So I'm a 19 yr old college student and I need a job. The thing is I doubt any employer would hire me because I have very little experience working. I've had 2 jobs my entire life and didn't worked at either for very long (both about 2-3 months). Now I know this sounds stupid but I've always received financial support from my parents, they wanted me to focus more on school rather than get a job. Now I have bills to pay and its about time I stop mooching off my parents and take some responsibility for myself you know. So would a temporary job agency be able to find a job for me even if I have little experience?

You are to be admired for your desire to work and not continue to depend upon your parents. At 19, most of us had little experience at anything except breathing so don't despair. Sign up at your local college for some advance course in what you "think" you would like to do for the rest of your life and you will find they have job postings and career counselors that can help you. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND GOD SPEED!

Oh by the way the Temp agencies are often looking for people with good moral upbringing which you obviously have and intelligence that shows by your interest in becoming a productive citizen. Get a skills resume done by the college career office and put on your best game face and keep trying.

I do admire your courage to look for a job even if you are still a student. But you don't have to worry since you are obviously very responsible. It is very important to be honest in your interviews. You can try out for part-time jobs which is more easier to find and besides, this allow you to balance your academic career. Well your parents just wants what is best for you that's why they want you to finish your first. Good luck!

I appreciate both of your help very much. I actually would prefer getting a part-time job since I'm a full time student, but I would take anything that I could get at this point. I've applied at 3 different places and tried to explain to them at my interviews that although I don't have much experience working, I'm a responsible and trustworthy person. I also took the initiative and after a couple weeks of not hearing anything I even called them to see if there was any news, but all I got was a "I'll have a manager call you back" and have yet to hear anything. Which probably means that they won't be hiring me. I'm not blaming them, they have to do what's best for them and hiring a kid with little job experience is a big risk on their part. That's why I'm hoping a temp agency could help me find a part time job, so that I could prove I'm a good worker.

In interviews, don't tell them what you don't know, they can already see that. What you do is show them what you are good at.

You need to improve your interview skills, what is important is to tell them all the good things, typing skills, filing or mechanical skills and so on.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

In interviews, don't tell them what you don't know, they can already see that. what you do is show them what you are good at.

You need to improve your interview skills, what is important is to tell them all the good things, typing skills, filing or mechanical skills and so on.

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I understand where you're coming from, but I told them everything I could to influence them to hire me. I told them I was fluent in Korean (being half korean) and took 6 yrs of French, 4 in HS and in my 2nd yr in college. Played Football for 3 yrs and was in NHS, told them I had great communication skills, responsible, trustworthy, could work great with others, etc, etc... still nothing yet. But looking at my application and only seeing 2 previous jobs (and only working at them for 2 months at that) I wanted to be straightforward and explain my situation.

It is important that you address the skills they are looking for in the position you are applying for,i.e. if you appear to have so much on the ball that training you to be a telemarketer would only result in a short term employee they are more likely to choose a candidate that has less qualifications than you and will stay for the long haul. You are a bright star in the pool of applicants therefore you will probably get lots of interviews, but be careful what you say about your future plans for employment. If you tell them you plan to be an ambassador or join the diplomatic corps after graduation with your 4.0 average, they'll talk you to death but won't hire you because you are over qualified and have goals that are within your reach with the skills and talents you exhibit Get me?
Seeking the type of employment, that a talented polyglot like yourself deserves, will come in time, but for now just tell them the basics and let them find out after they hire you what a diamond thy have and mourn the loss when you've finished school. If you are fortunate enough to be in a metropolitan area try becoming an on call linguist for the courts or state agencies, or independently market yourself as same. I wish I cold be more helpful.. . bon chance mon amie

A temp agency will know of many kinds of jobs that are out there. When you go to a temp agency, take their tests and interview with them, when they find you a job, basically you will be employed by the temp agency and not the people for whom you are actually doing the work. You might work at many places when using the services of a temp agency. By doing that you can build a reputation and improve your skills and have more things to put on your resume as far as the job experiences that you have had.

My suggestion would be to go to one or more temp agencies and see what they have to say. A lot of temp agencies will have tests that they can administer to you to see what skills you might already have in certain areas, like word processing, spread sheets, construction, etc.

A temp agency finds jobs for all sorts of people who might have all sorts of backgrounds, work experience and skill levels. They put people in jobs that can be part-time or full-time.