Like so many others, I am looking for a job and it is driving me CRAZY, any advice?

I have no advice, I’m sorry. But, I wish you luck.

Kids graduating from University with general BA’s are having a rough time finding employment at the mall, even (where I’m at, anyway). It’s a tough time.

Also, I could consider taking a temp job as an administrative assistant or secretary which I have a good amount of experience in, but I am trying to find something that would be more fun… I have always dreaded sitting in an office all day. I am trying to not be too picky, but I don’t want to get stuck doing something I hate and be miserable everyday.

I don’t have any websites to recommend, but I would recommend making a follow up call to each place you have given your resume about a week after you have given it to them. With the number of people looking for jobs these days, most employers have a stack of resumes to go through. By calling to follow up and be sure that they received your resume, you put your name fresh in their head and may even get your resume looked at faster. Good luck!

@Seaofclouds : I would do that but most places specifically say, no phone calls and often don’t list specifics about where their business is or give a phone number (for those that post on Craigslist at least).

Do you have a LinkedIn account? If not, you should and you should make sure to optimize it by filling it out completely. Get some recommendations from either former employers or, if possible, teammates from group projects.

Get in touch with your career center from your original school—their job is still to get you employed, even though you’ve already graduated. They may be able to put you in touch with alums in your target company who you can talk to about open positions.

Your best chance for getting a call back is to have someone who works at the company submit your resume unless the company specifically forbids this. Many places give rewards to their employees for submitting folks that they later hire.

Figure out what kind of jobs you are looking for, then try to make a list of target companies. Keep your eyes open for other positions, of course, but once you have target companies it’s a little bit easier to focus your job search. You can do it another way too, but it sounds like right now you need to focus your search some.

I graduated last year had to abandon a few dreams and re-think what was possible…its a bitch of a world out there, the realisation that your degree isn’t worth a pair of pants and that even getting some premium work experience and summer jobs hardly grants you a lot of pulling power meanwhile you see a few lucky ones get great jobs even though you know and they know they’ve never had a job or had to try in their lives…that’s frustrating!

But eventually I got a job in the Ministry of Defence however I am stupidly over qualified for my position and end up finishing work so early I work with my boss on the bigger stuff, oh and no won’t be getting a promotion, no money in the budget!

I say just put in the graft, it will provide eventually despite the lack of leads you only need one! Screw the smarmy ones, they won’t get far in the long run! And well just get as much experience as you can!

The qualification will only ever get you into the interview room, the experience will stand you out from the others and the character will lift you to the forefront, the rest is luck!

@Samantha_Rae That makes it harder. I personally don’t apply for any position without know the specifics about where I would be working though, so I’ve never been in that situation. I tend to go straight to a companies website if I am interesting in working for them. Most companies have a “careers” link somewhere on their page. I look at what’s available and go from there.

All I can say is good luck. Things are tough out there these days. But tell you what, lots of people take jobs they hate before they find one they love. In fact, it can be good for your resume because it shows you are practical. (Just my two cents, I haven’t done any hiring, but from what I have seen…).

Instead of looking for a job, create one.

Whatever your degree is in, it must have some demand. So go ahead and fill out resume’s on Craigslist, but while you’re at it, post your own ad offering your talents for private contracting. Note the fact that you are cheap and freshly out of school with entrepreneurial intentions.

Also, there is a growing market for pet sitting and caring for animals. Dog walkers are making a killing on Craigslist right now.

Good Luck!

Honestly, right now, you would probably benefit from going to an employment agency. You will probably have to pay the fee; when there are so many people looking for jobs, the employers feel they can get away with not paying it. Good luck.

@perspicacious agency’s that charge the individual for them ultimately getting the cut for getting you the job, now that is a business model :S that’s actually disgusting, never seen that before (UK)

@Tobotron It isn’t uncommon here. They usually get a cut out of the first few month’s salary.

@perspicacious WOW here they get a cut of the 1st years salary after completion of some sort of minimum period…but I wouldn’t pay the agency for getting me an interview, not a chance…

As to creating a job well I’m still thinking of that route but you need capital which is one thing that graduates from most homes certainly don’t have! Luckily the recovery seems to be moving well now so I’m looking towards those new area’s of current and future demand, you get in now to those new areas you should be singing and dancing in 10–20 years time….

Take the fields that you have an interest in and set up informational interviews with key executives in those fields. Say something like, “I am interested in a career in “Insert field name”. I would love to buy you a cup of coffee and pick your brain about your field, and how I might break into it.”

Then, during the interview, (for which you will have prepared), ask intelligent questions. Ask them if they know of any firms that are hiring or if they can give you contact names.

