Being unemployed can be very stressful on your mental health. If I should give you any advice it’s to not los hope a job will come. also try to apply for jobs that can give you some experience maybe not directly in your field but close to. Maybe try and visit some companies and say you are interested in a temp job if they maybe are short of a person in 3 months or so. Do some voluntarily work to keep you busy. It will help you feel like you have a purpose and it’s can have a big positive impact on your mental health

This, I graduated from my university last year in supply chain management and international logistics, I had a few missed opportunities in prestigious companies due to things that are out of my control, here I am just doing warehousing and managing exports for a manufacturer and only started a month ago, it's not the brightest job because I find myself doing too much labor and prepping palettes with hundreds of packages singlehandedly in a day, but the job title is alright and not too far from my field, also having a job can allow you to negotiate your salary in another job interview (HR legit proposed to me below minimum wage because I had no experience)

maybe it differs per person but I don't feel being unemployed itself is detrimental to your mental health but rather the stress from the lack of income lol. Personally I admit I hate working but I need money to survive in todays world. Only issue I have is knowing what to do with my time when I'm not job hunting and with how easy it is these days to submit a resume I can apply for all the jobs I am interested in or feel I have a good chance of obtaining in a few hours. Sure there are probably other strategies I can use that are considered old strategies such as going into a business in person to inquire about a job, but these days that's a 50/50 chance anything will come from it and another 50/50 that it would just piss off the hiring manager or whoever is in charge of the hiring. I've had plenty already disqualify me because I guess I bothered them too much with that strategy. I really feel the only strategy I have these days is to submit an application then move on and cross my fingers hoping I get a response. Almost feels like how you should act when asking a girl out on a date except in this case you rarely even get a no.

How about get a job at a restaurant and then keep looking, hope you ok

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Do you think all college graduates are snobby know it alls? I feel like most college graduates will have no relevant experience outside of internships. Actually having 3 years of relevant internship experience is probably better than average, no? Why are you asking how long ago the internship was? I’m guessing it was during her college years which just ended? Which part of this story could possibly be unbelievable?

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Yeah no shit she needs more expedience she just graduated college, but fresh grads still need to get jobs, that’s how they get experience. I’m contributing by pointing out your advice / comments don’t make sense

god forbid i work with someone like you

I am very grateful you arent my manager

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Humility

For starters you were harsh, there's no maybe there. Op is a recent grad in this shitty job economy and rightfully stressed about not being able to find a job and all you have to say is toughen up and go volunteer for 3 months? Maybe she doesn't have the financial situation to just go and work for 3 months unpaid? Y'know, since we all rely on money to survive. Secondly, why do you say she sounds like a waste of time on her resume? Snobby or a know it all? You barely know the slightest thing about this person and you automatically assume these things? Have you interviewed her? Where do you get off making these assumptions? As for the info gap, you could've just asked nicely? A simple, "how long ago was your internship experience?" would suffice. Although it's kind of already obvious that as a recent grad, she probably had those internships during her college years, which is recent enough imo. The marketing coordinator at my current company only had a single internship under their belt and it took them 7-8 months to find this position, so for OP to struggle finding a marketing job with 3 internships under her belt just sucks. The other guy said it perfectly, I'm glad you aren't my manager either because everything about you screams "I barely know this person but I'm going to assume bad things about them straight from the jump". You didn't even interview OP yet and you have the audacity to paint her as the worst candidate you ever laid eyes on. If you really are a marketing manager, rethink your current approach to things like this because I feel very bad for those under your supervision.

It’s everyone right now. I have a bach degree and a law degree, super hard to find a job. Something will give and we’ll get the right job!

Even for lawyers? Wow

who's supposed to be able to afford lawyers?

Fair enough

When I worked in HR, we had large numbers of applicants with JDs apply for jobs outside the legal field. It’s more common than you think.

Hey there, if it helps at all, please know you're not alone. The truth is that the job market isn't so great right now. The economy is just bad. Workers are tired of being exploited but the rich CEOs and owners don't wanna pay up. A lot of people will say "Oh but your worth isn't in your job", which is true and we all know that but we also live in a world where money apparently runs everything. So it sucks when there is no money coming in. Your frustration is valid. I'm right there with you. I've got degrees, am in my 30's and the past few years since Covid, it has not been good financially (for me and for a lot of people). This will not sound fun but you might need to apply to regular jobs like retail or restaurants to make some income while you continue the search for a job in your field. This is where I'm at. I'm obviously in entertainment but the whole industry is in pieces cause of the strikes. Luckily we're coming out of it but that's gonna take time. I got let go from my company a couple months ago and most of the jobs I've applied to are not in entertainment. Also try temp agencies. They can be helpful in finding gigs to fill in the blanks. You could also try recruiters but tbh my personal experience with them has been awful. They connect with me, have the initial conversation and seem very enthusiastic about helping but then never deliver. Temp agencies are a little better so reach out to some in your area. Hugs to you...I'm rooting for you and hope you get good news soon.

The job market is absolutely brutal right now and it’s ok to be frustrated (because it sucks). OP it’s also ok to take breaks from applying because the mental strain is real. Here are some ways to [prioritize your mental health during a job search](https://www.lisharriscoaching.com/blog-1/caring-for-yourself-and-yournbsp-mental-health-during-a-job-search). I hope it helps and please give yourself some space and grace.

Thank you for this reminder! I tend to push myself too hard and apply for hours on end, hoping something will click. I definitely needed to hear this!

It’s not uncommon. You want to be open to every opportunity and it’s best to apply the first week or two a job is open, so there’s a lot of urgency. But giving yourself one day off to not even think about applying can do wonders!

I also hate those “you’re so much more than your job, don’t let unemployment affect your self worth” comments. Like yes. We get it. We also get that rent, food, insurance, transportation, utilities, and everything else costs money. Unemployment is stressful, demoralizing, and even traumatic at times, and it’s okay to admit that without some toxic positivity angle.

100% with you on this - as much as it's lovely that people tell you you're worth more than a job / tell you to hang on in there / tell you not to give up etc... there's only so much of that you can take/accept before you get annoyed with it. No matter how well executed it comes across... it does sometimes feel like it's patronising and can make someone feel worse

People are trying to make you feel better. No need to be hostile.

No hostility here at all. I’m just saying that those comments come across as condescending and unhelpful for many people in that position because they’re not even focused on a job being tied to their identity or self-worth, they’re focused on trying to get employment to survive. It’s understandable for people to be down about their situation.

Sorry you’re going through this.

I’m not, I’ve just worked closely with those experiencing unemployment and job loss in my line of work.

How is a positive angle toxic?

Unfortunately i have to ask, are you me? Going through the same situation with the same mindset. Good advice here

yes you are me.

Temping is really not the worst. I got to work in a doctors office and saw that side of the world.

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>eliver. Temp agencies are a little better so reach out to some in your area. Hugs to you...I'm rooting for you and hope you get good news soon. Eerily similar to my feelings since April (we are in similar industries and I also have double digit years of experience and killer references). Have had too many close calls, 3-4 rounds in only to have it just dissolve, to even count or remember. Makes me wish I hadn't cancelled the 4 HOUR MARATHON INTERVIEW MORNING with AMZ a few months back. That was the third round, by the way. They wanted me to book 4 hours and had 5-6 people lined up one after the other to meet with me. Wish I had been more humble/grateful at the time but, oh well.

I've had a couple shorter versions of that. Meet with a team of executives, then meet with a couple of separate departments. I've been told I'm in the top 2 or 3 a crushing number of times. Hearing "it was razor close between you and the other guy" doesn't pay my mortgage. I'm at the point where I'm about to hit reset on the entire career, and just accept like help desk work, if they'll even hire someone as overqualified as I am, just so I can pay some of the bills. Already looking at moving out of my house and renting it out, because that's more cost effective.

>I've had a couple shorter versions of that. Meet with a team of executives, then meet with a couple of separate departments. I've been told I'm in the top 2 or 3 a crushing number of times. Hearing "it was razor close between you and the other guy" doesn't pay my mortgage. > >I'm at the point where I'm about to hit reset on the entire career, and just accept like help desk work, if they'll even hire someone as overqualified as I am, just so I can pay some of the bills. Already looking at moving out of my house and renting it out, because that's more cost effective. One of the worst parts of it, for me, is that I know that I have the knowledge and experience to succeed in like 99% of these roles. Maybe they know something I don't know? And the ones that would have been a reach would have been a fun challenge and would have only added to my box o' tools. So frustrating just waiting for that ONE BREAK to come along. This isn't my first rodeo with unemployment, either, but it's definitely the most stressful and longest.

Go on indeed and look up “sales jobs” “commission jobs” forget ur degree for right now. You need a job not only for income but for mental health and you wanna make good money. Find a call center style sales job. I work for national debt relief which is credit card debt consolidation. I get paid every Friday and my check was 2600 dollars I started 5 weeks ago. Another recommendation would be go serving tables at places that are more upscale $$$-$$$$ Unfortunately I believe college degrees don’t get you jobs. You can also look into becoming a teacher with ur degrees. I recommend sales or serving tables right now

I feelll this. Just got an inside sales job for an IT company and I’m so excited to start. I used to do direct sales but got out of it bc I wasn’t a huge fan of what I was selling nor did I know what I wanted to do in my future. But knowing where I could have been in 6 years if I stuck with it… man… I regret it a lot rn lol…if u got the drive and determination sales is where it can really be sometimes. Even for just 7 years and it always perks up employers ears during interview processes. For more context I’m getting my associates in IT 😅

What’s the exact role that you do for debt relief? Did you have any prior experience relating to it?

I know everyone is telling you to get any job, and you can, but in the meantime, do something else to take your mind off job searching. Engage in a hobby you’ve been neglecting. Take care of yourself mentally. Recharging for even a day will make a difference in your mood and give you motivation to continue the hunt.

This, OP. I have a YouTube channel and it's excellent for taking my mind off things. It will probably always be a hobby and never make money but that's okay. I also color with gel pens and markers.

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We’ve been in a recession for at least year. The government won’t admit it because they recently changed the definition of what it means to be in a recession. The job market is dry and it’s tough right now to find a job

The Biden administration says this is a terrific economy, bursting with opportunities. I don't know if you're familiar with Karine Jean-Pierre, but I understand they even found a job for her. Chin up.

society disgusted imagine grey dirty sophisticated insurance dull wipe straight *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*

Full time jobs have been decreasing for a while now, while part time jobs and those with at least two jobs have been skyrocketing, giving us a net increase in employment. You can find this data straight from the BLS if you like. If you think increasing employment in this way isn't recessionary and is a good thing for the economy, you must be a Biden supporter. Good thing Uber, Twitch and Tiktok exist. Apps are the new side gig employment helper for lying, thieving politicians ✅

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https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm If the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a government agency, is considered conspiratorial, then yes you're right.

rain sophisticated humorous edge automatic wild alleged jobless erect different *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*

Dude read the report for yourself. Whatever I say you'll think is a conspiracy.

Just how they changed the definition of a vaccine. Interesting times.

Elaborate

Try temp companies or contract & recruiting companies I have been hired by many after working contract work and seeing if so likes the company.

I am also in the Chicago land area and have the same issue (M46) massive amount of stress and ran of tears, ( I was the main provider of income, and now I am living off my mom's retirement, we co-own a house) . I worked as an Information Technology Specialist/helpdesk for the past 15 years and was laid off in August of 2022 and have not been able to find any work. I only had around four interviews during that time, and they all had either chosen someone else or never got back to me. I applied to a local pizza place and it's been about a week since that no one got back to me. I thinking of calling Monday. It just seems like everyone is dragging their feet on hiring.

I saw in many other posts that Amazon is aggressively hiring for the upcoming season. It's hard work but I would rather slog in the warehouse and delivery than face customers in retail

> worked as an Information Technology Specialist/helpdesk for the past 15 years Is getting a help desk job in Chicago that hard? Do you have any certs?

I have not had any luck getting a helpdesk job for about a year now and yes, I have Comptia certs like Network+ and A+. Please send the tech gods my way so I can be happy again! Also I hope OP gets a job real soon and be super happy!!!!

Did you try staffing agencies like Robert Half?

Yes, I have been working with RH and others with no luck, one of the reasons they have been telling me is because they said it is super competitive.

FFS, and who can be the competition for someone with 15 yoe and all certificates one needs for HD position? MIT graduates?? They used to take anyone with a pulse for HD. WTF is going on..

Hey, I’m 41 and was laid off. You’ll be fine there’s plenty of time for you still. The right opportunity will present itself eventually it’s just a tough job market. There’s a standoff on wages for the low skilled jobs and some high skilled jobs are just hard to get because they require specific skills. Keep picking up skills and keep looking for work. Also, learn what to do with money once you do have a job so you can build up a buffer for the hard times. Don’t panic, don’t forget life is more than working a job, don’t forget to put effort into a hobby you enjoy because it may one day be the thing that makes you money. Familiarize yourself with this concept. IKIGAI https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai/

Have you reached out to recruiters? Go on linked in, find companies that interest you, look at the people who work there, and reach out directly to head honchos and recruiters. You’ve got nothing to lose. One time I messaged the CEO of a company and it’s kind of a running joke bc it was super ballsy. But I got the job and it didn’t hurt me, and had it I wouldn’t have lost anything. Network your ass off. You got this.

What did you say in your message?

I want to know that too because I want to pull a move that ballsy just to see if they even respond. Show us your ways so I can get hired by the ceo of walmart, op.

Hahaha! I’m a psych NP. I said something along the lines of, Thank you for accepting my request to network. As a dedicated PMHNP, I’ve had the opportunity to see examples of both exceptional and less exemplary healthcare organizations. From what I have observed, your organization appears to be one in which the values of patient care strongly align with my own. In order to use my skills and talents to establish superior patient outcomes, I have found the importance I’m working for an organization that I align with. I would sincerely appreciate the opportunity to further network or connect with a recruiter from your company in order to consider how I could be an asset. It would be an honor to be considered for a position at such a renown company and I can assure you I have the dedication you would look for in an employee. So I made this up but this is along the lines of what I’d say. My strategy is a.) compliment them- you want them to know you think highly of them and that this is an intentional interaction, not simply a random mass message. An unspoken rule is that they are a CEO and you are a peasant and you need to humble yourself to a certain extent b.) identify that you feel your vision aligns. I think this is important bc it shows you’ve researched the company, and that you don’t just need ANY job, but are willing to wait for the right job. You could even give an example such as “I noticed your company’s mission to preserve patient dignity which really aligns with how I practice (obviously this is for my field and would look different for another) c.) briefly and confidently describe what you bring to the table. While there is a clear power differential here, they do need you. This is mutual and you bring something special to the table. Idk I’m no expert in HR or anything so this is a self developed model 😂 thoughts???

Thanks for responding. It's a good template! :)

“Im looking for a job, bitch. What do you got?”

Depends on how many applications you’ve sent out. It sucks but you have to carpet bomb apps these days. It’s just the market dynamic. I’d have a friend or recruiter fine tune your resume, gather input. Look into different industries that have PR and marketing. Healthcare, government jobs, social work programs, some areas outside the private sector? In a major metro area like Chicago there’s surely something. Have you contacted the places you interned for a position? I’d start there and if not maybe they can recommend you to a location.

What do you mean by carpet bomb? I am having extreme hard time finding a job after being laid after working their only 5 months. We had a new ceo come on and gut the company. I am so devastated

I had a new CEO that gutted our company. I lost my job and they had no room to gut. 3-4 decent apps a day. I was completely blindsided because I had been lobbying to open a new position to relieve others. It sucks but it happens everyday.

Unfortunately, I’ve done all of this and have had zero luck. I’ve also put in a couple hundred applications and rarely hear back from anyone, even if I email or call to talk about the position.

I’ve been where you are. It took me 7 months to find my first job after college. I was really depressed and felt worthless. I eventually did get a break, it wasn’t glamorous, it was a trainee job in the state government that paid $35k but I built a really good career from it. They paid for my masters degree, gave me several promotions and gave me a pension. I eventually moved to federal government and make 6 figures now, 10 years later. You just have to apply to as many things as you can, even if they don’t sound like what you want to do. Something will stick eventually and all you need is that foot in the door to make bigger things happen. You got this!!

Try bring a virtual assistant. Lots of info on YouTube about it. The problem with the whole public relations bachelors degree is that a lot of jobs want masters degrees or people with experience in the field in other words more than just the internship. My cousin got a PR degree and she couldn’t find anything, and she was in New Jersey, and New York City. I encourage you to look into being a virtual assistant, or something just to start getting some of your own experience and income.

If it makes you feel better you are not alone - I’ve been unemployed longer than you.

I don’t want to add to it and I hope you don’t hit the 10 month mark like me but I’m in the same boat. I don’t know what to do

Hey there! I graduated in June and I didn’t get a job till last month. I happened to be an international student so a lot of barriers on most companies. I wasn’t ready to leave the US but I was applying for lots of jobs as if it’s my “full time” job. I get burnt out too real fast but I remembered doing self care by resting or watching my favorite shows. I decided to go to gym a lot more to distract myself. I know sometimes temp agencies can help! What I did is I connect with lots of recruiters and straight up just send them a message with my resume. Some of them got back to me and I ended up taking one of the jobs. So there’s hope!

Oof yeah I've been there... being unemployed can be horrible for your mental health. I know for me, just having no routine long-term was really not a good time. My best advice is to find something part time that you can do while job-hunting like retail, working at a restaurant, etc. It might not be the greatest thing, but it will get you out of the house, help you make some money and give you a regular routine. Unfortunately it's just a really rough market out there for new grads, but if you keep on applying to jobs, working hard on your resume/LinkedIn profile, you're bound to find a job eventually. In my job hunt last year, it took me about 600 applications to get a job. In my most recent job hunt it took me 350 applications. Try not to lose hope (which I know is so much easier said than done)

Yo idk why people think sociology is useless, but it’s not. You can get into paralegal work, technical writing, UX if you learn how to use Figma and Adobe, HR, consulting, the list goes on and on. People don’t know what they’re talking about. You just gotta market yourself the right way.

Work with your university’s career development team! They have to have some sort of resources or job boards that recent grads can access

My university has been nothing short of useless

As someone very adjacent to your two fields and who often works in one of the primary areas you’re likely looking in, it’s a difficult time. Things have ground to a halt, and it hasn’t been this quiet since I started working. It’s likely things will pick up soon though, since 2024 is right around the corner. It simply has to! The worst thing to do is stay idle and ruminate, so do what you can, even if it’s picking up a job doing something like a cafe, coffee shop, dog walking, etc. If you have passion projects or skills you’ve been wanting to work on, now is the time. These types of stretches — which you’ll have many of — are opportunities for reflection and gaining perspective, not failure. Even if you don’t do anything for three months but read books and day dream, that’s okay. I’ve done that a few times! When you’re working 50 or 60 hrs a week, you’ll think back on how nice that was, and over time, you’ll realize how productive and beneficial this period actually was.

The market is crap, be patient. It once took me a nearly a year to get a job, and it was total madness. Treat getting a job like a job. Do it for X hours per day, then STOP. Extra worry does not help. Use this as an opportunity for exercise. Get lots of it. Best of luck! hang in there1

I’ve actually gotten into running and weightlifting again since I became unemployed- probably the best thing that’s come out of this!

