Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help!
Answer   ||    Advanced Search

Ask your question or search...
International Sites: Nederlandse experts vragen
User Name 
Password 
Join   Forgot password? 

Home > Business & Careers > Job Hunting   »   18, unexperienced, and no college degree

Question
 
 
#1  
Old Mar 9, 2009, 03:32 AM
modernromance09
Junior Member
modernromance09 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
modernromance09 See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
18, unexperienced, and no college degree

i'm 18, recent high school graduate, can't afford to go to college, and have only had one job in my entire life and that was when i was 16 for about 7 months at a local grocery store. i don't even know where to look. i'm trying not to be too picky considering how bad the economy is but i know for sure i don't want to work in fast food and would prefer not to work in grocery stores/retail, even though i know there's not much else for someone like me. i love animals but i'm not really sure what i can do with that without a college degree. also i have pretty bad anxiety and pretty much always feel nervous so would rather not work in a super fast paced place. help please? i'm desperate. i live with my boyfriend now because my parents were going to start making me pay to live with them and i honestly don't have the money and it's nicer not living with them anyways. but one thing that does suck is starving so i'd definitely like to at least make enough to be able to eat.

Reply With Quote
 
     

Answers
 
 
Old Mar 9, 2009, 04:22 AM   #2  
Accounting Expert
ROLCAM is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: sydney australia
Posts: 1,022
ROLCAM See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Getting a job

Getting a job begins with locating and applying for jobs that will advance your career plans. It also involves convincing employers that you are the best applicant for their job openings. The way you apply for a job and present your qualifications can greatly influence an employer's impression of you. Therefore, you should know how to contact employers, how to complete application forms, and how to make a good impression in job interviews. It is also important to know how to write a good resume, or summary of your background and qualifications. All these skills can improve your chances for employment. However, do not be discouraged if you are not offered the first job you apply for. Most employers consider several applicants for each job opening, and many people make a number of applications before being hired.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Mar 9, 2009, 04:28 AM   #3  
Christianity Expert
Fr_Chuck is offline
 
Fr_Chuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Georgia
Posts: 36,929
Fr_Chuck has disabled reputation
It means not being picky at all, from cleaning the cages at the animal shelter to wearing a costume and standing by the road waving a sign.

You apply to dozens of places each and every day, as many as you can, and take any job you can get
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Mar 11, 2009, 02:55 AM   #4  
Arts & Small/Home Business Expert
Clough is offline
 
Clough's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Rock Island, IL
Posts: 20,450
Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Hi, modernromance09!

Yes, it does take a lot of work and effort for anyone to find a job, and at your age, it would be best not to be too picky. So many people who are in the top ranks at the companies for which they work, started out at the bottom level in the company and worked their way up.

No matter what you do, if you make yourself indispensable, show self-motivation, friendliness and a desire to be a proactive and positive team member of a company in order to further benefit a company, those traits and qualities are going to be noticed by others so that you'll be able to climb the ladder to success.

Thanks!
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Mar 12, 2009, 08:19 AM   #5  
New Member
Akeginu is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: New York
Posts: 23
Akeginu See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
You could probably start at a Animal Shelter. They usually take alot of people with no experience. You could also Volunteer for a while just so that you can get some experience and apply to an animal hospital. You could also apply to animal hospitals that are willing to train you. You have to make sure that you have a GREAT cover letter explaining why you would be the best candidate. Practice interview questions! Sometimes it doesn't matter what a person's qualifications are once the interview comes around. They often choose the person who is more motivated, and more passionate about the job.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Mar 12, 2009, 08:40 AM   #6  
Adult Sexuality Expert
Synnen is offline
 
Synnen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 4,887
Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Synnen See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
What do you mean, you can't afford to go to college?


Go to the library and start looking up "Scholarships", "Grants", and "Loans". Bet you find out that you CAN afford to go to school.

PS--working in fast food or retail while you go to school is probably a good thing, anyway. You'll learn that you don't want a crap job for the rest of your life, and work that much harder to get a degree.

PPS--my sister loves animals too. She couldn't work in an animal shelter or for the humane society because she couldn't stand when people would bring in abused animals, or when they had to put an animal to sleep.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Mar 12, 2009, 08:47 AM   #7  
Junior Member
vwdieseljunkie is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast
Posts: 107
vwdieseljunkie See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Send a message via Yahoo to vwdieseljunkie
You've gotten a lot of good advice so far.

The biggest thing in your situation is to find A JOB. Look up your local job center, work force center, unemployment center, what ever it may be called for your area. You can speak with counselors there who can assist you in job placement, and get help with everything from job searches to resume writing. They will also help you with job placement and can provide you with job references. These centers are there to serve you, and to my knowledge, all of their services are at NO COST to you. This is a very valuable service for someone starting out.

Granted, you may not find a job you want at first, but the most important thing is gainful employment. The paycheck is your current priority.

While you are working, you can spend your free time searching for a job you would prefer to have. You are also have the income to not only keep you from 'starving', but hopefully you can put some into savings in order to buy what you may need when you find the job you want (wardrobe, transportation needs, etc.)

Having A job gives you the luxury of time in finding a better job.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Mar 12, 2009, 08:55 AM   #8  
New Member
Akeginu is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: New York
Posts: 23
Akeginu See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
I agree. You have to start somewhere. I also started my first job (off the books) as a sales rep at a clothe store. I hated it, and i only lasted 3months before i quit. I then moved, and somehow scored a job as a office assistant. I didn't enjoy the job either. My next job was a job at an animal hospital as a veterinary assistant/receptionist. My point is, You have to get all the crappy jobs out of the way so that you can get experience for better jobs in the future. School would also help. Some jobs help people pay for school.
Don't be so picky at first!
Good luck!
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Mar 13, 2009, 11:40 AM   #9  
Full Member
FlyYakker is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 283
FlyYakker See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
All good advice. Clough, in particular, hit it on the head with " if you make yourself indispensable, show self-motivation, friendliness and a desire to be a proactive and positive team member of a company in order to further benefit a company, those traits and qualities are going to be noticed by others so that you'll be able to climb the ladder to success." Certainly any good boss (and good fellow workers) will appreciate those traits. As an ex manager I would take moderately skilled (or unskilled but trainable) motivated person, that showed real interest in the job, over a highly skilled but lazy person every time. Also, DO NOT take your personal problems to the job. When at work, worry only about getting the job done.

Good luck. Hang in there.

Comments on this post
Clough agrees: Thank you so much!!!!
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Mar 13, 2009, 12:51 PM   #10  
Arts & Small/Home Business Expert
Clough is offline
 
Clough's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Rock Island, IL
Posts: 20,450
Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Clough See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Thank you so much, FlyYakker!! That was very kind of you!!
  Reply With Quote
 
     

Your Answer
Email me when someone replies to my answer
Join Login



Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes
Ask your question or search...



Similar Threads
Don't have college degree
(5 replies)
unexperienced in lads and need.
(1 replies)
my son college degree
(0 replies)
mixed signals. no idea. unexperienced. no confidence.
(3 replies)
College/degree question
(1 replies)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Show Printable Version
Email this Page Email this Page
Search this Thread

Advanced Search

Bookmarks





Copyright ©2003 - 2009, Ask Me Help Desk.
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:23 AM.