Help?

[youwait4me]

Hi, someone please help!! I have a degree but no work experience at all. Can I still get a job at a restaurant or something or is it too late?? Will I be unemployed forever?? or homeless??? no one told me i needed to do this and now I find out about it. Is it too late?? Is my life basically over now or what??
:cry:

[AshleyJordan]

No, your life is not over!
What was your degree in? Did you intern at all? When did you graduate? Have you spoken to your profs. for job leads? Have you contacted organizations in the field you studied? Have you considered Americorps? Just some quick thoughts. . . .

[youwait4me]

Hi. Sorry I guess I should have explained more. No I did not intern.
I just graduated. I don't even want to use my degree (anthropology)right now. I just want a part-time job so I can prepares for grad school, so Americorps is not an option even though it sounds good from what I read on their webpage. Also no to the other two questions you asked, since I need something part-time now like waitressing or something. But I cannot get that can I becuase I have a degree??

[NayUCLA]

can you get a job as an admin assistant? generally you just need to be friendly on the phone and be able to type (which obviously we all can as college grads), fax, email, and some filing work. what kind of a pay are you looking for?

[winneythepooh7]

I agree with the above poster. Or (and it's not for everyone but I still suggest it) something entry-level like a direct care worker or counselor in the human services field. Often even if you work there F/T, these jobs provide flexibility, good benefits and even help pay for school in some cases. Also I don't know where you live, but sometimes sites like Craigslist have a lot of P/T stuff advertised. I found my job this way, and we still advertise P/T jobs this way ;).

[youwait4me]

hi,

how come 59 people have looked at this but only 3 wrote back:(

I am desperate and don't know what to do.

Admin asst. jobs ask for experience

[AshleyJordan]

Have you already been accepted to graduate school? If so, why not consider something on-campus, workstudy, etc?
For an admin job, or any similar entry level job, your degree should be the "experience" required, if you can legitimately claim PC skills, people skills (maybe through anthro fieldwork or working in groups for school projects,) etc. It's basically a matter of proving that you have transferrable skills-- i.e. that you have research and writing experience from school, which you could very easily use in a professional setting (just an example, to illustrate.)

[chicagogirl]

How about combining a paying job with something volunteer? If you're going on for grad school, then I'm assuming it will involve research yes? so how about offering to help professors in your field on their research. I wrote a senior thesis in undergrad based on volunteering as a research assistant for a prof in my field.

[youwait4me]

no, i am taking time off basically and going to go to grad school in 2 years.

i don't know what you mean by combining a paying job with volunteer--that is the problem, i need money, but i don't understand why everything wants experience, even mcdonald's applications have an experience section.

i wish i had never gone to school now. i wish i never even had the opportunity to do this ever. :'(

[yankeeyosh]

no, i am taking time off basically and going to go to grad school in 2 years.

i don't know what you mean by combining a paying job with volunteer--that is the problem, i need money, but i don't understand why everything wants experience, even mcdonald's applications have an experience section.

i wish i had never gone to school now. i wish i never even had the opportunity to do this ever. :'(

{{{hugs}}} I know how you feel, and believe me, it's tough out there these days. The old catch 22 of getting "direct" experience for a job, yet you need a job to get the "direct" experience is not fun to deal with.

I agree with AJ...what you did in school can count as experience to a certain extent. For instance, if you worked on a major team project in an class, and took the lead in it, you can discuss how that helped develop your leadership skills and such. If you did volunteer work, you can use that. Even discussing the various term papers you've done can help, as it shows you have good writing proficiency.

[youwait4me]

I hope I can get something as a waitress or cashier or something.

Is this hopeless? Will I be unemployed forever and ever?? I don't understand this at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :sad: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[mags81]

You haven't worked at all? There are some ways to get around that and build a resume. For example, did you do any research in undergrad? Did you help a professor with any projects? Did you volunteer anywhere regularly or help out in a family business?

[youwait4me]

no, i have not worked at all. no one told me i needed to do this. they just said to get a degree and then i could get a really good job after that with the degree.

should i just give up?? maybe the only way out of this is death.??

:redface:

[youwait4me]

You need a resume to work at as a waitress????? I am so confused.

[asm198]

You can work in a restaurant as a hostess or server, work in retail (clothing store, bookstore, etc), hotel front desk or housekeeping, public library, secretary, etc. There are tons of things you can do for a paycheck and getting a job will be at least something you can put on a resume, even if it's not something directly pertaining to your career goals and you will be making money in the process.

