can't find a job - losing hope

I must be toxic to employers because I've been looking for a job for six months with no success. Job searches are stressful enough, but my job search is coming off two years of dealing with severe depression which makes it even harder. I'm really starting to feel hopeless and that everything is futile.

The problem is that I haven't worked in four years (I'm 23) and haven't been in school since 2015. I had to drop out of school two years ago because of depression and haven't done anything since. So here I am looking for a job with very little experience and no degree. I'm starting to feel like no matter what I do, there will always be more attractive candidates with more experience. This is really killing me because I have student loan payments breathing down my neck and I literally only have $50 in my checking account. Everyone keeps telling me to write a resume but that won't change my past. The jobs I'm applying to are minimum wage jobs in food service and retail, and those job listings get well over 100 other applicants. There's nothing I can do to make myself stand out from that many people. There just isn't.

I'm so tired of people telling me that I have great attributes and to "stay positive." I know I can do the work and the employers probably know I can do the work too, but they're never going to pass over someone with more work and college experience for someone like me, who hasn't done anything in four years. The longer I go without work, the more toxic I become. The sad thing is I didn't have any trouble finding work in 2012. I got several interviews after just looking for two months, and multiple job offers. Now that I'm 23 and dealing with depression and a lack of job experience, finding work seems impossible.

I haven't posted here in over a year, but this job search is killing me and I needed to vent.

Sorry to hear that you are struggling to find a job. It certainly isn't a fun process.

I am not familiar about what kind of services the U.S offers, but I wanted to tell you about an employment program I was in that helped me to find employment, and I'm curious if where you live offers something similar. Here in Ontario it is called "Youth Job Connect". It's a program for people aged 29 and under who have a hard time finding and keeping employment. I did 60 hours worth of workshops that I was paid for, then I was matched with a job that suited my qualifications and interests. It's not glamorous by any means (I stock shelves at Canadian Tire), but it keeps me busy and moving, plus it brings in extra income. When you're on disability, any amount of extra money helps!

Do you think there is a program similar to this offered where you live?

I can relate to this, while I have a job...I hate it so much. I've been there for 13 yrs and I am burned out and miserable. I am applying for stuff everyday that I see online but no luck, I feel too like there is just something not hirable about me

I wish you the best, I know it is frustrating. Sending you hugs and well wishes

I really have no idea. I know there are job placement and temp agencies, but I don't think that's the same thing you're describing. I've always just had to fill out applications. I really don't know what kind of options there are for when that doesn't work.

Thanks for the well wishes

It really is a sucky feeling though, feeling like you're not hireable or that the other people applying for the job are better and more experienced candidates. Everyone keeps trying to give me advice on how to stand out, but none of that will change the fact that my long employment gap and lack of a degree makes me an unattractive applicant by default.

Hope you find something you enjoy soon! Hang in there.

I feel for you. I had this same exact problem where I couldn't find a job to save my life because of a 5 year gap in employment history due to my MI combined with not having reliable transportation since bus systems where I live suck.

I would suggest doing one of two things:

Make up some B.S about how you had to care for a sick relative during your time off work and put on your Resume that you were a caretaker (but don't put relative) and all of the skills that somebody who is taking care of somebody who is ill (such as cooking, cleaning, communicating with doctors/nurses ETC) under your responsibilities. If inquired about in a job interview, say that the illness is something believable such as a long battle with cancer for example but don't get any specifics. I did this and took my resume to a temp agency and got a job literally the next day that I unfortunately, couldn't make it to because I had to be there at 5 AM and buses don't run that early and I don't have a car and I couldn't afford an Uber, therefore, I had to turn it down but doing so still makes getting an interview at the very least much easier.

A second option which is what I am personally doing now is do some type of freelance work online such as writing or other basic freelance tasks. Do a Google search on companies that pay you to write from your PC and you will find that many of them are easy to get into and best of all, no job interview! In the online freelance world, your skill level and ratings dictate what type of work you can find and how much you are paid and not a stupid piece of paper and an interview which is how it should be everywhere but I won't get further into how I feel about that haha

There's also Amazon Turks if you're desperate for cash. The pay is very little but the work is so easy an 8 year old could do it. They have you do things like basic Google searches, identifying pictures, making a post or finding a link for somebody, or other trivial online tasks which is perfect to do if you're desperate for money.

Finally, if you have a car and have had a driver's license for at least a year than becoming a driver for Uber or Lyft is a viable alternative because they will take you on without having to do any type of interviewing or resume submitting as long as you can prove that you have had your driver's license for at least a year, provide proof of insurance, and pass a background check, you are pretty much in and the pay is decent from what I've heard from somebody that I know who is actually an Uber driver.

If you need further advice, particularly if you are interested in freelance work or anything similar, feel free to hit me up anytime.

First of all, don't undersell yourself. A degree isn't everything. Interviewer's make a lot of assumptions about potential employees and just the fact that you have some college might be an issue to some. They might be looking at that and thinking, "he (or she) is going to work for awhile, then go back to college and I'll have to train someone new".

A resume won't change your past, but you can highlight your strengths in ways that you can't by filling out an application. You can state your goals in way to make it apparent that you are looking for a long term position, and add flourish to any volunteer activities you've done.

Don't give up. In the meantime, while you continue to search for work, look into some of Darkness's suggestions.

Good luck.

I have a long gap in my work history good idea I'll use next time caring for sick relative etc. I'm still employed I get the feeling I'm not hire able yet I'm very professional in interviews.

I understand your feelings it's hard for me to find work elsewhere I still look at jobs through temp agencies yet nothing

I feel you. I'm on job searching too, and I still unemployed.

I agree with Darkness, try freelance jobs. Small income, but much better rather than no income at all. Freelance jobs can be done anytime and mostly not taken your time too much, so you can take your time searching for another full time job or improve your skills. That's what I do at the moment. Uber is great too if you can drive.