Check to see (ask one of the executives) if there is a professional association or group for people in that field. Contact that professional organization (consider joining it) about attending their next meting.

Im young so i dont know much about jobs, but some advice is, ( this is a little cheezy) maybe you can ask a neighbor if you could help them with yard work aor go to like the Cincinnati Enquier and ask if you can deliver newspapers. Or get a job at the movies or just CHILL, unles your a single parent,: then try to take my advice. I only thought of these things because these sre the jobs i’ve had or have.

Keep at it and keep at it. Took me two years to finally land a job…and it’s better than anything else I could have hoped for!

@Val123 : I admire that advice but what do you do when you’re just keeping at it? waking up and staying out of bed daily is becoming a chore… not that i’m depressed, just that i am bored and would rather just sleep. i lack motivation sometimes

@Samantha_Rae I know! I know exactly what you mean! The days seem kind of meaningless when you really have no reason to get up! Just keep getting up.

First thing every day I checked the want ads, then Monster jobs, then Career Builder. If there were any possibilities I’d fire off my resume and cover letter. The job I have now came about because I answered an ad for a substitute teacher at an adult degree completion program two years ago. Well, as it was, I only subbed a few times, for only four hours, but kept in touch with the boss. Well, out of the blue three few months ago, she called and offered me a permanent position because I do HAVE my teaching degree, although I’m having to work to get re certified.

Have you considered doing some volunteer work to keep you busy? It’d look good on your resume, too.

Pssssst CON ED is hiring for clerical positions but you didnt hear it from me

@Val123 “waking up and staying out of bed daily is becoming a chore”...“i am bored and would rather just sleep”

THAT is a sure fire sign of depression approaching. Better get a routine going fast. Start walking in the morning at sunrise and consider volunteering to a cause.

Could be as easy as volunteering to walk dogs at the local Humane Society.

But whatever it is, better get your game on before the depression dragon eats you alive.

Start by finding any job just to keep funds coming in. Then set your sights on several areas of your field (do not limit yourself, you never know where a job might lead) Follow up with a letter and a phone call. If necessary, stop in again and remind them that you droppped off your resume. ALWAYS dress professionally. (classic suit, no heels, nothing hanging out, get rid of the 9 inch nails, and make sure all tatoos are covered). Use professional terms. Slang and cursing are unacceptable.

Good Luck

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies I don’t know that it means depression. I’ve never, ever suffered from depression, but during that time that I was unemployed I was losing motivation. Nothing to get up for! But, that had more to do with inertia building on its self, IMO, not depression.

Nice @Private777

Check out modelling for art classes. You know the drill from the other side. You iknow what you’d like to draw.That would make you a better model. The pay is relatively high per hour and the gigs flexible. And if you work at a lot of art schools/classes/studios/drawing workshops you might get a better feel for the position of art in your life.

And dropping that bathrobe on the model stand only feels strange the first time. I liked it when I first graduated with a studio degree and was lost where to go next. I felt very left bank, very Whistler’s girlfriend, all that stuff.

It’s a cat eat dog world out there with regard to jobs.

The temp job is a good idea…get exposed to possibilities. If you need to put bread on the table, waitress fill in jobs my be your best bet.

Keep your options open…smile a confident smile…write possible scenarios to this chapter of your life. Sometimes we can write or way in or out of problems. My best to you.

Six months after landing my BA and finding myself still jobless, I walked into a Sam’s Club one day in desperation and filled out an application. They called me a bare handful of days later, and next thing I knew, I was employed.
It’s not the job that I would have chosen for myself. It’s not terribly thrilling. And sometimes you meet people that would be better off in a fryer. But it has a career track, it pays pretty well, and it has benefits. Six months later and I’m still there.

Got promoted recently, even, to the position of Lord of the Flame and the Chicken. I now command the fiery might of four Inferno 3000 gas ovens, to which I consign as many as thirty-two hapless bird carcases at a go. Bi-state vegans beware!

@Nullo Congratulations your lordship!

@Nullo ….“better off in the fryer”? LOL! I can’t wait for a chance to use that somewhere!

Been in a similar situation and now employed. First thing to do is to sit down and really figure out what you want to do. Most people say I want to do anything, but that is just the point. With so many options it is impossible to decide on one course of action. Once you decide what you want to do then you need to figure out where you can do what you want to do. If you can stop the bleeding on you expenses by either moving back in with parents, etc then you should volunteer at a place where that work is being done. There you will find all kinds of contacts and then from there you can get start to develop a game plan for getting a list of potential employers. If you can’t stop the bleeding then you will need to think of what can you do well to get paid while you figure out where you really need to be. Think in steps to success and you will be well on your way. Good luck!