Here's my story. I graduated from college in May and have been constantly searching for a job in my field since. I've applied to almost 40+ jobs and a few paid internships and I still remain jobless. With summer coming to an end I need a job in order to earn money for myself if I ever need to relocate if I am offered a position.
I want to avoid working fast food , retail(I had a miserable experience working at Wal-Mart as a summer job), and nothing that is an occupational hazard. So anyone have any suggestion?

8 years ago

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8 years ago
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I know that feel.

8 years ago
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Well, what did you graduate then?

8 years ago
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I graduated in Arts and Technology with a focus on animation.

8 years ago
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I am trying to be a dick,but that there lies your problem instead picking a career that is in high demand you picked one you like.

Life was not built for all of us to do everything we love,you picked a field that is in low demand but have a lot people who go for it.Most of go through life without ever having our dream job.

Also you have to be willing to take whatever you can find,other wise no point in crying about no jobs when you are being picky.

You should have picked maybe high tech,it might not be your first choice but it pays good and is in high demand with little people skilled enough to work it.

When you limit yourself you limit your life.

If you need money then you will have to take something like Wal-Mart,this generation of people want to pick and chose where they work when they need money I do not get it.

P.S. Every job is a occupational hazard lol

8 years ago
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Haha, screw that sheep speak. Life is short. Better to make less doing what you love than working a job you hate. This is from a person who went to school for an in-demand industry, worked it for three years, and is now searching for something more fulfilling. There's more to life than the grind.

8 years ago*
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There is also more to life then always doing something you love,but life is a grind no matter what you do and no matter how much you love it.

Everyone can do as they want I was just sharing my opinion they are still able to chose to do as they want.

I have had jobs I did like and I have had jobs I did not,but I was glad I had money as that sure beats wanting to do something I love,and sit on my ass wondering how I will make money because I am to picky and to good to take something that pays because it might not be what I want or a "grind".

Sometimes life is more then about what you want,.sometimes you have kids,a wife or other things to take care of so it not always wise to just say fuck it I will only take what I want to do as I do not want to grind.

Also it not about the sheep but you can screw them if you want,but I think that is illegal in most areas.

Maybe I was just raised with better views on life and more then about just making myself happy,even the jobs I hated I gave 100% because I was being paid to do a job,they did not force me to take the job and a job is never a grind unless you make it a grind.Just because you do not like what your doing does not mean you can not find joy it doing a good job.

8 years ago*
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You sound bitter.

8 years ago
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He already said "I am trying to be a dick".

8 years ago
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You got me there well played,my mistake but still ...

You have not heard i won the dick of year award,you can find my picture on city buses and milk cartons

After all Doc says i am "bitter" so i must also be a dick

:)

8 years ago
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Just sharing what i thought,i have nothing to be bitter

I do not get this whole internet thing where if you do not agree with someone or have your own thoughts and share what you think makes you bitter or butt hurt.

It like unless i agree with what everyone on the net says i am some how not happy about it.

8 years ago
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@EViLiSLuRKiNG If everyone thought of things that way, we would have no video games.

8 years ago
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I am sure we would still have video games,i wanted to be a baseball player,though sadly I had two choices play minor ball for penuts for 20 plus years or actually find steady work and settle down.Granted I still would have loved playing it,but I knew it was not the right choice if wanted to have a decent chance at settling down..

Anyhow all I was trying to say is not all of us will end up with a job we love,you have choices in life,you can do something you love and maybe struggle to get work,or do something you do not like as much but have a steady job and progress in life,or if your lucky you do something you love and you get paid for it.

8 years ago
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I also just wanted to add I wish you the best in whatever you chose and that you do find a job and it is something you want,i did not want my comments to seem like you had to do what I said or you are wrong i was just sharing my thoughts from experience of having both jobs I loved and ones I hated and so on.

Good luck in whatever you do

8 years ago
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Well, I think some have already repeated here what I'm about to say.

Anyway, if you're in desperate need of money, you'll have to take whatever's there anyway. After you get it (or not, if you don't need the money that much yet), you should just go on with trying to find a job that suits you.

Some words of advice though, try making yourself more wanted on the job market by taking courses or trying to find some contracts with people you know, some may need help with their websites/projects/stuff and they don't want to pay too much, you might help them and get something for your portfolio to show to your potential future employer. If there's such opportunity, try making certificates/courses, not sure how it's in the USA, but in Europe some are covered but the European Union and you don't really need to pay for them (or they're really, really cheap).
Make friends in your business, you're not the only one who's currently jobless and desperate and there are many people with good ideas. Set up a collaboration and try to make something happen in your spare time. Side projects can sometimes evolve to money makers, you'll never know.
As for crowdsourcing (someone has suggested that), unless you have a REALLY good idea and you have it all sorted out and by sorted out I mean you have the whole plan to create, sell and deliver the product efficiently or people who know how to do that, don't bother with it.
Oh, and don't be afraid to look for a job everywhere. If you're good enough, some companies will grant you a place to live and cover your travel expenses (at least some do in Europe).

8 years ago*
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Have you had any responses from those 40+ job applications? If not, try convincing potential employers that you have something to contribute to their company, and express personal interest in the job. Also, maybe try volunteering/community/networking events so you can connect with people who can recommend you for jobs.

