I have 0 relevant work experience... what should I do? (job hunting, credit, applying)

[Malkiel]

I'm currently a college student looking for a PT job for the rest of summer plus the upcoming school year. I haven't worked before college and since college I've worked work as a research assistant and a tutor. I'm a commerce major.

I feel that I'm capable of doing a lot of jobs but they all require several years of relevant work experience regardless the job's sophistication.

For example, I saw a CL posting for the position of a Medical Office Assistant but even that requires two years of experience working in a medical office and a medical office assistant "certificate".

However, the PT jobs that do not require any work experience don't contribute to my gaining of any useful skills. I could probably get a job at McDonald's or Wal-Mart but it's not like working there for a few years will help me get a better PT job since all the good ones require specialized work experience.

I really want a good PT job right now because I hope to have a PT job when to I go grad school.

How do you even get into a job like being a medical office assistant without any work experience? I'm not sure if there's anything below that which requires no experience but provides you with relevant experience.

[Huckleberry3911948]

i never had any relative work experience i just worked FTE since 1978 and then retired. not one day was relevant, and they never fulfilled any of my dreams, until now.

[silenthelpreturns]

It's tough to even get a job at walmart. I tried a couple times, mine was sorta far but I could make it, they had like an hour personality test at the end of the application and I had to do it on a little computer screen with tiny buttons. Of course there was silence after applying.

We are living in an anti-humane, evil, corrupted society right now, as long as you know this you should be able to cope a little better. I don't really know what I can do now, I don't want to live off a $300 disability pension all my life.....I want to be independent. I mean for christ sakes, I'm only 21, but this society and the people in it have decided to give me the nazi treatment. Then they have the audacity to turn around and say I am a burden. That's why minimum wage employers are shunning me (when I am playing by the job hunting rules) and they are probably judging me because I have a G.E.D. instead of a high school diploma. Yeah, keep thinking what you think. Well maybe if I could get job, I wouldn't be so much of a "burden".

I am counting down the hours until june 21st when I should finally see a vocrehab counselor in person to see what the heck can be done.

All I know is, I don't enjoy being FORCED to be miserable.

[shocktop]

It's tough out there. You have people with experience who's also in the same boat. I say just keep on trying and you might get lucky

[nj21]

Originally Posted by Malkiel

I'm currently a college student looking for a PT job for the rest of summer plus the upcoming school year. I haven't worked before college and since college I've worked work as a research assistant and a tutor. I'm a commerce major.

I feel that I'm capable of doing a lot of jobs but they all require several years of relevant work experience regardless the job's sophistication.

For example, I saw a CL posting for the position of a Medical Office Assistant but even that requires two years of experience working in a medical office and a medical office assistant "certificate".

However, the PT jobs that do not require any work experience don't contribute to my gaining of any useful skills. I could probably get a job at McDonald's or Wal-Mart but it's not like working there for a few years will help me get a better PT job since all the good ones require specialized work experience.

I really want a good PT job right now because I hope to have a PT job when to I go grad school.

How do you even get into a job like being a medical office assistant without any work experience? I'm not sure if there's anything below that which requires no experience but provides you with relevant experience.

Sure you do! You just have to add it onto your resume in a way that will highlight your skills relevant to the position you are looking for.

What exactly are you trying to do?

Also add relevant coursework to your resume as well as any clubs you were in and any conferences you attended. Even if they weren't relevant. This just shows you have a diverse background, are active, and get along with a lot of different types of people.

You can also look into company training programs for recent graduates. A LOT of well-known companies offer them. Here is an example I found of one at GE:

GE Entry-Level Leadership Programs

[ragnarkar]

Call up the company, explain your situation, and see if they'll offer an internship for someone like you. I wish I had done that when I was still in your position.

[Garfunkle524]

Originally Posted by nj21

Sure you do! You just have to add it onto your resume in a way that will highlight your skills relevant to the position you are looking for.

What exactly are you trying to do?

Also add relevant coursework to your resume as well as any clubs you were in and any conferences you attended. Even if they weren't relevant. This just shows you have a diverse background, are active, and get along with a lot of different types of people.

You can also look into company training programs for recent graduates. A LOT of well-known companies offer them. Here is an example I found of one at GE:

GE Entry-Level Leadership Programs

Good advice here. The key is to custom-tailor your resume to whatever position you're applying for. It's time-consuming but well worth it when you finally earn a job offer. For example, if you want that medical office assistant job, cite the organizational skills you had to use in previous positions.

ALL experience is relevant, it's just a matter of finding the connection.

I will agree that employers are being ridiculous. They could be the only company in the world that serves some niche market, yet when they're hiring they post requirements that candidates have 5+ years experience in that niche. How do candidates get that experience if they're not working for the company to begin with???

[Kevdawgg]

Originally Posted by shocktop

It's tough out there. You have people with experience who's also in the same boat. I say just keep on trying and you might get lucky

Employers would rather hire young job seekers with the relevant experience for low wages. Pretty soon, Uncle Sam will have to support it's unemployed citizens while people who have jobs will only make peanuts.

[benvwin]

Go to your career center, get them to help you write an awesome cover letter to go along with your resume.

That USUALLY helps and apply like crazy!!

Remember to not always use the same cover letter, use it as a template and modify it to each job specifically. Same with your resume, emphasize on school activities... hopefully you have some of that.

[Johnny Cash]

do you have enough accounting credits to take CPA?