I might just be complaining, but... (rant) *Update*

[Razadia]

I guess it's my fault I didn't explain a few things. I'm 21. I live in a horrible neighborhood and the only thing close to us that I can walk or ride my bike to without getting run over is a gas station that isn't hiring. My fault. I forgot the details.

I know my parents have never mistreated me, they just don't seem to understand that I don't want to lay around all day. Well, I don't do that now. For the past few days I've been walking over to one of my neighbor's houses and helping keep their 14 year old daughter out of trouble. I've known the girl her whole life and her parents even longer. Tomorrow I'll be going with them to help out with an auction which I may or may not be getting paid for. Either way, it's still work and a way to get out of the house.

I haven't been able to find anything since I completed Job Corps almost a year ago. For some reason or another no one wants to hire a certified painter. I have my hopes up that maybe I'll get paid tomorrow. Then maybe I can get somewhere with my parents.

Now I'm out of cigarettes. Tomorrow is going to be just wonderful.

 

[MsPony]

I'm 21 too, so what I'm saying is coming from someone your own age.

You complain about money but can still afford cigarettes...?? Uhm no. Get THAT prority straight right now. And yes, I smoke too,when I DO have the money.

I had a barn job at age 14, cleaning stalls for extra lessons, which turned into an exercise rider position. I briefly quit and moved to college for less then a year, came back and applied everywhere, even "crap" jobs. But it was the one job I NEVER expected to ever get, its a sought after position in a local, popular, very well known in CA pet store.

I got hired because I had horse experience. Yep! The owner had horses until recently. Now I've been pulling through the ranks from bottom gum scraper, and other pet companies want me.

So go to McDs, get a job, and in a year, apply for waitress, then in another year, apply at Hard Rock.

Where there's a will, there's.a way.

And the next time you complain about needing chicken stuffs, ill kindly remind you to put down the cigarette

 

[MetalSmitten]

no bus route?

your best bet is probably fast food or retail. is there a mall near you? if so, take a day, go around to every store (and i mean every store, not just the ones you like) and ask for an application. fill one out even if they're not hiring, they keep them on file. or go to a walmart or target or some other big box store, they hire a lot of people and have a pretty high turnover, so again, fill out the app even if they say they're not hiring. dress semi-professionally, bring copies of your resume, bring a pen and a folder to hold everything -- the more "prepared" and serious-looking you are, the better the first impression. never fill out an app in the store itself, that was always a pet peeve of mine as a hiring manager (because you're in the way of the customers, especially if you use the counter to write on). be sociable to whoever you ask for the app, i was always surprised at how few people took the time to talk to me when they asked for one (because i didn't LOOK like the manager, they assumed my opinion wouldn't matter) and i always asked the other employees what their impression of the applicant was too. you don't need to have a conversation or be fake or anything, just maybe a couple sentences past "can i have an application" is sometimes all it takes to make you memorable.

if you have to, take a cab to work. it sucks to lose that money, but as long as the fare is less than your pay, you'd still be earning money. any extra money could be put aside to buy yourself a starter car.

i did newspaper delivery when i was really young, they brought the papers to my house and i just walked the route. dunno if that'd be an option for you.

you're gonna take a ton of flack about the poorness vs smoking thing, btw

smoking is a really really big turnoff these days for a lot of employers; so don't smoke before you ask for apps or go to an interview. make sure no part of you smells like smoke. don't lie about it if they ask, but first impressions are everything, win them over by being awesome and doing good work before you show them your "flaw." unless they're also smokers haha, then you can totally bond over it.

good luck

i know firsthand that getting even basic jobs is waaaaay harder now than even 5 years ago. but don't give up. for reference, i worked retail for a decade (i'm 27, been working since i was 12) before i finally started my own tiny business

 

[MsPony]

MetalSmitten brought up a good point, appearance & first impression

There's a customer whom we have all helped, "right" age, ended up turning in an app...we have all been hinting towards management to hire him because of our impression of him. He already unofficially "fits", which is hard in true pet stores.

One day someone showed up for an interview in street clothes, owner grilled her and ripped her apart for something right away. Did NOT go well.

