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[BloodySinner]

I'm 20 and have never had a job in my life. I mow lawns (it's horrible) but only as a chore. I have enough freetime to have a part-time job but I don't know if my parents think I'm ready yet or will be able to find one that will fit in my school schedule. I'm about to finish summer school and I have never been this bored without videogames. Living at college without a job is ruining my hygiene and social life. I feel like it's time to start working.

Pathetic. Really.

 

[TheUsual]

I am now with the ranks of the unemployed. Yesterday was my last shift at my old job. Just graduated college and the job was the one I worked at the last two years of school. I have a face-to-face interview when I move back home for a company I've been looking at. Have been through 4 interviews with other companies already, no luck so far.

This company looks promising though. Had a phone screening with HR, they called me back 10 minutes after the screening for the interview. I'm pumped!

 

[MercuryLS]

good luck, i've been looking for a month and nothing on my end, but I am gonna keep trying

Thanks bro, keep your head up and keep trying, something will hopefully open up for you. The best thing I did was take a short 3 month online course in Marketing right after I got laid off. It gave me something to do, looks good to employers, and gave me a strict schedule to follow which helped me stay motivated. I've been going to library 3-4 time a week and that has been great, lets you get out of the house and you can use that time to apply for jobs and stay productive. There's nothing worse than becoming a hermit during this time, you have to stay positive and active any way you can. That's the best advice I can give to weather the stormy unemployment phase.

 

[MoxManiac]

I lost my job almost 2 months ago (customer support and sales for a small food and beverage company that manufactured and sold agave nectar based products). Loved my job, and my boss loved having me there, but they could no longer pay my salary, and the company had major downsizing.

Still staying positive and looking for a job, but it's rough.



Wait, you're 20, and you've NEVER had a job?

Jesus Christ, is this normal these days? I've had a job since I was 15.

I got my first job when I was 18.

 

[weepy]

So I've been at Best Buy for a little over a month, and I'm already getting antsy about working there.

I'm 23, and I am definitely one of the "older guys" in the store. The people in my department with full-time hours (which are given to those with seniority) are 20-21. And an alarming amount of the other employees are 18-19.

It's a decent job, and probably one of the better retail jobs out there. And I sort of feel lucky to even have it, as my store literally gets dozens of applications every single day. But I feel like it would have been a much better fit for me at 20 or 21. At 23 (24 in Nov), I just feel like I'm spinning my wheels.

I know I'm not going to turn it into a career, but at the same time, I have no other options. My degree is in journalism, which is somewhere between Art History and Business Administration in terms of job placement. I have no other skills. I'm not even a good salesperson, which is literally what every other person in my immediate family does.

I basically have six months until the real world comes crashing down on me.

My degree is in journalism

My journalism degree

Heh. Been there, done that. Stuck working at Smart and Finals for the latter part of six months...but hey, I'm employed right?

 

[Boogie9IGN]

I got a call from my manager last week that I could pick up my check on Friday cause the store was closing down :lol
Plus, my other job is over (at the latest) in September! Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Edit: Oh yeah I'm transferring from cc to uni next month so extra fuuuuuuuuuuuuu

 

[J-Roderton]

I have 2 jobs at the moment. Plus school im way busy.

 

[theignoramus]

Worked for 4 years in general labour type jobs, then got laid off from my place of 2 and a half years months ago. Been kicking back since March, but I gotta get serious next month, in this city's economic climate, even someone seriously looking for work may not find it for months.

 

[BlackGoku03]

So don't get a degree in journalism? Glad I'm sticking with my IT degree but I'm quickly getting bored with it. My mom tells me to keep it so I can take care of her when she gets old. I was thinking of making a thread about people getting paid well but being in a bad job. I wonder how many gaffers are in that position.

 

[hadar]

Currently a student, but extenuating circumstances made it so I had to drop out for a year and try to land something to help pay the bills.
So far it's been a month and I haven't got a single answer so I'm really tempted to try to work retail for a while since some people have been going on and on about how easy it is to get in, it kinda scares me though, with all the weirdass stories one reads online about retail jobs
Anyone can spare a tip/advice? Would be tremendously appreciated.

Edit: Also, holy crap just what am I supposed to write in "reasons to apply", If i'm honest it'll just seems I'm trying to kiss some ass, but I don't know if it'd be wise to make something up.
Commonsense-gaf help!

 

[Combine]

Been unemployed for 8 months now. There have been potentials, but nothing ever seems to go through. It's a really sucky way to live life.

 

[Rich!]

Not unemployed, but unsure of where to post this.

I'm currently on a job earning around £7,000 a year. Which is equivalent to around $10,000 for you guys in america - and considering my various bills and university loan, it's pretty...low. And it's not a guaranteed amount either. With my contracted hours (I always work above them though), I am actually on a salary of only £2,000 per year. :lol

I'm on the verge of getting a sales job which would net me a starting rate of £15,000 per year ($23,500) with a minimum annual bonus of £1,000 up to a maximum of £6,000. So potentially, I'm looking at a £21,000 ($33,000) per year salary. Which is much better. I hear the outcome of my interview on monday or tuesday, but I'm worrying like hell about whether I got it or not. The opinion of my girlfriend and my parents is that considering the interviewer spent only 5 minutes asking about my experience, and then the next 25 minutes purely talking about wages, perks, how the job would be, and even when I'd get lunch breaks, then I've got a good chance.

I see their point though. If I was absolutely terrible in the interview, he wouldn't have even bothered going into so much detail. He even told me about the uniform I needed.

 

[yankeehater]

So i have been out of work for a year and yesterday I got my absolute dream job. It sucked being out of work for so long, but every thing worked out great in the end.

 

[Kolgar]

So i have been out of work for a year and yesterday I got my absolute dream job. It sucked being out of work for so long, but every thing worked out great in the end.

Congrats, man. Sometimes, everything just falls into place.

In April, I quit a job I hated despite not having another lined up. Summer vacation only lasted two months, however, as I unexpectedly landed my own dream job in late June.

Keep at it, people. You just never know when lightning will strike.

 

[Mdeezy]

I have 2 jobs and I'm going back to school in a couple of weeks.

 

[Wes]

After almost a year of looking since graduating I've finally got a job! Start at the end of the month and I'm really excited, it's a great position.

It's been tough during that time but it's worked out for me. Hang in there folks. The job for you could be right around the corner (it was for me!)

 

[BertramCooper]

I just had my phone interview for a position in Albany and it went extremely well. They basically offered me the job without offering me the job. I'll be driving out a week from today to meet with them (they're even covering a hotel room for me).

Moving away from Ohio (and all of my friends and family) will be challenging, but I'm too young to stay tied down to one place.

Upstate New York, looks like I'm headed your way.

 

[Dresden]

I just had my phone interview for a position in Albany and it went extremely well. They basically offered me the job without offering me the job. I'll be driving out a week from today to meet with them (they're even covering a hotel room for me).

Moving away from Ohio (and all of my friends and family) will be challenging, but I'm too young to stay tied down to one place.

Upstate New York, looks like I'm headed your way.

It's like you won the lottery, congratulations.

 

[Raging Spaniard]

Just got laid off a couple of days ago, actually! I have good hopes that ill find something soon but if any of you know somewhere that needs a Concept or a 3D artist, lemme know

 

[Expendable.]

I am now with the ranks of the unemployed. Yesterday was my last shift at my old job. Just graduated college and the job was the one I worked at the last two years of school. I have a face-to-face interview when I move back home for a company I've been looking at. Have been through 4 interviews with other companies already, no luck so far.

This company looks promising though. Had a phone screening with HR, they called me back 10 minutes after the screening for the interview. I'm pumped!

I'm in the same exact situation. Just finished up a job I had during college (which I graduated in May). Now I'm on the job search!

 

[LosDaddie]

I had to yell at a damn insurance sales recruiter today because I told him I wasn't interested and he wouldn't listen. :lol I'm guessing these fucking insurance sales recruiters search monster/career builder all day and contact anyone in their area because I've been emailed/called by at least 5 of them over the past 2 weeks.

