[transient]

To begin, I'll say that I've never had a real job before. I applied to subway a few years ago but was too scared to go through the whole process- I realized my social anxiety would make it hard to work there.

My social anxiety can get extremely bad to the point where I'm scared to talk online, to people I know. I get nervous around my family and extended family, even though we've been close throughout the years. I have been coping with my major depression and ptsd, and apparently I have psychotic symptoms. My social anxiety can aggravate my psychotic symptoms, my ptsd can aggravate my social anxiety, etc. etc. Basically I fear people, a LOT.
I'm trying to work on it, because I don't want to live my life alone and lonely. I want to get over it.

Also I'd like to mention that I feel like I NEED to get out of this house and live independently from my parents. I have been abused by my family in the past, the only one who hasn't was my mom. Though it's getting better, the atmosphere in the house is so negative that I can't stand living here.

I like to make art, though I'm not sure how I feel about selling my photo prints or paintings. I wouldn't even know where to start, plus I have no idea how long it would take me to save up money compared to if I had a "real" job.
I also have considered college, I applied to a community college a year ago but decided it wasn't what I wanted to do. I don't have the money for college and would rather not put my family in so much more debt for me, especially if it turns out being something I give up/ don't like.
Recently, Massage therapy has been on my mind as well. So I'm not sure if I should apply for a job, work and save up money to pay for a specific schooling to be a massage therapist, or go directly to the school and get a job in that field.

Considering my sometimes debilitating illnesses, I've figured that being a housekeeper might be a good job for me. I already help out around the house with cleaning, and sometimes I even enjoy it.
I've been waiting for something, a sign to show me that it's time to act like an adult, a sign that I'm mentally well enough to handle a job & adult life... (I'm 19 btw)

Today on the news there was a story about a hotel that's <10 minutes away is hiring 125 people for positions including housekeepers. They are having a job fair this saturday (feb 1), and it's suggested to apply beforehand.
I got excited for a minute, reading their website and the job requirements, but started sobbing.
How in the world do I go about a job fair with my killer anxiety? How will I be able to handle an interview? What if it's a man interviewing me, a man for a manager/boss.. I have to look people in the eye.. I have to get used to my boss/manager/teammates... all these new people I need to talk to in addition to remembering safety procedures etc....
Do I need to bring a resume if I've never had a job before? Should I call them after the fair and ask if I got the job?

I'm so terrified but I feel like this is a sign dropped right out of the sky. I have no idea what to do, but I know that if I don't find a way to make money soon I will never be able to get out of here.

[Bentay]

Hi transient, I'm sorry your having such a rough time. I also have SA & understand how tough it can be. The thing about SA is that unless you confront your demons (so to speak) it won't get better. However, sometimes its not possible to do that on your own. So I was wondering if your in therapy or have tried therapy ? I know for me it really helped & I couldn't have done it on my own. Your still young, the job is a great idea & I would go for it if you can. But if you find it too difficult don't be hard on yourself. I would really try and find some help in the form of therapy to tackle the underlying issues. Good Luck

[transient]

Originally Posted by Bentay

Hi transient, I'm sorry your having such a rough time. I also have SA & understand how tough it can be. The thing about SA is that unless you confront your demons (so to speak) it won't get better. However, sometimes its not possible to do that on your own. So I was wondering if your in therapy or have tried therapy ? I know for me it really helped & I couldn't have done it on my own. Your still young, the job is a great idea & I would go for it if you can. But if you find it too difficult don't be hard on yourself. I would really try and find some help in the form of therapy to tackle the underlying issues. Good Luck

I am in therapy, but I haven't seen her since december. The last few visits I got pretty upset and haven't wanted to go back for a while. Plus therapy is expensive, and my insurance won't cover any more than it is now.

[Marshellette]

You NEED to move out of an abusive environment. You say you've never had a real job before, so why don't you apply for one to show yourself you can do it and go for your dreams!

