What now? No jobs? (college graduates)

[Sexual]

I would like to talk to someone about what they've done after college. I graduated with an english degree and I can't even get a call back from the local movie theater. All the restaurants are filled (I won't be a busser... no way, been there). I hunt craigslist daily, and I can't move out of my town because I have a free place to stay. More school would put me into years and years of debt, plus you have to 24 to get an independant loan!

Have you been able to get a job without connections? How did you go about scoring one?

 

[Julian]

no offense bro i realize the eonomy is not in the greatest shape an the job market is tough but honestly what the hell were you thinking you were going to get majoring in english?

 

[Fuglydude]

no offense bro i realize the eonomy is not in the greatest shape an the job market is tough but honestly what the hell were you thinking you were going to get majoring in english?

I concur... always choose your education based on what's in demand and what you like.

Why dont' you try the whole teach english overseas thing... I think there's a pretty big demand for that in China, Japan, Korea, etc. Assuming you're into Asian chics, that would be a pretty sweet gig as you'd be knee deep in asian poon!

Traveling is a great experience and you should do it when you're young and not hooked up!

 

[Sisyphus7]

Teach English overseas, I did that for a while, the experience is well worth it. Or go back for education in something that is employable if you can afford it. I've been in the same situation, I'm considering healthcare now. If you can't afford more education, it's better to take a crap job to keep you moving. It sucks out there, and most people that have not lost their job don't know how bad it really is.

 

[dude04]

i graduated in 2008 and didn't get a job until 4 months later. i had no connection either. what i did was keep applying for jobs on job sites. not all companies hire someone with experience. i got hired by my company because they only wanted recent graduates. just keep applying. btw, i majored in microbiology.

 

[Poonani Maker]

Get connections. In the toughest of places to live and work, I HAD to have connections. I also Had to work my bleeping ass off, and suffer, suffer, suffer, part-time, seasonal. I knew what I wanted though, and I knew what I could do. I have a passion for what I do. It was like I won the lottery, because it should have taken me Much longer to achieve what I did. Connections sped that up, no doubt.

 

[IamMyownMan]

Look for Sales Jobs. Or go teach overseas. Or pick up any work you can. Or go sling drinks.

And for the majority of entry-level jobs out there, you don't need a specialized degree. You need the be able to get stuff done, which a degree shows you can at least finish something. You also need to stand out from the crowd. You also need to SELL yourself to the employer. Why are you the best candidate?

A friend of mine works for a major corporation in sales. Everyone else around him has degrees in engineering. He has a degree in poly-sci. The engineering degree was 'required' on the employment advertisement but it was a sales job. He said to hell with it, and applied anyways. He did have prior sales experience in a different business but he sold himself to the manager in a way all the other candidates who had engineering degrees couldn't.

Which is better,
A free place to live and no job, or a job and no free place to live?

And dude, I wouldn't expect a call back from anywhere if all you do is submit your resume. Find a way to speak with someone at the company. Unless it specifically says no calls, JAM your foot in the door. In a depressed economy, you know how many applications a movie theatre probably gets? If all you did was send in your resume and expect a call back, I guarantee you someone who followed-up is now jerking off into the popcorn instead of you.

 

[Unbridled_Phoenix]

Keep your mind sharp, and stay in control of your thoughts-what you are going through can either mess up your mind or make you stronger. Think of your job prospects at all times-don't let yourself get distracted, rack your brain for any possible job you could get with an English degree. Think outside the box. Research. Hunt. Stay on the trail.

The best advice I ever saw for job seekers was, "Get off the internet!" The only sites you should use are indeed.com and linkedin. But that is in your free time. Going after a full time job is the hardest full time job out there right now.

I learned that 1 day spent getting out there, meeting people, moving and shaking, ie: TAKING INITIATIVE is worth 2 months of passively applying for jobs on the internet. Half of those jobs aren't even real positions, they just want a stockpile of resumes in case someone quits or gets fired. I'm not advising you to not apply for jobs online, I'm advising you to do that AFTER a day of showing initiative to potential employers.

You are determined to get that job, you are resolved to do whatever it takes, and you are never defeated until you decide you are. Strongest steel from the hottest fire.

 

[f283000]

I'm about to graduate with an english degree in a few semesters but I think it's too late to start on a degree to become a male nurse (one of the best jobs out there right now).

about going to teach english in china: sure you can do that if you don't have any student loans to pay. You can make a middle class income in china doing this but that same income is peanuts over here (due to the low cost of living in china). This is not for everybody over 60% of those that go there to teach don't make it. It is a huge culture shock.