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Despite the low unemployment rate, it is difficult to get a job here, even a low wage retail job.
I think it is just a matter of luck, I have seen people out of college throw out a mediocre resume with even obvious errors and get picked up for a professional position right away, and I have seen people that have excellent resumes, internships, the whole nine yards, even work experience and spend years trying to get a professional position and end up working retail the entire time. For example; I know someone who is an immigrant, get into DC, and get picked up for a admin assist job right away, the same month they got to the country, no college, nothing. Yet I know at the same a few looking for admin assist jobs, all college educated, have internships, and two even have experience as an admin assist, yet still nothing. It really is baffling and extremely frustrating for those who "did all the right things" yet still cannot get anything past retail or food service.
Go to the retail stores in the area, many college grads working there, all competing for a better job.
I do not know the magic formula for getting hired, I relocated here already employed, but I was fooled by the job market thinking family members could also get hired easily. All I can say is keep trying, you never know, you may get something this month, or three years from now. You will also be looking who has gotten the positions and think "how in the hell did they do it with their qualifications?"
Honestly, and this goes for the federal sector as well, I do not know how some people even got past the initial screening, their resumes in no way meet the minimum position requirements, it really is baffling to me. I know a lady at work who is a secretary, GS8, yet does not even know basic functions of Word, no relevant experience, no college degree, writes poorly, yet gets hired at a GS8? How?
Low wage retail jobs are actually harder to get in DC because we have an oversupply of unskilled labor.
But it is pretty easy to get a job in DC if you are a college educated resident and are willing to put in the time networking in addition to sending resumes. Yeah there may be gaps where one is doing temp work, but they are just that, gaps. Most of the time it is very brief.
Contact temp and recruiting agencies for work. Even if you don't get a permanent position right away, temp or contract work are good resume builders and will keep you busy while looking for a more permanent job.
One thing they are not recommending so far is applying directly through these companies websites. I will actually advise that you do that. Another thing is that specifically tailored resumes and CVs do count for a great deal in some professions.
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