napy666 Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 My friends keep telling me to go do volunteer work to gain experience in which will lead me to get a real job. How would me volunteering at a animal shelter or library or who knows where get me a job at a retail store or somewhere else? Its like if I applied to a job working for a dog place wouldn't they expect only dog work experience only? Not someone who's worked at a fast food place, toy store, and then dog place? Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestUSA Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 I think it's lees about going in experience in a certain area (dogs, for instance) than showing that you have some drive/ambition to do something. Anything! Plus, you never up know who you will meet that could lead you to your next chapter in life. It's called networking. What do you have to lose? How many contacts are you making sitting at home on the computer? 2 Link to post Share on other sites
denise_xo Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Its like if I applied to a job working for a dog place wouldn't they expect only dog work experience only? Not someone who's worked at a fast food place, toy store, and then dog place? Not necessarily. A lot of skills are applicable to more than one context, such as communication skills, ability to work in teams and cooperate with other people, ability to be structured about carrying out a piece of work, taking responsibility for particular tasks or processes, handling money/finances, and so on. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Author napy666 Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Like this one toy store I applied too and got a interview for I fit everything that wanted but yet didn't get the job. I don't get it with jobs you can meet what they want 100% but they still don't give you the job. I don't know what to do anymore. Link to post Share on other sites
d0nnivain Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 If you can get a paying job doing anything, that's preferable because you have an income. If you can't get even a fast food job for minimum wage, volunteering is a good way to show that you are as somebody else mentioned a reliable team player. If you have income side covered through even a part time job, the better course is to get an internship or a volunteer position in your field. For example if you want to be a journalist, see if you can write the newsletter for your local charity or civic organization. Link to post Share on other sites
Shepp Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Any experience is better than none. Besides lots of jobs carry over the same traits - time keeping, work ethic, reliability. Maybe physical work ability, dealing with customers, working in a position of responsibility, handling pressure. Link to post Share on other sites
Author napy666 Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 I don't wanna do the volunteer or internship thing because it doesn't pay I am tired already of working for free why work more for free? And trust me I've applied to a lot of retail and fast food places they don't call me back or they do and say they don't want me. And now my mom keeps getting after me saying I should be happy I am alive who cares if I don't work or drive a car. I have my life. I wasn't suppose to die at birth but I lived, I have been through a lot blah blah blah blah. Its like yeah yeah I know but come on I am 26 most 20 somethings got their own place, car, and job. Guys and girls don't want to date someone that doesn't work or drive. Link to post Share on other sites
Shepp Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Your 26 and your mum says who cares if you have a job?? Gee! I was 14 when my mum expected me to get a job and start earning!! Link to post Share on other sites
Author napy666 Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 My mom says who cares if you don't have a job, car, license, or place my own. But then she says why don't I move out or get a job. I don't know what to do but I am really worried about my future. Link to post Share on other sites
GorillaTheater Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Lack of a driver's license probably isn't helping your job search any. What's stopping you from getting one? Link to post Share on other sites
d0nnivain Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 You need to get a job. Whatever you are doing to find one, step up your efforts. You should be on every website out there: monster, careerbuilders snagajob, USAjobs.gov & craigslist and any other ones you can think of. Set a goal for yourself. I'd say send out at least 10 resumes / internet applications per day if not more until you get a job. If you are an alumni somewhere, talk to their career department. Pound the pavement. Find out if you qualify for any job training through a school or even the division of unemployment. Link to post Share on other sites
Author napy666 Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Naw I don't wanna do that. I've applied to a bunch of jobs all at once before and none called me so not going to do that again. Link to post Share on other sites
GorillaTheater Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Naw I don't wanna do that. I've applied to a bunch of jobs all at once before and none called me so not going to do that again. So .... you're just going to give up on finding a job? Living with your mom for the rest of your life really that attractive an option? Link to post Share on other sites