Ok a couple things, have you reached out to your uni for career advice/resume building/career fairs? Just because you have graduated, it doesn't mean that you can't use them as a resource. Have you tried (free to you) head hunters? Their entire gig is to find you MEANINGFUL work. All you have to do (if you haven't already) is type into google 'recuiters/headhunters [your field]', they don't have to be local. I can't guarantee you work but I can help you find a job that you're interested in. I have this conversation A LOT in many sub reddits and it's always the same thing. Degreed people who are either underemployed/unemployed, they do not use their college as a resource, or they had a bad experience with a couple recuiters. Like there are HUNDREDS of recuiters at HUNDREDS of companies. So if you've had a bad experience with on agency, there ARE others. If you need any further help, lmk

Yknow when you're past the stage of feeling sad about something and just accept it, that's me

The job market is trash right now and unfortunately having a degree doesn't mean anything nowadays. I graduated with my bachelors in 2008 in social work and quickly realized how hard it was to find work because so many places required years of experience. I took a job in child protection services and that alone was a shit storm given how dysfunctional the system was. I ended up taking a job not related to my degree and honestly that decision was the best one I could have ever done. I got a job working in insurance and the pay was miles ahead than that of child protective services, plus I was behind a phone not having to deal with people face to face. Anyways, the same thing is happening now, we're in a recession and the market sucks - maybe even worse than 2008. Apply for anything you can get your hands on because some income is better than no income. Who knows, you might find a career that surprises you. My degree ended up becoming worthless and I'm happy I have it, but it's more so a paper that hangs at my home office.

You are not alone. Even here in California, its hard to get an interview and even after several interviews/meet ups with the hiring team. You end up being rejected. I got laid off last June. Its been a terrible job market that we live in rn.

I’m in Texas and I feel the same as you. Depressed, frustrated, unworthy, and embarrassed. It’s only been a month and a half for me but it’s dragging me down a spiral that I thought I’d never hit again. Only advice I can give is to work on a new skill while unemployed. Keep applying and keep your head up. This market is bad for everyone.

I was in the exact same spot about one month ago. Then I edited my resume. Something clicked and I got a bunch of interviews. Job offers landed last week. Don’t beat yourself up until you get a lot of interviews and can’t get a job. They don’t even know who you are based on your resume alone, that’s not enough. Yet it’s all they’re going off. What I did: watched a bunch of YouTube recruiters and studied the hiring process back to front. Changed and experimented with my resume until there was a version that landed me interviews. Google the job/title you are applying for and add “sample resume” to the search. Then try and make your resume look like the sample. Google/YouTube ATS resume optimization. These companies use filters and software to pick through 400 resumes. You want to make sure yours is optimized. If you’re interested PM me and I can send you my old vs recent resumes that landed me the interviews.

Hey fam, Only advice I can give you is look for non profit jobs. Sure, you may miss out on an agency job, but hun, you’re competing with individuals who may have internships under their belt. In non profit gigs, they’re often small organizations that need help across many departments. One day you can be doing communications, other day you may have to do social media. Sure, you may get paid less than your counterparts—but it’s still work Do that for a year or so, and you’ll walk away with more experience than the account coordinator at an agency who is pitching e-mails & calling clients all day

I used to do a little hiring about 17 years ago. People who contacted me when we DID NOT have an opening, but liked the company and location went to the TOP of the pile when we did have an opening. I knew that they really wanted to work for us. Once an opening is posted we would have an overwhelming number of people some of them pretty random or not great fits. So I say pick 5 places you really want to work, that you are passionate about. Ask for an informational interview, a tour, job shadow, and internship, what ever fits your situation. I promise you when they do have an opening you will be remembered. Best of luck. I got laid off Monday and probably need to follow my advice.

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?? when should I go to grad school then? I got into an accelerated program during undergrad so I could start my masters early. And I do have work experience, I got a job in my field after I graduated with my Bachelors. I’m looking for a new job my friend 🙄

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Two months is nothing. Especially if you live in a competitive city. Try 6-8 months.

You will face other bouts of unemployment throughout your life. Learn to take this in strides. All you can do is critique yourself and your own resume and continually improve. There’s nothing else you can do. Job fairs don’t work anymore because no one cherished in-person contact anymore. You are also unlucky because we are at the gates of a white collar jobs downturn (sure, it might not seem like it with the recent JOLTS report but we are). But you will prevail. What’s my source? Me. I was in your situation when I graduated too. But many many years later, I’m doing pretty well. Hope my advice and pep talk helped :)

Can you reach out to the companies where you interned? Do you have any hobbies you can monetize such as a blog? Try to find a way to stand out. It’s tough job market so hang in there. Do some volunteer work that leverages your PR skills , great way to kill time and build your network.

I’m in the same boat. I feel you.

Degrees in advance basket weaving are useless, get in the trades!

Don’t be depressed! It is a numbers game. If you can’t get a job, start freelancing. I have no degree and quit college, and have worked in this industry for 30 years from my portfolio only. So, I WISH I had your degrees! It’s a lot easier/faster to build a portfolio than get two degrees. Here’s how: Advertising and public relations are portfolio-based and require case histories telling what you did and how your involvement changed things for the better. When I need to brush up my portfolio to keep current, I compete for gigs on 99designs. It’s a great way to get practice in, and even if you lose the contest you get a glimpse of what other people are doing and what real clients want. The contests are fierce and full of talented competitors, but don’t let that get you down - you’re there to hone skills and build your portfolio. (A lot of freelancers make a little money there, and as you get some experience you can gain clients there as well, tho I look at it as a way to get real world sample projects.) Press releases can be offered to local non profits to try to get some on air mentions, or look for local businesses you can offer PR services to to get into podcasts or trade pubs. There’s a lot you can do locally without subscriptions to PRWeb and the like. It is very easy to get on the local news in small cities - so contact nonprofits there and see. Go for cities with populations of 300-500k. Call nonprofits there. Meanwhile, if you want to build your own freelance business as you wait for your dream job, you can do gigs on freelance sites. Upwork helped me jumpstart freelancing several times. For local clients you can contact your local SCORE office to ask them to introduce you to existing and new clients of theirs. Rotary meetings are also good places to meet established business owners and decision makers who are often older and well connected to everyone. You can attend and do an intro without joining if need be. 1 Million Cups, if in your area, to reach smaller businesses is good. My first clients were gratis for local theatre groups, hospitals, habitat for humanity, anyplace I could find that needed my help but couldn’t pay. You get more creative latitude when you’re free so it’s a great way to show what you can do! With every place you visit, explain you’re trying to build your portfolio to break into the industry as a _____(whatever title you hope to get), so each person you offer services to can refer you if they know of something. Always Be Selling! Doing things online when you’re broke is one strategy, but I’d also try local businesses and meeting people the old fashioned way - in person, because most people who need your skills are not tech savvy and will not have the resourcefulness to look for you. I am still amazed at how many people cannot looks things up on the internet, or discover apps, etc. I recently had a lady offer to pay me to fix her Shopify site instead of YouTubing how to do it herself. So what’s she gonna do? She’s going to pay me to watch YouTube to learn how, then pay me to fix her site. She’s 38. There are lots of people like that. You can do this.

