My Support Forums - View Single Post - Why do I have so much trouble finding an entry level job?

seesaw · Mar 25, 2017, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

You're right. Maybe I am being too rash on the whole honesty vs dishonesty thing but still, it makes me so angry knowing that there are so many of us with MI who outright struggle to find gainful employment because employers won't give us a fair chance.

For me, I think a lot of my issues are due to having no self esteem and no confidence in my abilities. I truly believe that I'm worthless to prospective employers because I have nothing to offer them compared to some random 18-19 year old high school graduate because of my MI and lack of experience.

After all, as a hiring manager yourself, if you had to choose between 2 people; one being an 18 year old without any experience and one being a 25 year old with significant gaps in his employment history with no provable or noteworthy experience and no college education, who would you pick? Probably the former; at least that's what I would pick.

I don't want to lie on a resume I really don't, but how the hell do I explain to prospective employers about why I have several years worth of gaps in my employment history and why I have never had a normal "9-5" job. How am I supposed to even tailor a resume around this fact, especially since I have never been to college, never fully completed trade school because of my MI, and didn't have the best grades in high school?

What am I supposed to say when questioned? "Sir/ma'am I was being treated for mental health issues at that time"? They will think that I'm some type of psycho and probably reject me out of fear or ignorance.

Unless I limit myself to jobs that don't require me to submit a resume, I don't see myself even getting an interview to most places. Even temp agencies all require a resume and I am still dumbfounded as to how to have one designed since I don't have anything to put on it. If I limit myself, I can't help it but to be afraid that I will go though every major retail and fast food job and not get hired because of my issues.

What am I supposed to do? I am so lost and confused.

If I can get over this one barrier, I would be compelled to not lie. Otherwise, I have no choice.

Believe me, I know what you are going through. I was finding I was getting turned down for jobs I was well qualified for, but my resume just wasn't written in that slick (I would say sneaky) way others were, so I reformatted and edited mine and now I get hits left and right. ANd I have an 18 month gap in my resume due to mental health treatment. What I say when asked about that is that I got sick and had to get medical treatment, and I leave it at that. Hasn't caused any issues in me getting an interview, second interview, or the job I currently have.

So there are ways to answer those questions that will satisfy the recruiter. One thing you can say too is that you had a sick relative and had to take time off to care for the sick relative. No one questions that.