What should I do next in order to become employed?

What a bummer. That sounds so frustrating.

If your major hurdle to getting a job is lack of experience, have you considered volunteering? Most people won’t say no to free labor…

Also, I think networking is pretty standard advice for job-hunters. It will probably be easier to get your foot in the door if someone already knows you and recognizes your competence.

Take the job. While doing it, try to find another?

@nikipedia I can’t afford to work for free when I have other things to do (if that makes any sense). As far as networking goes, I have had 6 people exactly tell me in the past three years that they would ask their employers about hiring me. None of them did.

@Sarcasm Take what job?

If you have no job what else are you doing? What are your physical limitations?

@Facade The secret shopper job.

@tinyfaery I’m not going to answer your first question as it has nothing to do with my problem. My physical limitations sum up to an inability to work at a place which requires me to stand for more than an hour at a time.
@Sarcasm I’m not yet 21.

@Facade Why would you not qualify for an entry-level file clerk, office assistant or receptionist job? There are usually jobs of that nature in the newspaper as well. They do not require experience as they are entry-level and do not require extended time on your feet.

Also, I’m not sure what else you have to do that is more important that preparing yourself for a job. Six months of office work as a volunteer, even part time, would get you so many more opportunities for a paid position. Can’t you use the time you would have used for work hours to do this? It isn’t forever, but it could make a difference in the rest of your life.

@Supacase I don’t know why I wouldn’t qualify for those positions. The representative said that the companies they deal with want people with at least 1 or 2 years of experience. And I might volunteer, but I don’t see it happening.

Consider another temp agency. I like Office Team by Robert Half. Go through their battery of tests to show your skill level.

If they don’t offer you the tests, ask to take them. Recast your resume to show how your retail experience was customer service experience.

Good luck. It’s a tough market.

@Marina Thank you for your suggestions. I think I will consider another temp agency and ask to take whatever tests they offer. I think my resume could use some work as well.

@those who mentioned volunteer work, I searched and did not find any ads for admin volunteers.

Don’t bother with the temp agency. Just look for entry level positions in your local newspaper or other job sites. I’ve never had much luck with temp agencies.

You said you cannot work for free but do not want to volunteer. You aren’t working so try to volunteer in the field you are looking to enter. That’s the best way to get experience.

I suppose I can try the newspapers again..Thanks Mrs. Faery :)

@Facade: You don’t have to “search” for volunteer work. Just call any charity that you give two shakes about, and ask them if they’re looking for volunteers in the office. I did that during high school for maybe three months, and I’ve never had any trouble getting an office assistant job. (I’ve had two paid ones, and I never applied for any I didn’t get).

@Facade, What are your business applications skills like? PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Access, Project. It’s much easier to find a spot if you have those down cold, and you can teach those to yourself though online tutorials. Unfortunately, with the economy being what it is, you’re competing with college graduates and MBAs for a lot of the temp positions.

I agree that having volunteer experience is a great way to get work experience. And sometimes it leads to a paying position.

You should be spending exactly as many hours looking for a job as you would working at one, since you are literally working for yourself – for free – right now. That means at least 8 hours a day on the phone, reading the papers, making the rounds of several employment agencies (not just one or two, but as many as possible) and sending out resumes to businesses listed in the Yellow Pages, which can be found online.

Make sure you tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job, especially family members, but also any acquaintences you have. I got my grandson a job when I overheard the clerk at our veterinarian office saying this was her last week. Ask for work or openings at the stores you go to regularly.

@PandoraBoxx I know how to use those programs (I told that to the rep, but it didn’t seem to matter).

@Facade: You should put them on your resume, if they’re not already.

Under “skills” right?

Right. You can also take one of those online tests that measures your typing speed (if you dont already know it) and put that in that section.

Have you no experience whatsoever? I doubt it. Experience doesn’t just mean work-for-pay-for-a-large-employer experience. It means work experience. Can you show you can take on responsibility and not blow it?

Have you had summer jobs? Have you ever volunteered? Have you ever babysat or mowed lawns or run a lemonade stand? These things don’t have to be ridiculous if you present them in the context of being responsible and organized. That’s what employers want.

My total and complete experience adds up to 3 months each at two different retail stores and 2 days as a waitress at a “mom and pop” type eatery (which I do not count). Never babysat, don’t like screaming kids. Never mowed lawns, I just don’t do that sort of thing. Never ran a lemonade stand, although I probably should have lol :)
edited to say I am responsible and organized. I just have no evidence of that fact.

