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Joined: Feb 02 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 44

NCSU's spring break is upon us, but given that I had about half a million snow days, I'm all vacation-ed out. I'm in the mood to be productive.

The fact is, I've never really had a job. I worked in my mom's warehouse when we owned a business, and I fixed instruments in California and netted myself a good amount of money. However, that money is drying up quick and I have no income coming in. My parents are happy to pay for my stuff, but fuck that. That's only going to shoot me in the foot later. What's the point of a safety net if you're just going to use it as a hammock whenever you want?

See, I have no car, so I'm pretty much restricted to on-campus work. This sounds simple, but you have to also consider that I have 0 experience working retail, food service, etc. In addition, my previous experience has absolutely jack shit to do with anything. I'm aware the bar is ridiculously low here, but you have to figure that I'm low on the ladder. Would you rather hire a candidate who worked at Rite Aid in high school for one summer, or a candidate who's got literally nothing at all? Pretty simple.

So I guess my question is, how did you guys get work when you were looking for your first job? I've applied through the Career Development Center, but heard back from 0% of them. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to lie on my resume and say I worked at a CVS or something back in San Jose? Do I just need to harangue the manager until he/she relents? Please, for the love of god, help me. I feel like a real piece of shit whenever I use my debit card.

Posted: Mar 07 2015 11:11 pm

I got my first job (busing tables and making sure the token-op games worked at Chuck E. Cheese's) because two adult children of my-mother's-best-friend, both employees at the place, vouched for me. My advice is to see if any of your relatives or family friends can hook you up with unaffiliated work, or at least a reference.

Posted: Mar 08 2015 02:58 am

I got my first real job (doing dishes at a retirement home) because my mom worked there and got me a volunteer gig there two years prior. I had the job the day I turned 15. Before that, I got my paper route because I was the only person who called for the job twice. There's a lot to be said for pestering a potential employer.

And good for you for denying the silver spoon dude!

Joined: Aug 05 2008 Location: CA Posts: 867

Ross Rifle wrote:

I got my first real job (doing dishes at a retirement home) because my mom worked there and got me a volunteer gig there two years prior. I had the job the day I turned 15. Before that, I got my paper route because I was the only person who called for the job twice. There's a lot to be said for pestering a potential employer.

And good for you for denying the silver spoon dude!

Depends on how old you are. How old are you?

Your resume can be manipulated to make it so as if you look more experienced. However, do not straight up lie on a resume, however unlikely it is that you would be caught it is illegal, like for real illegal.

This is an extreme case but I had a friend in high school that worked directly under the DA of San Fransisco. He got the job claiming to have his law degree from SFSU. Two years later they found out he didn't, he just straight up lied and he nearly spent 3 years in prison it was a pretty big deal and actually made the news. Guys a dickhead. He recently called me asking me to claim to have worked for him at a fictional startup as a reference...

Anyways, having no job experience can be hard to get around but it's just a matter of submitting a good resume and interviewing well. I'm assuming that the type of job you are looking for does not take all that much experience in the first place. In this case all that really matters to the person interviewing you is that you are likable and fun to be around for a few hours a day. Also, be persistent; it is a fine line but make yourself known by constantly inquiring about a position you have applied for. Be careful though as to not be perceived as a pest.

I'm 32 years old, and damn I have worked in pretty much every field (well maybe not but many). Started of at a Japanese fast food joint in Cupertino back when I was 13. Then Arron Brothers, Software Ect./Funco, Captron, a music store, Pac Sun (what a shitty job that was). GameStop, Atari, Epic, Rainbow Studios, Legend Entertainment, Cox in IT, a medical/Pharma company, tech support, teacher aid at my uni, graphic artist, and now am a programmer for the defense industry. Thinking about quitting my current job as it is miserable...

IDK my job experience is somewhat broad or eclectic, this can be bad too. I get bored really fast and I quit after at most a couple of years due to this. Same reason I have lived in several different states and several foreign countries. It can make you appear unreliable. Whatever though, don't want to be that 40 year old guy working at the gas station or a food mart for a decade. Just don't let a lack of experience bother you. You will get a job.

Posted: Mar 08 2015 03:39 pm

My advice would be to apply for as much as possible. Eventually you will get something. Also, you are in a better position than most, as sometimes having no experience is better, since they can pay you less and you are not overqualified for the jobs you are applying for.

When I hit hard times a few years back I could not get work at fast food or retail places because I was considered over qualified and thus likely to move on to better paying work. Employers (for the most part) want someone who is willing to stick around because the cost of hiring and training new people can be too much compared to keeping people around.

Also, you have to figure that it is easier to train someone with no experience to do a job the way you want it to be done because someone who already has experience is likely to bend the rules and take shortcuts to make their job easier. It's ok to do that, but always follow directions when you are starting out and then test those waters.

Good luck!

Posted: Mar 08 2015 04:33 pm

Yeah, those are really good points guys. You are definitely at an advantage with the zero experience. You're clay in an employer's hands. And definitely apply everywhere you can, as discouraging as it may get. I once applied to 34 different places before I got a phone call. Also, ask to speak to the hiring manager when you go into a place, and call in the day after you drop off a resume.

Joined: Feb 02 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 44

I got a job! I'll be working at the campus store. Thanks for the advice folks, it came in handy as far as not getting discouraged goes. The lady said she was excited because I was real "bubbly" when I was corresponding by e-mail. So any lurkers seeking employment advice, I guess be bubbly. HA!

Joined: Oct 18 2014 Posts: 6

I'm a graphic/webdesigner, and I have been since my early teens (i'm 32 now, so around 2000-ish) ... I did that for my personal interests for a while, and then years later I would start to do simple projects for family/friends, and then around 2011, I decided to go back to college to pursue a degree in my field -- graduated in may 2014.

About 3 months later I landed a job at a tech/design webdevelopment company, where i've been for about 8 months. Recently relocated to be closer to my job as well.

So, it depends on if you have a focused direction or not ... just think about what you realistically want to do ... and find ways to get into that field.

Posted: Apr 01 2015 11:59 am

I walked into an office with some guys with really bad hair cuts, walked out with a job. Just required a signature and my soul.

Posted: Apr 13 2015 09:28 am

Finding a job may be hard while you're in your late teens/early 20's, but after that age range you have an even bigger concern...finding a career that you'd want to pursue for pretty much the rest of your life...

Electric Moonlight wrote:

I'm a graphic/webdesigner, and I have been since my early teens (i'm 32 now, so around 2000-ish) ... I did that for my personal interests for a while, and then years later I would start to do simple projects for family/friends, and then around 2011, I decided to go back to college to pursue a degree in my field -- graduated in may 2014.

About 3 months later I landed a job at a tech/design webdevelopment company, where i've been for about 8 months. Recently relocated to be closer to my job as well.

So, it depends on if you have a focused direction or not ... just think about what you realistically want to do ... and find ways to get into that field.

You have it sweet; you already had your career path from very early on and getting your degree just simply made it official. I on the other hand am still confused on who the hell I want to be and considering I'm your age, it's getting to be pretty damn scary.

For the past 10 years I've pretty much been working with my dad as a super's aide (him being the super of an apartment building). Afterwards, I worked as a shipping manager but eventually got laid off. All throughout this time, my family has also owned some property in Scranton, PA buuut it just hasn't paid off despite all the blood, sweat and tears we put into it all...

After graduating from high school back in 2001, I went to a community college but I honestly didn't know what to major in. At first it was liberal arts, then I changed it to fine and performing arts (I had unrealistic expectations then). My last semester was back in 2004--I haven't gone back since.

Needless to say I just never had a focused direction like you had and I've been preoccupied with shit that was never really in my heart to do, constantly being redirected by people (mostly family) who mean well but don't know my passions too well to suggest which direction I should really go in. That was my biggest mistake. I should've told everyone to fuck off and tried my damndest early on to find myself and what my 'true calling' is, even if I was busy working weekdays as a super's aide while wasting my weekends away in another state.

I'm seeing a career counselor now. I've had one session so far but I honestly don't know yet if this is a worthy investment. She did give me some good resources though.

Joined: Oct 18 2014 Posts: 6

Methid Man wrote:

Finding a job may be hard while you're in your late teens/early 20's, but after that age range you have an even bigger concern...finding a career that you'd want to pursue for pretty much the rest of your life...

Electric Moonlight wrote:

I'm a graphic/webdesigner, and I have been since my early teens (i'm 32 now, so around 2000-ish) ... I did that for my personal interests for a while, and then years later I would start to do simple projects for family/friends, and then around 2011, I decided to go back to college to pursue a degree in my field -- graduated in may 2014.

About 3 months later I landed a job at a tech/design webdevelopment company, where i've been for about 8 months. Recently relocated to be closer to my job as well.

So, it depends on if you have a focused direction or not ... just think about what you realistically want to do ... and find ways to get into that field.

You have it sweet; you already had your career path from very early on and getting your degree just simply made it official. I on the other hand am still confused on who the hell I want to be and considering I'm your age, it's getting to be pretty damn scary.