d0nnivain Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Naw I don't wanna do that. I've applied to a bunch of jobs all at once before and none called me so not going to do that again. If you don't apply, exactly how do you think you are going to get a job so that you can move out, get your own place & possible be independent? Do you think the job fairy is going to come into you house & say "whoosh. . . You're the new CEO of Microsoft?" Getting a job is a numbers game. If you get a response from 5% of the applications you send in, you are ahead of the curve. If the above statement is indicative of your attitude in life I suspect that's why you aren't getting the jobs even when you do get called for an interview. Link to post Share on other sites
Author napy666 Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 I go into the interviews positive and happy I just don't meet their guidelines or I mess up the interview even though I think I am doing well. And oh well I'm not meant to work or drive a car. Link to post Share on other sites
Minneloa Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I go into the interviews positive and happy I just don't meet their guidelines or I mess up the interview even though I think I am doing well. And oh well I'm not meant to work or drive a car. Ok, so what's your plan, then? Link to post Share on other sites
Author napy666 Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Nothing. I have given up I am just done and done with trying. Link to post Share on other sites
Minneloa Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Ok, so is this just a venting thread? Several posters had thoughtful answers to your original question about how volunteer opportunities can help you in a job search, but then it turns out that you aren't planning to look for work anymore. I guess I am not sure what it is you are asking us here. Link to post Share on other sites
SpiralOut Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Guys and girls don't want to date someone that doesn't work or drive. They'll still be impressed to hear that you volunteer somewhere. It shows that you care about something that matters. Link to post Share on other sites
GorillaTheater Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 It shows that you care about something that matters. And here we come to what is probably the biggest problem here. What is it that you care about, Napy? Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestUSA Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 And now my mom keeps getting after me saying I should be happy I am alive who cares if I don't work or drive a car. I have my life. I wasn't suppose to die at birth but I lived, I have been through a lot blah blah blah. Tell us more about this, because I'll guarantee it's got everything to do with how your mother treats you. Is that 'was supposed to'? She can't keep you in a plastic bubble, and she'll eventually die. What happens then? Link to post Share on other sites
Author napy666 Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 I don't know. I don't know what to do about my life. Everything I do my mom complains about. Link to post Share on other sites
KatZee Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I don't know. I don't know what to do about my life. Everything I do my mom complains about. You're the one living your life. Not your mother. Find and do what you're passionate about. She's probably complaining about your lack of ambition and lack of drive and severely pessimistic attitude and outlook about life. The job market is TOUGH. Tougher than it's ever been before. Trying to get a job in any field is a joke. I was laid off from my job in June and I finally got a new gig this week. For some background information, I have 5 years experience in said field, and a BA and an MA from good colleges, along with supplemental coursework at at a prestigious university. All of that meant NOTHING. I was STILL being turned down after going on interviewing and basically acing them. I would get contacted back telling me it was so great to meet me, my enthusiasm was so contagious... and I wasn't getting jobs. That doesn't mean you just roll over and give up. It means you keep trying. Obviously you're doing something wrong. Talk to a recruiter. Recruiters and headhunters are employed to get YOU hired. Pump up your resume. Take an interviewing course and learn how to interview better. Learn how to make yourself sound more confident and impressive on interviews. The whole "woe is me" way of thinking is not going to get you anywhere. Real life doesn't pat you on the head and hand out cookies when you're sad. Real life sucks and it's hard. You know what happens in real life? You apply for dozens upon dozens of jobs and you hear NOTHING. Radio silence. Do you know how many people are applying for jobs? Hundreds. Thousands. On ONE job posting. Do you think they have time to contact everyone? Of course not. Hearing nothing doesn't mean "give up" it means, yep. That's life. If you're so upset about not being hired, then take the steps to start fixing the issues preventing you from getting a job. Link to post Share on other sites
Author napy666 Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 I don't want too. And I'm tired of doing what I am doing passionately it isn't paying. And those recruiters and other job like programs don't help at all. Why bother taking interviewing classes when I never get called for an interview? Like if I took the classes now what if I don't get job interview until March of next year? I would have forgotten everything between now and then.I have given up on life. I am done. Link to post Share on other sites
Author napy666 Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 I don't got that much job experience anyway. 1 week at Hot Topic in May 2007 and quit. About a month at Borders Books then quit. The rest of my experience is writing for newspapers, magazines, websites online and offline. No job is going to take me based on this experience. Link to post Share on other sites
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