@Facade Come on! What makes you believe you are responsible and organized? You can’t have that idea for no reason at all, can you?

I just know how I would handled certain situations and conduct myself if in any type of work environment. I’ve had a lot of time to think about these things

You do have employable skills that are not related to previous work experience, such written communication skills, knowing .html from having a personal blog, being comfortable speaking in front of people, organizing and executing social events, fashion sense, having a strong work ethic (punctuality, doing things without being asked or told, follow-through), analytical thinking skills, etc.

Think about the times that you’ve done something that took sustained effort, and there was a positive result from it.

@PandoraBoxx To tell you the truth, I haven’t done anything took sustained effort. I’ve been pretty much coasting throughout, well, everything. Even though I’ve done well in sports, school, social events, etc., it didn’t take much effort. Maybe I’m misunderstanding…

It sounds to me like an attitude adjustment would go a long way. This constant rejecting of suggestions and tips is not going to lead to a solution for you.

@YARNLADY If you don’t like what I’m saying in my question, move along. I don’t need a lecture.

@Facade I rest my case.

Sports—what sports? Team sports give you teamwork skills. School—you may have coasted through it, but it shows you have the organizing and planning ability to manage a project. Social events = people skills. Did you organize the parties? Organization skills? Did you have to resolve tension between party attendees? Negotiation skills.

I’m serious. This isn’t bullshit. You really do have these skills. All you have to do is think about how they prepare you for work. Hell, lack of experience = willingness to learn. Coasting through school = quick learner.

As @YARNLADY said, you can think negatively about your skills if you like, but that won’t really help. If you want a job, you have to think of yourself as a product and sell it. It’s not really you in the job interview. Your self-esteem or whatever issues have nothing to do with it. It’s a sales job.

Also, are you networking? Get informational interviews (you’re not asking for a job, just about work, and at the same time you are selling yourself). Sometimes informational interviews lead to companies making a position for you. In any case, get at least two other names of people to talk to at every informational interview. Get out there. Let people know who you are and that you are looking.

Talk to neighbors, friends, parents, teachers—ask everyone if they know of something—preferably something coming up. Develop an “elevator” talk about who you are and what you want in a job. Be able to pitch yourself in a minute or less. Act confident. You don’t have to be confident, but just pretend that you are a product everyone wants. Just pretend. It’s just an interview. You’re supposed to. Every negative becomes a positive. If you have a negative attitude; it becomes a critical eye and an impulse towards perfectionism (but you are learning to do good enough, so you can get things done in time, even if not perfect).

It’s just a game. Work it. Work will turn up. Finding a job is a full time job. Do it at least 20 hours per week. Pay yourself for it (so you do it—the pay can be metaphorical).

If you think racism is an issue, then turn that around. You’ve learned how to succeed (at school) in the face of dislike. You know how to turn people around and get them to appreciate your skills, and to see beyond the color of your skin.

Get it?

I do get it :)
And I don’t think I think negatively about my skills, I just don’t see them as a big deal. I didn’t know the things I do every day and have always done were “skills.”
I looked through the newspaper yesterday and have a few employers to contact, so we’ll see where those go.

Oh, a story just occurred to me. When I was in high school, I sold my parents for on the idea that I could grow a couple of calves for meat for the family. I built a barn (acquired wood, calculated how much I needed and ordered cement), fenced in a field, and arranged for water in the field. I bought the calves, and took care of them. I arranged for them to be sent to the slaughterhouse, and for my parents to buy a large freezer to put the meat in.

So this all shows project management skills and entrepreneurialism and sales skills and probably a few other things, as well.

I never put this on my resume. It just never occurred to me. I thought of it as just something I did. An experiment. A way to get cheap beef. Years later, I realized just what I had done. Actually, I didn’t realize it until I had kids. Then I asked my parents just what they were thinking when they approved the project.

I think if I had put this on my resume—if I had understood what I had accomplished—then I might not have had such a hard time finding a job after I graduated from college. Hell, I might have gotten accepted by more colleges than the only one that accepted me.

Of course, there is one advantage to being such a slow learner. When things are really hard for you a when you finally do figure them out, you understand exactly what you have done in excruciating detail. This makes you really good at training others.

Oh, hey! Another thing that, while it appeared on my resume, was never highlighted in an effective way. I became a salesman and a (good) trainer in my first job after college—I was a canvasser. I had people skills and leadership skills and a whole bunch of other things. But I had no idea what I had, so I never framed it that way on a resume.

As I say, I was a slow learner. But you don’t have to be as oblivious to your skills and experience as I was.