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anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: johnny tsunami ()
Date: February 23, 2012 12:10AM

I'm 21 and just received my associates degree from NVCC - I will be transferring to a four year university this fall. From now until mid August I am trying to find a simple entry level job to save some money for school....

When I go to apply in person, the usual response is "I'm sorry, you have to apply online." ....OK, cool...so I apply online....Never hear back....

Sooo....I use craigslist and other job search websites....I find plenty of places that are NOW HIRING....I immediately apply/reply with an email to craigslist ads.....Same thing, I NEVER HEAR BACK....

I've sent out about 20 applications/email replies ...and NOTHING....


I remember in high school I could walk into any job and be hired on the spot....


ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM?!?

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: VA Phins Fan ()
Date: February 23, 2012 12:28AM

Lower your standards.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: JuanValdez ()
Date: February 23, 2012 12:36AM

Day labor center.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: skins ()
Date: February 23, 2012 12:36AM

The best buy in fair lakes is gonna have a job fair. I forgot what day, it's sometime next week. They have info on it on a table as soon as you walk in. go check it out

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: Hatemotor ()
Date: February 23, 2012 12:44AM

When you submit your resume on line, use all the key phrases from the job description some where in your resume or cover letter, both if possible,,,

This works wonders, don't worry too much if the sentences sound forced or phony, your just trying to get the HR software to send you through,,,

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: lizzie ()
Date: February 23, 2012 02:26AM

No. I've had 4 different jobs this week. You just have to be pretty like me.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: another reason ()
Date: February 23, 2012 05:34AM

johnny tsunami Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm 21 and just received my associates degree from
> NVCC - I will be transferring to a four year
> university this fall. From now until mid August I
> am trying to find a simple entry level job to save
> some money for school....
>
> When I go to apply in person, the usual response
> is "I'm sorry, you have to apply online." ....OK,
> cool...so I apply online....Never hear back....
>
> Sooo....I use craigslist and other job search
> websites....I find plenty of places that are NOW
> HIRING....I immediately apply/reply with an email
> to craigslist ads.....Same thing, I NEVER HEAR
> BACK....
>
> I've sent out about 20 applications/email replies
> ...and NOTHING....
>
>
> I remember in high school I could walk into any
> job and be hired on the spot....
>
>
> ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM?!?

I remember that to until the illegals came to town.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: To another reason ()
Date: February 23, 2012 08:21AM

Did your parents give you a ghetto sounding name? If so you are out of luck.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: best buy jobs ()
Date: February 23, 2012 08:29AM

Sounds good- I would LOVE to go.

Problem is- I know they will only give me MAYBE 25 hours a week (part-time) at $9 an hour. $225 gross, about $180 net for me since I have a child.

Knowing them- they will want me to work nights/weekends. This means I am paying $10 an hour for childcare during non-traditional hours (basically 7a-6p monday-friday).

This would negate anything I would have made in profit.

This is true for just about any retail position nowadays. It is VERY RARE to find a TRUE FULL TIME retail job with a SOLID 40 hours EVERY week.

Oh well, back to the cube world for me. I have it but I have no choice.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: bbj ()
Date: February 23, 2012 08:33AM

best buy jobs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sounds good- I would LOVE to go.
>
> Problem is- I know they will only give me MAYBE 25
> hours a week (part-time) at $9 an hour. $225
> gross, about $180 net for me since I have a
> child.
>
> Knowing them- they will want me to work
> nights/weekends. This means I am paying $10 an
> hour for childcare during non-traditional hours
> (basically 7a-6p monday-friday).
>
> This would negate anything I would have made in
> profit.
>
> This is true for just about any retail position
> nowadays. It is VERY RARE to find a TRUE FULL TIME
> retail job with a SOLID 40 hours EVERY week.
>
> Oh well, back to the cube world for me. I have it
> but I have no choice.


for the record. this post was not the OP

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: readitagain ()
Date: February 23, 2012 08:37AM

It's probably because you're not going to be around in 6 months. It takes 6 months to a year to train someone.

Limit your search to Fairfax, Chantilly, and Centreville. Stress your ethnic background. Don't tell them you're leaving for college.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: Why did you have a kid? ()
Date: February 23, 2012 08:39AM

Anyone pro-lifers on here want to help out this unwed poor mother?

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: 2 cents ()
Date: February 23, 2012 01:30PM

If you apply for a job in person, make sure you look good (hair cut, clean, nice clothes). Sounds obvious, but it isn't to a lot of people.

Have someone check your resume. There are a lot of crappy resumes out there. And follow Hatemotor's advice to repeat key words and phrases in your resume and cover letter. In general, try to tailor your resume to the job, even if it's menial work.

