Can't get job

ElaineScottt

Ok, i'm in my second year of College, 18 years of age and ITCHING to get a job. I apply to anywhere and everywhere and nobody will take me on for one reason. I do not have experience. This is a vicious circle. I can't get a job, because I have no experience, but I can't get any experience until someone gives me a job. HONESTLY. I would take any part time work now. Any idea's on what I should do??

Eoin

moved to new thread

Akiv89

Yes,I know!It is a vicious circle.If you badly need a job, keep searching,don't give up!But I'd recommend u to do ur best to study and get the most out of ur college.For experience u can do some volunteer work!:)

syklops

Surely you have experience with something? You never worked in your aunt / uncles pub / shop etc for a summer when you were 15? Anything at all is better than nothing.

Act as if thee has faith and faith thee shall have. In other words, fake it til you make it. If under work experience you have nothing, make some things up. Make them relevant to the job you are going for. If you're applying to McDonalds, have last summers job working in a burger bar. If your applying to an office, have last years job an office co-ordinator. If the prospective employer asks for references or asks why you aren't working for them this year, say "I'll try and get in touch with my manager, but unfortunately the company went bust a few months ago, otherwise, I'd probably still be working for them". Don't use any famous names for your fictitious company.

sweeney1971

Do some Charity Work at least you will get experience and a good reference.

sweeney1971

syklops wrote: »

Surely you have experience with something? You never worked in your aunt / uncles pub / shop etc for a summer when you were 15? Anything at all is better than nothing.

Act as if thee has faith and faith thee shall have. In other words, fake it til you make it. If under work experience you have nothing, make some things up. Make them relevant to the job you are going for. If you're applying to McDonalds, have last summers job working in a burger bar. If your applying to an office, have last years job an office co-ordinator. If the prospective employer asks for references or asks why you aren't working for them this year, say "I'll try and get in touch with my manager, but unfortunately the company went bust a few months ago, otherwise, I'd probably still be working for them". Don't use any famous names for your fictitious company.

Excellent Wisdom. Did this when I was younger always got the job. I use to throw some real bulls**t in as well such as I was an extra on a Zombie film or was a peasant in Brave Heart. Always gets the conversation going.

Procrastastudy

ElaineScottt wrote: »

Ok, i'm in my second year of College, 18 years of age and ITCHING to get a job. I apply to anywhere and everywhere and nobody will take me on for one reason. I do not have experience. This is a vicious circle. I can't get a job, because I have no experience, but I can't get any experience until someone gives me a job. HONESTLY. I would take any part time work now. Any idea's on what I should do??

Issues I always found with young people applying for jobs:

CVs where a disaster - massive fonts to fill the page, spelling mistakes. Your CV should be laid out to reflect your skills - if you haven't got relevant experience go and get some - work somewhere for free - doesn't have to be for very long.

I used to hate poorly dressed teenagers walking in with a stack of CVs 'can I leave you one of these?' Sure I used to say - I went out the back with it and put it in the bin. Target your CV, covering letter and yourself at the people you are looking for a job with - go in dressed appropriately.

I have hired people on the spot based on how they came in and approached me on their initial visit.

Dress - People frequently say - I dressed smart casual or it was only an interview for a shop so... No one has every been declined a job for being overdressed - Get a smart suit / girl suit and wear it to interviews unless its a very specialist interview that would require you to express yourself in the way you dress. You are at the mercy of the interviewer and it's what he or she thinks that matters not anyone else - You would be surprised the amount of people that have an issue over fairly insignificant things.

Interviews - Practice, practice practice - you need to come across well and the only way you'll do that is get knacked back a few times - apply for jobs you dont even want on the basis of getting some interview practice.

ElaineScottt

The only experience I have is working as a Special Needs Assistant, which employers do not seem too impressed by. I've never worked in a shop or anything like that. Thanks for all the good advice though. I'll keep looking!

christmas2012

Shop work is handy,if you are after a job that you are likely to get,i would say aswell check out fas and jobbridge,i know i know there job blockers,occupy what could have been a paid job advertised,but at least youll get experience from the slave labour scheme..

Procrastastudy

ElaineScottt wrote: »

The only experience I have is working as a Special Needs Assistant, which employers do not seem too impressed by. I've never worked in a shop or anything like that. Thanks for all the good advice though. I'll keep looking!

Depends on the employer - I had a guy who'd done that for a few years - I dint hire him and probably wouldn't have done. I'm bloody glad someone did - one of the hardest working guys I've ever worked with. Employed two people in a similar field since both exactly the same - worked harder than anyone else.

Volunteer - it pays double - you get experience and it looks great for any employer that does CSR.

guitarzero

syklops wrote: »

Surely you have experience with something? You never worked in your aunt / uncles pub / shop etc for a summer when you were 15? Anything at all is better than nothing.

Well, I mean, who hasn't, right? :rolleyes: