This job search is really getting me down

Post Reply New Topic

I've been searching for ages, and whenever I apply I get no response or rejections. I have part-time work but it's not enough to support myself, and I want to stop living with my parents. Without being able to support myself, I don't feel like a proper adult. I feel like a child having to have food bought for me, and having to always account for where I'm going to be. I try to contribute what I can around the house, but it doesn't feel like it's enough.

I'm not sure what work I'm capable of. I work as a music teacher now, but working with people just gets harder and harder the more I do it. Employers are asking for 3 years of experience for entry-level positions. What happened to being able to learn? I know that I could do something like stocking shelves or working a cash register, but because I don't have experience I'm not given a chance to prove that I can. Even cleaning requires years of experience. I thought that cleaning used to be what people did when they couldn't find any other job. I had a trial in a cafe the other day, and my coordination is barely good enough to carry a plate in each hand, and carrying a full mug/glass in each hand is not possible. I can barely carry one full cup of coffee without spilling it. Also, most food places are painfully loud, and I couldn't stand that for hours at a time.
Even something like stuffing envelopes is no good because my fine motor skills are too unreliable and I wouldn't be fast enough. It makes me feel kind of pathetic because if 14-year-olds can manage work and school, then why can't I?
Whenever I find something that I think I'd be capable of, they either require a driver's licence, which even if I got my learner's permit right now, it would be at least a year before I could go for my licence, or the hours would be impossible to fit around my existing work/study, or I apply and get rejected, or they don't even have the basic courtesy to reply.

In the long term, I plan to be a lecturer in my area of interest, but that's a long way off, and I don't want to be unable to support myself until then, and I just feel stuck. It's getting to the point where I'm not applying for jobs that I might be able to do, because I just think "What's the point?" I try not to do that, because I know that not applying for a job is a guarantee of not getting the job, but I just feel really discouraged. Someone I know has a workmate who has only shown up for one out of three shifts, and he still has a job. I've only missed work once in the 3 1/2 years I've had my part-time job, and I don't mind hard work, but employers won't even give me a chance, and I wish I knew why.

It's not your fault. Everyone is getting hit pretty hard by the economy. I've also applied for several part-time positions as a student, but unfortunately I got nothing. You'd think in a college town like Laramie they'd have plenty of positions open for students, but I guess that's not the case.

I've gotten a few interviews here and there, but nothing has clicked yet.

...to tell you the truth, I'm a little worried about what my background check says about me. I mean, I'm a diagnosed Aspie, for one... for two, I have been arrested once for a minor altercation when I was 17. Since I'm 18 now I should have a clean slate, but who really knows?

Sigh... I'm never gonna get a damn job.

Welcome to WP, er, the club!

Here's a thought, for what it's worth...

Have you looked into doing music transcriptions? I've seen such services before. Basically, someone sends you a recording of their music and pays you to transcribe it and possibly prepare lead sheets and/or charts. Maybe you could do some research on music publishers in your area, contact them, and see if they have a need for transcribers. Maybe offer to do a few for free as an evaluation?

I don't know what the likelihood of getting such a position, or doing it freelance, is in your area, or if such a skill is even needed, but I thought it might work with your background.

Again, just a thought.

Start your own business...As a music teacher, you can give private music lessons under the table (not pay tax or claim it under tax) and since you have an ASD, you can try and claim disability at the same time..thus allowing you to get disability, and whatever you make under the table through your private music lessons, keep for yourself.

Its hitting everyone hard, i just recently had to move in with my parents after 2 yrs without a job. Only thing you can do is keep it together until things start to perk up. As such i understand that the whole "x years experience" requirement is pretty ridiculous seeing as how the people with it are still likely employed, yet the corporations seeking it are being overly picky. Hell, came across a job thing yesterday for a company wanting to pay 28k/year for a Bachelor's degree with 5 yrs experience . . . what kind of person in that category would settle for less than 16k a year (smells of a ripoff or cheapskate).

i know the feeling

neither will be on your record thankfully.

Thanks for the reassurance. Is there any way a private citizen can see what his or her background check turns up? Like some service that gathers this intel for hiring companies that can also print a report for the person in question? I would like to see what my background check turns up. I think this info should be readily available to those who wish to see it, as it affects a good portion of their life.

Thanks to those who replied. I'll write a proper response when I have more communicative ability.

3 years experience is NOT "entry level". Employers should cut out the false advertising.

I have some suggestions. Data entry work if you have a fast typing speed. Or perhaps volunteer in a library, perhaps you could get a job offer at some point in the future. Dont be down anyway, the Recession is biting everyone at the moment.

I am still in college and work part time at a store, which is unionized. I recieved informations as to where my practicum placement is.The lawyer I will be working for mostly does civil litigation, debt collection, and foreclosures....so even with the recession I might have a chance for employment after I put in my hours.

To the OP: Yeah, I know what you mean. It's really stupid that employers are requiring years of experience for entry-level monkey jobs these days. I've been unemployed for over 2 years now. The state I moved to has lower unemployment than where I'm from, but I still haven't been able to find work after being here for half a year.
There was one job I thought I was going to get as an ACT tutor. The hiring manager even called me and asked me a few questions, then told me I'd be called back if they wanted an in-person interview. Not only did I not get a call back, but they posted another ad on Craigslist... I felt pretty lousy when I saw that, because that meant they'd rather spend weeks finding someone else instead of hiring me.

Hey OP.

Sorry to hear about your predicament. I know how frustrating that can be. I've spent a good 6 or 7 months unemployed after getting laid off from my last job, and I was just getting turned down left and right. Combined with the fact that I spent 2 years getting a degree that I've learned wasn't going to do me much good, I had a hard time finding a job that gave decent pay. Things are going smoothly for me, now that I've gotten a job and I'm taking training to get become a medical office worker.

My advice to you is just to hang in there. Also, go to sites dedicated to how to write a job applications, how to build resumes, and what to say during a job interview. I know that sounds goofy, considering that they all seem simple enough, but you'd be surprised by how stingy employers get when they receive applications. Word something wrong, or have something come off as unflattering, and they'll toss your application without a second thought! That goes double for interviews, so this is something that you'll definitely want to study.

You could also try employment agencies if they are around where you live (That's how I got my job). Basically, you meet with them, discuss your past work experiences, what you want/not want to work, etc. and then they would look for jobs for you. Now keep in mind, that it'll probably take sometime before they would find one for you, and a lot of it is going to be temporary work (Although with some of them have something where, if the company likes you enough, you can work there permanently.), but even if it's temporary, it'd still give you some work experience. I should also mention that some of these agencies might require you to pay them to get these jobs, so research them to make sure that you don't have to pay them.