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[–]slashVictorWard 154 points155 points ago

The entire employment process has changed so you have to be willing to try anything. I have a PhD and had to work as an unpaid intern for a few months to get the experience for the awesome job I have now.

Also bleach in urethra? Really?

[–]Youngmanandthelake 38 points39 points ago

^ this. Best advice I ever got from my adviser, when I said I was having a hard time finding a job i wanted was 'then don't look for a job you want. Get ANY job. If you like it, congrats, you can take your time in finding something better. If you don't, then congrats, you have the motivation you need to look HARD for a better one.' This includes working at Subway, or a season retail job and all that stuff. No such thing as a 'shit job'. A long gig and job you don't like and a BA can be better than a masters and unemployment.

Also, for many, many jobs, if you have a job you are currently employed at, and not an unemployed college grad, you might be able to completely forgo the 'what was your GPA' thing. Simply put, once you get a job and stay there for a year, if you aren't trying to be an engineer or doctor or something, your GPA in college is nothing but an old number.

[–]ComradeCube 9 points10 points ago

Any job is better than no job, but you should be able to get into some kind of tech support at the very least. Try to stay somewhat related to your field.

Work tech support for minimum wage if you have to.

[–]Renian 9 points10 points ago

Also bleach in urethra? Really?

^ this. Best advice I ever got from my adviser

ಠ_ಠ

, when I said I was having a hard time finding a job i wanted was 'then don't look for a job you want.

Oh.

[–]DiarrheaGuzzler 21 points22 points ago

No such thing as a 'shit job'.

try telling that to everyone when you tell them you're working at target

[–]Youngmanandthelake 40 points41 points ago

See my comment below for my explanation of this. That mentality, right there, is what I think is the biggest problem with the way people look at getting jobs. Okay, you work at Target, a large retailer. That is a globally recognized brand, with an existing training program, that employs hundreds of thousands of people. Even within a Target exists an opportunity for you to get raises, promoted, people working underneath you, and managers who will vouch for you when you get another job you are very interested in.

To give context, I used to work at Home Depot in summers when I went to college. I started as a cart pusher, told my manager I wasn't happy doing that, got trained as a cashier, took any available time to train to also train myself in garden, lumber, tools, and receiving. Went back to school for a year, got a job with them again next summer, and worked overnights, at nearly twice my previous pay, as the primary receiving employee. That summer I got experience with forklifts, trucking industry, and good work history that enabled me to get a job landscaping where I operated the ditch-witch, Bobcat, and towed trailers between sites. There is NO SUCH THING AS A SHIT JOB, if you look at it positively and take whatever opportunity comes your way. Go get cross-trained at other departments. If you aren't cashier trained, talk to a manager to figure out if there is training that exists for that. Show up to work on time, get a positive work history, and instead of being sad that you have a 'shit job', consider it a job that can help support you, build a work history (no such thing as a bad work history, so long as you are employed, IMO), and look for something better.

Seriously, what employer could you ACTUALLY IMAGINE saying 'Oh, you work at Target. Hmmm, we were actually looking for someone unemployed...'

[–]bumbleebeetuna 15 points16 points ago

Good advice, but an unpaid internship is just not an option for some people. I have rent and bills and a few months with zero income just wouldn't fly. Get a minimum wage job, if you have to do something.

[–]omgwutd00d 5 points6 points ago

So having no job is better than gaining experience for the jobs you are applying for? I don't think so. You may need to get a part time job wherever to keep up on payments, but do volunteer work in your free time to build experience.

[–]ElPoquitoGrande 7 points8 points ago

More people who will work for free drives down wages. You help yourself (maybe), but you end up screwing everybody a little bit.

[–]xcampkillx 4 points5 points ago

Can't stress how important this is. I graduated with an archaeology degree and due to there being very little in the way of paid archaeology jobs, I got a random admin job.

I'm now a software engineer and in a way better situation than my friends that only wanted degree related jobs.

[–]ClickClackClank 7 points8 points ago

Is it fairly common for people to become software engineers without studying computer science or a related field in college? What was your tech experience prior? I ask because it kinda blows my mind that an archaeology degree could lead to a software engineering job. But regardless, congrats! Sounds like everything worked out for you.

[–]bobusloblawus 3 points4 points ago

I would also like to know how you made the transition from archeologist -> software engineer. Inquiring minds demand answers!

[–]Akiba89 2 points3 points ago

Am i bad for trying to follow my dream?

[–]Akiba89 2 points3 points ago

Ok... work for free but i have bills cuz i went to school to work for free but i have bills cuz-...

[–]clemjazz 186 points187 points ago

volunteer

[–]HSMOM 46 points47 points ago

This should be higher. Seriously, volunteer, boom, experience you can put on a resume.

[–]big_swinging_dicks 13 points14 points ago

Except it is really hard to get volunteer work. I went to a meeting for some volunteer work in police stations as a responsible adult, there were over 100 people there.

[–]asimian 26 points27 points ago

Hard to get volunteer work? Maybe one specific position, but there's tons of opportunities to volunteer!

[–]big_swinging_dicks 4 points5 points ago

Yeah, I have found other stuff since, but have had two places where they are turning away volunteers because they have so many people trying to apply. Just making a point that it is quite tricky in some places even to volunteer now.

[–]truth-informant 27 points28 points ago

That depends entirely on where you live.

[–]King_of_Kong 18 points19 points ago

Also you need references. Last two places I wanted to volunteer at required two formal written references. If you don't have them, you can't get them because you can't get a job or volunteer.

[–]well_deserved_karma 4 points5 points ago

I already posted this, but for me, at least, it's relevant again :(

http://i.imgur.com/w8fIA.gif

[–]ElPoquitoGrande 2 points3 points ago

Every intersection is a car-window washing opportunity waiting to happen!

[–]UnlikelyJapan 4 points5 points ago

There are Soup Kitchens, Animal Adoption Centers, Animal Emergency Centers, Schools, Nursing Homes, Retirement Homes, Homeless Shelters, Red Cross. Almost anything state owned or any sort of charity organization will take you as a volunteer. Your options are endless and there are many places that would give you a chance. I can't say as much for where you live; there may be volunteers spilling from every crack and alley. However, I'd encourage you to check with all of these other places in person if you haven't already. Just don't tell them your name is big_swinging_dicks. ;)

[–]aDerpyPenguin 9 points10 points ago

How does volunteering at one of those places help a resume in a completely unrelated field?

[–]pneuma8828 3 points4 points ago

Yes. Because you will meet people there who will want to help you, because you are a good guy that volunteers. Next time they hear about an opening, they'll remember the nice kid that busts his ass so hard down at the shelter...

This is seriously how the world works. Social connections will get you so much further than hard work...the hard work is necessary, but not the important part.

[–]big_swinging_dicks 4 points5 points ago

I won't! I live in quite a remote area so things like soup kitchens don't exist, but I have found other stuff to do since. Just making a point about how it is tough to even volunteer in some areas. But hey, it is good that charities are getting so many people willing to help.