As far as experience to put down on applications, there has to be something you could "creatively" put down. Were you involved in any student orgainzations in college?

Honestly, if you really haven't work at all, I would suggest forgetting about an actual resume at this point and focus your energy in finding just a job. Most of the ones I suggested above don't need a resume to apply; you just fill out their application.

[youwait4me]

asm,

Ok. Will I find anything?? I need some reassurance about this too. What if I end up unemployed forever??? And eventually homeless??

[yankeeyosh]

asm,

Ok. Will I find anything?? I need some reassurance about this too. What if I end up unemployed forever??? And eventually homeless??

With a college degree, it's very unlikely you will ever be unemployed forever and especially homeless. I don't think you have anything to worry about there.

The lack of "direct" experience may not mean you will start at the top, but I assure you that there are still people who graduate college without meaningful experience and do fine. It may take some time, but you'll get there.

I think one thing you can do is to speak with someone at your college's career center. They should be able to give you some solid advice. Also, I would definitely consider temping. Granted, it's not glamorous, but it's something, and it will give you some experience in the corporate world that you can use six months down the line.

[youwait4me]

Oh my career center was helpful at all, so I'd rather not discuss that because it just makes me angry.

I need to know if I can get a job at a restaurant or something within the next 2 months because I need to move away bad.

[yankeeyosh]

Oh my career center was helpful at all, so I'd rather not discuss that because it just makes me angry.

I need to know if I can get a job at a restaurant or something within the next 2 months because I need to move away bad.

I'm sure you can get a job at a restaurant...although I am still confident that you can get a professional job. Have you had any interviews? What procedures have you taken with regard to applying for jobs?

[youwait4me]

yankee,

Hi. I haven't done anything other than search and ahve panic attacks :redface: because everything ask for experience or has an employment history section on applications--even McDonald's. Why do you need experience to work at McDonald's or Walmart?? I don't understand why they have this on their applications. I don't have anything to put there then won't they just throw the application in the trash. No one ever explained any of this to me. Also, I am afraid to go to an interview.

[asm198]

asm,

Ok. Will I find anything?? I need some reassurance about this too. What if I end up unemployed forever??? And eventually homeless??

You will find something. I don't actually have a college degree and I've worked at every job I posted, except library and housekeeping, and that's only because I haven't applied for those. And nearly all those jobs, I had no experience in that particular field before I got the job.

I've been kind of a nomad when it comes to jobs. I stay at a job between 6 months and two years, get bored, and move on to something else. It hasn't affected my ability to get a new job and I have experience in a pretty wide range of fields. I usually start my job hunting by applying at places that I frequent or in an area of town that I want to work. Then I just start hitting places for applications.

Does your city have an online paper? I generally check there for job ads, as well as career builder. However, I've never actually found a job through there. I have found every job I've had by just walking into the place and applying, not knowing they were hiring.

But you can find a job. You won't be homeless. Restaurants and hotels have a particularly high turnover rate, so they are always taking applications and are usually hiring. They are good because you don't have to have a 8-5 schedule. Hotels are open 24/7 and restaurants are open day and night, so you can have a pretty flexible schedule. I know tons of people who work at night and go to school during the day.

[yankeeyosh]

yankee,

Hi. I haven't done anything other than search and ahve panic attacks :redface: because everything ask for experience or has an employment history section on applications--even McDonald's. Why do you need experience to work at McDonald's or Walmart?? I don't understand why they have this on their applications. I don't have anything to put there then won't they just throw the application in the trash. No one ever explained any of this to me. Also, I am afraid to go to an interview.

Places like Mc Donalds don't require experience. If that's the case, what will the average zit-faced 15 year old put on their app? Babysitting? Mowing lawns? I think it's just there to fill space, and no one cares. Also, as asm said, restaurants have high turnover, so if you really need a job in a pinch, there should be no problem.

I still think you should continue looking for professional jobs...maybe on the admin assistant track. Yes, a lot of companies say 1-2 years' experience, but a lot of them also require just a HS diploma or associate's degree. To get your foot in the door, since you have a bachelor's degree, it should count for something. And anyway, in this generation, a lot of people tend to ignore the experience requirements and apply for the jobs anyway. The worst that can happen is that your application will go on the bottom of the pile. There's no real harm.