Anyone have the same experience?

 

[BertramCooper]

It's like you won the lottery, congratulations.

I love Ohio. It's been a great place to live, and I'm extremely proud to be a Buckeye.

People love to make fun of it, but it's my home. Leaving will not be easy.

 

[Vieo]

If you're currently unemployed, you should seriously consider writing a novel. After not being able to get pass the 3rd chapter of Twilight, I'm convinced anything can get published if you have enough luck.

 

[Combine]

Such a horrible way to wake up on a new week to find your inbox filled with those lovely generic HR rejections. Sucks worse when they use those even after you went through almost the entire process (interviews and all).

Yeah yeah that's life now. Doesn't mean it makes me feel any better.

 

[DMeisterJ]

Such a horrible way to wake up on a new week to find your inbox filled with those lovely generic HR rejections. Sucks worse when they use those even after you went through almost the entire process (interviews and all).

Yeah yeah that's life now. Doesn't mean it makes me feel any better.

Yeah, that's the worst feeling. Don't you love how you can't even get a call back after an interview, so you call or E-mail and you get rejected that way? Lovely for your confidence.

 

[Combine]

Yeah, that's the worst feeling. Don't you love how you can't even get a call back after an interview, so you call or E-mail and you get rejected that way? Lovely for your confidence.

Yeah, that's exactly what happened. The rejections actually usually seem to follow whenever you check up with them after not having heard back. Then it's like "oops, we forgot about you" sort of thing on top of it.

And of course, no one will ever tell you what you did wrong. So you just spent all that time and it might as well have been a complete waste if you cannot even learn what to fix.

 

[opticalmace]

Keep your heads up guys. It might take a while but there's always a way.

 

[B.K.]

There's no hope. We should all just kill ourselves now and get it over with.

 

[Foob]

just finished my one year term with americorps and ive got no job or money aaaah kill me

 

[Mifune]

I was unemployed for close to a year before getting a good job that was supposed to last me through October. Alas they let me go early.

It's hard not to get incredibly discouraged and/or depressed. Especially when I've been working in this industry for like seven years now and can't get another gig to save my life.

 

[Kentpaul]

I have 5 days left of work before they left me go , i have done my 13 weeks there, time to put my feet up and do a rewatch of the WIRE in 5 days time when i'm a free man, got some applaction forms i'v sent out so i have hope for a job in the future, i hope to have a job within the next 2 years.

 

[Korey]

I love Ohio. It's been a great place to live, and I'm extremely proud to be a Buckeye.

People love to make fun of it, but it's my home. Leaving will not be easy.

Too many potatoes in the way?

 

[industrian]

I'm still waiting for my work permit. Should only be a few days now, considering I'm expected to start work on Monday and all.

 

[Koshiba]

BF and I have both given up the job hunt around here in Florida for now. Friend AJ still not having any luck either but he's at least getting unemployment in the meantime.. we've been doing a lot of physical labor just to be allowed to stay here at my mom's BFs right now otherwise we wouldn't really have anywhere to live but it's not really a fair deal.. Once I get my GED (which btw that khan academy site has really been helping me! Thanks again for that) which is hopefully as soon as I get the $70 to register for the test.. we'll be heading up to middle of no where kentucky. Last we were up there visiting, we saw a lot of now hiring signs and his dad will let us stay with him, not charging us rent or anything. Only thing that will suck is no internet.. So shooting for September-October to head up there. Wish me luck with that. :lol

 

[BertramCooper]

Since this this got bumped, I might as well post my update.

I got the job, and will be moving to Albany, New York over Labor Day weekend. My salary is also much higher than my salary at my previous job, which is good, because the cost of living in New York is significantly higher than it is in Ohio.

I'm very excited. It's a bit scary to move away, but I've got nothing holding me down. It will be a nice change of pace.

Too many potatoes in the way?

The fuck? There are barely any potatoes in Ohio. I work in agriculture, so I know this for a fact.

