[Ginger]

I'm lost, for the most part. I am almost 20 with no previous work experience. Looking for a job is harder than the 14 years of schooling I went through living with my mother and various other family members.

I just want to hide under my blanket, away from everyone. You know, out of sight out of mind.

My job applications are naked. I got an interview with Safeway back in January but applied when I had possible transportation to and from work for the first month until I could get a car but he moved out. I had no other way of getting there. I tried calling them every single day but the person in charge of hiring was never there. I eventually gave up contacting them because I did what I could with what I had but it wasn't enough. I'm now living just a mile away from Safeway, but not for very much longer if I don't land something by the end of the month. Then by the time I'm moved out of here I'll get called for interviews here, but guess what? I won't be here anymore and I'll have to give up those opportunities because I won't have a fucking way to get there and back. It's messed up, my situation. Fucking tired of fingers being pointed at me. They probably skip my application every time they see it now.

It doesn't matter where I go. I can't be happy unless I'm making money, helping out financially, and reaching goals.

[Ginger]

It's depressing sending in application after application and hearing nothing back. Makes me feel like I'm not good for anything.

[Serra Britt]

I'm sorry to hear that Ginger, I feel like I'm in a similar situation myself. I have lots of retail experience but since I can't stand up for long periods anymore, anyplace I do apply for the retail means just about nothing to them. It's hard to keep up hope when no one even calls to tell you the position was at least filled by someone else.

[Ashy]

have you tried applying at a place like mcdonalds or white castle, you know crappy places like that. unfortunately you have no experience atm and those are the only places thatll take you and it may be bad hours for bad pay but if you can last there for 6months to a year places will hire you straight up just because you did endure working there for so long

[Ginger]

That's the crappy part.. McDonald's won't even take me =/

[Ginger]

Serra - Thank you for your input. I wasn't meaning to ignore your post. I'd prefer working retail actually, if just to get by. I don't have any special skills except art and I can't think of what stands out in me. I grew up around hardly anyone and those I grew up with treated me like a rag doll. I haven't had enough social experience to where I prefer to be alone about half the time because I can't provide input when I don't have anything to say..

[Serra Britt]

When I needed to move several years ago and left my first retail job, a bookstore, I ended up being out of work for almost a year because I wanted to work at a bookstore again and they WOULD NOT call me for an interview ever, and I thought "If they don't want someone with 4 years of bookstore experience, then what exactly are they looking for?" At the very least they had a "hiring" sign in the window and that was terribly depressing. I eventually worked a bit at Best Buy (it's terrible being a cashier there) and then for a longer period at Wal-Mart (was nice when I started but it went downhill). Sometimes I think you have to let go of your wants and standards and just apply anywhere that looks like they are hiring. I'd do that myself except most places require you to stand and I just can't do that right now, at least not for an full shift, or even a half shift.

Ginger, I know it's got to be tough and disheartening when no one calls you back. Keep trying though. I know it's easy to say but I believe you can find something. Good luck and I believe in you.

[littl3chocobo]

my only advice is work for friends and family, do labor jobs, look for daily-labor places, i worked for a labor-ready(single shift hires where you have to go in /every/ day to maybe get sent out) things like that, it sucks and it is hard but at least you can get a chance at making money that way

[Lucifer]

Even if it's only small things, I'd say to put them in a resume, like if my mom went on vacation I'd watch the house and her cat so I put down that I did house sitting and such :3
It can be hard, but keep going I didn't get my first job until 20, either ^^;
I've been at it almost 8 months now.

[Echo-chan713]

Are there any publc transportation over there?

[Reyoki]

I can understand where you're coming from because I'm in the exact same boat. I'm 21 with no job experience, and trying to find a job had been hell on earth. If it makes you feel better, McDumpster's won't hire me either.

My suggestion is to just keep sending in applications to places at regular intervals and follow-up with everyone. Don't send in your application and then wait for them to make the next move; seek them out and someone is bound to see your tenacity.

[Echo-chan713]

Wally world won't hire me either. and I applied there at least 5 times in 3 months

and I go on here, just create an account and start applying in your area

http://www.snagajob.com/home

[*Zane]

call people back aggressivly and never give up, its definitly hard to find a job now a days.

[Echo-chan713]

The only ones I keep getting are the minimum wage jobs, but it's better than nothing and they last for a week for me

[Fey]

Okay, some secrets that hiring managers won't necessarily tell you.

For every job opening there's about 50-100 applicants. They want people with OPEN availability. This means you can't want weekends or nights off, you can't only want to work mornings or Tuesday, etc. A follow-up call is good, but five is annoying, they'll often move you to the bottom of the pile for that.

Myself and two other friends were all out of work around the same time. All three of us aggressively started applying for jobs. This meant we were putting in 6-10 applications a DAY. Again, look at the odds you're up against. Even with past experience you're up against 25-50 people that have that as well. Also, you may not think you have experience, but you DO! Have you babysat or pet-sat? There ya go, child care and animal care. Were you a club leader or something similar? Leadership training. Get creative with your verbiage.

Most importantly, keep a positive attitude, or you'll shoot yourself in the foot by presenting yourself negatively! You can do it!

[Echo-chan713]

There's a lot of websites that gives you tip on increasing your chances of getting an appointment interview such as an appropriate email address. Employers aren't going to take you seriously if for an example (JUST MADE UP) you have an email address like hawtkittypimp7636 @ gmail .com [remove the spaces and Trisphee thinks it's an official email address XD], a more appropriate email is usually before the @ is your first name and last name put together then add a few numbers if necessary. It is boring but it works.

Dressing appropriately is key to getting ahead even if your'e asking for a job applicating dress your best. What I usually say Dress for the job you want not what you have.

and Thousands of more on here from resumes to what to NOT put down on an applications http://www.snagajob.com/job-resources/

If this link closed you I'll send you what each links tells you :)

Good Luck

Sorry for my rant, I'm in your position as well especially being so close to an anime convention and wanting to go to Yaoi con in October.