 

[GiddyMoon]

You have been given a lot of good advice and I really hope and pray you listen to it all..especially the ones that may not feel good.

I think it is great that you are helping your neighbors..and to be honest..I think you should fill your days being out of the house doing nothing and at the very least..find out who you can help for free...first and foremost your parents..even if they cannot afford to pay you. ...it is time to earn your full keep. And you never know what volunteer work can turn into...

I agree with the appearance suggestions too..

It seems we have a new generation of people who think they can act, look, do, and say anything and everything they want to really far extremes and employers and the world just has to "accept" them.

Um..no...that's not true and that belief has done a lot of damage. As an employer, they have EVERY RIGHT to want employees to look, act, smell, and work a certain way...see....they are paying for the work.

Our appearance DOES, whether we like it or not, DOES give people an impression. And we know this..or else we would not work so hard to change the outside, to GIVE people an impression. We cast out there what people see..whether we believe so or not. To just say people shouldn't judge from the outside..well, that's a magic unicorn thought. WE KNOW we cast out impressions and people work hard at casting them out there than at the same time insist no one judges them on. What kind of reasoning is that? I mean stop and think about that for a minute?

This is nothing new..every generation wanted to look different than the generation before them. Once again, my point is that what you are going through is nothing new..you will be ok, you will get thru this, tomorrow you may wake up and want to put out a totally different you...& in the mean time..we do have to conform for employment.....we have all done it.

Find work, any honest labor is good labor.

I remember reading somewhere a man told his son, never be ashamed of any work that you do..no matter how tedious or how low it seems. It means you are working, be thankful.

And I agree with the smoking. It is not a cheap habit, it is not a classy habit, it is not anything that anyone should want a part of. Now, I am not condemning smokers to hell..but we do need more frank honesty in this world and there is no reason to take it up now that people know how bad it is and especially how expensive. I too smoked a short time in my late teens..it was a very stupid thing to do and I can admit that. I stopped..cold turkey. To this day, when things get really crazy..sometimes I will still crave it 20 years alter. Oh well, life goes on.

So let's look at what your parents see...you are 21, live at home, no job, no car, complain you have no money, but you smoke.

Once again..I am not saying this to hurt your feelings..but you cannot deny these facts.

I understand rural life..I know it can be hard to get places..and I know life hands us some pretty tough things sometimes..believe me, I get it.

Time to grow up, suck it up and do whatever you can. And in the mean time..I think you owe your parents and apology.

 

[MsPony]

My boss just paid for a coworkers hair cut, it was too long and she said customers wouldn't respect him for that Now he is clean shaven, looks awesome, and FAR more professional. From a simple haircut.

 

[zippitydooda]

One other suggestion no one has mentioned yet.... you are obviously tech savvy (you are a great BYC poster), you have access to the internet.... why not try to find something you can do online? If you are crafty, make a product and sell it on etsy.com or ebay. How about finding a data entry job, medical billing, take surveys.... all those things pay (albeit a small amount). At least the time you spent online would be paying you. Do you have a college degree? If not, take some online courses. Financial aid is available.

Just a few other options. Good luck.

 

[sonew123]

UGHHH hunny I'll be honest like the rest.

Im 39 two DD's 12 and 15. We have rules in this house "work hard-play harder" No one is allowed to go anywhere or do anyting personal until all chores are done ( which they dont get paid for) If you do it right the first time-you are free to go and do whatever your little heart desires -within reason

-do it wrong-your doing it all over! My 15 yr old has a job working for her aunt in her restaurant washing dishes-She can't pay her much because its a new restaurant just starting out. She gets 25$ a day for 6 hours of washing dishes BY HAND-no dishwasher She earnes every penny she makes. My youngest will will be there today too earning her 25$. -QUIT SMOKING- that is rediculous for you to even blow 4-10$ a pack when you have no income-any $ you have should be going for the food bill! It rots being broke and Im sorry but the advice given to you here is the best I have seen offered --years of experience. First-Everyday, get out of your house and go for a walk-look around-talk to people-life is funny sometimes and an unexpected great opportunity may pop up from just taking a walk with open eyes and ears. There are no free rides in my house-welsummerchicks house sounds like mine. At 21-with no job or going to college, if my kids were still home, you bess be outside mowing my lawns-cleaning my coops-dog walking-working on property right by my side or your in a world of hurt. My children are well aware of that. Have you been doing that? Have you offered to do things like painting to your parents? I gaurantee if you offered to do something with your skills at home your parents would get off your back-contributions! Have you advertised your skills in the paper? online? Clist?? Work hard at it everyday-spend hours doing it. In life -you get what you give..if your not giving it your all your going to get nothing in return... I wish you luck

