I've only had one job since school, but can't get another one. What do I do?

[cardiff1984]

I worked in an Amusement Arcade for 8 Years and 1 month, I left because I wanted to further my career. I was there 8 busy summers and 8 winter months. I was a general assistant. I have good customer care, I'm flexible, able to cover sick and holiday shifts for other members and have worked more than 50 hour shifts in summer time and is reliable. I wasn't even sick 10 times and rarely missed a monthly bonus. I applied for a new Asda store opening, rejected, applied for Gala bingo, rejected, I'm applying for a porters job in a hotel, don't know what's happening. The other thing is too companies are asking for too much experience, especially in waitering jobs. Not exactly rocket science is it. What do I do? I deserve a chance, it's not like I've been in and out of work since school. I started in the arcade when I was 18, now I'm 27.

[graysonmom]

I think you should have found another job before quitting the last one. Unemployment is bad all over. I myself gave up the job search and am staying home with my kid because I couldn't find anything that actually paid for daycare and gave me something left over afterwards. My advice? Apply for anything and everything, look at your local employment office, try temp services, etc and just take whatever you can get, even if it's flipping burgers. Then when you have an income, take some night classes in whatever profession you eventually want to be, and/or take some legit online classes. That way when the employment situation improves, you'll have the skills you need to get the job you want.

[RedBeetEggs]

I think you should have found another job before quitting the last one. Unemployment is bad all over. I myself gave up the job search and am staying home with my kid because I couldn't find anything that actually paid for daycare and gave me something left over afterwards. My advice? Apply for anything and everything, look at your local employment office, try temp services, etc and just take whatever you can get, even if it's flipping burgers. Then when you have an income, take some night classes in whatever profession you eventually want to be, and/or take some legit online classes. That way when the employment situation improves, you'll have the skills you need to get the job you want.

This is great advice. Getting some more schooling under your belt is never a bad idea.

[Fajita Mel]

As someone who has too much job experience under her belt....

The one thing I can stress like G-Mom did is do not leave a job until you have another lined up already if you can absolutely help it. Employers look at that and want to know why you didn't stay. Don't do it again! lol

Like G-Mom said, apply for everything available. Hell, I worked at a convenience store (blah!) for several weeks concurrently with a fast food job and then--BAM--got the full time job I wanted. Sometimes you have to get down in the dirt and work jobs you think may be "beneath" you to earn money, but if it pays your bills in the meantime....well, $8 an hour is better than $0 an hour, right?

I'm not sure what the job situation is like in the UK, but I can speak for the U.S.: IT SUCKS. I moved to North Carolina five months ago and finally landed that full time job after applying for....oh gosh, it must be in the hundreds. I even have a degree and am working on another. Right now the economy sucks so bad that I don't think it matters how much education you have, but it certainly doesn't hurt and all grads will eventually benefit from it once we come out of this recession.

[McGarrett .]

Keep looking.

[Englishboy]

Why is this in the Politics Philosophy & religion section? :exit:

It needs moving to The Lounge :)

[fireweaver]

Why is this in the Politics Philosophy & religion section? :exit:

It needs moving to The Lounge :)

Because joblessness is a political problem all around the world.

[Tessie]

Internships.

[Sarah]

I'm thinking you might get more help in the Agony Advice column... ;)

I agree with what Mel and GM have said. I wish you lots of luck, it will happen for you if you keep trying hard enough - I recommend call centres. They are always looking for staff.

[anndra_w]

I've never been unemployed thanks to my sideline in prostitution lol Seriously though don't leave a job until you have another one lined up. It doesn't look good and as your finding you can end up unemployed which is a rotten position to be in. See if you can get some advice from the careers advisers about how to make your CV stand out and find out how to improve your interview skills. Research the jobs your applying for and what they entail so you sound like you know what your talking about when you explain why your suitable for the job on the application form etc. If your applying for jobs that means there are jobs there so tell yourself it's you who is going to get the position.

[fireweaver]

Internships.
How do internships work?

[Tessie]

How do internships work?

Find the company/industry you're interested in, and find out which ones are offering paid or unpaid internships and see if they'll take you on. Use it as a chance to learn about the company and network with people. It shows you're working and gaining experience, even if you're not getting paid for it, and eventually something may come of it. Network and see who works in the profession you'd like to join and see if they can help you find something or set you in the right direction.

Or volunteer. It looks good on a resume.

[Pamela Barnes]

I worked in an Amusement Arcade for 8 Years and 1 month, I left because I wanted to further my career. I was there 8 busy summers and 8 winter months. I was a general assistant. I have good customer care, I'm flexible, able to cover sick and holiday shifts for other members and have worked more than 50 hour shifts in summer time and is reliable. I wasn't even sick 10 times and rarely missed a monthly bonus. I applied for a new Asda store opening, rejected, applied for Gala bingo, rejected, I'm applying for a porters job in a hotel, don't know what's happening. The other thing is too companies are asking for too much experience, especially in waitering jobs. Not exactly rocket science is it. What do I do? I deserve a chance, it's not like I've been in and out of work since school. I started in the arcade when I was 18, now I'm 27.

When you say rejected, did you make it to the interview? If so you can ask for feedback on what you did wrong. So many people are not great at interviews.

If its the application perhaps you need to really think about what your skills are, again it's how you sell yourself. Some skills you have you probably don't realise and know how to articulate as they are common practice and you take them for granted.

If you don't have anyone in your everyday life to advise, I'm more than happy to help you. Just drop me a PM anytime.

I think you also need to think about what it is you want to do. I hate the question but it's a common one 'Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years time'

But I think you are falling at the first gate you really need help in pinpointing your strengths , things you are good at and no so good at. What areas you feel you need to improve.