[–]Youngmanandthelake 72 points73 points ago

Ignore pride. Get a job in anything. Every employer, in today's day and age, understands how hard it is to get a job. Find literally anything, and do a good job at it, and doors may open. Just being able to say 'I am currently employed, and my employers would recommend me' is sooooo much better than you think. It also gets rid of the 'I'm so bored I'm so bored' thing where you get down on yourself for not having a job. Hope this helps :/

[–]Aquagoat 9 points10 points ago

Also money. Any money is better than no money.

[–]SwampDonkeyUnicorn 5 points6 points ago

That's good advice. Also when you do land interviews if you haven't been working they will wonder why you have been unemployed so long. Too a potential employer they will assume either you are lazy and do not want to work or you are undesirable for some whatever reason. A job which you might think is unrelated to your desired profession is better then no job at all. You might even have fun doing the other job or meet some people who can help you out.

[–]dhockey63 7 points8 points ago

P.S there aren't a lot of jobs around, even shit ones. Im guessing you haven't talked to the millions of unemployed young adults

[–]Youngmanandthelake 25 points26 points ago

Don't be shitty. I'm not saying its easy and I'm not saying it is even possible in every area. But don't turn down a seasonal job as a landscaper or something because it 'isn't in your field'. I'm 26, and leaving college I WAS one of those millions of unemployed young adults. I spent the last 3 years building relationships in the not-related fields of retail sales, general contracting, and landscaping building my work history and work history of continued employment for my current gig. It is a lot easier looking for a job when you are employed, even in something you hate, than simply being unemployed, and that is what I'm touting. I took jobs freaking dogsitting, babysitting and lawn-mowing while I was looking for a job, any job, that wasn't a seasonal gig. This isn't easy stuff, but it also isn't impossible. Believe me, that 'we need 3 years of experience' stuff is possible to get around if you have people who can vouch for your quality as an employee.

Also, there really, REALLY isn't anything I would consider a 'shit job' (okay, maybe a few things). The mentality of 'shit job' is the EXACT THING I'm talking about. Do you really think people love hiring people they know call the job they might be hired for 'shit ones'? I'm saying, if nothing else in your area exists except working at a Subway, well, then fucking work at Subway and do your best to be a manager. Go from THAT point instead of looking for that 'ideal gig' or volunteering, or something.

[–]mcgibber 14 points15 points ago

What kind of degree did you have when you graduated? As a recent engineering graduate who can't find work I am apprehensive to take a non related job because engineering is so technical that if I take too much time off employers will question my ability and desire to do the job. Also I really need to get into an engineering job before the next class graduate and I am simply forgotten for newer graduates.

[–]greedo_posted_first 2 points3 points ago

If you are interested in things that aren't necessarily engineerig, apply to Mathematical Finance/ Financial Engineering Masters programs. They love engineers (strong math and computer skills) and learning a lot about finance before you start the program isn't too hard.

I imagine you like engineering, but if you're looking for a change of scenery and much better pay, look at those types of programs.

[–]Youngmanandthelake 2 points3 points ago

Admittedly much broader than you. Environmental studies with a Biology focus, but my greatest hope at graduation was basically the job I have. Your mileage may vary.

I look at this from the standpoint of an HR rep. Say you are identical to another applicant, except you have ANY job, and they speak well of you. You have the benefit of saying 'Best Buy has loved me, and they'll tell you. I know that this isn't in the field, but I hate sitting idle just waiting. I'm not afraid to have to learn new things, and I don't consider anything beneath me.'

These aren't robots you're dealing with when you're being considered for jobs. If it actually IS robots you're dealing with (automated forms), well, fuck that. Email someone in the company with the job you want, and tell them you want to start working in that company. Ask them for the HR person's number, and contact them. I've done this several times, and as you'll find the longer you're in the professional world, people do not give a SHIT about what it is you do. Having someone younger than you ask for advice is one of the most endearing things that can happen in your daily routine. Talk to a person, any person, in the company you want to work for. Explain your position, they'll understand, and now they have a more personal connection with you. If it doesn't work, then whatever, you're in the EXACT SAME SPOT YOU ALREADY WERE IN. Be bold.

[–]mcgibber 3 points4 points ago

The majority of the postitions I apply to are the robotic online forms that intentionally give me no one to get in touch with unfortunately.

[–]Youngmanandthelake 4 points5 points ago

Let me know the name of the company and the title you want and I'll get you the direct phone number of someone who will be able to help you, if you promise to contact them and ask for their advice. Sound fair?

[–]A_Small_Town_Boy 228 points229 points ago

Should have gotten an internship while in school. A lot of people make the mistake of not getting a job/internship while in school, and they pay the price after graduation.

[–]whowilliupvotetoday 48 points49 points ago

A lot of internships are unpaid. I did not do an internship because I couldn't afford it. I had to work, and go to school at the same time.

[–]Marmaladez 22 points23 points ago

This is correct. I know it's a great experience... But I can't afford to relocate for 3 months, work 40 hours a week and eat without outside help. Even if it was A little money that they paid it would help.

[–]salsaburger 2 points3 points ago

I think industries in which internships are typically unpaid are also industries where entry-level jobs tend to be both low-paying and difficult to get. Journalism comes to mind.

Industries which pay their interns tend to to also be better places to get an entry-level job.

[–]hothrous 2 points3 points ago

Summer internships are common. Even if they are unpaid, you can work around them to have some income in the mean time.

[–]loosedawg 175 points176 points ago

I've applied to 15 internships and haven't heard back from a single one of them. You need work experience even for internships now

[–]DrinkiePie 53 points54 points ago

Did you e-mail follow up with them? Only after a couple months when I e-mailed whatever recruiter and was like "Hey, what's the status of my application?" did some get back to me.

[–]loosedawg 4 points5 points ago

Yeah I haven't tried that yet. I'll give it a few more weeks and if I still haven't heard back from anyone I'll send out some emails.

[–]Steve_In_Chicago 53 points54 points ago

I had to find a job during a rough economy 20 years ago. My one piece of advice is "Don't be shy." If you have an email contact, email them. If someone interviews you and you get a business card, send a thank you note or email and call them back to thank them for the interview in a few days. I feel like my shyness was a really huge obstacle in my job search back then.

Also, I'm aware that even entry-level jobs are in short supply, but a lot of my friends got jobs as receptionists/temps in companies that did work in their areas of study and eventually turned them into full time jobs.

But I had a ton of trouble finding work 20 years ago with an engineering degree. I can only imagine how much harder it is out there now. Good luck to you!

Edit: One more thing: A few years later, the economy was in rip-snorting shape, and companies were offering signing bonuses to anyone who could fog a mirror. My other mistake was not jumping ship then.

[–]mangage 13 points14 points ago

This guy knows what's up. Get in a company any way you can, even unpaid internship. Show up and do the best goddamn job anyone in the company has seen. You will move up the ranks.

Nobody is handing out jobs without experience because it's a huge gamble for them to start paying someone who may not really know what they're doing. Sure, you've been to school, but they know like you do, a lot of your classmates were probably twats that graduated only just barely, and taking one on without knowing their real abilities is a huge gamble.