[transient]

I'm really nervous and might not go to the job fair they're holding tomorrow, but I'm applying online and will probably give them a call within the week

I have no idea if I need to include a resume, it wouldn't make sense because i've never been employed, right?

[AwesomePig25]

I keep everything anonymous so if you ever need to talk to someone, you can talk to me. Or you can write letters just never send them, helped my friend.

[AwesomePig25]

You can talk to me whenever or write letters that you never send to help. It helped my friend!

Hi, I used to have really bad anxiety for over 10 years, so I know how bad things can get! I could barely leave the house sometimes in the past, and when I did, I'd panic and my hands would shake! I'd avoid looking people in the eyes and most social interaction most of the time. For you to get anxious about writing to people online though is pretty bad.

I think that the right medication will really help you out a lot! Also, you need to build more confidence in yourself. You have low self esteem and it doesn't help that your own family abuses you! You need to get out of there as soon as possible! Is there anyone you can stay with, and friends or other family that you can feel safe with?

If so, do that. Forget Subway! Trust me, when you have anxiety issues, any job to where you have to deal with people constantly face to face is a nightmare! I'm sorry to say, but you probably won't last for long at a job like that. You'll either quit or get fired. I know because I've been there myself. After taking paxil and valium, I can function so much better most of the time.

I rarely get anxiety attacks these days. Some social situations make me uncomfortable, but not to the point to where I'll end up shaking 90% of the time. Only certain people make me nervous at times like guys that I think are hot looking, lol. I'm married, so it's not like I'm looking. I guess that's natural for a lot of women who aren't that confident.

Anyways, you DO need a resume even if you don't have any work experience. On top of that, you also need a cover letter too! Google tips on how to find a job and you'll see that all that is necessary. If you don't know how to write a resume or cover letter, google that. There are templates that you can use to create an easy but professional sounding resume and cover letter w/o much effort. Some sites charge you money for that though. Some are free.

Most employers won't hire you if you don't have those two things even for the most entry level work. The housecleaning job sounds like it might be good for you. Go for it! Dress professionally and try your best to look the interviewer in the eye. Try to zone out and not worry about what they're thinking. Go there with your hair up and done nicely. Get it cut if you can before you go and get a manicure.

Use neutral or clear colored polish. Don't wear much makeup. Just a little is good though like a little bit of powder, mascara, neutral pink or peach lipstick, neutral eye shadow, and neutral blush. Wear a black, grey, or beige business suit with nice shoes and a nice conservative purse as well. Don't wear any perfume or jewelry (a small and simple necklace is OK, and so are classic things like pearl studs or something like that). Don't wear anything big. You can find nice business clothing that doesn't cost much at Ross if money is an issue.

Anyways, try to speak with confidence and try to memorize how to answer interview questions on here. There are lots of sites that tell you what kind of questions to expect and how to answer them. Stress the fact that you're very flexible with hours and days. If you have anyone who can put in a good word for you like a teacher, use them as a professional contact. A friend will work to, but it's better if it's someone like a teacher. Bring contact numbers, addresses of what school's you've been from elementary school up until now.

Get plenty of sleep the night before, arrive there early and properly dressed like I mentioned. Fake being confident. Look at the persons forehead instead of their eyes, it helps. It gives you the illusion that you're looking at them too. Also, you can divert your eyes hear and there if you bring a notebook and take notes. Ask lots of questions to take the focus off of you about the company. Plus, it shows that you're interested in the job as well! You also want to know as much as you can about the company that you're interested in working at! Try to find out as much about the company before you go there so if they ask you about why you want to work there, you can give them a good answer.

Be assertive and tell them that you're really interested in the job and that you'd be a good fit, but give them reasons why you'd be a good fit, such as being reliable, good at cleaning, etc....Then let them know that you'll be available to work as soon as possible and ask when they'll be making the hiring decision. That shows that you're interested and serious. Most of the time they'll say, oh, we'll call you next week, or we don't know yet. They say that to most people, so don't take things personally. Ask for a business card and call them after a couple of days.