[fireweaver]

Find the company/industry you're interested in, and find out which ones are offering paid or unpaid internships and see if they'll take you on. Use it as a chance to learn about the company and network with people. It shows you're working and gaining experience, even if you're not getting paid for it, and eventually something may come of it. Network and see who works in the profession you'd like to join and see if they can help you find something or set you in the right direction.

Or volunteer. It looks good on a resume.

All well and fine (internships here in the States are unpaid), so my question is how do you live between internship and employment? Who pays the rent, etc?

[Fajita Mel]

you can ask for feedback on what you did wrong. So many people are not great at interviews.

Some skills you have you probably don't realise and know how to articulate as they are common practice and you take them for granted.

I think you also need to think about what it is you want to do. I hate the question but it's a common one 'Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years time'


These are all great points.

In my experience, interviewers can blindside you with their comments and questions. Okay, I work in the office at a heating & air conditioning parts distributing company. For example, when my boss hired me, he said, "Well, you're significantly older than the college students we have hired in the past" and "I....um....take it you designed your CV....yourself?" There is nothing wrong with my CV; I designed it in a business communications class with software. And referring to me as a "significantly older college student" is ridiculous because I am 25. Now that I have worked with him and realize he runs around stressed all day like a chicken with its head cut off, barking orders at everyone and claiming they can't do anything right, I realize he wanted to see if I could handle a little criticism. :D Don't be overly enthusiastic in your interviews, just kill them with a little smile and answer every question with honesty and no bullsh*t.

[Tessie]

All well and fine (internships here in the States are unpaid), so my question is how do you live between internship and employment? Who pays the rent, etc?

Get a job to pay the bills. I'm sure McDonalds is always hiring, and it's honest work. What exactly is your point?

[fireweaver]

Get a job to pay the bills. I'm sure McDonalds is always hiring, and it's honest work. What exactly is your point?

If he has a job at McDonald's, he doesn't need an internship. Do they have McDonald's in England? Here in the States, things are so bad in some places that even the local fast food joints are not hiring (a few of them have simply gone out of business due to lack of customers with "disposable" income).

Sorry Tessie, but the world is broken and it is going to take a decade or more to fix - if it can be fixed at all.

[Tessie]

If he has a job at McDonald's, he doesn't need an internship. Do they have McDonald's in England? Here in the States, things are so bad in some places that even the local fast food joints are not hiring (a few of them have simply gone out of business due to lack of customers with "disposable" income).

Sorry Tessie, but the world is broken and it is going to take a decade or more to fix - if it can be fixed at all.

What are you talking about? Get a job to pay the bills, and continue (or start) to pursue the career the original poster wants to pursue. That could involve going back to school, volunteering, getting an internship, a lot of different things. There's a difference between a job and a career.

Yes, there are McDonalds in England, although I don't live in England if that's what you're thinking. I didn't say it was easy to get a job, but there's always turnover in fast food and in retail stores. It's a good place to start.

And America does have some paid internships, BTW.

[RedBeetEggs]

These are all great points.

In my experience, interviewers can blindside you with their comments and questions. Okay, I work in the office at a heating & air conditioning parts distributing company. For example, when my boss hired me, he said, "Well, you're significantly older than the college students we have hired in the past" and "I....um....take it you designed your CV....yourself?" There is nothing wrong with my CV; I designed it in a business communications class with software. And referring to me as a "significantly older college student" is ridiculous because I am 25. Now that I have worked with him and realize he runs around stressed all day like a chicken with its head cut off, barking orders at everyone and claiming they can't do anything right, I realize he wanted to see if I could handle a little criticism. :D Don't be overly enthusiastic in your interviews, just kill them with a little smile and answer every question with honesty and no bullsh*t.

I just got a new job 2 months ago, but I had been looking for one for 4 years. I applied all over the US and went on quite a few interviews. At first I tried to be who I thought the company wanted me to be, and that didn't work. Then I tried being overly enthusiastic, and that didn't work either. So then I tried being myself and apparently that did the trick.

I was required to do an internship for school and I got paid for it. Some do and some don't. But it depends on what the OP wants to do with their life. Sometimes you have to start from scratch.

[Pamela Barnes]

These are all great points.

In my experience, interviewers can blindside you with their comments and questions. Okay, I work in the office at a heating & air conditioning parts distributing company. For example, when my boss hired me, he said, "Well, you're significantly older than the college students we have hired in the past" and "I....um....take it you designed your CV....yourself?" There is nothing wrong with my CV; I designed it in a business communications class with software. And referring to me as a "significantly older college student" is ridiculous because I am 25. Now that I have worked with him and realize he runs around stressed all day like a chicken with its head cut off, barking orders at everyone and claiming they can't do anything right, I realize he wanted to see if I could handle a little criticism. :D Don't be overly enthusiastic in your interviews, just kill them with a little smile and answer every question with honesty and no bullsh*t.

Gosh sounds like the interviews on the Apprentice :D But that's pretty tough going but I think it depends who you work for. I have been in interviews where they want to test your ability in certain situations so have setup role-play scenerios with clients being rude, difficult, etc.

But if Cardiff is going for interviews at established high street chains then the scenerio you describe shouldn't really happen there. Another thing I do before an interview is spoil myself, buy something new to wear, get my hair done, just so I feel more confident. Also research the job, think of questions they may ask, write them down and think of an answer. Even things like why do you think you are suitable for this role, why do you want the job? etc etc. Small questions but can really throw a curve ball.

[MrsSuperman93]

That sucks!
Like the others have said, you shouldn't have left the job before securing another one. But don't dwell on it. What's done is done.
Just apply for everything, everywhere! Good luck :D