Unpaid internship isn't a gamble for them though, at worst they just let you go in a week. At best they see your skills and what you can provide to the company. Go above and beyond and prove yourself necessary to the company and you'll quickly get a paycheck so they can keep you.

[–]Nocturnhabeo 14 points15 points ago

Also be FRIENDS WITH EVERYONE YOU MEET. Even if you don't think they are related to your future you can get great contacts through the most surprising of places.

[–]racejudicata 2 points3 points ago

I agree. Get in any way you can and work your ass off. But you can't pay student loans and rent with unpaid internships. There is no reason for a company to hire an unpaid intern, why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?

I think what would be helpful is advice on turning an unpaid internship into a job. I really think unpaid internships are a horrible thing for young people and do a disservice to the upcoming workforce. Yeah, it's experience, but the kid can't eat. It's really just wrong and I hate the unpaid internship scam.

[–]mangage 3 points4 points ago

Oh I couldn't agree more. Unpaid internships are fucking evil. While I didn't mind the work and the place I was at was great, going home to bills without a paycheck is enough to make a grown man cry.

These days though it's almost impossible to avoid, especially with certain careers it's basically mandatory. Gotta suck it up and do your best so it can be over as quick as possible. Change the world when you're on the other side, if you ever hire an intern, pay them at least a little bit.

[–]Rubrum_ 5 points6 points ago

It's too much time. You need to contact them much earlier, just to ask if they got your application and to reiterate your interest. I'd even say use the phone if you can talk to the right people. Every time I did this I felt this horrible feeling in my stomach before I called because of shyness and it took me sometimes an hour before I actually called. It's horrible. But do it.

[–]becksftw 5 points6 points ago

A few more weeks? No wonder you haven't been called back for anything, you don't sound like you're very determined to or even interested in getting these internships.

[–]Idle_Redditing 2 points3 points ago

I was told that they don't want you to call or email them because they're already busy.

[–]taterred 5 points6 points ago

Talk to your professors about doing research projects. That's how I got my foot in the door.

[–]TheOdyssey_ 9 points10 points ago

Do you go to your schools career fairs and interact with recruiters? Do you email them asking for follow up? Just sending your resume doesn't do anything you have to be active.

[–]loosedawg 5 points6 points ago

Yeah I realize I haven't been as active as I should have been, it's just disheartening writing so many cover letters and completing applications to not even have them reply. I'm going to give my schools spring career fair a try this week

[–]TheOdyssey_ 8 points9 points ago

Don't wait for them to reply. You need to reach out them, if you have any way to talk to their HR send them a line asking about your application and if they have had a chance to review it. This will

1) Have them look at your application

2) Provoke a status update styled reply

3) Help you know whether or not you're being considered and if you need to continue contact.

[–]Not_A_Dinosaur 7 points8 points ago

Confirmed.

[–]wanderer11 6 points7 points ago

I tried. I went to at least 15 interviews for internships and it never went anywhere. I'm lucky I found a job without the experience.

[–]dhockey63 7 points8 points ago

Still there are limited internships and every fucking kid out there is trying to get one. I've applied to well over 10, haven't heard back. Down assume OP is lazy and screwed up, sometimes you just dont have the best luck in life

[–]taterred 3 points4 points ago

10 isn't very many

[–]reginaldaugustus 36 points37 points ago

PS: Guys, 99% of unpaid internships are actually illegal.

Oh, and the amount of privilege in this thread is sicking. Hur hur go get unpaid internships! Hey, some people need money in order to eat.

[–]ii386 9 points10 points ago

Exactly! Then include the gas money to commute and wasted opportunity costs of actually continuing to look for an actual job!

[–]Tiyugro 31 points32 points ago

  • Step 1: Acknowledge that College counts as 4 years of work experience and should be billed as such.
  • Step 2: Acknowledge that you should still apply to any job requiring 2-10 years experience.
  • Step 3: Follow up like a bastard, 1 week after application and again 2 weeks after application.
  • Step 4: Carpet bomb your application process, expect to apply to 50 or more jobs
  • Step 5: Custom Cover Letters...for EVERY job.
  • Step 6: Apply outside your field.
  • Step 7: Learn ritual magic.
  • Step 8: Sell your soul.
  • Step 9: Profit.

[–]xblacklabel91 11 points12 points ago

Step 5: Custom Cover Letters...for EVERY job.

This does get old really fast, but damn do I want a job badly. It's also not a bad idea to tweak each resume to the position you're applying for.

[–]Tiyugro 2 points3 points ago

And wit goes very very far in a cover letter - Things that make them stand out/let the HR rep giggle usually results in a call back of some sort.

[–]champer 3 points4 points ago

Step 4.5: Be willing to relocate. Some areas just can't handle a sufficient number of jobs in your degree program.

[–]PatrickPlan8 70 points71 points ago

INTERNSHIPS GLORIOUS UNPAID INTERNSHIPS!!!! BE A SLAVE FOR NO PAY!!!!

[–]Antoros 6 points7 points ago

Unpaid internships are great until you realize that they often take up the majority of a person's time and make it thus impossible to pay the gigantic student loans required to get the degree required for the internships. I had to turn one down because I would not have been able to make rent if I had taken it.

[–]EmperorSofa 9 points10 points ago

Sort of reminds me of indentured servants.

[–]Sevryn08 12 points13 points ago

...which results in getting experience/contacts/job opportunity at place of internship.

[–]LockeWatts 74 points75 points ago

You don't see how it's fucked up that in this day and age you have to work for free for a certain amount of time as a prerequisite for actual employment?

That's exploitative to the utmost of a young workforce trying to make it's way in the world where the baby boomers obliterated the job market, and then held on to all of their jobs, meaning young people go the shaft.

[–]roobis 34 points35 points ago

Not only that, it's a regressive tax, because it hurts poorer people more than richer people.

Congratulations, you made it out of the ghetto and barely graduated college by some combination of working while studying, financial aid, and luck! Now you're expected to work without pay to get experience before you can get a paying job? Give me a break.

People without savings or someone else to support them can't just work for free for months to beef up their resume. I can't believe there are all these comments thinking that "unpaid internships are the answer", that somehow makes the labor market an acceptable state of affairs.

Yes, the labor market is heavily employer favored right now. But accepting unpaid internships, while individually beneficial, is detrimental on the wider, social level.

You know what was the answer to getting a job before internships were required? Just having a college education. And before that? Just being punctual and having the willingness to work.

The prerequisites for a job will continue to increase and the working conditions and compensation will continue to degrade, and employers will continue to ask for more and more until employees choose once again to organize, put our feet down, and demand a better deal.

[–]wcgaming 11 points12 points ago

To me, I feel like college should just be internship after internship, instead of going to these silly gen ed classes.

[–]BetweenJobs 10 points11 points ago

internship after internship, instead of going to these silly gen ed classes

Studying a job under experienced people instead of getting a general education is called an apprenticeship.

[–]lucky_pierre 3 points4 points ago

I can't take an unpaid internship that doesn't give me health insurance because I have a pre-existing medical condition related to an autoimmune disorder.

