dungja

So, i've been trying to get a summer job for quite some time now, and it's frickin impossible. I'm sure most of it has to do with the fact that I'm a rising sophomore in college and have no job experience(which is what i'm trying to fix). How do most people get their first jobs? I mean everyone's gotta start from scratch right? I'm just wondering if you guys got any tips or advice or just general info on this. Thanks.

Russell7

I don't think I ever not had a job throughout highschool... that's how.

jackht27

I was in the same situation until a few weeks ago. I just graduated high school and I knew I would need some experience before I leave. I got a job at a retirement home. It's definitely not glamorous by any means, but if you look around at places people might not immediately think of for a job, you'll have a better chance at gaining at least some good experience, something to put on a resume, and possibly a good reference or two? Then by the time two or three months goes by, you can look for something more appealing, with better hours, better pay, etc. That's exactly what I am doing.

Now when I go to school it won't take as long to get a job because they will know that I have had some experience, which I am quite happy about.

arnoc

Outside of private work, I've only done retail since August 2007. Absolutely no experience required, easy to get into, easy to get out of.

Easy

Yeah, that's the type of girl I look for too...wait, what?

fizix2

apply before the summer's actually started?

dungja

Yeah regarding Jackht's post, I was thinking about just volunteering at a hospital somewhere. It doesn't seem like I'm gonna get a job. I just applied to bed bath and beyond and have been waiting for like a week to hear from the movie theater(which is the main place I want to work) and other places. At the least if I volunteer now, i can have some kind of "work" experience.

Sheed30

easiest job...call center...trust me....

jackht27

Yes, retirement home but I get paid minimum wage so I don't really care. It's better than nothing.

I would avoid volunteering. It's sort of a waste of time. I volunteered at the American Cancer Society and every job I applied for obviously didn't really take it that seriously...It's not as meaningful as an actual job that you get paid for.

GoldShadow

You need experience to get a job, and you need a job to get experience. A classic Catch-22.

You are quickly becoming my favorite poster on CC.

bluewatermelon

LOL.. Easy does crack me up too.

The first too jobs I got were kind of an easy thing... the first one was designed to be students' first jobs, so they accepted everyone and the second i got from a family friend. i would suggest looking around for opportunities where no experience is required, or asking family or friends if they can do favors at their jobs. you'll probably definitely have to start on the bottom of the job ladder, meaning minimum wage and crap work. but hey! you'll be gaining experience

UnleashedFury

the best way to get a job without experience is to have connections. especially with the recession now.

jackht27

I agree. Nepotism is your friend.

dungja

Yeah I wished I had connections in the job market, but I recently moved to a new area so I'm out of connections. I recently had an idea to combat my lack of job experience. Instead of just putting n/a under job experience I put child care giver on it. Basically I put the fact that I did some babysitting back in the day for my neighbor, and used her as a reference. Hopefully that works, kinda seems like BS though lol.