 

[Dar]

someone mentioned the car pooling web sites... I would stay away from that totally!... it is just a modern way of hitch hiking... except all people need to do is look online for their next sex assault victim .. please remember your safety comes first

if you dont have enough experience for a job you can always volunteer for a few months at various locations to gain a wide variety of experience and volunteer service hours look great on on resume

I dont know if you have piercings or tattoos BUT make sure your personal lifestyle is not visible to others. Unless the job is in a tattoo/piercing shop. Dont get me wrong I am not judging people with tattoos or piercings because I have them myself. All my tats and piercings are hidden when I am in my scrubs. When my co-workers see me at the mall in shorts and a T-shirt they are often shocked at my tats cause they have worked with me for 5 years and have never seen them.

Do not go to drop off applications smelling like smoke (or anything else for that matter) you want to be freshly groomed, clean clothes. How you look and smell are very important. In the eyes of a potential employer if you dont take the time to make sure you are groomed well then you wont take the time to make sure the business is kept in the same manor.

In our community and in many others they offer employment counselling free of charge. They will help you with a job search, they will help you write an effective resume, practice interviews, a place to print off your resume, fax/e-mail of resumes. Many people dont know how to look for a job because this is not a skill we use every day and the market changes so my skills from 5 years ago are out dated..

a word of caution about home based working.... remember it should NEVER cost you to start working from home... there are many many scams that will promise you $5000.00 a month working from home... all you need to do is invest $500.00 in product or supplies to get started. Dont fall into that trap.. its a scam.. Here in Ontario they keep the initial fee under $500 so that if these fraudster are caught its for many counts of fraud under $500 so its a misdemeanor charge slap on the hand and no jail time meanwhile they have milked people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars... if it sounds to good to be true... it probably is!

as zippy just mentioned you have internet access why not use it... many major food delivery places save on their over head by having the person taking your order from their home.. My friend did this for years while she raised her kids she would be nursing her daughter while she was taking lunch orders...LOL most days she went to work in her pj's

as for transportation... some of these employment centers will have bus tickets, or even a monthly pass to offer .. get a bike scour craigs list

just because you dont live in a great neighborhood that will not determine what you can become.. only you can decide that.

best of luck...

 

[HHandbasket]

Quote:
Things will get better. I went to Job Corps in 1983-84. I took medical transcription training, and have supported myself as a medical transcriptionist for 27 years. I, too, was 21 when I got out. That's a challenging time of life for anyone.

While you may feel your parents are making it hard for you now, if you sent out your resume and got some interviews, I would be willing to bet money that your folks would be happy for you and supportive. Perhaps your folks are making things more "challenging" for you on purpose--to see if you have the gumption, to see if you have what it takes to push your way past the proverbial brick walls life sometimes throws at us. Don't let self-doubt discourage you, even if it seems to be coming from your folks... just set your goal, stay focused, and move toward it. You can do this. You are an adult and do not need anyone else's permission to be who you are. You don't honestly think that if you got a job on your own that your folks would leave you there twisting in the wind with no way to get to and from your job, do you? Of course not! They are your folks and they love you (even though sometimes it may not seem like it).

Once you get a good job, especially doing paint work, you may be able to get to ride-share with a coworker.

Get a piece of paper out, make a list, set your priorities and goals. Do one thing each day toward those goals. When your parents see you making efforts, they will likely be more supportive. And I'm speaking to ya as a former fellow Job Corps graduate AND as a parent of adult kids your age (even older, but hey, who's counting ??? LOL).

Hang in there, sweetie. Stay strong. You can do this!

I wish you well. Use the job search skills they gave you at Job Corps and go after what you want. If you actually GET a job, believe me, your parents will be supportive of you.

Hugs!