I do understand the issues with interviewing that you have. I hate interviewing with a passion, and I suspect that it cost me a large number jobs that I was otherwise qualified for...I really wish there was another way to determine if one's "fit" for a job, but they haven't figured it out yet. I would try interviewing in front of friends, or even a mirror. Just get a bunch of questions from Monster or other sites, and practice answering them till you feel more confident. It's not the real thing, mind you, but it should help to some degree.

[asm198]

yankee,

Hi. I haven't done anything other than search and ahve panic attacks :redface: because everything ask for experience or has an employment history section on applications--even McDonald's. Why do you need experience to work at McDonald's or Walmart?? I don't understand why they have this on their applications. I don't have anything to put there then won't they just throw the application in the trash. No one ever explained any of this to me. Also, I am afraid to go to an interview.

Ok, first of all, forget all that. The worst that will happen is that you won't get a call if you apply. That happens. That's why you put in a ton of applications everywhere.

It's been awhile since I've filled out an application, so I'm a bit fuzzy, but what exactly do you mean by experience. All I can remember on applications are places for skills and job experience. I'm guessing you mean the job experience part. They are asking about places you used to work. If you don't have any work experience at all, leave that blank and focus on the skills part. Anything you did in school will work here. Are you proficient in Microsoft Word? Excel? Do you have any cash handling experience? Phone experience? Do you know how to use a fax machine? Copier? Do you know how to use a PC? Mac?

My first job was when I was 19. I worked on campus, in the student activities office. Before that, my jobs were working two weeks a summer (for 2 years) mucking barns at the local fairgrounds. I got that job through FFA (future farmers of america) and there wasn't an application process. If you wanted to work, you showed up at school at a certain time. We didn't really get paid, either. Basically, if you worked, your room and admission fee was paid for to national convention. I also worked seasonally at the FFA walnut huller, which also went towards national convention costs. The only actual paycheck I ever got before the job at 19 was when I worked the day after the fair was over, doing a full clean up of the barns. However, you can bet I put all of those jobs down on my applications for some time. I made them pretty on applications, but I put them down.

That's why I asked if you had any involvement in student activities while you were in school. If you were involved in any activity and they did anything volunteer like, you can put that down. I was in a service fraternity in college and we did things with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Habitat for Humanity. If I had no actual jobs, I would put those organizations down under job history.

The way I see it, I put down stuff that might be a stretch technically, meaning I may not have gotten an actual paycheck, but things I did, in hopes of scoring an interview. In the interview, you can sell yourself, regardless of what your job history has been.

Interviews are fairly easy. Dress nice, be polite, ask questions. I'm probably not the best person to ask for interview advice, because I tend to be fairly cocky in interviews. It's always gotten me a job (I've never interviewed and not been offered the job), but I am also fairly confident in my skills and what I can bring to the table. I also have a tendency to make them sell me the job and I go into an interview with the mentality that I've already got the job wrapped up and the interview is just a formality.

[asm198]

Yankeeyosh brings up a great point. Get your friends to help you with your interview skills. Do you happen to know anyone who does hiring? Or who goes on a ton of interviews? Have them ask you questions. When I eventually get to the point that I start looking for day jobs, I plan to have my fiance do mock interviews with me. He is a restaurant manager and hires most of the people who work there.

Really, all you need is your foot in the door. Once that happens, use all your resources for your next job. I worked in a hotel for several years in a different city. The GM I worked under and I got pretty close. It's been 3 years since we worked together, but we still keep in touch and I go to him for advice and job leads, even though neither of us live in the city we worked together and currently we live 5 hours apart. Have any friends? Ask around for job leads. Friends of friends are good sources of job leads.

[youwait4me]

Well, if I have to put in a lot of applications, where do I get references? I only have like 3 or 4 and I don't want them to get constantly called--doesn't that annoy people eventually?

[youwait4me]

Friends? I don't know. I don't really socialize that much.

Anyway, I will be 23 soon without ever working before, so I am scared that I will not be able to move away because I will get rejected by everything even if I apply to like 5,000 places. I'm starting to pull my hair out and have panic attacks all the time over this.

[asm198]

References. It's been my experience that most references aren't called. I'll tell you, I stressed forever about references, because most of the places I worked, the person I worked for didn't work there anymore. I found out that it's a pretty rare thing that they actually call anyone. I've been marginally involved in interviews and whatnot and have found that it's very rare, at least in restaurants and hotels, that they call anyone. They might call a former job, but that's it.