I hate to be deceptive, but if you tell a potential employer that you'll be leaving in six months, you're dead in the water. People want stability.

Don't expect to hear back from people, because you won't. That's the sad reality now. And twenty resumes is not a lot. Keep plugging.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: DeptMgr ()
Date: February 23, 2012 02:23PM

2 cents Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you apply for a job in person, make sure you
> look good (hair cut, clean, nice clothes). Sounds
> obvious, but it isn't to a lot of people.
>
> Have someone check your resume. There are a lot of
> crappy resumes out there. And follow Hatemotor's
> advice to repeat key words and phrases in your
> resume and cover letter. In general, try to tailor
> your resume to the job, even if it's menial work.
>
> I hate to be deceptive, but if you tell a
> potential employer that you'll be leaving in six
> months, you're dead in the water. People want
> stability.
>
> Don't expect to hear back from people, because you
> won't. That's the sad reality now. And twenty
> resumes is not a lot. Keep plugging.

Proper interviewing skills are very important. I used to hire
telephone operators and clerical staff and you wouldn't believe
some of the clowns I've dealth with. One young woman was fresh
out of high school and was chewing bubble gun and blowing bubbles
during her interview and actually told me that if it rained or
snowed she wouldn't be coming to work. Also had a guy put down
his mother as a reference. Yeah right.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: Hay Zeus ()
Date: February 23, 2012 02:27PM

DeptMgr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Proper interviewing skills are very important. I
> used to hire
> telephone operators and clerical staff and you
> wouldn't believe
> some of the clowns I've dealth with. One young
> woman was fresh
> out of high school and was chewing bubble gun and
> blowing bubbles
> during her interview and actually told me that if
> it rained or
> snowed she wouldn't be coming to work. Also had a
> guy put down
> his mother as a reference. Yeah right.

Those are the kind of people that end up working for a Gov't agency

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: section 8 fan ()
Date: February 23, 2012 02:28PM

Since the county put me up in a luxury condo at taxpayer expense I really have no desire to work. But thanks for asking.
Attachments:
couch-potato.jpg

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: Ralph Pootawn ()
Date: February 23, 2012 03:40PM

dice.com

OR I'll pay you to come over and wash and detail my truck

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: doughtry ()
Date: February 24, 2012 07:33PM

I love how everyone here thinks its so simple to find a job and that only lazy people are unemployed. Easy to say when none of you graduated from university in this recession or took a remedial task which a high school drop out could perform. Whatever most of us don't have a daddy or a family member to spoon feed us a job right out of university. Some of us have to work their asses off to get to where they are despite being shit on by low life bastards.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: stewie g ()
Date: February 24, 2012 08:17PM

^^^
obvious poor attitude, big part of your problem.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: Move to Florida ()
Date: February 24, 2012 08:20PM

Or Texas. Nova is wonderful. Great jobs, schools and a lot less spics.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: doughtry ()
Date: February 25, 2012 11:38AM

stewie g Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ^^^
> obvious poor attitude, big part of your problem.

Oh I'm not unemployed anymore or underemployed. You see like I said in my post I worked my ass off to get into my career. A poor attitude was the last thing I had. I had something called perseverance and motivation. Not daddy bending over backwards kissing my ass or giving me a job right out of university. I did my time as an indentured servant working retail. So you can take your poor attitude assumption and sit on it to see if it fits.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: Two Feet In The Grave ()
Date: February 25, 2012 01:40PM

Some quick thoughts:

Yes, the fact that you're going back to school in 6 months is limiting your possibilities. But don't lie to an employer, making it sound as if you'll be there permanently. There ARE short-term jobs.

If they tell you to apply online, chances are they're blowing you off. Yes, you CAN apply for lots of jobs online. But the blunt truth is that if you show up looking for work AND they need to hire someone, they'll be glad to take that application in person. Try to figure out why they might be blowing you off.

It's a fact of life that employers don't get back to applicants any more. Sad but true. You just have to accept that.

Twenty job applications isn't a whole lot. Yes, I know it's some. But it's not a huge number.

Craigslist is fine for some jobs, but not for others. Certainly don't restrict your efforts to Craigslist.

The advice above about tailoring your letter or resume to the keywords in the job listing is excellent. Make it sound--whether to a human or to a computer scanning your resume--that you're the perfect match.

Though you said you're looking for a basic entry-level job, is there any way to leverage the degree you're getting? And here's a tip: Ask your professors at NOVA. Especially the ones in your area of study. Definitely do that.

