Jobless for 5 Years (Home Depot, employment, high school)

[napy666]

My friend has been jobless for 5 years. She has her high school diploma and went to college for dentistry got her degree. But still doesn't have a job. She's applied to other jobs like Target, Costco, etc. But they never called her back and yet those places hire people who smoke pot on their break time and not her.

What is she doing wrong? When it comes to the dentistry field a lot of those dentist offices won't take you unless you have this amount of experience or this or that.

So what should she do?

[Chicano3000X]

Well they smoke pot on their break time.. But seriously, it's tough. I was a dental assistant. Now I'm working at home depot.

Trying to get into being a digital artist.

I hate to say it, get a regular job. It sucks, I know. She should have done that a long time ago. And I thought almost a year was bad.

[Ceece]

She has her high school diploma and went to college for dentistry got her degree. But still doesn't have a job.

Did your friend not do any internships while in school or make any contacts in the dental industry? Perhaps she can offer to intern now, for no pay, to get that experience she needs. IT won't be worse than what she's doing now (nothing) and may lead to a job in her chosen area. I'm assuming assistant, not an actual dentist.

Trying to get into being a digital artist.

Tough gig. Mostly freelance.

[kasuga888]

How many years out of school is she? 5 years unemployed is a long time for any field and would make any employer hesitant in hiring her. If she is 5 years out after her degree, her chance is slim that anyone will hire her for that field since there are prob tons of kids graduating with the same degree.
The problem with any degree is that you need to go where the demand is and where there is not a oversupply. I'm guessing these technical schools sucker in hundreds (if not thousands) of people in the region with hopes in xyz field, but realistically there is not a enough demand for it in that region/part of town. She may need to check the outlying areas where new dentist office are popping up...

[munchitup]

Yeah 5 years is a really huge employment gap. Probably why at this point jobs at Target are so hard to get. Not sure what kind of advice to give that isn't 4 years too late.

[1200RT]

You, as her friend, are probably the best one to answer this question.

Why do YOU think shes been unemployed for 5 years? If YOU had to answer the "what is she doing wrong" question, how would you?

[disgruntled la native]

Jobless for 5 years means you're not trying hard enough or you're being too picky. I get the economy is tough - it really is - and getting a job is harder than ever, but if you're willing to settle for something unglamorous you will get a job in way under 5 years... try a few months max.

[Mike121]

She has a HS Diploma. If she's fit and doesn't have a criminal record, I'd recommend the military.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

Jobless for 5 years means you're not trying hard enough or you're being too picky. I get the economy is tough - it really is - and getting a job is harder than ever, but if you're willing to settle for something unglamorous you will get a job in way under 5 years... try a few months max.

Wow. This about the closest thing to a positive thing you've said on the forum.

My question is more of, how on earth does one pay their living expenses. Borrow money from family I guess.

[napy666]

Originally Posted by Ceece

Did your friend not do any internships while in school or make any contacts in the dental industry?

She did for a month but the place she went too had another student working there as well, so that student got the position not her. That place was suppose to be for her and her alone but the school sent 2 students to the same place.