If you're good at marketing or selling, try ecommerce selling. My friends got so much from it, even higher than my freelance payment.

Have you considered Job Corps? (just a thought)
I know the feeling, when I was in my 20's the economy wasn't good and I hadn't completed college then. I was used to going from one min. wage job to another and they dried up. I found that being unemployed itself is a big mark against you for no rational reason. I was once unemployed for nearly a year----finally, when I applied for the next job I said I had "taken time off to help friends build a camp"---although it was true I helped friends do this it was not true that I had not been working by choice. I got hired. (it was a soldering/assembly job and they said "You must like to work with your hands....". So, think about your abilities/things you have done that relate to the job ---and if you can think of a way of presenting yourself as new, fresh, and not working by choice vs being involuntarily unemployed it may help.
Now I am ready to pull back on a professional career and, perhaps retire. My 20's were often hand-to-mouth....I remember. If you volunteer in your community you may make connections that will help also----

Don't waste your time looking until you have established some sort of working history that establishes that you are stable and can support a long time working. They keep telling us that unemployment is low but everyone knows that is a lie. In the 1980s I had employers begging me to work for them when I was 16. I had my pick and they fought over me.

Now right from the ad they make it clear this will be a battle. They make you jump through hoops just to apply.

You don't have to get a job to establish a work history. You can volunteer or work at temp jobs.

RE: student loans, apply for forbearance. You will continue to accrue interest, but they will allow you to not pay until you find a job.

To add onto this, look up dropshipping. I plan on getting into that really soon and it can be profitable, not to mention, straightforward if you have enough money to start a cheap LLC and reserve funds to cover inventory.

I have known people who make 4-5 grand a month or more doing this all be it they have to sell hundreds of products a month but being able to work around your own schedule and being able to still travel the world and see things and do things you enjoy since you only need a laptop and an internet connection to work is entirely worth the amount of effort and time put in.

What's the point in even working a regular job in this day and age when there are plenty of things one can do on the internet that potentially earn salaries comparable to working a job that require a 4 year college degree just to be considered for?

I've had long gaps too and nothing will kill your chances of a job faster! What I've done is just find a company or store that has gone out of business and put that on my resume, with the reason i left being "they went out of business." Works every time. Good luck.

Have you considered volunteering. I work for homeless shelter so we get some hard-to-hire folks often. Volunteering offers you a chance to add something interesting to your resume/applications and helps to fill the gap. Plus it can be a great way to network.

Americorps is a volunteer option in many larger cities. The "pay" is crazy low but at the end of your volunteering you are given a bonus to put towards college loans or to pay for future college tuition.

It isn't so much you as the "buyers market" right now.

If it makes you feel better, my partner has been looking for work for over a year. He has an engineering degree, and over 10 years experience for the jobs he was applying for. He has not had an employment gap due to some part time work. It seems a lot of it is the work simply isn't there - many of the jobs are nonexistent even if a company keeps posting them as if they are (probably to make it look like they are providing work). He sees the same jobs listed for months, or gets notices that the position was eliminated and so he would no longer be considered.

He finally took a job at a landscaping business. He was hired immediately, and they actually pay decent for the type of work.

Thanks all for the advice and well wishes! Things are actually looking up for me right now. I had an interview at Chipotle a couple days ago and apparently it went well because they invited me back for a second one!

Hopefully now this six-month search can have some closure.

It is great that you are willing to keep an open mind and accept a job that you maybe feel you can eventually surpass and do better. You can always work your way up in retail jobs, or restaurants. You just need something to get you off the ground. What about cleaning? Nobody to give you grief, but then you might benefit from social interaction.
I must admit I was always reluctant to do voluntary work because I am from a working class family and I have never had the luxury to work without getting an income.
You could consider a short course at college - hospitality or something

I am search for job also , I had interviews but no suitable one....
Hope all you guys good and have a stable job!

The only thing to do is lie. It's not something I would say usually, but you need something to fill that gap. I don't think they check that stuff anyways and sometimes they don't want employer references so in this economy and what your coming back from I say it's okay. Heck you got nothing to lose.

^This^

I find it amusing how so many people are against lying to employers when it's these employers who are dishonest at their core. They have the power to help those of us in need earn a living but they don't care about you unless it benefits them in some way. If you were out on the streets starving on Christmas or dying of a terminal illness and needed the money for treatment they wouldn't give a flying flip because you wouldn't be able to benefit them so if anybody is dishonest, they are.

Sorry but I choose to be honest and honorable only towards those who deserve it. Everybody else can STFU and GTFO

Also, if you think other applicants aren't lying, you are wrong. I have been on the other end of hiring and honestly I have started to expect it. So many applicants are downright SUPER sneaky.

My favorite one. Before coming to a job I worked a temp job at a great employer (like Microsoft). But I worked for the temp agency. When I was hiring after I got a full time job, I found someone put on their resume that they had their own business. As a consultant. Listed under the "clients" she had the temporary job that I had worked on. Claiming to have been a consultant to this great employer (like Microsoft) and leaving the temp agency out of it entirely.

The only reason I could have figured that out was that I had worked on the project myself. And new the time period and particulars.

Wow.

Well Chipotle just turned me down after two interviews. Gotta admit, that feels pretty terrible. Feeling really hopeless now because that was my best bet for finally getting a job. Over six months, they're the only company that has given me interviews and twice they've turned me down. I feel like giving up.

Sorry to hear it. Would you be willing to ask why? I mean in a polite manner.

It never feels good to be turned down for a job, I have experienced that quite a few times myself. Please be proud of yourself for getting a second interview though, and keep in mind that each job interview provides experience that we can take with us to the next try. You will find something!