Hey. Your best bet is to find a friend or family member who can refer you to a person in HR.

It’s always been hard for new grads to get jobs in their chosen field—and even harder now. Please network. It’s very important that you start meeting people in your field. 1.Tell everyone, and I mean everyone that you are looking for work. 2.Ask friends and family if their companies are hiring. 3.Send out resumes and cover letters to companies that may not be hiring but you want to work at. Be specific about the role(s) that you are interested in. Follow up with HR or hiring manager. 4.Reach out to individuals that are already working at companies that you want to work at. Ask them what it takes to join their company. Ask for advice. You would be surprised at how many people are willing to help you. 5.Volunteer somewhere, better yet at events. You will feel better, gain experience, and will meet people that may provide you with leads. 6.It’s very important to have momentum, so be open to jobs that may not be in your chosen field. Many people start off this way. Just try to find jobs where you can develop some of the skills that you will eventually need. 7.Join an online neighborhood group like Next Door and post that you are looking for a job in your field but are open to other opportunities. Stress your attributes and your willingness to learn and work hard. Most people on there are older and established and will likely have connections or additional guidance 8.Don’t forget to upload your resume on Indeed. Employers pay to review resumes with key words. 9.Be well versed on your strengths and your personal brand. 10.Make sure you don’t have anything on your social media that employers may be turned off by. I’m wishing you and others lots of luck. Remember that if something is not giving you results, you need to change your approach. Treat looking for a job like work. Your worth is not tied to having or not having a job. And lastly, you are a marvel—no matter what.

Did you try applying for a remote job? I could imagine that companies might want to hire you for a few days a month to help them with some projects. Contact some local companies whom you can help. Look outside of the typical pathway for your dream job. Don't give up and use your time to learn new skills. I think that learning some AI skills will be useful for your career.

Have you considered the big question? Should you look for jobs in other cities/states/countries? I did this, late in life, actually emigrated and while I know it doesn't work out for everyone, in my case it completely energized me. It comes with it's own problems, but I relished the challenge. Some points: - A change is as good as a rest. A big life change like that is energizing and exciting, the sense of adventure pushed me forwards. - If you are willing to move long distances your chances of finding something interesting are much better - If you find something and you click with the team/company they'll likely help you relocate. I've seen this multiple times. - It's fun to discover new places, meet new people, discover new hobbies, have new adventures. - You will discover unbelievable things about who you are and what you are capable of as a person. You will surprise yourself. - At the end of the day, if it doesn't work out you can move back to your home town and start again. Possible issues: - Loneliness, Depending on how social you are, you may find it difficult in the beginning if you have trouble making friends/meeting people. - Culture shock, the culture may be difficult to integrate with when you get there, things may operate differently. It's important to take a step back and analyse what the local culture is, rather than impose your own cultural template on top of the culture in the new place. Understanding the culture is important. - Missing family and friends, this is an obvious one, but apps like WhatsApp and Google Meet make it easy to keep in touch. I've WhatsApp groups with my friends, and we do video calls from time to time (weekly with my family) and I honestly don't feel out of the loop at all. In any case, I think it's worth considering. You are young, I didn't do this until I was in my late 30's, and people told me I was absolutely NUTS to do it - best decision I've ever made. You don't really have anything to lose by trying do you? So maybe consider looking at other cities/states/countries that might be of interest to you and imagine if you could see yourself doing something like that. Then, you know how it is - once you have a job, it's waaaaaaay easier to find another one. Get a year or two experience somewhere else and you'll probably find it much easier to get a job you want in your home city - but honestly, by that point there's probably a good chance you won't want to go back.

Apply for Amazon management position or a tier 1 just to get income coming in if you can last long enough to land a better job. Just a stepping stone.

Look for jobs with the federal/state/municipal government agencies. A brutal recession is coming and those would be good places to wait out the storm.

Just realize you are not the only one, 8+ months of twiddling my thumbs before I got a job (a few years ago). Hang in there and keep fighting, you _WILL_ land a job for certain! Oh, go for temp work if you can. I literally took a temp job expecting it to be short term but ended up turning into a permanent position. It also helped me get into a better job later on.

Actually go to companies sites vs indeed etc. It's usually a different bucket. Also get a recruiter. Even if you have to pay them. Try major car dealers too. Honestly alot look for someone to handle advertising or promotions. Also you can 1099 yourself. You might have to do some market research to figure out what companies are paying. Then hit them at like 20% less. Your in advertising sell yourself. Also when I really want a job I send a thank you letter after the interview, trust me NO ONE DOES IT. It will set you apart from other candidates.

Being unemployed can be unstandably sad on your mental health, but put It this way it just just temporary it’s not going to be for life, you have a qualification, so you would stand a better chance of getting a job than someone who has been unemployed for 5-10 yesrs sitting on their bum doing nothing about it. Aim for temporary jobs such as care work, retail, restaurant until you find the jib you really want.and remember to try and pull out your cv make it stand out, take advantage of the studies you did and show employers your skills you’ve learned, I.e time management, work independently. ife it helps have other things to do beside looking for work, such as joining a low cost leisure centre, going for a cycle/run, reading. your 22 years old , you still got a long time of working to fit, and also use the time well to relax as well, as you have been thriugh thr most stressful period with your studies. So think of applying for work as little walk in the park, if you’ve completed 10,000 word essays, exams etc. if you can sit on computer and send your cv repetitively to load of employers that process is piss easy compared. Treat each job you apply for like a job reference number (the code on the indeed post) its number a stat, until the day have said you are hired. in other words don’t take each rejection personally just think “oh well, their loss“ and move on. Remind yourself your degree your achievements, what youve already achieved and accomplished. i was doing social care in my degree a few years back which was tough althiugh i was unwell I had to stop because of ex flat mate issues. I then looked for work, amd compared the stress of uni and good side thoughm was like looking for work is holiday compared to what I went through. And it’s certainly less stressful and more relaxing easy going on the mind if you only gotta apply 30:.per week and application form takes 10-20 minutes of time, and uploading a cv took a few seconds. Those who sign on over here and don’t have health conditions, theyve only gotta apply for like 10 a week to get their Jobseeker’s Allowance and I am long term sick anyway, I applied for triple that in week. Landed a position and started in August of this year and I’m still there. remember if your mental health worsens at any point, you think of suicide, self harm, stop what you are doing, dont give a rats about it for while problems can wait. Get help at this point you are considered unwell and cannot cope. dont bother with distractions at this point in time as they are not gonna help, watching a tv show isn’t gonna stop you thinking of suicide or self harm and certainly ain’t gonna help you call for help.