What would you suggest for someone like me who needs to stay in his crappy un-related to field job that gives insurance. If I take an unpaid internship I am basically completely out of luck for any sort of benefits that I need in order to keep up with my maintenance medications.

I would love to not be working in retail/service forever, but I feel eternally trapped, put that on top of my student loans that aren't going to get paid if I work for free and I find myself feeling worse and worse every year.

[–]Qwaternary 2 points3 points ago

Sometimes, internships can pay very well. It's a two way process a lot of the time - they're seeing if you have the skills necessary to work there and you're seeing if they have the work environment you're looking for.

[–]bumbleebeetuna 2 points3 points ago

And pay rent how?

[–]AllDizzle 5 points6 points ago

A lot of job postings ask for more than they need/is required for the job.

This weeds out a lot of trash, and they might get lucky and actually get somebody who's way better than that position.

Triple A. Always Apply Anyways.

If you managed to graduate with out SHIT from school you can put on your resume then you fucked up. Should have focused more on your future. Also getting a job after college isn't like signing up for the next term...don't expect to be hired asap.

[–]lightyourfire 25 points26 points ago

You only changed one thing in the title, reposters are getting lazy recently

http://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/zifhr/recent_graduate_jobhunting_this_is_how_its_going/

[–]KayBeeToys 11 points12 points ago

OP's obviously got plenty of time on his hands. With a work ethic like this, no wonder he's having trouble.

[–]__Rainbow_Dash__ 0 points1 point ago

I've noticed that you put the karma decay info on his reposts. Thank you for that.

[–]iamsuchanoob 10 points11 points ago

I work, so I can earn more, so I can do more coke, so I can work more, so I can earn more, so I can do more coke...

[–]SkarlathAmon 5 points6 points ago

Infinite loop detected. Thread aborted.

[–]Simssega 20 points21 points ago

Entry Level... 2 to 4 years experience. The FUCK?

[–]orcasauce 16 points17 points ago

Entry Level describes the level at which you enter the company, not the experience level of people who are just entering the field.

[–]Hiker_Trash 2 points3 points ago

More things count as experience than you might realize. And often this is an employer reaching for a pie in the sky -- 'required credentials' are wishlists, not actual requirements, in most cases. Be honest, assess what kind of relevant experience you may actually have. It's probably more than you think. Failing that, demonstrate how qualified you are otherwise. This does actually work.

Occasionally you get someone in HR who posts on reddit bullshitty complaints about having to sift through underqualified resumes. Don't let that discourage you or make you feel guilty. You SHOULD apply to that job anyway if it's only asking for <5 years of experience. They may feel you've wasted their time, but YOU have nothing to lose, so just do it anyway. But sell yourself.

[–]Hiker_Trash 9 points10 points ago

Hang in there buddy, it'll work out in the end. I was unemployed for a year after a career change. What ultimately got me my current job in software engineering was taking matters into my own hands and finding ways to get experience. In my case that meant setting actionable goals and finishing projects through to completion that I could wave in front of prospective employers. Employers nowadays especially like to see initiative, because it means you're willing to take your training into your owns hands.

I'm sure similar options exist for the direction you want to go! If you don't know where you want to go, it's time to map out your passions and learn what's available to meet them. It's rough going, but you'll get there!

[edit]

Ignore the self righteous people here who harp on what you "should" have done in college or before. This is completely unproductive and will lead to self-wallowing and cynicism, which I guarantee you will not get you closer to employment; certainly not satisfying employment. Focus only on what you CAN do and let yourself evaluate honestly the good things you took away from college. Life is a Benjamin Button story -- it's not too late to start doing anything, if you want.

[–]FistofanAngryGoddess 3 points4 points ago

I'm going through the same thing, OP (though luckily I'm able to make some money babysitting).

[–]guywhoishere 4 points5 points ago

How long have you been looking? Don't be discouraged, my first job, in engineering, took like 8 months to find. In the mean time, get experience on your own, spend your free time doing something that related to your job. If you are a journalist, write a blog. If you are a comp sci guy, write some software, doesn't matter what. It'll show what you are capable of and that you are willing to work.

There are of course plenty of jobs where this is hard to do, so it might not apply to you.

[–]na4ion1 4 points5 points ago

That sums up my life too. I graduated in May 2011, and still can't land a job. Figured a Network Administration degree was sure to pay off instantly. Good luck to you and me.

[–]WorldBFree 5 points6 points ago

The biggest thing that helped me was reposting this on reddit once a week for 15 months.

[–]TheForceiswithus 2 points3 points ago

Join the military. You get a job, valuable on-site experience, a nice set of benefits once you leave, and get to meet all sort of interesting people...and kill them.

[–]Epyon_ 18 points19 points ago

When did slave labor become acceptable advice for finding a job?

[–]ElPoquitoGrande 1 point2 points ago

When automation and global outsourcing became viable.

Wages in the US are headed to third world levels, and beyond as the machines take over the jobs.

[–]TyrannosaurusRev 7 points8 points ago

There's always treasure hunting. That's lucrative I hear, and you don't need experience, just a boat... and an old witty sidekick.

[–]lux514 0 points1 point ago

But you won't get far without an Asian guy with lots of gadgets and a fat guy for comic relief.

[–]BananaTailor 12 points13 points ago

Welcome to the next five years of your life.

Eventually you take a shitty $9/hour temp job because you have bills to pay. You spend a little over a year there getting hired in along the way, and now you're making $11/hour with benefits. This job, however, doesn't have anything to do with your STEM degree, and you again start to look for more serious work. At least now you have over a year of solid employment history! Hah, nope! Now you get to the interview (if you're lucky) and they ask why you're looking to leave your current position. You say 'I want to make more money and not work with high school dropouts anymore' in a very PC way, and you go back to your search, growing more and more jaded every time.

Also, people talking working through their college years are full of shit. I had years of lab experience from my college job and am still going through the same thing.

[–]safaridiscoclub 4 points5 points ago

Not everyone finds this. I applied online for five jobs, I'm only on course for a 2.2, got my way through a telephone interview, assessment centre and then final presentation. I start in June after my exams finish on £28,000. This is where a maths degree, some people skills, and a bit of luck can get you.

I want to make more money and not work with high school dropouts anymore' in a very PC way

If you actually do this then that might be your problem. You tell them you want to work for them because their area of expertise interests you, and then why you'll be good for the job.

[–]sun-eyed_girl 2 points3 points ago

Or you could, y'know, say you are looking to leave your current position because you would like to challenge yourself and make a contribution to the field you studied. A shitty attitude won't get you anywhere.

[–]TheRightKost 3 points4 points ago

Ya I don't get it. Places advertise "entry level" positions... then say 2-3 years work experience required. I get that employers don't want to deal with "breaking in" new college grads, but where does everyone expect people to get some experience if no one will hire someone without any? SCUMBAG EMPLOYER

[–]the8bitlife 3 points4 points ago

After awhile you can add in the phrase "Because I've been unemployed for too long"

[–]NewtoNerdy 14 points15 points ago

Whoever said "If you're good at something never do it for free" was most likely a garbage man, It certainly blows but doing an unpaid internship is certainly worth it. I want to do auto body and eventually own a shop and after a year of working for free or minimum wage and being berated by multiple managers, I concentrated and built a portfolio and got a better job where they pay me very well and appreciate me.