Edit: Also, set up a website and make a portfolio of your works.

8 years ago
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I have done a follow up on the applicants that did not turn me down a few days ago and most of them said they're still in the hiring process, but I made sure to leave them my name and contact information. And thanks for the volunteering advice, I have been considering doing that for a while now. The real question is where can I volunteer so that my name can get out?

8 years ago
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You can volunteer anywhere. You never know who you will meet. Just be friendly and try to interact with people that visit, as well as your fellow volunteers. If they like you, they might try to help you out! It's also a great chance to work on social skills :D.

When you meet people (adults!) for the first time, they tend to ask what you do for a living. You can also try to steer the conversation by asking them what kind of work they do. If you explain to people what your situation is, chances are they at least know someone who works in your field, or knows someone who knows someone else, etc... Anyway, the most important thing is to make connections.

Set up a LinkedIn account if you don't already have one!!

PS: I believe there is some truth to this theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation

8 years ago
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My only suggestion is check on your local area's Craigslist. If you live outside the US, though, then I can't help you because I don't know if Craigslist is worldwide.

8 years ago
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Keep your head up, rejection is a part of the process. It takes a thousand failures for a meaningful success.

8 years ago
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http://kickstarter.com flexible funding goals

http://fiverr.com sell your soul

8 years ago
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Have you tried freelancing? I am an air traffic controller but I do freelance work as well, photoshop and designing work mostly. It can fetch me more than what I earn at my job if I would be able to give it my 24/7. There's tons of work available in various fields. If you think you have the skills in animation, register yourself on the freelance sites such as fiverr, upwork (formerly odesk), and freelancer and give it a go. Just a word of caution that the first job is the hardest to get but then it becomes easier as you build rep and provide good quality work.

8 years ago
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you might check the government or county jobs in your area as well. i have been in this same position as you but just recently connected with old friends who are all working together on a job & invited me to join them. it also helps to check in with your friends & network with them. it turned out that they were all working a dream job that ive been wanting to do & my friend manages all of them. she was delighted to hear that i was interested cause she wanted to work with more trustworthy people.
also reach out on Facebook to people or create a post that you are looking for jobs & if anyone has heard anything or knows of anybody hiring.
someone said Craigslist, & that is a great place to check for jobs.
also, i do part time demo work at grocery stores that work around my schedule. there are usually always companies hiring for this type of thing. its always above minimum wage, usually in the $15-$20 an hour depending on where you live but its only for 4 hour shifts & if you meet up with other vendors & other vendors like you they will also take you on & give you more work. its something to do in the meantime while looking for your true calling.
also temping is a great way to go. you can usually get a job above minimum wage if you get hired on through a temp service.

8 years ago*
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Sorry... well I'm not sorry, and I'm not trying to be unsympathetic to your issue, but applying to only 40+ job and just searching for a few months it's nothing.
OK, let me be constructive... First, send your CV to every that might have possible position for someone with your degree. While you wait, find at least part-time job. I don't know about volunteering, but here its just exploit that firms use for free work power for few months, and then switching with an other candidate.

8 years ago
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work overseas

8 years ago
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call centers are not great... but they are okay, better than retail. They usually pay about five or six dollars above minimum wage to start. They review your productivity every several months, give you a status review and raises. You can usually get into 4 ten hour shifts if you go full time. Three days off a week are nice. Plus many call center companies have full health and dental, sick days, vacation days 401 k etc... You don't typically need a lot of experience, just a clean record. You already have customer service skills. Just don't tell them you are waiting for something else, because they usually have a few weeks of paid training, and they don't want to train someone who won't be there for awhile.

Another option is temp agency, which might be good, then it will be a temp job... you can pick up different skills and you won't feel tied down to a company or obligated to stay for a long term period.

8 years ago
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Well working in one callcenter, and teach me how to control angry people on the phone, and is almost the same when they are in front of you.

8 years ago
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Yeah it depends on the type of call center. I worked in a mobile one for awhile in Financial "Care' .
People were really unhappy when their phones, got shut off and they couldn't pay their bill or when they had high charges for going over their minutes. It was really hard to be yelled at. Then the center switched to customer service, where people called for problems with their phone. They were much nicer especially when I was able to fix something for them or send out a new phone.
But yeah I understand what you mean.

8 years ago
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There's always a market for webcam strippers. You get to work on your own hours too!

Everyone thinks there's some magical labor task that any well off person is able to apply and jump into. No, it's all slave labor, skilled labor, and managerial labor. You're either paying people to make you money or getting paid to make someone else money. If you don't want to be a Wal-Mart greeter then you need skills that they don't have. Since you're asking this here then you probably have no skills. What did you actually learn how to do in college and why can't you monetize that on your own?

8 years ago
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You applied to 40+ jobs? I applied almost 100 times until I got my apprenticeship and was lucky with that. Keep applying.

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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I don't have any advice other than to encourage you to continue being persistent. The first job is always the hardest to get. I hope you can get something in or related to your chosen field. If you have to compromise, don't stop looking to get back to your chosen field. If you're out of it too long, you may not seem as competitive versus other candidates, even fresh grads.

8 years ago
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Closed 7 years ago by ZDonkulous.