Sick of being Unemployed!

[april showers]

Alot of things have been on my mind lately, but one big issue is that I just learned that a graduate school I really badly want to go to is big on work experience. That is, almost 90% of the students they accept have had at least 2 years of work experience.

The problem: I'm 20 and have never worked a day in my life.

It's not that I don't want to work, I really badly want a job. I've been looking for one since I was 17. Of course back then I didn't have much to put on my resume, bad grades, and all my applications were online. But by the time I finished my first semester of college I improved in those areas, yet I still couldn't get a job. All summer I was looking for one too, calling in store to see if they were hiring (most weren't) and personally handing a application in to those that were. As well as sending tons more applications online.

Now I don't know what to do. In my college most jobs require a resume by e-mail. But still no reply. I've sent my resume to alot of openings, and got nothing. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My grades are good, I have no criminal record, I'm active in clubs and have a office position in one, plus a good amount of volunteering experience, including working at a charity shop (good for retail/customer service).

I just really hate people acting all shock that I'm 20 and never had a job. Not to mention, how on earth can I get a internship if I can't even get a minimum wage job at a store or resturaunt.I'm not super lazy, just very unlucky.

Is anyone going through the same trouble? Is there something I'm missing that's keeping me from getting a job? Is it too late for me?

[Lost_loner]

Applying for your first job is always frustating....it's such a new experience and obviously having no job experience is a huge detriment. But it does get easier with the more job experience you acquire....just keep trying.

[polythene]

This depends largely on what kind of job you're looking for... it's certainly going to be difficult to land a professional, salaried-type job - it is for EVERYONE, given the recession. People with professional degrees and experience are having trouble landing jobs, so don't blame yourself unnecessarily.

Internships usually count as work experience, and companies are more willing to take you on because they can employ you without pay. This is one option. If you just want a job - any job - I would saw trawl your local businesses and malls. I'm pretty sure they've cut back on hiring because of the economy, but most places usually are willing to take on some seasonal employees.

All you can do is keep trying, and remember to call places back, so they don't forget to review your application.

[supersoshychick]

Originally Posted by april showers

Alot of things have been on my mind lately, but one big issue is that I just learned that a graduate school I really badly want to go to is big on work experience. That is, almost 90% of the students they accept have had at least 2 years of work experience.

The problem: I'm 20 and have never worked a day in my life.

It's not that I don't want to work, I really badly want a job. I've been looking for one since I was 17. Of course back then I didn't have much to put on my resume, bad grades, and all my applications were online. But by the time I finished my first semester of college I improved in those areas, yet I still couldn't get a job. All summer I was looking for one too, calling in store to see if they were hiring (most weren't) and personally handing a application in to those that were. As well as sending tons more applications online.

Now I don't know what to do. In my college most jobs require a resume by e-mail. But still no reply. I've sent my resume to alot of openings, and got nothing. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My grades are good, I have no criminal record, I'm active in clubs and have a office position in one, plus a good amount of volunteering experience, including working at a charity shop (good for retail/customer service).

I just really hate people acting all shock that I'm 20 and never had a job. Not to mention, how on earth can I get a internship if I can't even get a minimum wage job at a store or resturaunt.I'm not super lazy, just very unlucky.

Is anyone going through the same trouble? Is there something I'm missing that's keeping me from getting a job? Is it too late for me?

omg i'm going through the exact same thing. People ask me, "when are you going to get a job" like wtf, they have no idea how hard it is. You try to do everything you can to get one, but still no response from a job.
Also, with jobs you have to know people, that's how people get employed by a reference that works there (which i think it's stupid, they shouldn't hire you based one what someone says about you).

I got my first job, this year (19y/o), and i quit because of school starting back, and it wouldn't fit in w/ my schedule, also i hated the job, i just didn't feel comfortable there getting sexually harassed, and i said nothing about it. so glad thats overwith. But now since holiday season is around i'm trying to look for a job to oblivion. But hmmm, nothing, only if i knew people, that knew people, that knew people.


you know what's so weird, people who do get jobs my age, don't do a good job at it.

[lde22]

If you're desperate for a job apply for a warehouse job. Go to an employment agency. Thats how I got my first job working overnights at a warehouse, but I hated it so much I quit after two weeks. You can also try applying for UPS or Fedex. You can apply for UPS online. Loading/Unloading trailers really sucks though. I work at Fedex loading trailers and my job is a living hell. At first it was extremely exauhsting, but now it has slowed down alot and I am just extremely bored there.

[kenny87]

I am having a hard time figuring out how you get any degree without doing some work. In order to get an associates degree at my school you, more often than not, have to apply to that particular majors program, without guaranteed admission, they usually base you on your ACT(which I never took), High school GPA, previous college GPA for required classes you took before entering program, and experience. Of course they don't mean it has to be real work experience but you usually have to have so much "observation" time in a real setting with whatever job apply to your major. Getting a 4 year degree is pretty much the same way. And if they don't require experience to apply, then they will require it before you graduate.

For instance if you wanted an associated in physical theropy, the curiculum says you should expect to spend at least up to 5 weeks outside Louisville(where I live) on at least one occasion.

Its not that I am to lazy to do this but I am completely terrifed of everything I have to do as I never been on my own at all outside of school, its like nothing is as simple as apply, go to classes, get degree.

Of course not all degrees are like this, but alot of them seem to be. They all have something that makes me nervous.

[april showers]

Originally Posted by kenny87

I am having a hard time figuring out how you get any degree without doing some work. In order to get an associates degree at my school you, more often than not, have to apply to that particular majors program, without guaranteed admission, they usually base you on your ACT(which I never took), High school GPA, previous college GPA for required classes you took before entering program, and experience. Of course they don't mean it has to be real work experience but you usually have to have so much "observation" time in a real setting with whatever job apply to your major. Getting a 4 year degree is pretty much the same way. And if they don't require experience to apply, then they will require it before you graduate.

For instance if you wanted an associated in physical theropy, the curiculum says you should expect to spend at least up to 5 weeks outside Louisville(where I live) on at least one occasion.

Its not that I am to lazy to do this but I am completely terrifed of everything I have to do as I never been on my own at all outside of school, its like nothing is as simple as apply, go to classes, get degree.

Of course not all degrees are like this, but alot of them seem to be. They all have something that makes me nervous.

Hmm, well my school doesn't have anything like this that I know of. Of course my major falls under the humanities so I guess they don't really expect that many job oppurtunites for us :P. But yeah, if my major had something like that then that'd be a bit of a problem for me, the way things are going.

[MavenMI6Agent009]

Ive even lied to some jobs that I have a college degree and didnt even care to find out the truth. Im so tired of it. im lucky if i can find some kind of labor.

[Josh90]

I'm in the same boat as you april, I'm 19 and have been unemployed for 3 years since I left school, most places just dont respond back

[dreamj]

I usually find easy employment going to the college internship office and scanning the job boards daily. Also, one trick I learned was to apply to literally a dozen temporary agencies, and have them do all the job search work for you...depending on your field. All you do is sit back and wait for the interview calls to come in and you can pick and choose the job assignment. Temp work is great initial work experience and can lead to long term work if you impress the client enough.

[deelishuss]

darling, don't worry, at 20 you are not too old to have never had a job. my first job was at 19 on campus, and nothing special. any job you get now will play a small role in determining your future, so don't be to hard on yourself.

also, i worked admissions at a business school and I suspect you are applying to one considering the fact that you mentioned your grad school required work exp. if this is the case, don't fret, you have plenty of time. the avg entering age of a bus school student where i worked was 28. of course pple got in much younger (22), but that was rare. so you have PLENTY of time. in fact, im applying to bus school myself once i get a few more years of work exp under my belt (im 26).

now if you are still in college, i would say run (don't walk) to your career center. spend some time working on your resume, getting it critiqued and searching for places to get an internship. Screw the p/t job, unless you need the money. Internships are going to get you access to higher level companies, even though they are unpaid, but more importantly, they are going to give you excellent contacts within higher level companies. take advantage of this. companies would much rather place a successful intern into a position than interview perfect strangers. so yes, intern, intern, intern and do it all the way up until graduation. once u find a company you like, be sure to let your site know when you graduate so they can start considering your for a FT job.

[ChadsWick1234]

Originally Posted by april showers

Alot of things have been on my mind lately, but one big issue is that I just learned that a graduate school I really badly want to go to is big on work experience. That is, almost 90% of the students they accept have had at least 2 years of work experience.

The problem: I'm 20 and have never worked a day in my life.

It's not that I don't want to work, I really badly want a job. I've been looking for one since I was 17. Of course back then I didn't have much to put on my resume, bad grades, and all my applications were online. But by the time I finished my first semester of college I improved in those areas, yet I still couldn't get a job. All summer I was looking for one too, calling in store to see if they were hiring (most weren't) and personally handing a application in to those that were. As well as sending tons more applications online.

Now I don't know what to do. In my college most jobs require a resume by e-mail. But still no reply. I've sent my resume to alot of openings, and got nothing. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My grades are good, I have no criminal record, I'm active in clubs and have a office position in one, plus a good amount of volunteering experience, including working at a charity shop (good for retail/customer service).

I just really hate people acting all shock that I'm 20 and never had a job. Not to mention, how on earth can I get a internship if I can't even get a minimum wage job at a store or resturaunt.I'm not super lazy, just very unlucky.

Is anyone going through the same trouble? Is there something I'm missing that's keeping me from getting a job? Is it too late for me?

I am having a really hard time finding a job too. I recently just lost my job I was working in security. I have worked a lot of jobs in the past though mostly retail. You have to keep trying. My main problem is a I don't want to work for low pay anymore. I deserve better I have a degree and work experience although nothing impressive. No matter how hard I work or how much consistency I show I can't seem to get there.