One of my internship horror stories was when I was being yelled at by my manager for being slow and about ten minutes later he came back and asked me to go and help him move his couch to his dads house an hour away, and then he needed me to go pick up his friend from a carwash another hour away. He told me to use the manual shop truck, needless to say I may have accidentally forgotten how to use a clutch properly on the way there.

[–]sheetskees 17 points18 points ago

Whoever said "If you're good at something never do it for free" was most likely a garbage man

It was the Joker, from Batman

[–]fuckayuo 8 points9 points ago

Well, I don't think the Joker was ever a garbage man.

[–]PolarTheBear 3 points4 points ago

He was a different kind of garbage man (I have no idea what that means)

[–]angertrain 26 points27 points ago

Unpaid internships shouldn't even exist.

The entire concept is fucked, and should be illegal.

[–]lurkernomore00 5 points6 points ago

You wanna know whats really fucked up? Having these co-op students at my workplace, working for free. Its retail. They basically do all the grueling work I do for 5 months and get compensated with half a high school credit.

[–]Incursus 7 points8 points ago

Yep. It's the new corporate indentured servitude.

[–]ComradeCube 3 points4 points ago

They are illegal in the US if the position adds immediate value to the company.

So for the most part you can only job shadow if you are involved in something the company makes money on and can only do side projects that aren't immediately useful, basically fact finding missions and research for stuff way down the line that may or may not even happen.

Basically an unpaid internship has to be educational for the intern and not profitable for the company.

[–]angertrain 2 points3 points ago

Is that how it's actually being deployed though?

From what I've heard they're getting rid of many entry level positions that used to exist and just making them internships.

[–]greedo_posted_first 2 points3 points ago

If the internship provides an education for the intern and minimal/no benefit to the employer, then it is generally a good thing. In fact, that's the law. If somebody is using you to make coffee and pick up their grandpa and is still not paying you? That's already illegal.

Edit: For the person who downvoted me, look up Federal Labor laws. If you are not beig educated in some way and are still providing a service / making a product worth money to a person or a company, you are legally entitled to wages. If you are not getting paid in such a position, contact a lawyer.

[–]Youngmanandthelake 5 points6 points ago

What garbage men don't tell you is that being a garbage man can be a fantastically well-paying job. Same with plumber. Or electrician. Or general contractor. Or septic tank installer.

[–]nutsackninja 4 points5 points ago

This is true, my parents used to always scare me when I was younger. "If you don't study you will become a garbage man". If I knew that garbage men get paid so much, have excellent benefits and a good pension with a strong union then I would have became one.

[–]Aydrisel 11 points12 points ago

V O L U N T E E R > G E T E X P E R I E N C E > G E T J O B .

[–]verugan 8 points9 points ago

So volunteering is greater than the rest?

[–]Forluhn 5 points6 points ago

Although rather spaced out, the message is a good one. Volunteering makes you look genuine as apposed to desperate which some employers like.

[–]TheLoCoRaven 2 points3 points ago

You get what you vote for . . .

I had to work weekends overnight at a call center to go from just a helpdesk to a networking position. I did 40 hours from Friday at 7pm - Monday at 8am.

No one cared about my CCNA without experience besides that job. Now I got a Cisco CCNP and Checkpoint CCSA and a really good job.

So I did a lot of self development. Even took a Cisco Route class at a local community college before taking that exam for the CCNP.

[–]churchillin 0 points1 point ago

Volunteer someplace.

[–]Cinnamonboots 2 points3 points ago

I was an engineer without experience and a solid 2.68 gpa /sarcasm. Upon graduation I got one interview with a company after 6 months of hunting, they denied me. Linkedin the VP's of the company.

Worked at Sear's for 1.5 years (Very Humbling). I gathered "experience" with job specific things during my time at sears. For example I studied hard to get my engineering certification and took AutoCAD course at a local community college.

After 1.5 years and out of the blue, I messaged that same VP and offered myself as an unpaid intern. He accepted and hired me full time after two months.

Moral of the story, it pays to be aggressive. Don't rely solely on the traditional online tools, make connections EMAIL PEOPLE TODAY. Continue to better yourself or your resume WILL get stale.

[–]pres82 2 points3 points ago

Just as a heads up... it's not gonna get any better for a long, long time.

[–]emperorOfTheUniverse 2 points3 points ago

Degree doesn't entitle you to a good job. I graduated Magna cum laude with a degree in information systems. Spent a year as a bank teller after that, and then another year as a paper pusher before finally landing in IT support before eventually getting a job developing web apps.

Just do the best you can. That degree can open doors but it in no way entitles you to anything.

[–]jwg529 2 points3 points ago

Same boat brother. The world is not being kind to us right now :(

[–]Wardenclyffe7 3 points4 points ago

The biggest thing that helped me, and I mean the single most beneficial thing was changing my resume from details focused to accomplishment focused. I received not so much as a phone screen with the former. I switched it up, accepted a job with ridiculous compensation, and still have other companies bugging me about coming in for interviews. The only difference was a few days in time and a complete resume overhaul. No career counselor ever told me about writing a resume which focuses on accomplishments, yet it feels like an intuitive idea. For clarification: I mean thinking through your projects and jobs you've had. Write your resume in such a way that you list a major accomplishment from your job or project. To the best of your ability, make the examples concrete for the reader. My experience with career counselors would leave me with drivel such as "Wrote programs that increased efficiency". This reads like a job description, is boring, and only gives the recruiter the impression that you came into work and did what you needed to. Give a specific example of a program you wrote, as well as some tangible (and quantifiable) benefit you or someone else got from you writing it. You can also save valuable space by mentioning a language here too. For example: "Developed a link-aggregating Python project which saved 10 hours per week of administrative time". What does this say about you? You can develop, you're smart enough to figure out a link aggregating project, you know Python, you saved someone 10 hours per week of admin work. There is so much more valuable information there than the other example. I've read lots and lots of resumes. None of them were that specific. And I think that is the problem with resumes and job hunters today in general. I was guilty of it myself, trying to generalize a resume so much that I believed would fit any role. In the age of specialization, most companies don't want a jack of all trades, master of none. In fact, they probably have a very specific role for their soon to be hire. Generalities aren't good. Specificity is. You may not be a fit everywhere, i.e. you only know Java, they need a Ruby expert right away, but you can fit somewhere, I promise. I suppose I will give away another tip I've learned. Paste the job posting into a word-cloud generator. Replace the words on your resume with synonyms you get out of the word-cloud. For example: your resume says "self-motivated" in it, but the the job posting uses "self-starter". Replace it! HR people are not the brightest crayons in the tool shed. They also want nothing more than to throw away your resume. The may not be able to or simply don't care to play word association games with your resume. They know whats in the job posting. If the same words they used to write it keep showing up in your resume, guess what, the better the chances of them following up. If you choose to apply through the company website (not Monster, CB, etc because they are all garbage), this will also help get your resume through keyword filters or assist you in HR applicant queries! One caveat: these are not tips to be used in lieu of networking, bettering yourself, polishing those interview skills, or improving technical aptitude. They are just for the resume to get your foot in the door. My goal was 30 resumes tailored specifically to job postings. By tailored I don't mean change a few words. I mean choose projects or experiences that will show I match the desired qualifications and, redo the whole resume while doing what I mentioned above. I got to 8 before I couldn't keep up with the skills tests, interviews, phone screens, and travel. Make it your goal to hit 30. Do 30 this way and you WILL find a job. Keep your head up, stay positive, and get to rewriting that resume!

