"You're pathetic, you live with your parents!"

[Wingates_Hellsing]

I'm a guy lol.

Thanks for the tips though. Since I am starting to look for work again, this will definately be helpful on the applications. I usually hate lying, but I can BS if I have to, just as long as I don't get caught off guard by trick questions.

How much dirt can you remove from a 9X10X5 hole? If a plane crashes on the border between Virginia and West Virginia, where do you bury the survivors? Name the cooles Jonas Brother?

IMO stretching and partial omission of exhausting detail is all good and well, but if asked a direct question, lying isn't advisable...

[Rageaholic]

Gaps in employment won't ruin your chances of getting a job. I didn't mean to imply that. However, you do need to be able to explain them well in interviews.

For example, when I interviewed for my current job, I had been unemployed for almost nine months. My aforementioned uncle helped me explain that in a manner that sounded very reasonable and professional. He told me to emphasize the volunteer work I had been doing during my unemployment and to point out that I had been helping my grandmother who'd had some health issues over the year. Granted, that last part was a bit of a stretch. My grandmother HAS had some health issues, and I have been helping her out, but she hasn't been in a position where she needed someone around to help her. Still, it was a good thing to say in the interview.

Rageaholic should probably emphasize that she has been busy going to school while not working. The part about it being part-time school should probably be left out (remember, employers usually won't find out things like that unless you tell them . . . it's okay to let on like you've been going full time). Also, she/he (not sure if OP is male or female, sorry), could also talk about helping out parents or a relative for health reasons or whatever reasons, even if it isn't the whole truth or is an exaggeration of the truth.

I'm a guy lol.

Thanks for the tips though. Since I am starting to look for work again, this will definately be helpful on the applications. I usually hate lying, but I can BS if I have to, just as long as I don't get caught off guard by trick questions.

[guywithashovel]

Gaps in employment won't ruin your chances of getting a job. I didn't mean to imply that. However, you do need to be able to explain them well in interviews.

For example, when I interviewed for my current job, I had been unemployed for almost nine months. My aforementioned uncle helped me explain that in a manner that sounded very reasonable and professional. He told me to emphasize the volunteer work I had been doing during my unemployment and to point out that I had been helping my grandmother who'd had some health issues over the year. Granted, that last part was a bit of a stretch. My grandmother HAS had some health issues, and I have been helping her out, but she hasn't been in a position where she needed someone around to help her. Still, it was a good thing to say in the interview.

Rageaholic should probably emphasize that she has been busy going to school while not working. The part about it being part-time school should probably be left out (remember, employers usually won't find out things like that unless you tell them . . . it's okay to let on like you've been going full time). Also, she/he (not sure if OP is male or female, sorry), could also talk about helping out parents or a relative for health reasons or whatever reasons, even if it isn't the whole truth or is an exaggeration of the truth.

[protege]

Just cause there is a gap doesn't mean someone was in jail!

I know it doesn't, that was just an example. But, it does throw up a red flag where I work.

[jackfaire]

I mean really, what the hell were they doing all that time? Rather than contemplate possible reasons, those resumes get dumped into the bottom of the call-back pile.

Recovering from the nervous mental breakdown brought on by my divorce and my dad dying.

[telecom_goddess]

I second that. My company does look at gaps in employment history. A few months is no big deal. Simply put, "shit happens." But a couple of years? Seeing that, makes people wonder "was this person in jail?" and usually makes us *not* want to hire someone. I mean really, what the hell were they doing all that time? Rather than contemplate possible reasons, those resumes get dumped into the bottom of the call-back pile.

Well I have a really good employment history, but there have been gaps of a couple of years where I stayed home while my boyfriend supported us. Those were the days . Just cause there is a gap doesn't mean someone was in jail!

[protege]

It's important to be able to explain gaps in your employment, or in your case, why you have never been employed.

I second that. My company does look at gaps in employment history. A few months is no big deal. Simply put, "shit happens." But a couple of years? Seeing that, makes people wonder "was this person in jail?" and usually makes us *not* want to hire someone. I mean really, what the hell were they doing all that time? Rather than contemplate possible reasons, those resumes get dumped into the bottom of the call-back pile.

[Rageaholic]

Mcdriedel, I accept your apologies. It's easy to misinterprate things online.

[guywithashovel]

*sigh*
And since you like to be so blunt elsporko, I'll be blunt back. You are exactly the type of people I was venting about in my OP. "ooh no one's going to hire me because I'm 22 and never had a job!". Or is it because I just play video games and look at porn all day? Dude, that's a bull shit stereotype and you know it. There is no rush to graduate college, especially the way the job market is. There's also no rush to get a job either. Yeah, I'm 22 and haven't had a job yet. All I can do is keeping looking (or do volunteer) and not get stressed out if I don't find one.

