I talked to the guy who trained me on the bank systems afterward and that's basically what he told me.

Another thing, people are more willing to trust you and give you more money the older you get. I'm turning 30 this year.

 

[baconfist]

Have any of you considered that to get a job you may have to move somewhere else?

 

[zelda2fanboy]

Have any of you considered that to get a job you may have to move somewhere else?

Yes, Chicago and Detroit are nowhere near each other.

I'm tech support for a medium sized bank. I only recently finished the first two years of college to get an associates degree. Only 4 other people applied in the short time they needed to fill the position and they were all horrible. I talked to the guy who trained me on the bank systems afterward and that's basically what he told me.

Another thing, people are more willing to trust you and give you more money the older you get. I'm turning 30 this year.

I don't mean this in a bad way, but 30 years old with an associates and you have a desk job at a bank? If I properly expressed my feelings on this matter, I'd get banned. So much envy right now.

 

[A Raging Emo]

Ha! I applied to the British Army, and so far, they have been the only people not to discriminate.

I had to fill in one "Basic" question form for one of the jobs I applied to before joining the Armed Forces, and it literally said "Are you a straight, white, male?". Those three questions. I ticked every box, confirming that I was a straight white male, and a week later I got a reply, saying I wasn't what they were looking for.

Whaaaaaaat.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Heh. I'm currently competing against another guy to get a position in my local council offices. We have to submit CV's, and then have interviews next week. Did I mention the job is a completely voluntary part time venture. That's right, I have to compete to work for free.

Count yourself lucky that you have actual job openings to get turned down for. I can't even give myself away...

 

[triggrhappy94]

If you want a job: get a PHD in mathamatics. But by the time you do that, the econamy will be good again

It may have just been hyperbole, but I heard that to get a PhD in math, you pretty much need to come up with your own theorum/law/formula.