Also, you must send the interviewer a thank you letter thanking them for their time. You can google how to write one of those too. It needs to be sent immediately after the interview. You can email them a thank you letter too. Attach your resume and cover letter with it as sometimes the first ones can get misplaced. It'll help you look more serious and professional too. Be sure that your resume, cover letter, application, and thank you letter are free on any spelling errors or mistakes of any kind. One mistake on there could prevent you from getting a job, so be careful.

Try your best to act and look confident. If you panic, look down at your notebook and breathe. Thinks about how awesome it'd be to have your own money and your own place! Don't worry for one second about the interviewer, how you sound, or look. Take everything one step at a time and focus your energy on being positive and tell yourself, I can do this!

Try to make more friends, even ones online who can support you. It's hard, but it can be done! You might want to look into getting a degree online and work at home opportunities. Be careful of those as some of them are scams. Perhaps some type of computer job like a graphic or web page designer might be good for you. Good luck with everything!

Oh, I forgot to mention that you can probably apply for a student loan for your education, so you don't need your family's help.

[transient]

I think I got way too ahead of myself. I went out and bought a blazer and was looking for other business casual clothes.. I got excited and nervous, and I told my friend I applied for a job so excitedly and literally right after that I got a message saying I was turned down.

I don't know what they want, I know I did well on the application. Are they looking for experience to clean hotel rooms? Are they looking for people who don't have a GED and who've graduated college or something? I clean the house almost every single day but they don't know that, because the whole process was so impersonal it's unbelievable. Maybe it's because I didn't go to the job fair, but I decided it was unnecessary.
I know that I should take this as a learning experience, but I'm deflated. There's no where else around me I can apply, housekeeping is the only job I imagine I can handle. I feel like I'm never going to get out of this house, and no, I don't have any friends or family I can stay with in the mean time.

When they pick candidates they eliminate to two or three candidates. Then they choose from the best candidate. Sometimes that is no more then the fact that somebody recommended them or they sent a thank you note or they simply clicked. The point is the chance that it is something that another company will reject is very small. In fact it may have absolutely nothing to do with you at all.

Have you read "what color is your parachute"? I would like to suggest taking several of the personality and skills tests. I guarantee there are house keeping skills that can transfer to another career. I can't tell you how much this book helped me decide a career when I was stuck. It is updated every year.

http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[live2ski66]

Congratulations for filling out the application, working on your resume, and applying. You've done more than a lot of people. Applying for jobs is nerve wracking, even if you have all the qualifications and the interview is just a rubber stamp.
I always take a notebook with me. Sometimes I'll put a picture of why I want the job (move out), things I should remember to talk about and maybe some motivational phrases. Throughout the interview I write down things that the interviewer liked so that I can use it in the thank you letter. For instance, the interviewer is impressed with your organizational skills. When you write the thank you note, include something like "I wanted to remind you of my experience I've gained in organizing when I organized the entire kitchen" or something like that.
I also customize my resume for the position I want. I look at the job posting and make sure everything they have listed on their job posting exists on my resume. If I don't have the exact skill, I try to figure out a skill that is similar. For example, I just applied for an IT job. The listing said "knowledge of KACE". I've never heard of it, plus I've been out of the industry for ten years. I googled KACE and discovered it is a call tracking system. Bingo! I've used "Heat" which is a call tracking system. It may not be the same product, but it shows the ability to learn a new program and utilize it.
I believe it is the Salvation Army that has a career closet. You can schedule an appointment and they will give you a business suit for an interview. They will also role play with you so that when you go for your interview you are confident and ready.
I know we don't know each other, but if you need help writing your resume, I would love to help you.

[live2ski66]

I forgot about your art. Where I have lived, there are art cooperatives where you can place your art for sale. When they sell a piece, they keep a percentage like 15% and you get the rest. The store does all the marketing, collects taxes, and you enjoy making your art. This is also a good way to find out what sells and what doesn't. If you decide this is your passion and you want your own business, you could see if the owners of the art coop are willing to teach you.