[–]Repost_Checker_ 3 points4 points ago

Anyone seeking more info might also check here:

title comnts points age /r/
Recent graduate, job-hunting. This is how it's going. Inspired by fellow redditor NegaByte 1876coms 1807pts 4mos funny

source: karmadecay

[–]catiebug 3 points4 points ago

Don't know OP's perspective, but this advice is applicable to a lot of folks - in a creative industry, this "no job, no experience" sentiment is a bunch of fucking horseshit.

There is nothing you can't do on your own as an amateur that can't eventually be considered experience. Want to be a software engineer? Start programming in your spare time. After class, before your parttime job, on the weekends, when your buddies are out drinking, etc. Same for a graphic designer, a commercial artist, a producer, or anything else where you are expected to create something. Don't wait for permission to become whatever you want to be. Eventually your amateur stuff gets noticed and lands you a fulltime job. And if you don't want to give up your spare time to 1) get better at what you do, and 2) better your chances of breaking into that career? Well, then, us recruiters can only assume that you just don't want it that fucking badly. And we're going to give the job to someone else who clearly does.

Source: I am a recruiter for an entertainment software developer.

edit: I accidentally a word

[–]Sigseg 3 points4 points ago

Once upon a time you were able to list fake jobs on your resume and give friends as contacts. Before the dark times. Before background checks.

Do I think that's unethical? Sure, but it helped me get my first real 9 - 5 salaried position in the early 90s. I stayed with that company for 5 years, had glowing employee reviews and was pretty much considered the rockstar of their IT dept.

[–]dalittle 2 points3 points ago

Networking is the best way to get a job. Talk to who ever you know in your field and directly ask if they are looking for someone. Get active in your fields community that you want to work in. Even Linked In works or any meetups in person you can find.

HR departments are a black hole for resumes. You want to try and get your resume to the person who would be your boss. Even cold calling sometimes works.

[–]newbizguy -1 points0 points ago

There's this new thing called 'lying' that seems to have some pretty great results....SHHH DON'T TELL ANYBODY!

[–]eqdw 2 points3 points ago

If you're in anything remotely tech in nature (programmer, IT, web, graphic design, etc) you can get experience without having to have a job! The barrier to entry for open source is 0!

[–]eec003 1 point2 points ago

same here.

[–]bronakk 1 point2 points ago

Amen to this. I'm on the same boat as you.

[–]ShitStroll -1 points0 points ago

Get ready for this to happen once you try to make the leap to management. You won't get hired because you don't have managerial experience but no one will hire you to manage anyone because of lack of said experience. Best you can do is attend training seminars and hope you land a job that will give you a chance after a couple years.

[–]PokemasterTT 0 points1 point ago

Do you have a Master's degree?

[–]Youngmanandthelake 0 points1 point ago

Lay it all out on the table, and be annoying to people who control the job you want. Call them once a week until you hear no, and every time you get a voicemail, finish it off with 'And you cannot imagine how badly I want to work with 'your company'. You are competing against everybody else out there, so why not find a way to put a bug in their ear. The job I have right now came to me after I cold-called my company, told then I wanted this job terribly badly (a position wasn't available yet), and I asked them what the exact steps I needed to take were to be considered for this position. Wouldn't you know it if I wasn't informed the moment my current job came up.

[–]jeni1122 0 points1 point ago

You might have to take a job that is completely out of your skill set or something you might not necessarily want to do for a while just to prove you are willing to work.

The biggest issue I have had hiring assistants right out of school was their unwillingness to actually work.

I would rather hire someone that does not have the experience I need them to have but they have proven experience as a hard worker and a quick learner than someone that is qualified and lazy.

[–]jumpijehosaphat 0 points1 point ago

To the OP.... Hang in there. Keep fighting for what you want, and eventually you will get it. Follow what everyone says here, and just take anything that's out there that helps you progress.

I've been there and done that like many others here. Unfortunately, I lived in an area where software engineering was not in high demand during the first bubble in the early 2000s, and it bursted when I graduated. I was digging around looking for something, even seeking advice from headhunters (IMO not the best idea). I had a gig cleaning hard drives and stacking computers on palettes for 6 months in a cold warehouse. I am in a pretty happy state right now doing software development. My advice is to keep on working on what you're doing, and eventually you'll get there.

[–]Doomsdayclock148 0 points1 point ago

This is why I'm currently trying to get a co-op or internship position. Most companies don't require that you have experience and the co-op/internship term counts as actual work experience. (And if you're in engineering it counts towards your PEng - at least where I live.)

[–]dingo8yourbaby 0 points1 point ago

Due to my major (exercise physiology aka pre-physical therapy) and location of my university my internship opportunities were very limited. I moved back home after graduating, tried to get some volunteer work in my field and apparently no one has room for me even just to observe. I was able to land 3 job interviews as a physical therapy aide but due to my lack of experience I wasn't hired. I just want to get 500 hours for grad school :(

[–]redblack52 1 point2 points ago

Temp.

[–]jabracoroni 0 points1 point ago

Graduated with engineering ten years ago, I'm still in this loop.

[–]Youngmanandthelake 0 points1 point ago

Find the job you want, in the company you want, and find someone with that job. Call them up or email them. Tell them about yourself, and ask them to tell you exactly what you need to do to be working with them within the year. They'll either give you real, helpful advice, and possibly be a way for your application to stand out in the crowd (or grab the ear of the HR person, something even more important), and get you on the right track. The experience thing, for most entry level positions, is kind of bullshit IMO. They know who they're trying to hire, they're just hoping someone WITH that experience comes along and suddenly considers a job they are relatively over-qualified for.

Seriously, find a real, live person, and talk to them in the company you want. This has been the way I've found jobs the last 2 times I got them.

[–]MuchJokes 0 points1 point ago

Our school had a 1-year internship where we paid like $1000 (but we didn't have to pay until after we got our first paycheck, which more than covered that) and were pretty much guaranteed a job within our field of study.

Now I'm graduating with a delicious amount of useful experience and enough in my savings account to get half-way through another degree (Canada, I know your US school prices are insane).