Hope that helps.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: Stones ()
Date: February 25, 2012 02:10PM

No.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: stewie g ()
Date: February 25, 2012 02:35PM

doughtry Wrote:
> Oh I'm not unemployed anymore or underemployed.
> You see like I said in my post I worked my ass off
> to get into my career. A poor attitude was the
> last thing I had. I had something called
> perseverance and motivation. Not daddy bending
> over backwards kissing my ass or giving me a job
> right out of university. I did my time as an
> indentured servant working retail. So you can
> take your poor attitude assumption and sit on it
> to see if it fits.

Your response says othewise. What are you too good to do retail? Whats with the indentured servant bit? I bet when you interview you come across as having been too good to do that kind of work. An employer will look at you and think well maybe he will be too good to do some of the things we ask. Jobs such at retail are just as resepctable as any other if you put in the hours and do your work. Stop looking down on people who may be satisified with their work and dont chase a six figure salary.

No my daddy never got me a job or put me through college I did it myself. I went to school at night and worked in the day. Want to know what kind of job I had. Car repairs, changing oil on cars, replacing tires etc. Hard dirty work but I was getting paid, so what. Stop with the poor me shit, you are your own worst enemy.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: johnny tsunami ()
Date: February 25, 2012 03:10PM

fyi, doughtry is not the OP



but thanks for the help guys.....some of you have shared some very helpful tips, and I thank you!

However, still LOOKING FOR A JOB!!! with ZERO replies back.

and yes, I'm very professional and neat with my appearance. I do not look like a slob.

To those saying I need to "lower my standards" in the job search, I assure you that applying for landscaping and brick work is pretty low standards.....I'd figure Landscape company employers would quickly hire any college educated, white, English AND SPANISH speaking male, with three years experience in the landscaping industry.....I guess I was wrong...


I am now sending out applications and neglecting to mention that I will resume my studies this fall...Hopefully this will help...


Have a good weekend everyone!

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: DeptMgr ()
Date: February 25, 2012 03:47PM

Hay Zeus Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DeptMgr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > Proper interviewing skills are very important.
> I
> > used to hire
> > telephone operators and clerical staff and you
> > wouldn't believe
> > some of the clowns I've dealth with. One young
> > woman was fresh
> > out of high school and was chewing bubble gun
> and
> > blowing bubbles
> > during her interview and actually told me that
> if
> > it rained or
> > snowed she wouldn't be coming to work. Also had
> a
> > guy put down
> > his mother as a reference. Yeah right.
>
> Those are the kind of people that end up working
> for a Gov't agency

Not the case here. It is a Federal agency and the last thing I need
is complaints from John Q. Public bitching about poor service,
the "run around", or some asshole sleeping on the job while the
others have to do their work. Not on my watch because I took my
job as manager very seriously.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: Some Thoughts ()
Date: February 25, 2012 04:42PM

johnny tsunami Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> .....I'd figure Landscape company
> employers would quickly hire any college educated,
> white, English AND SPANISH speaking male, with
> three years experience in the landscaping
> industry.....I guess I was wrong...

Well, they might have 20 years ago, but the demographics have changed. There is a constant supply of ready, willing, and able immigrants who will do back-breaking work without an attitude (not saying you have one).

Personally, I'd look at jobs that require some degree of communication skills. Have you tried temp agencies? They might be able to put you in a low-level white collar job for six months.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: TheNorthman ()
Date: February 25, 2012 08:04PM

Some Thoughts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Personally, I'd look at jobs that require some
> degree of communication skills. Have you tried
> temp agencies? They might be able to put you in a
> low-level white collar job for six months.


This. Upload your resume to monster and every day or two make SURE to edit it. You don't need to actually change anything at all other than adding a space or something. What you're really doing is changing the "last modified" date (or whatever it's called). This will keep your resume at the top of search results for temp agencies.

A temp agency staffer is not likely to contact a prospective employee for a 4 month data entry (or other entry level position) if their profile hasn't been touched since August of 2011. If you haven't done so already, create a monster profile (which takes about a half hour) with all your contact info and let those temp job placers come to you.

As has been said several times, many jobs don't want somebody who, even if they are a great employee, will be gone in 6 months. It's not worth the investment and the employer will be in same spot of having to find somebody 6 months from now. But there are temp agency jobs that are looking for short term people which is good match for you.

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Re: anyone else having a hard time getting a job?
Posted by: Les ()
Date: February 25, 2012 08:20PM

It's tough to apply for job in landscaping or related field if you're going to leave in August. There's still another 4 months or so remaining to work. Maybe you could find work in the town you're going to go to school and transition to part-time when your classes start.

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