 

[dskillzhtown]

I'll post my update -

I got laid off in November, got a contractor/temp job in March that I am still at. So that was 4 months of looking. The job pays alot less than it should for what I am doing, but it's income. I have been sweating at the end of every month if they are going to renew my contract. I was told yesterday they are going to keep me here until the end of the year. Good news as far as security goes. I actively looking for something else for more money and closer to my house, but I can't complain.

Keep your head up and keep applying for everything you possibly think you can do. It can't hurt. Someone will give you a chance eventually. I know it is hard and destroys your confidence, but you have to stick with it.

 

[Shotgun Kiss]

I'm in a bit of a dilemma.

I just got offered a part-time job at a Lego store. It should be a pretty nice job (as far as retail goes, anyway), but unfortunately it's only a temporary contract. I'm currently working part-time at a DVD rental store, but it sucks. The hours are shit (10pm finishes), dealing with people who bring stuff back late is a pain (if you think you get irate customers in most retail places, try telling them they have an overdue fine), the company is really stingy with breaks (for example, a 2pm-10pm shift with only a 20 minute break), and to top it all, it's in a dangerous area. Two months ago (right before I started), there was an armed robbery, and three weeks ago when I was working, somebody stole a drink and threatened me with physical violence if I called the police.

Anyway, I'm unsure as to whether I should try and juggle both jobs, or quit my current job, and go with just the Lego store and hope that it leads to a permanent role. I was told that there would be a lot of overtime going at the Lego store, so I'm hoping that I'd be able to make up a lot of the hours I'd lose from my current job. Also, the temporary contract for the Lego store lasts until late December/early January, so I'd have a fair bit of time to look for permanent work in the meantime. And I was told there is the possibility of permanent work afterwards (but I'm taking that with a grain of salt, as I've seen employers not take on any temporary staff as permanent after their contracts ended).

Oh, if I juggled both jobs, I'd also often have to work during the day at the Lego store, and then immediately have to get a bus to the other side of town and work all evening at my current job.

If this position at Lego store was permanent, I'd quit my current job this second, but I was out of work for about six months at the start of this year, and I don't want the same thing to happen next year. So do I take a gamble and ditch the job I hate and don't feel safe at so I can work more hours at the Lego store and try to make it permanent/look for a different permanent job in the meantime, or do I try and juggle both, which means working really late hours (after already working during the day at the Lego store) at a place where I don't feel particularly safe?

I'm also wondering if the recession will still be as bad next year. If it would be easier to find work by then, that might influence my decision. More than anything, I'd like to go to an agency and try and find an office job like a friend of mine did, but when I went recently, they said that due to the recession, they were no longer taking on people who had no prior experience. But I was told that they expected that to change by the end of the year, as the recession looked to improve by then.

 

[Shotgun Kiss]

Haha, I didn't name the store I worked at just to be on the safe side, but considering they just filed for bankruptcy, I don't think I have to worry about any kind of reprisal.

I wonder if UK stores will be affected. Would make my decision a hell of a lot easier if so.


(Aw geez, I meant to edit my last post, rather than create a new one)

 

[Max@GC]

One other girl who was from the EU said the same thing back in my freshman year. Most of the students were absolutely pissed off about it.:lol

Here in Germany for example you can get educational support from the state when you wanna study and there are a lot of state funded unis that are free. It´s about 700 euro a month for rent, insurance, food etc. but only if your parents don´t earn too much. It´s a loan you have to pay back half of it when you´re done studying. When I visited relatives in the US a couple of years ago I just was shocked about the insane uni costs there.

 

[Cuu]

I just graduated in May with a degree in Elementary Education with no job after searching all summer for one. I was interviewed by 3 places and lost out to people with experience. Most jobs are saying minimum one year experience - yet, just having graduated, I have none. Annd, not finding a job this year means I wont have experience for next year's round of interviews. Yikes.

I'm trying to substitute teach, but apparently there are a ridiculous amount of substitute teachers in the area and it's doubtful I'd land anywhere near reliable employment.


So, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with myself for the upcoming year. I'm stuck in limbo with no communication between myself and the schools except these damned online applications.

 

[Link Man]

Starting yesterday, I've had the opposite condition of the OT; I am currently doubly employed. I've still got my old job at McDonald's (mornings) and I just started at Wal-Mart (evenings). It'll certainly cut down on my free time (and my posting on GAF, but I'll still be able to browse on my phone), but I'll be making a lot more money than before. Plus, my new schedule at McD's will take effect on Labor Day, so I only have one more week of tight schedules.

Hopefully I can last. One thing's for sure, I'll probably get in better shape, as I'm working in the parking lot at Wal-Mart.

Oh, and I'm hoping to save up enough to get a bachelor's in accounting from a community college, hopefully starting next year. I went to a state college for a while, but had to move home when the money ran out, and I no longer have an interest in my Major there (Biology, which offers no jobs in my area).

 

[Calantus]

i got my first job 7 months ago at 19. Still have the same job, it sucks but it's work, and the hours aren't bad. Dietary at a nursing home :lol

My income gos straight to car insurance payments and paying for my classes, not qualifying for fafsa and little parent help ftl.

 

[Vamphuntr]

Since people are posting updates...

I'm going back to university for a short english program so that my english can get better then I'm off to try my luck in western Canada. Meanwhile I will be teaching 2 classes at university during the next semester . Will probably also teach 2 classes for the winter semester so at least it's some income. I'm the only one from my M. Sc. promotion that found something . Economy is still pretty shitty here.

 

[ClassyPenguin]

I just graduated in May with a degree in Elementary Education with no job after searching all summer for one. I was interviewed by 3 places and lost out to people with experience. Most jobs are saying minimum one year experience - yet, just having graduated, I have none. Annd, not finding a job this year means I wont have experience for next year's round of interviews. Yikes.

I'm trying to substitute teach, but apparently there are a ridiculous amount of substitute teachers in the area and it's doubtful I'd land anywhere near reliable employment.


So, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with myself for the upcoming year. I'm stuck in limbo with no communication between myself and the schools except these damned online applications.

Have you applied to the Peace Corps or other service type organizations?

 

[Mr. E. Yis]

I just graduated in May with a degree in Elementary Education with no job after searching all summer for one. I was interviewed by 3 places and lost out to people with experience. Most jobs are saying minimum one year experience - yet, just having graduated, I have none. Annd, not finding a job this year means I wont have experience for next year's round of interviews. Yikes.

I'm trying to substitute teach, but apparently there are a ridiculous amount of substitute teachers in the area and it's doubtful I'd land anywhere near reliable employment.


So, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with myself for the upcoming year. I'm stuck in limbo with no communication between myself and the schools except these damned online applications.

Find an internship at an education company or something. I've seen some intern (unpaid) and assistant (paid) positions at publishing companies like Random House for people with education degrees in their children's book department. Find a place that is a natural fit for your goal and education. And at the same time, a place that you can agree with it's philosophy if they want you to come work for them full time after the internship.

I've had my fair share of internships (about a year's worth) and they are necessary for the experience and to fill up your resume.

As for me, after looking for a job the past 5 months non-stop (my previous work was freelance/temporary), I have 2 interviews scheduled for good positions at good places.

 

[The Last Wizard]

its hard as hell getting a job in nyc

 

[oldschoolpinball]

Looks like I might be joining the ranks soon as the game company I work for is on fire sale

 

[Vox-Pop]

3 months unemployed and I'll probably go crazy if I can't get a job by the end of September. No decent place is hiring in LA.

 

[akachan ningen]

3 months unemployed and I'll probably go crazy if I can't get a job by the end of September. No decent place is hiring in LA.

Then work in a non-decent place. Work is work.

 

[oldschoolpinball]

3 months unemployed and I'll probably go crazy if I can't get a job by the end of September. No decent place is hiring in LA.

This is absolutely true. A few of my buddies found jobs off of craigslist once u sort through the credit check scams and bullshit artists