dualman7

I just graduated from a 4 year school, with a degree in Arts of Television and Radio. I decided to take the summer off and just get re-energized or what not. As you can imagine, my parents don't see eye to eye with that idea and are giving me some very cold looks. Heck the whole family keeps asking when am i going to get a real job, and etc. I really wanted to dedicate this summer to myself. I have been working out ALOT, I am trying to reach my goal of 190 pounds, and I am only 16 pounds away. I feel more confident then ever. I have been reading a lot of different self-help books, been taking MYSELF to the movies and the beach. My insercurities are slowly decreasing. I feel better than ever. But time has come to make everyone happy and finally start supporting myself.

I really don't have any solid networks to get started with a good job, so i'll have to start from scratch. Should I just start posting resumes online? With a major like mine, Im sort of OK at everything, but GREAT at nothing. It's such a wide major, that I really don't even know what to do. What did you guys major in, and what was your journey like to finding a job? Everything is going so great, but as soon as I start thinking about finding a job I get a hopeless feeling. I am 22, I am too old for internships.

maleficent

Looking for a job can be rather daunting, it's something that you really need to treat as a job in and of itself. Just throwing your resumes up in the air and hoping some company bites won't lead to a great situation for you, it might, but then again....

Start with the placement office in your school, had you had any interviews before you graduated? When you chose that major, where did you see it taking you? Where do you want to work? (location wise)

Pick up a copy of What Color Is Your Parachute, they issue a release every year, it's the bible of job hunters, and they should have a lot of information for first time job hunters.

Dedicate yourself to at least 2 hours a day (or more) on your job search, either fine tuning your resume, writing cover letters, arranging for informational interviews with people in the field that you want to be in (check with the recruitment office in your college for people they have placed), go to job fairs.

I'm not keen on the idea of taking the summer off for you, but that's me-- I think you really need to jump in and get your feet wet and get going on the job search.

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onetime2

I think it's good to take some time off. I took almost a year off after college allegedly trying to find a job. While I certainly did a large amount of searching I was looking for specific things that interested me rather than looking for just something to start earning a paycheck.

During that time I got to do things that I wanted to do rather than doing things because they were expected of me. Growing up I had always been told that I was going to college after high school so graduating wasn't a big deal to me it just meant that I'd be off to college the next fall. Graduating from college wasn't a big deal either as I always knew that was the route that I was going to follow.

From there on though there were no specific expectations and I relished that thought. I got a lot of attitude from family and friends about not getting a job but, in the end, it doesn't matter. Do what's right for you. That time helped me to define my adult self and I wouldn't trade it for anything. More friends than I can count went right into jobs and careers they hated. They didn't last and changed jobs multiple times in short order. Meanwhile I took a few different menial jobs and eventually found exactly the type of job I was looking for about 3 years after graduating. Spent 4 years at that job and have since only moved on to bigger and better things. Many of my friends are still stuck in career paths they hate and that they won't ever break out of.

As far as finding a job online certainly do the monster and hotjob type things but also go to specific company websites as many of their positions never make it to being posted on those sites.

Read the local newspaper for business articles which tell of companies relocating to your area or talk of industries and companies that are growing. Then seek out companies in these industries and find their websites. Always have a plan for your next moves. All the details don't have to be known but have an idea of what skills and experience you'll need for your ultimate career goals. Take jobs that will build them and challenge you to perform.

Good luck!

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Strive to be more curious than ignorant.

Jesus Pimp

Networking, networking, networking.

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Never date anyone who doesn't make your dick hard.

la petite moi

Yeah, that's kinda hard though when you don't have friends.
(I'm saying this in my case.)

Cynthetiq

networking does not just involve friends.

EVERYONE you encounter in your life as you walk down the street, go shopping, movies, school.

all potential networking candidates...

the only way you can NOT network is to not ever leave your house in some capacity, that includes being online.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

maleficent

Exactly.

Even people who don't like talking about themselves, will talk about their jobs, if you come across someone in your daily existence, whether it's the person dressing the mannequins in the store, or the bartender in the restaurant, most folks love to give advice about what they do.

Even if you stay on line, find newsgroups dedicated to that profession that you find interesting, ask questions, ask some older folks who are local for informational interviews (people love to mentor younger folks)

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Aladdin Sane

I got my job through Monster.com. I sent out 100 resumes through that site in six months time. It worked for me.

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Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

Jam

I quit my job and had a new one 2 days later... im planning on quitting now but i cant outright do it, i need a new one first due to lack of money.

i didnt use online ads.. i looked in newspaper job classifieds and applied in person at some places

Clark

In general get off line and talk to people. The web can help you find out what kind of jobs there are but most Jobs are found though Networking. In Networking talk to any one you know in the area you want to work well you are talking to them try to find Jobs but at the same time get 3 names of people you can contact using them as a reference. Then call those people and repeat. I have read that most jobs are found at the 6th layer of that process. OS generally the person that will help you get a job is some one you don’t know. Also send a thank you to any one you have talked to and if their lead helped you in any way let them know.

Good Luck I know first hand how hard it is in to find work these days.

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Dyslexic please excuse the spelling.

Johnny Rotten

Although monster.com can get you a job, or could at one time, it's a bit spammy and iffy now, with people known to have ripped peoples' resumes and shopped them around for themselves without permission. Headhunters. They can get pretty determined, to the point where a potential employer might hang up the phone on you because someone's been faxing them your resume every day for the past month.

Depending on how close you live to a metropolitan area, Craig's List can be a lifesaver. I got an internship through a CL listing, September before last, which eventually led to full employment in that field. But I got the job because I established a good rapport with the salaried guys, who knew people and could help me get work when a position opened up. Internships *can* be solid gold.

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"The idea that money doesn't buy you happiness is a lie put about by the rich, to stop the poor from killing them." -- Michael Caine