Comments on: No Experience Jobs?

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:30:06 +0000

I’m 27 and have a BS in Computer Science but no experience and no relevant work history (I last worked at a 7-11 in 2002). I graduated from College May 2007 so I’m not a recent grad either.

I’m having no luck finding work and am probably totally screwed

Where are entry level IT jobs? Jobs that offer training?

I’m at my wits end here…

By: Christian

Christian — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:43:49 +0000

It’s very discouraging to know despite all our hard work at school trying to better ourselves, employers cease to recognize our talent. It’s bull in my opinion. Now I have to consider re-enlisting into the Military. That is something I really didn’t want to do as Military life does indeed suck very much. At least there I don’t have to know someone to put food in my stomach and a roof over my head. I’m tired of seeing people who don’t qualify at all getting jobs because they knew someone. Does honest hard work even count at all today? Good luck to everyone.

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:16:57 +0000

It seems that prison-to-work people have an easier time getting jobs than college-to-work ones who got their Bachelor’s degree after going to college straight out of college-prep high school, no taking time off, no having babies out of wedlock, no criminal record, no drugs, no none of that. There are more welfare-to-work programs in the states than there are college-to-work ones. Entry level means an employer would rather hire someone with their GED and a felony record and a few out of wedlock children because the welfare-to-work programs give the employers money to participate in that. In my experience, I lost a job somewhere (for mistaken identity and my personal credit problems in their background and credit check) at which the welfare-to-work person was getting all the promotions and to this day is probably still there…well, guess what. The welfare-to-work girl doesn’t have “bad credit” from drowning in student loan debt from COLLEGE. That’s one main reason why employers would rather hire them than college graduates… sometimes I think school-to-prison is more acceptable by society as to what people SHOULD be doing, and that’s what makes those people a “better fit” in most companies. They’ve done “what they’re supposed to be doing” with their lives and so welcome, welcome. People like me are “unnatural” and a ‘freak’ and a misfit of society and no employer wants to hire that. (these days, not even in San Francisco…)

I may have to get my Master’s in Biotechnology or Bioagricultural Engineering just to get an entry level job washing petri dishes and labelling specimen jars at some lab somewhere in some remote part of the country where no one lives…and that’s IFFF I can get “work references” all the while no one will hire me.

I’m competing like hell for an UNPAID internship with a government agency whose work is in my field. This is pathetic.

By: Jahyra Jimenez

Jahyra Jimenez — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:01:54 +0000

I am a 21 year old who went from school to Prison and now that I want to do the right thing I can’t get a job! I never actually got to have a job. I do have my GED but it seems to me like that doesnt even matter any more because I have no work experience.

By: retired at 24

retired at 24 — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:17:38 +0000

After 13 years at the same job and 4 promotions I am now overqualified for most positions I apply for. 20% unemployment in Usa will maybe be the downfall of the economy. Good luck grads!

By: La Shandra

La Shandra — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:46:26 +0000

I just graduated from college and I now carry a License as a Psychiatric Technician. I have not found a job since August because every single job keeps telling me I need 1 yr of experience. I have searched everywhere for places that will hire without experience and I have found NONE. I have invested 1 year of my life to go to school for this profession 5 days a week 8 hours a day in school and now I am in the process of becoming a Sheriff because I really need a job. I just think its very sad that I had to switch my whole career because NOBODY will hire me without a year of experience……. Where do I get this year of experience if nobody will hire me without any experience??? Its discouraging

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:14:46 +0000

I agree with some people. What about us college graduates that have the degree but no experience in the field because there were no open internships available for that major in the local area? Does that mean we’re going to be homeless? Even people with graduate degrees have a hard time getting employed into entry level jobs. I read on this woman who had two master’s degrees and she couldn’t get a callback for a manager’s training position at a McDonald’s despite the fact that only a high school diploma is required. I swear, it seems like it’s required for you to have a Ph.D. from Yale to even get a callback for an entry level position.

By: lisa

lisa — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:18:51 +0000

I totally agree that it is unfair that people with no experience cannot find jobs very easily as imyself am a 16 year old just left school and it is so hard to find a job because of having no experience and age restrictions are increasing on every thing which also has a great impact.

By: Freddy

Freddy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:17:36 +0000

Very nice post willy, this has woke me up alot. I am currently searching for a job in the boston area since my contract is almost up for my current job and it seems like I will be unemployed again with only 7 months of networking experience. I have an associates degree now and still have a very hard time landing a job because of experience as usual so, im looking into taking some certifications for extra help. Any suggestions on this would be helpful.

By: Gustafson

Gustafson — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:31:48 +0000

I find the term entry level to mean that the hiring company doesn’t want to pay much and that the hiring company is OK with the fact that they will have to bring you up to speed.

Entering into a new industry, be that after graduating or changing professions usually entails changing job tasks and responsibilities.

–
Gustafson
http://theviewfromhome.com/thejobhunt – my job search notes

By: pam

pam — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:03:22 +0000

I don’t think its fair that people have to be experinced in almost everything just to find a job. What about students right out of school that needs a job to pay a few bills or so. believe it or not, majority of the time the ones with no experience would be a better worker for the job position then the ones who are experienced.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:52:32 +0000

I’ve actually applied for the same job I interned for and when I did intern they said that I am an excellent worker, but they didn’t have a position open. But I applied for the job when the position opened, had my application forwarded to a manager the same day, got called in for an interview the next day, had probably my best interview ever, waited the whole two weeks for a call, finally called 3 days after thr two week period and found out they hired someone else. This is coming from the guy that I did the job that takes normally a month or two to catch onto in a week and said I am the perfect candidate, passed with a 3.9 GPA after 4 years of college while working a full-time job and taking care of a home, but no prior experience in this field. NO EXPERIENCE = NO JOB It’s all about who you know in the company. Sad but true….

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:28:36 +0000

What a great post! I work as a recruiter in Boston for Hollister Staffing (www.hollisterstaff.com) and deal with mostly college grads. In my experience, they all seem to have a hard time determining what they are qualified for and what they aren’t. I agree with you that today having a college degree and no experience isn’t enough, and find that grads who had internships, got involved on campus, etc have an easier time finding a job than those that did not. This is all great advice, thank you for sharing it!

By: Heather Huhman

Heather Huhman — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:05:55 +0000

Willy,

Great post. I tell students all the time that “entry-level” is being redefined in most industries. For the most part, graduating with a college degree and “no experience” is simply not enough these days.

However, you make an important point about how “internships, volunteer work, coursework, membership in college organizations, and almost anything else that might help you hone your professional skills can be considered experience.” I would agree that most organizations will consider these types of experience when evaluating you as a potential hire. If nothing else, they might increase your starting salary (which is never a bad thing).

Again, very useful post.

Heather Huhman
Entry Level Careers Examiner
Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/x-828-Entry-Level-Careers-Examiner