For the past 10 years I've pretty much been working with my dad as a super's aide (him being the super of an apartment building). Afterwards, I worked as a shipping manager but eventually got laid off. All throughout this time, my family has also owned some property in Scranton, PA buuut it just hasn't paid off despite all the blood, sweat and tears we put into it all...

After graduating from high school back in 2001, I went to a community college but I honestly didn't know what to major in. At first it was liberal arts, then I changed it to fine and performing arts (I had unrealistic expectations then). My last semester was back in 2004--I haven't gone back since.

Needless to say I just never had a focused direction like you had and I've been preoccupied with shit that was never really in my heart to do, constantly being redirected by caring people who mean well but don't know my passions too well to suggest which direction I should really go in. That was my biggest mistake. I should've told everyone to fuck off and tried my damndest early on to find myself and what my 'true calling' is, even if I was busy working weekdays as a super's aide while wasting my weekends away in another state.

I'm seeing a career counselor now. I've had one session so far but I honestly don't know yet if this is a worthy investment. She did give me some good resources though.

Well to be fair (and honest) not everyone needs college. College isn't for everyone, and a lot of people can have successful careers without it.

The only reason I decided to go back was to get an associates that would make my resume look better. And for years prior I wasn't completely serious and focused on what I really wanted to do, so there was a period of time where I did nothing and just floundered ... however, I knew what I was good at and since I decided that if I didn't pursue a career soon, i'd be lost in my 40s or something and that was kind of terrifying, so... I stuck with it.

However, if you have a talent or interest ...something that you're good at, you can usually find ways to make it a career. It isn't easy, but depending on what it is, it's possible. Once you find your focus, that will give you a foothold to pursue it. But first you need to know what it is.

Posted: Apr 13 2015 10:15 am

Electric Moonlight wrote:

However, if you have a talent or interest ...something that you're good at, you can usually find ways to make it a career. It isn't easy, but depending on what it is, it's possible. Once you find your focus, that will give you a foothold to pursue it. But first you need to know what it is.

And that's just the very thing I'm still struggling with: what am I good at? What do I like?

Okay, I know what I like, but are any of these interests something I'm actually good at? Do I like them enough to go through whatever hurdles I'd have to go through of making a career out of them? These are questions I should've asked myself early on and am only doing so now.

I like cartoons. I still watch the cartoons I watched when I was a kid and I watch some of the rare gems of cartoons that kids watch today (Regular Show, Adventure Time, Gravity Falls...fuck it, MLP too), but is being a cartoonist worth it? I feel I should point out that I can't draw. Comics would be in the same category but I don't really read a lot of them. I also like video games like many of you, but hell if I wanna program any of them. That shit's just too tedious for me. Voice acting is something I'd like to do, but I hear it doesn't pay well. Maybe I could be a writer for these kinda things, not sure how well I'd do though. Maybe that's another problem I have: I'm never too certain with myself or my own abilities.

So yeah, these are my hobbies, though I don't get into them as much as I'd like to, but that's probably because I feel like I'm shirking important duties like chores, errands, caring for people, etc. and I feel too guilty indulging in them for too long. Maybe I just need to get out and start a less busy life. I'm considering moving with my girlfriend in South Carolina. Sure the job market sucks there but at least I'd be living with my girlfriend whom I've been in a really good relationship with despite it being a long-distance one. We've already visited each other a few times in our separate places.

As for things I'm already good at, well, I don't know if playing video games count. Watching cartoons or reading stuff is also not something I feel has any value. I do like to organize stuff and I also have a knack for researching stuff. I'm also pretty knowledgeable about medicine. This isn't something I've done as a serious hobby but I believe any job involving sound/music is something I'd probably be good at according to some career finding website (plus I've been told I have good ears). I've developed some skills with home construction and remodeling but I only developed those skills because I had to when I worked on my properties in Scranton, not because it was in my heart to do so.

Might as well list a few things here based on everything I mentioned in this post:

Cartoonist
Cartoon/comic writer
(Video game tester/reviewer mayhap?)
Any job that involves organization/research
Pharmacist/pharmacy technician
Voice actor
Music composer/sound mixer/acoustic consultant

Good lord that's a crazy list...

Wizard Joined: Jun 12 2009 Posts: 4209

thenose_knows wrote:

I got a job! I'll be working at the campus store. Thanks for the advice folks, it came in handy as far as not getting discouraged goes. The lady said she was excited because I was real "bubbly" when I was corresponding by e-mail. So any lurkers seeking employment advice, I guess be bubbly. HA!

I'm a bit late, but congratulations dude! Getting a job is a huge deal, that's great. Especially first jobs.

My first job was at McDonald's and I'm fairly sure I only got it because my Dad put in a good word for me. It was exciting for a while to finally work.