[–]yubnubb 0 points1 point ago

Get a regular job at regular pay at a regular company retail/industrial company. Work your way up. (It still takes years). Just because you have a college degree doesn't mean you know shit about having a career, you have to establish a good working report with people anywhere who will grant you said experience and recommendations. I didn't graduate college, I spent the better part of my early 20s in and out of jail and moving in and of my grandmother's house. I'll be 29 soon with out ever setting foot in a college or any kind of educational institution and now work as field specialist. Pay is great, I thought I was going to be a greenhorn forever, but it took me longer without a degree. Be assertive stick with a shitty company. Make lasting impressions. And move up the same way everyone else in the country has since the inception of big corporations. We all know the only way to circumvent this is to be a washed up professional athlete or someone wealthy's son or daughter or niece or nephew. I make a very comfortable living now, with a semi-laid back job. I got all the "shit" everyone wants when they're successful. House, car/truck, fiancee, cat, and dog. I know college is a lot of work. My little brother dropped out as a senior, on the grounds of it seeming a bit extensive. He's now a senior sales representative at a major oil and gas company. And he didn't start out that way. He had to go from the bottom to where he is now, and he's really glad he did. Your ethics might get in the way of accepting a career path. That's one thing. I don't approve of what I do. But no body can say there aren't jobs out there, and no one can say there isn't a need for what we do. It will be around for a lot longer than any of us thought, and the oil/gas states are recruiting people with degrees in droves.

[–]Slyfox00 0 points1 point ago

[–]havek23 0 points1 point ago

Yeah, experience > schooling in most cases nowadays. You just gotta know someone to vouch for you and get your foot in the door and after you've been there a couple years, THEN see if the company will pay for your schooling. Takes a lot longer, but it's so much nicer to work full time, go to a couple night classes at a nearby university, then drive back in your BMW to the house you own and no student loans!

[–]visavismeyou -1 points0 points ago

Perhaps they do a search for your name and come back with the username, "BLEACH_IN_MY_URETHRA" and decide against having that in their office.

Just a possibility.

[–]rjm101 0 points1 point ago

Normally getting two internships will sort out the experiance problem but yes it does suck being paid next to nothing. Also internships do normally lead to a permanent role.

After my placement my employer offered me a permanent providing that I DO NOT return back to university. He didnt want me to go back to university and come back on a permanent role which I thought was harsh.

[–]4knives 0 points1 point ago

My experience for the past three months... NONONONONONONONONONONONONONO and NO.

[–]dorisfrench 0 points1 point ago

Even if you have to volunteer, that's one way to get your foot in the door. Or apply for a lesser position at a company you are interested in. Work hard, be on time, etc.

[–]Darth_Felix -1 points0 points ago

Should have done internships!

[–]BrushGod -1 points0 points ago

Volunteer = Experience -> Job Opportunity

[–]Carson_Perry -1 points0 points ago

Phil? You posted this on facebook yesterday

[–]Juicify 0 points1 point ago

If we all wait long enough no one will have experience so we can all get jobs.

[–]MissMegz 0 points1 point ago

I recall those days ALLLLLL too well. Best of luck, pal!

[–]muttle 0 points1 point ago

As a current college student, I obviously haven't had this problem yet but I've come up with only one solution.

Internships.

You have you're entire academic career while you're not working to try to obtain some internships. While some positions are very competitive, if you look hard enough - it really isn't that tough. Put simply, companies want free labor.

[–]zconnelly13 0 points1 point ago

This advice is a little late for you perhaps, but GET INTERNSHIPS. I started out with an unpaid internship at 15, and that got me a paid internship before I left highschool, which landed me a paid internship at an amazing company in college, which is the place I now work. TL;DR; - get experience while in school

[–]WrestlesAtWork 0 points1 point ago

By 'experience', a lot of jobs mean just something that can remotely have something to do with your degree or what you want to do, but it can still be just about anything so long as it's not food service or a continuation of the job you had in college. People spend a lot of time searching for the perfect start to a perfect career when it just comes down to having to do your time in the office setting before you can go for the better jobs. Don't be all picky worrying about where a job will take you. Even if after a year or 2, the job ends up not being what you want, it's still experience.

[–]JaeGeeTee 0 points1 point ago

Make your own job.

[–]lokingfinesince89 0 points1 point ago

i feel your pain

[–]PrivateTsosTofu -1 points0 points ago

Excuses ITT

[–]Forever_Hollowed 0 points1 point ago

repost.

[–]Patrico-8 0 points1 point ago

Apply for an internship. You might have to accept the fact that you won't get paid as much at first.

[–]monkeyjoe35 1 point2 points ago

Hey guys I'm a corporate recruiter for a paid summer internship

If you are located anywhere in the world and willing to travel for 3 months send me a message

[–]pippofin -1 points0 points ago

The reason I tell college students do summer internships! Its extremely important.

[–]f3rm10n 0 points1 point ago

Don't give up the money will come.

[–]Opandemonium 1 point2 points ago

I was in the same boat in my 20s. I started my own "consulting firm", worked for pennies and letters of recommendation. Created an awesome portfolio. Got the job.

[–]fanboyhunter -1 points0 points ago

Like many others have said, get an internship. It's the only way to gain experience without having much prior. TBH you should have started in college but it's too late now I suppose. I had a paid internship last summer, they're out there but they are more competitive.

If you work hard, it should only take about 3 or 4 months to get a job. Work part time/weekends to pay the bills.

[–]Plazm 0 points1 point ago

I've got my fingers crossed that I land a third interview for a job at an amazing company I'd love to work for. It was my first time getting an interview, nowhere else has even replied to my applications.

[–]seimungbing 0 points1 point ago

if you think you are overqualified to work a certain job, just think there are even more qualified people applying to what you are applying

[–]Mrlord99 0 points1 point ago

Yep, that's how it is. Even worse when you're IN college still so all you have is a few community service events and a High School diploma. You're automatically the bottom of the bottom (><)

[–]Spddracer 0 points1 point ago

I have worked in restaurants for over 12 years. Yet I cannot move into management because I dont have the experience. However I train MIT's day in and day out. It is absolutely maddening.

[–]Madlydecent 0 points1 point ago

I start volunteering today!

[–]Youngmanandthelake 0 points1 point ago

Remember that you aren't locked into any career after graduating. Don't be afraid to be that guy with an art degree who got a job as an HR rep. Take opportunities wherever they come from, and don't pretend you wouldn't ever be happy in a different field than what you trained for. A degree is a degree, and that is often all that people are looking for in fields that don't require a ton of specialization, just the right person.

[–]L320Y 1 point2 points ago

I wrote an entire essay on this topic, and it turns out this guy is a karma troll account. One post, this image, a repost. Fuck.

[–]tehlon 0 points1 point ago

This will be buried, but if anyone in their senior year reading this - cut your hours back and take a wait staff job. Worked for me. shrug seems to me people care about actual "doing work" than your so called "education". worst case scenario - you have a job anyway and can keep looking during the day while you work at night.

[–]KringleFantastico -1 points0 points ago

It's like this everywhere now. Those of us getting PhDs get to fight and scratch for post docs now, too.

[–]daleacus 0 points1 point ago

it is hard, but keep trying. someone gave me a break eventually. be willing to try areas you might not think are appropriate - a lot of employers just want a degree, or a semi-relevant degree, nothing specific

[–]petraman 0 points1 point ago

I had absolutely no experience in the field that I wanted to go into (including an internship... yeah that was a bad move) yet I still got a very good job about 4 months after I graduated, which may seem like a while but compared to others that I know in similar situations... It's not too terrible.