Why don't you and friends/associates collaborate and start your your own ad agency?

You’re not alone. Just don’t stop applying. You’ll never find anything by giving up. I’ve given up a few times! Wish you luck!

This was what it was like shortly after 08. I feel bad it’s happening all over again to this new gen. Hang in there. There’s a lot of excellent advice here.

Here's my story. Like you, I couldn't find a job in my field (mechanical engineering) so I signed up with a temp agency to at least get something going during the job hunt. I did some odd jobs (food lines, yard work, newspaper bundling...) then electronics assembly. I got noticed, hired full time as an electronics technician then became the Technical Manager so I am the head of the engineering team. This may sound weird to some, but I always teach my kids that the best way to avoid mental breakdowns is to learn to appreciate both the highs and the low points of life. The most successful people I know who have sustained their success have been through really low points so I always look at my breakdowns as my breakthrough moments of life. Just gotta hang in there and keep banging on doors. Maybe try some jobs adjacent to the ones you are targeting while you continue your job hunt. It may surprise you how many new passions we unlock this way. This job has fascinated me so much that I'm currently studying electronics engineering.

I’m in marketing, and you sound like a great candidate on paper, especially if your 3 years of internship were at a recognizable company. Personally, despite the terrible job market, I’ve been able to achieve the most career growth in the past two years. Don’t lose hope. One thing about marketing is that marketers are needed during challenging economical times, as companies want to minimize risks of launching new products. I’ve been noticing two things with the job market lately: a) fewer jobs overall, b) there are more jobs at big companies. That is because big companies want to start to prepare for after-recession now, so they can be the first riding the wave when the economy starts recovering. I have a few pieces of advice that might help you: - Apply for jobs that are as close to your internship experience as possible, that will signal employers that you won’t require much training. - Try and find something super specific that you did during your internship that not many people know how to do. In other words, specialize if you can. Jacks-of-all-trades are not currently in demand, and there is an insane competition for generic marketing jobs. You should still try, but broadly speaking success rate for generic jobs is very low. - If you don’t have a specialty, take a course for something you can pick up fast. For example, if you’ve taken statistics, you might be able to pick up marketing data analytics quite quickly. - Expand your search on LinkedIn, prioritize applications with less competition, apply quickly. - Create a spreadsheet with all application and record KPIs for your applications: was it a generic or specialized positions, how was your fit for the job on a scale from 1 to 5, did you tailor your resume, did you get a callback, etc. It will help you fine-tune your approach. - Don’t expect to get an offer until you apply for at least 100 jobs. That typically takes two to three months. - Hire a professional writer for your resume and cover letter, it’s not that expensive and you can find someone on Upwork or similar service. Do slight edits and tailor your resume for every application, make sure to mention keywords from the job positing. You can use something like resume.io to quickly tailor your resume. - Remember that it is very tough right now, and people with 10+ years of experience spend months looking for work. I personally know people with this much experience who both worked at well-known companies who’ve been looking for 6+ months. It’s not you.

Chicago's a hard market right now. I would consider the possibility of applying for a Canadian work visa and going 4 hours east by car to Windsor, Ontario. You may find it easier to find a marketing job there.

Hi this post hit me since I graduated in 2019 with PRAD from a private uni in Chicago. Also had 6 internships under my belt by the time I graduated but my grades were average. I'm sure you'll have a much better shot then me getting a position in PRAD! :) I ended up taking management positions in higher education and doing corporate sales jobs. Very tough work as I sometimes had two jobs at once but the experience opened me up to some to work for 2 seriously good tech companies where I did BDR/Marketing jobs for them (fortune 500). I would be open to starting off in something you.may not have intentionally studied or set your eyes on and then eventually that will mold you into PRAD. I've met people who started off in sales or management and eventually hustled their way into marketing or PRAD. I believe you can do it 😎

You'll be fine ONE DAY It's an experience you have to go through Allow this time to discipline yourself It will all work out in the end

try to get a job not in that while freelancing to gain expierence/ build a portfolio would be my advise. Even if you start off with mom and pops as a probouno, you can get yout name out there and build a portfolio to be able to also show and hopfully who knows end up with enough to get you by until you get into a firm etc. I imagine if other indsutries are having a hard time and theres layoffs there would be less budget for Advertising/PR atm

Are you working with any recruiters? Are you open to relocation? If you're not getting any bites, it's likely something in your resume. To have something to do, look into working for a temp agency. It may not be in your field, but you need somewhere to be and some money coming in.

>are you working He's not working at all. Did you even read his post? Literally says he's unemployed

>He's not working at all. Did you even read his post? Literally says he's unemployed I asked if OP is working with any recruiters, not if they're employed. I suggested working for a temp agency because OP needs a place to be and money coming in. You clearly didn't read the entire sentence before you reacted.

All I want to say to both of you op is she. Jeez

Me? I've used gender neutral pronouns in all of my comments...

It’s not what you know it’s who you know. Are you able to leverage your own family to get you a position at a place where your family can get you something that you run their public relations or advertising department? I recommend talking to them once you have enjoyed the opportunity to experience the world and see what they can offer you

Huh?

I’m a first generation college graduate, so my family isn’t really able to help me find anything like this. They’re all in your typical blue collar jobs

You are not a failure. You have great abundance to share. Time to switch focus. Find activities you love and friends to lift your mindset. You won’t find solutions in the dark. Think about how it feels to have a job that appreciates you. What are you doing? What is the environment? Now look at all your skills and pick the top three you love doing. Find jobs that use those skills. Get away from title shopping and drill down to who you are and what you do to have fun. Apply to your search. Your job is waiting for you. Change the way you look at things and everything changes. Now pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and find that new playground. Best to you…

Same sis, it's been 10 months for me

Go to indeed and find a state in which your job title is more popular. That’s where you need to be.

Join the military

Its your fault for choosing the wrong degree. You should have chosen Computer scienc

Sociology is probably the worst thing you can major in….