I'll be honest. Most hotels and restaurants are looking for a warm body. If you can do the job well, great, but if not...well, they expect that. When I was first starting out, I had my boyfriend and best friend as references. I had worked with neither, but they suggested I put them down and we sort of made up stuff that we had done together. It wasn't lies, but one step up from lies. If we had done anything together that would be mildly considered work, I put them down. I didn't put down that they were my boyfriend and best friend, just their name, phone number, and where they worked. No one ever called them and I still got jobs.

[asm198]

Friends? I don't know. I don't really socialize that much.

Anyway, I will be 23 soon without ever working before, so I am scared that I will not be able to move away because I will get rejected by everything even if I apply to like 5,000 places. I'm starting to pull my hair out and have panic attacks all the time over this.

It's fairly unlikely that you won't be called if you apply at a restaurant or hotel, unless they aren't hiring. Trust me. I have a fairly sketchy job history. I got my first full time job at 21. I quit after 4 months because I was moving away. Next job was 3 months later and I lasted for 2 weeks because I couldn't stand how they did business. Next job was nearly a year later and I worked there for 6 months before I was 'let go'. Four months later, I got another job and was there for a year and a half. I only left because I moved away. Another year without a job and then I worked for 6 months.

Like I said, I'm pretty cocky at interviews. At my last job, to explain the year between jobs, I told them I had moved to this city and didn't need to work. That I was wanting a job now because I wanted something to get me out of the house and get some extra cash. I also told the person responsible for hiring that he basically would be an idiot if he didn't hire me, because I would be the best candidate he would see in quite awhile. I said that point blank, in the interview. They told me initially that they wouldn't be able to hire me for at least 6 weeks. After my second interview, I was offered the job in three days, to start 4 days later. Five weeks before the time they told me they could actually start someone.

Being cocky seems to work for me. It may not work for you. The way I see it, the worst that would happen is that I don't get offered the job. But I am confident in my job skills, even without a degree, and I know I could do about any job that it thrown at me.

[youwait4me]

Should I apply to like 5,000?? A million???

I am so scared.:/ :redface:

[yankeeyosh]

Should I apply to like 5,000?? A million???

I am so scared.:/ :redface:

I dont' think that would be necessary. Believe me, this is a good year to be looking for a job because the economy has been in very good shape recently. It may not be the best job, but I think that if you become assertive and send resumes and follow up with them to show you're interested, there will be a job waiting for you.

Have you contacted any former profs? Maybe they can give you advice.

[Q21]

Wait wait wait. TO get a smiple job like cashiering or waitressing, you don't NEED experience. What about those 16 year olds without any experience? How do they get jobs? FIll out a buch of applications and then call back and be VErY curteoius, ambitious, and respectful during the interview.


to explain your lack of skills, just cite that you were in school and that you wanted to concentrate on your studies.

DOn't freak out. I have barely any experience and I got hired.

[youwait4me]

Also, is there any way to pay for a $430 something dollar a month place to live, plus food(wouldn't cost much for me to eat really) working 20-30 hours a week?It says utilies included--what does that mean? Included in the price??

[Q21]

You might need to work more than that.


Get the Quarterlife Companion book to learn more about finances.

Utilities are electric, heat/air. which means no extra charge - it's in the $430.

[yankeeyosh]

Also, is there any way to pay for a $430 something dollar a month place to live, plus food(wouldn't cost much for me to eat really) working 20-30 hours a week?It says utilies included--what does that mean? Included in the price??

Yeah, it means it's included in the price.

[NewMrs.]

You might need to work more than that.


Get the Quarterlife Companion book to learn more about finances.



I agree. My rent was $480 when I was working 40 hours a week making $11 an hour. I didn't have cable or internet access. Once you're no longer in school for more than 6 months, you're going to have to start making payments on your student loans. If you relay on public transit, you will have to purchase your own bus pass now, as opposed to possibly receiving free transit as a student. State and Federal taxes will probably be deducted directly from your paycheck; however, alot of employers don't deduct local taxes. If not, then you will be responsible for paying local taxes on a quarterly basis. Also, some municipalities charge a monthly or quarterly garbage fee. Some landlords pay it for you and some don't.

Alot of municipalities in PA now charge a flat $100 annual tax just for the privilege of working in their city or town. They usually take it out of the first two paychecks earned each year. Your state may do something similar.

Finally, even when you stop eating out, food can get expensive, especially if you're trying to eat healthy.

[youwait4me]

Oh. I didn't have any loans. I don't use public transportation either but there isn't much of that here.