Desperately hoping this is sarcasm, but in case it isn’t, I have applied for over 350 jobs in my field and gotten zero offers. I’m trying like hell to get to work but employers will not take me. If it were that simple, I’d be working.
To clarify, by
but no one has a fucking “job” that … even lets me participate in society for free
I really meant that I can’t even find unpaid internships, training programs, or any way to participate in my field unless I literally start from scratch by myself.
As someone who escaped that hellhole a while back the secret is networking.
I’m a very introverted person who hates small talk and showing off, so it was miserable, but all of the interviews I got, except for one, out of my 250-350 applications were solely from networking. I started going through my contacts and shit, and I was looking at who I knew in the field, or might have connections in it. Worked wonders.
Yeah that’s my problem. I’m an extremely insular autistic person with basically zero contacts. Other than my dentist or Lemmy, I haven’t had a semi-serious conversation with anyone in literally weeks.
I don’t have a recruiter. I have met with people at my school’s career center, but it seemed like their job was to direct me to online resources that I already read.
The unfortunate reality is that you need to be personable first, and knowledgeable second. They’re both important, but you can’t get in the door without the first. Try to find a common ground with the interviewer or whoever you talk to at the fair, it will boost your chances 1000x
No one wants to hire me because (1) I don’t have the experience they’re looking for, (2) I have zero people in my network, and (3) I don’t have the social skills to overcome all the other negatives. It’s very simple. The problem is that overcoming these 3 items simultaneously has proven to be almost impossible.
I don’t know which jobs you’re looking at, but the thing is that many jobs require problem solving skills. And it seems you have none. Sadly, it’s completely up to you to acquire them.
many jobs require problem solving skills. And it seems you have none
Lmao I have problem-solving skills out the wazoo, and I have projects and hobbies to show it. But it’s never enough to overcome my lack of a network and general weirdness.
Just to try to help here: have you considered applying for a job abroad? There’s a few countries that have labour shortages in a lot of areas, mostly European countries.
Not that it really matters to speak other languages, but it does help.
I know that a lot of German companies constantly need new personell and have a lot of engineering firms (I believe you study /have studied engineering)
Yeah I am studying engineering. I have a bachelor’s so far but I’m doing a master’s now and I’d do a PhD if money/employment wasn’t an issue. I’ll look into German companies (again).
As for PhDs, I don’t know the system in the USA, in Germany you can become a part-time teacher for your subject at university. Which means that your PhD is free and you get payed a little, normally enough to provide for your everyday and rent.
Maybe there are doctorate programs geared towards US students.
Also maybe this info by the German Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs can be helpful.
If you have any further questions on working in Germany, pls do consider asking on the English-speaking German subreddits for further information. They are quite a big community and should be able to offer more info and in particular more detailed info for your craft.
Anyhow I wish you good luck and maybe we can welcome you in Germany.
Desperately hoping this is sarcasm, but in case it isn’t, I have applied for over 350 jobs in my field and gotten zero offers. I’m trying like hell to get to work but employers will not take me. If it were that simple, I’d be working.
To clarify, by
I really meant that I can’t even find unpaid internships, training programs, or any way to participate in my field unless I literally start from scratch by myself.
Employers can’t find good candidates either. The entire system is broken and AI made it so much worse. In person events are the only way these days
Yeah, so I’m prepping like hell for the upcoming Career Fair at my school, but I really don’t know what else to do. I’m not a “social butterfly”.
As someone who escaped that hellhole a while back the secret is networking.
I’m a very introverted person who hates small talk and showing off, so it was miserable, but all of the interviews I got, except for one, out of my 250-350 applications were solely from networking. I started going through my contacts and shit, and I was looking at who I knew in the field, or might have connections in it. Worked wonders.
Yeah that’s my problem. I’m an extremely insular autistic person with basically zero contacts. Other than my dentist or Lemmy, I haven’t had a semi-serious conversation with anyone in literally weeks.
Have you tried talking with family? I got strong leads from multiple family members.
Yeah I have. They haven’t been reliable.
What has your recruiter suggested?
I don’t have a recruiter. I have met with people at my school’s career center, but it seemed like their job was to direct me to online resources that I already read.
The unfortunate reality is that you need to be personable first, and knowledgeable second. They’re both important, but you can’t get in the door without the first. Try to find a common ground with the interviewer or whoever you talk to at the fair, it will boost your chances 1000x
You just need to CONfidence
I hope you aren’t paying to much for school. A college degree is important but I see a pot of people get the degree and fall on there face.
What I would recommend is to do a practice interview with a career coach. Most universities have a career center.
Also have related hobby type stuff you can point to if you don’t have a not of experience. Be ready to learn and enjoy what you do.
a “social butterfly” is someone who bounces around a lot, interacting with many people but connecting deeply with none.
Your generation needs to be careful using that term as the gold standard for social skills. It’s not entirely a good thing.
You should look at yourself and try to understand why no one wants to hire you.
No one wants to hire me because (1) I don’t have the experience they’re looking for, (2) I have zero people in my network, and (3) I don’t have the social skills to overcome all the other negatives. It’s very simple. The problem is that overcoming these 3 items simultaneously has proven to be almost impossible.
I’m in the same boat as you. We should have tea and biscuits while planning armed resistance against the billionaire class.
I’m not a tea guy but I’ll devour the biscuits. And fuck billionaires ofc.
Count me in too…
I don’t know which jobs you’re looking at, but the thing is that many jobs require problem solving skills. And it seems you have none. Sadly, it’s completely up to you to acquire them.
Engineering
Lmao I have problem-solving skills out the wazoo, and I have projects and hobbies to show it. But it’s never enough to overcome my lack of a network and general weirdness.
Just to try to help here: have you considered applying for a job abroad? There’s a few countries that have labour shortages in a lot of areas, mostly European countries.
Yeah I have, and I’m in the US so I would be literally thrilled to work abroad or otherwise get out of here.
Not that it really matters to speak other languages, but it does help.
I know that a lot of German companies constantly need new personell and have a lot of engineering firms (I believe you study /have studied engineering)
Yeah I am studying engineering. I have a bachelor’s so far but I’m doing a master’s now and I’d do a PhD if money/employment wasn’t an issue. I’ll look into German companies (again).
As for PhDs, I don’t know the system in the USA, in Germany you can become a part-time teacher for your subject at university. Which means that your PhD is free and you get payed a little, normally enough to provide for your everyday and rent. Maybe there are doctorate programs geared towards US students.
Also maybe this info by the German Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs can be helpful.
If you have any further questions on working in Germany, pls do consider asking on the English-speaking German subreddits for further information. They are quite a big community and should be able to offer more info and in particular more detailed info for your craft.
Anyhow I wish you good luck and maybe we can welcome you in Germany.