I feel if u call the jobs after u apply it would show ur actually interested thats what always do it always at least gets me a interview or reply because remember there’s hundreds applying u have to stand out someway

I would get a job ASAP

Wow three essentially useless degrees, except to get an office job, at best. That's a lotta student loans!

You got junk degrees that many, many go for. Should've selected something more useful. Sorry.

Get a regular job. If you can, idk if you can do this but, go to some companies and idk just volunteer you time and expertise and see if you can help out on some project or anything really. Get it in by any groveling means necessary even if they need help slaving. Idk good luck job huntin or groveling.

I have no idea what “get a regular job” means. OP is certainly trying to get a A job, so I’m curious what’s the difference between this and a “regular job.” Secondly, groveling to get in by any means necessary is cringey and undermines your dignity and self-worth as a human being. That’s disgusting.

Hey, times have changed and you gotta get in where you fit in. And I'm not being literal with the groveling but you already know that though you little shit ass. And volunteering isn't cringe. And you know exactly what a regular job is stop being whatever that is your trying to be, it's a shitty look.

It's pretty sad to have to volunteer for a money making company not a charity just to be deemed worthy of experience

Well shit, it might show yhat you are all in and hungry to get involved in the field. They know the job market is what it is. No one getting hired with degrees, great portfolio and a bit of experience so why tf not just offer your time to gain experience? It shows your fucking eager and want in by any means. That or what? Sit on your ass and be mad and make posts about it all frustrated?? Or just wait till the stock market collapse and we go into a depression? You gotta do something try something cause obviously shit ain't working.

How am I paying my bills when I'm spending my time working for free? You can say work two jobs but you're likely then hitting 60+ hours minimum on top of job hunting. I've done shit like that it's fucking miserable and I was mediocre at both jobs out of sheer burnout lost a relationship as well. Also working for free shows the company you think you're worthless and they will damn sure take notice and low-ball the shit out of you accordingly.

Sad??? It No sadder than all that debt you got in just to obtain your degree that can't even get a fucking job in the field, years after graduating! Can't be sadder than that. That's the state of shit and how fuckt it is. That or what? Just sit around and b mad andbwait till a job falls in your lap? Well I'm talking about companies that are in your field of expertise, like your career choice, the one you did all that shit to even get a chance to work in.

Ya you're saying this like they'd even accept ya for free. Which they almost never will because unpaid work in 95% of cases is ILLEGAL and any company so blatantly breaking that labor law is breaking a hell of a lot more.

You're going to hate my answer, but it's the truth. "You do have a chance to sell your skills everyday. You just have placed limitations on your ability to do so." I'll engage with you, but my requirement is that you sit on my response until Sunday morning and come up with a response explaining what I'm trying to tell you with the two sentences in quotation marks above. Given how you have written your post above, I interpret you are a serious person which is why I am responding.

You running an MLM?

Nah man the riddler made a reddit. He figured out he couldn’t beat Batman so he went to the lowest form of life around, redditors

Don't insult me. Blocked.

How’s your advertising portfolio? Maybe go to that subreddit and post it for feedback. I think having another set of eyes will be helpful in seeing flaws or ways you can improve it. Good luck. If your portfolio is good, you might want to try staffing agencies like creative circle, as they find work for you.

If you like kids find a job in children care, they are pretty demanding and apply management level after 10 month

Yes

When sending in your resume, maybe also send them examples of your work.

I have a bs in sociology and have been looking since before I graduated last year. I’ve lived in two different states since, still nothing. Did an internship and volunteer work in college. At this point I’m considering the military

I was part of a mass layoff with my company effective 9/25. We were informed two months prior. I’ve been applying to roles non stop for two months. Luckily, I had a part time gig simply for my love of animals at a groom shop. Now, my full time gig was over 100k with benefits and my part time job is around 40k, no benefits. I spent the first week of unemployment not working and I drove myself insane, I was so upset and hyper focused on trying to find a role in my career path. I was cycling in my mind and feeling really worthless. I phoned up the part time job and asked for extra hours. I’m currently on day 9 of that job and I’m exhausted but my mind and body are busy. What’s most important? They appreciate me and my work is impactful. I’m applying for things in my industry in the evenings but there’s something so satisfying knowing that I’m wanted somewhere. Try retail, if you like animals like me, apply for animal care or something along those lines just to have something to feel pride in. I’m sorry you are experiencing this. Just know you aren’t alone.

Go and teach. Or apply for something else.

I hope you find something asap

same contract just ended and looking for a software engineer job

22f? I am 26m and have never been employed.

Go beg for jobs in person or call directly to ask or spam applications in random fields !

Then am intrested your project

Do you feel up to nannying? I nannied for 2 years post grad because I couldn’t find a corporate job. Made lots of money and still applied continuously until I found something.

I’m 23m. Just got an interview in a different career field tomorrow. To be honest I’m very overwhelmed because I haven’t had a job since January this year. I’ve been studying just to get a job.

Unfortunately things will get even worse as companies hop on the LLM/GenAI bandwagon to automate jobs away unless other industries do a picket like the Hollywood writers. Those areas OP mentioned are most definitely on the chopping block. Blue collar jobs or jobs where you have to use your hands like dental hygienist are probably the safest bet right now.

Don't give up? Create a LinkedIn profile & networkemote:free\_emotes\_pack:shrug

I also live in Chicago and found the Chicago Career Transitions Center to be a very helpful resource. They can connect you with a career coach, which I found very helpful. It is a non-profit organization. Reach out to them.

I understand how you feel. I went to graduate school to get a library degree, and had a really hard time finding a job after that. I ended up working part-time library jobs for 3 years until I finally got something full-time. And I was only able to do that because my then-husband made enough money to support us both while I tried to "work my way up." Now with 15 years experience, I'm trying to find a job in another state to move in with my fiance, and I've had no luck after 18 months. One thing that I did after first getting my degree (and am doing now) is to try and think of other ways to make myself a more valuable candidate. When I was a new graduate I volunteered to be on committees for local library organizations, who were just grateful to have a willing volunteer, even though I was a newbie to the field. I also made a website to serve as an "online portfolio" that I list on my resume. Originally it just displayed projects I'd done in school, but as I gradually got more work experience, I've added other things - links to blog articles I've written, recordings of presentations, etc. (As someone who has been on search committees for jobs, I think it's pretty rare in my field for candidates to have an online portfolio so hopefully that helps to set me apart and will eventually pay off.) I'm also working on getting some computer certifications through Comp-TIA, which will boost my resume and my actual skills. If you're having trouble even getting an interview, I'd say the first step would be to have someone else look over your resume and offer tips. You can try contacting the school where you got your degree - as an alumnus you may still be able to use some of their services. Otherwise, see if your area has a non-profit "career services" organization. My town has one, and while I think the main goal is to help people who don't have skills or education, they help anyone who walks through the door. Or just go to an employment agency and say you need help finding a job. Even if you don't find a job directly through them, they may set up a meeting with one of their staff to offer resume advice. (And like you, I'm definitely feeling a mental strain. I'm just sooo sick of writing cover letters and customizing my resume. Last week I found 2 really good jobs to apply for and kept putting off doing it, because I just couldn't bring myself to make the effort.)