I just finished grad school in August of 2008. Now, I'm sure everyone who hasn't been living under a rock knows that was a terrible time to be graduating from school. That was at the cusp of the huge financial tsunami that came crashing down on our economy. At the time, I was doing an internship, but that internship only lasted until January of 2009. After that, I was unemployed and looking for work, along with a pool of millions of other unemployed workers that kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Long story short, I was able to start doing freelance work in September of 2009, and in December of 2009, I landed the job I have now. During the time when I was unemployed, I often felt pretty bad about myself. I tried to make the most of it, and I like to think I did. I passed the time doing some volunteer work, and I helped out with my family. Point is, I know what it's like to be unemployed/underemployed and feel like people are judging you for it.

However, elsporko did raise a good point, even though his bluntness seems to have struck a nerve with you. The fact that you're 22 and never had a job might be hindering you in your job search, especially considering the fact that employers have a pretty sizable pool of applicants to choose from. My uncle has conducted quite a few job interviews for his company, and he told me that time in between jobs is often taken into consideration when hiring new people. It usually isn't a deal breaker, but it is given attention. It's important to be able to explain gaps in your employment, or in your case, why you have never been employed.

[elsporko]

And since you like to be so blunt elsporko, I'll be blunt back. You are exactly the type of people I was venting about in my OP. "ooh no one's going to hire me because I'm 22 and never had a job!". Or is it because I just play video games and look at porn all day? Dude, that's a bull shit stereotype and you know it. There is no rush to graduate college, especially the way the job market is. There's also no rush to get a job either. Yeah, I'm 22 and haven't had a job yet. All I can do is keeping looking (or do volunteer) and not get stressed out if I don't find one

Make sure to tell your boss about how stereotypes aren't true when he hires a 20 year old with four years of work experience over you.

[McDreidel09]

I admit, I may have been rude to you in my previous post. I didn't mean to sound like it. Just the way you worded your posts made it seem that you didn't want a job because it's too stressful. My apologies.

[Rageaholic]

Actually, I think that's quite sensible.

For example, I don't think you should get a job just for the sake of getting a job. Many jobs suck, and the only people who take them are those who don't have a choice. If you do have freedom of choice, you should exercise it. Find something that makes you happy, or gives you the experience you'll require to do something later on that will make you happy.

I guess what I'm saying is that you should pursue "good" stress. There's no harm in avoiding the bad.

That's what I'm saying. Misery should not be a contest. I don't want to feel like I have to do something just to prove I can handle it. Just because other people aren't as fortunate to have freedom of choice doesn't mean I should feel bad about having that freedom. Being fortunate is a gift, not a curse.

Thanks for understanding.

[Boozy]

Call me "selfish" or "immature" but my number one goal is to be happy, not give myself unnecessary stress.

Actually, I think that's quite sensible.

For example, I don't think you should get a job just for the sake of getting a job. Many jobs suck, and the only people who take them are those who don't have a choice. If you do have freedom of choice, you should exercise it. Find something that makes you happy, or gives you the experience you'll require to do something later on that will make you happy.

I guess what I'm saying is that you should pursue "good" stress. There's no harm in avoiding the bad.

[Rageaholic]

*sigh*

I should have known people would misinterprate what my rant was about. Okay, I'm taking college courses part time, but that's not going to last forever. It's TEMPORARY. For one, my CC will only transfer so many credits and I've reached my limit. Second, I can look for a job and have more availability if I get hired. And yes, mcdreidel, I won't get stressed out. I accept that stress is part of life and don't expect to be stress free, but I can only handle so much.

Look, I admit, life for me is pretty damn boring at times and I feel as if I should be doing more. You guys are preaching to the choir here. I would love to be able to get a job and have stories to tell. I would love to be more independant. That is my goal in life and I am working at it. But I'll be damned before I start comparing myself to others because I don't want to start stressing myself out to the point where I start hating life. Regardless of what "life" has in store for me, I can only do things at my own pace. As of now, I'm lagging behind, but that doesn't mean I'll be this way forever. Call me "selfish" or "immature" but my number one goal is to be happy, not give myself unnecessary stress.

And since you like to be so blunt elsporko, I'll be blunt back. You are exactly the type of people I was venting about in my OP. "ooh no one's going to hire me because I'm 22 and never had a job!". Or is it because I just play video games and look at porn all day? Dude, that's a bull shit stereotype and you know it. There is no rush to graduate college, especially the way the job market is. There's also no rush to get a job either. Yeah, I'm 22 and haven't had a job yet. All I can do is keeping looking (or do volunteer) and not get stressed out if I don't find one.

For those who were kind and offered advice, thank you. I'm not angry with you, I just wanted to vent about a few posts that did piss me off.

[protege]

You're much more lenient than my mother; I never would even have dreamed of refusing to do housework while I lived at home. XD

But then there are mothers like mine. My 27 and 30-year-old brothers still live at home...and don't do shit. My mom bitches about how "nobody will help her," yet won't make them do anything. Those two losers live there, pay minimal rent...do nothing to help out...and then turn around and whine about how they hate living there Seriously, if living with them is "so bad," get a fucking job and move out!