Anyways, here are some tips for you:

  1. Go for the smaller companies. They're usually more accepting of people with special circumstances and won't filter you out because of a red flag on your resume.
  2. Build confidence... It's key. It shows in interviews and it leaves a bad taste in the interviewer's mouth.
  3. I know this is probably one you've heard quite a bit, but... Network. Even if you just met them briefly at a party or something, you can still manage to sway someone to put in a recommendation for you easier than swaying a HR rep.
  4. Don't be afraid to get a part-time job... The company won't care what it is that you're doing, just that you're doing something with your life that isn't just idling about.

Good luck!

[–]Dastrados -1 points0 points ago

Volunteer.

[–]1leggeddog 1 point2 points ago

Also don't forget:

Entry level position

"How much experience do you have?"

ಠ_ಠ

[–]inquisitiveintern 0 points1 point ago

I got a taste of this crap early on in high school. Oh you want to be a busboy at a local restaurant? Nope. You need 2-3 years "fine dining" experience. Wtf? Who is going to train as a busboy for that long?

[–]Griffidoodle 0 points1 point ago

The field I am studying to work in requires a degree to get jobs related to what I want to do. I've found that the key is to volunteer with the right organizations. This will give you skills and experience in what you want to do without needing to take a full-time professional position somewhere (which is likely easier said than done).

[–]A_Small_Town_Boy 0 points1 point ago

Use a temp agency. Tell them what your goals are and be realistic. They'll get you a temp to hire position. I found a job this way 2 months out of college. Now working full time with full benefits in my field. Currently planing my next move in 1 year with some experience under my belt.

[–]Wraith8888 0 points1 point ago

Just wait until you have too much experience. There is no winning.

[–]Lough5280 1 point2 points ago

One of the best benefits of being broke and working my way through college

[–]few_were_injured 1 point2 points ago

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but have you considered working for Americorps? They have positions in a huge variety of fields, and the positions last from a couple months to a year. Of course, it doesn't pay well, but almost all of them offer a small stipend to cover living expenses and an educational award on completion that you can put toward student debt or additional schooling.

I worked for Americorps several years ago. I taught environmental education in Zion National Park. They reimbursed me for my travel to and from Utah, paid me $70 a week, and I got $1200 educational award at the end of it that I'll probably use toward (like ten minutes of) graduate school. I've never been paid less for a job, but I've never enjoyed a job more. When it was over, I went back to waiting tables, but the following year I was able to use that experience to get another job, this one in a seasonal gig in conservation. I followed this pattern for a couple years until I found some like-minded people who were starting a business in my field, and used my scraped-together savings to buy in.

The career I have now is completely unrelated to my education, and it's not something I ever imagined myself doing. But it's meaningful to me, and I'm happy in it. I was poor for a lot of the time, and I served a lot of plates of spaghetti and made a lot of lattes to get myself by. There used to be an assumption that you went to college, got a degree, applied for a job in your field, and got it. It's not that way anymore - there's the insane Catch-22 depicted in your post, there's the bullshit run-around of employers asking for three years of experience for an entry-level position. It's not at all fair, but it's the way it is, and the people who will thrive in the job market are survivalists - those willing to slog through the bullshit, work their asses off, often for less than they're worth, take entrepreneurial risks, sacrifice for and invest in their own training. And persist.

When I had just started in my field (conservation), I was working alongside this veteran with forty years of experience and a great job in the Park Service. I asked him what he had done to get his job, and he told me, "Anything." He explained that he did anything he could do, no matter how menial or loosely related, that he could use to leverage for the job he wanted. Then he told me something simple that I've never forgotten, and that has become kind of a motto for me: "Life rewards the persistent." You can do it, dude.

[–]aherr01 0 points1 point ago

This is why I'm getting as much experience as I can in my undergraduate career. I've recently been elected to serve on the board of directors for a non-profit student organization, and that's going to look amazing on my resume.

[–]Darktidemage 1 point2 points ago

You can easily get a job without experience.

It's called networking.

In the interview the PERSON YOU KNOW who works there recommends you and says how fucking awesome you are.

[–]Meatslinger 1 point2 points ago

"To be considered for this job you must be 10 years proficient in HTML 5, and have been using Windows 7 for at least five in a previous job."

[–]Duelstrike 0 points1 point ago

And this kiddies, is why you look for internships while in college (or summer jobs. If unable to find one that is related to your major, you take anything. And then you use fancy words to make it sound better on your resume.)

[–]freddyfreak1999 0 points1 point ago

So true

[–]luurrvezemusack 0 points1 point ago

For every summer you're in college, you should have an internship/part time job/something that applies to the job you want once you graduate. Even with three summer internships, that equals about 1 year of "job related experience", at which you could possibly get an entry level job. However, if you don't do anything to help your professional life in college, then good luck.

[–]mesacool 0 points1 point ago

you forgot to add 1 month later going in a circle

[–]badondesaurus 0 points1 point ago

My girlfriend is dealing with this shite at the moment. Don't know about anywhere else, but UK companies like to dish out thier own application form, and want that filled in rather than CVs or as an addition to CVs. The annoying thing is the format! Sometimes its a word doc (who likes Word..) and sometimes PDF. You have to deal with text boxes that are not large enough.

I help her by using a pdf editor sometimes, but it takes such a time to paste in all the usual data and info and fix it up to be neat. Any tips about dealing with application forms?

[–]thelbane 1 point2 points ago

I think we all feel the same, and we all really know what the problem is: There's just too much of a gap between your experience and the demands of the job. Some jobs require formal education or training prior to landing an entry level position while others may be fine with (or even encourage) self-taught skills.

I taught myself how to program in BASIC and Pascal as a kid and wanted to be a programmer when I grew up. Didn't go to school and ended up working with computers in the military, but not paid to program them. Still, I loved programming and learned VBScript and wrote a few utilities in Excel and Access to help on the job. This was stuff I could add to my résumé in spite of it not being in my job description. Ending job title after 4 years: Communications-Computer Systems Operator

After I left the service, I had an interview for a web developer position at an insurance company. This one was more about timing. The web was still quite new and there were very few web developers in the wild, so I picked up a book a few days before and built a silly personal homepage. I didn't have web hosting, so I brought the page in on a disk... and got a job working on a corporate intranet (eventually transitioning to CRM portal and customer-facing site). Which led to me learning: VB, Javascript, XML, HTML, CSS, and Actionscript. Ending job title after 9 years: Technical UI Architect

I was ready to move into something more fun than the insurance and financial services industry had to offer, so I interviewed for a senior dev position at a design consulting firm. I felt like just another "web guy" and these people did lots of desktop and mobile design, prototyping, and implementation, so it was pretty intimidating at first, but over the next 5 years I focused heavily on the Microsoft stack and learned C# and XAML. Ending job title after 5 years: Principal Technologist

After that, I went to work with friends doing consulting work on iOS (Objective C) and have since co-founded a company at which we all have quite immodest titles... just because we can. :)

tl;dr Don't get too discouraged about not having the experience to get a particular job. Baby steps.