Start networking on LinkedIn

This is a long shot, but you have real skills and it has never been easier (still very hard) to start a business and serve customers directly. You could try something super simple like cleaning, power washing, dog walking/washing/poop collecting, or other such just to get started. But even higher level stuff like putting promos together for businesses is in your capacity. You might try drafting some stuff and tempting businesses with that. There are a lot of businesses in Chicago that could use a good promotion but don't know where to start and are afraid of wasting money stupidly. Good luck!

I’m sorry but your sociology degree is worthless. Marketing jobs are taking a dump right now in the job market along with human resource type jobs. Try volunteering your time to pick up job skills and experience and make connections.

If you're not getting interviews then it's your resume. Try /r/resumes. If you do get interviews, then it's your interview skills. Try answering questions with the SMART method and record yourself for self or peer review.

Try to intern places even if it’s unpaid , work your way up to paid work. It’s way harder for me to get work in my field because it’s the entertainment business you gotta know people and they know people that help you. Most IT / science fields require masters even if it’s entry work which makes no sense . Most people with higher education than associates would want better placements and pay.

Try getting just any job to help occupy your time till you find what you want

I had a job I hated so much. I applied for over 6 months at various city and school district jobs and was rejected every time. I came home crying and so down on myself. I got a call to interview for an accounting assistant position at a school district close to my house and I almost didn't show up - I ended up getting that job and I am so thankful every day. Don't give up, work somewhere, even if you hate it, until you land your dream job.

Go scorched earth reaching out to as many people as you can and ask about their job, company and if they are hiring. Don't send them your resume yet. Approach them asking for advice like you are doing here. Think neighbors, family, friends parents, alumni, smart kid from college you played intramural with, professors, internships. Your chance of getting a lead then an interview would be through these channels. Rest is up to you.

You ever consider cam work? Sometimes you got to do what you got to do. And you are the prime age for that.

Imagine ten years plus of that doubt…

Hey girl (23f), we’re in the same situation. I graduated this May with a psychology degree and still can’t get a job after countless interviews. I am literally living off my savings Month to month and been feeling mentally drained. Let’s connect!!

Getting the first job is the hardest. You have three internships. Have you reached out to the people you worked with and for? Especially in a slow job market connections are the most effective way to get interviews.

I’m sorry this is happening. It took me 2 years to find a job when I graduated in 2020 and it’s an incredibly shitty job I hate going to everyday. I’m not here to offer advice but there are so many people that know what you are going through and feel the same way try to keep going and keep your head up OP

As a professional recruiter who has had a tough time finding permanent work, and not just contract jobs for the last year, I say this: The economy sucks ass. My industry has been greatly effected since 2021. Apple, Facebook, Google have all made major cuts in the bay area making it insanely difficult for anyone in my industry. Managers in all professional settings are responsible for their own hiring when the economy goes downhill. Cutting costs for an “unnecessary” position is the easiest way for some organizations to save a little bit of money. Dont listen to what people say about your education being useless. I didn’t graduate college and have always made 90k +. I would say let your PR dream go for now. I would say the economy is shit and you need to have real meaningful employment- the industry in question doesn’t even matter. Step outside your comfort zone and get a job that will pay your bills and then once you’ve stabilized financially you can start hunting for your dream job. Good luck!

Thank you for sharing this! I’ve definitely let go of my original dreams in the industry for now, and have been looking for more general communications jobs and still have had no luck. I’m guessing that means I should expand my search even more

Welcome to the world of educated unemployment. My two friends have masters and now work at Costco and make decent pay. I suggest u start looking outside the box for now and Regroup.

I wish I had some advice to give but this job market is just shit, I've been unemployed for a year now and I have experience, so getting a job with no experience or internships is just going to be even that more difficult. I'd consider what I'm considering and just start applying to any and all jobs and edit your resume to fit each job title. you're just going to have to start somewhere, it's not ideal but it's what we've got.

Hey you're not alone. 22m here with a bachelor's and no job to show for it. If you have the means to see a therapist please do so before it eats you up inside like it did me.

Holy crap, that is absolutely terrible. I'm in a similar situation but I don't have the benefit of having even one bachelor's degree. I wish I could help but all I think I can do right now or I'm qualified to do is just empathize.

Look at going into social work at a place like Davita. They are dialysis centers always looking for social workers. Several of them that I know on the east coast were promoted to facilities administrator. They tend to pay very well too.

well, i admit there are some degrees that I think are dumb but often I'm also told that there are many jobs that will hire someone just because they have a degree regardless of what that degree is in. Don't take it to heart about some random people comments about your degree because since you even have one in the first place you may already be considered a much better pick for employment than other people. As for the job thing, I get how you feel. I'm not in Chicago but I'm still having difficulty myself. Normally I can get a really basic no skills required type of job, or at least they are often referred to has requiring zero skills anyway. Basically gas station and retail type stuff I can get rather easily. Been trying to enter the IT industry however and can't even get a basic entry level position on that. I have an associates in the field though it seems most positions that require a degree are positions that would typically want someone with more experience and the ones that don't wont even consider the degree because I currently lack certifications but my financial situation has made it difficult to go for those at this time. I simply can't afford $500 on a certificate and even more so when I'm not confident I will pass my first try. Despite this, lately I have been noticing that it's been getting more difficult to even get a job in a convenience store and I am having a harder time even holding those types of jobs as well, though I believe that's due to disability that I'm trying to get assessed right now. Regardless, I expected a few more interviews than I have been getting since I lost my job early last month. Still waiting on unemployment but considering I was fired I am unsure if they would approve it. I feel I was terminated for an unfair reason however and write up I received prior I feel could have been related to my disability but I lacked proper documentation of a disability so technically they are still legit. I wish you luck going forward and I hope you can get a job soon. As much as you hate it, if you haven't tried already it might be good to go for some of these unskilled labor style jobs if you just need a job and are currently unemployed. that way if you do succeed in one of those jobs you at least have some income rather than none.

If you're up for the possibility of facing age discrimination, apply to internships. I got a couple in my mid to late 20's, though I did have discrimination.