Graduated College but can't find work/Almost homeless

[iwanttobelive]

Hello,
Edit: Due to some worrying about someone taking this information and using it wrong, I deleted the original post.

Edit2: I decided to modify all my posts to have just bullet points and less detail.


Back ground was:
-Graduated college with a business degree 6 months ago.
-Used lots of advice from MMM to cut living costs down. Asked for advice on how to find work and what to do for my living situation.
-Lost housing, currently living in a motel and using emergency fund
-Moved across the country to a part of the midwest where I had family
-Family unable to help with housing
-Student loans are currently due, $400 a month
-Can't find work anywhere doing anything! All Rejection!
-Im in my late 20's , clean background and with almost 10 years of job history, except the last few years where I was going to school full time.
-Feeling depressed

[YK-Phil]

You are 28, no children, no family to support, no financial obligations except your student loan, completely mobile, well educated and relatively healthy. Despite your current situation, I would see these as positive factors. I am sure you will get some good advice here. My own advice, if I were your age and in your situation, would be to get the heck out of North America as fast as you can, and I am not kidding. The American Dream, if it ever existed, is dead. In my case, I would look at options such as teaching English as a Second Language somewhere in Asia. Armed with your undergrad and possibly a short ESL teaching certificate, your chances of finding immediate employment in places like Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan, etc. are excellent. You won't make a fortune, but you will live much better than most of your fellow Americans living like drones in a Fantasy world where success is measured by the size of your SUV and the square footage of your house. Another option which I did a few years back was to take a PADI Divemaster course. You can become certified in a couple of months and find employment practically immediately. I did that back in 2007 and spent almost a year in Thailand as a divemaster with the resort that trained me. While my salary was mediocre by North American standards, it afforded me the kind of luxury and easy paced lifestyle that money cannot buy, all in an idyllic environment: a very small but comfortable bungalow (really a beach hut with a bed, shower and mini-fridge to store my beer and milk for my morning coffee) on the beach, eating out every single day at local Thai restaurants, going out almost every night with co-workers and students, enough money to buy a small honda scooter, regular trips to nearby countries, all this on about $500 a month, and plenty of money to save (I won't mention spending your days on a dive-boat with women in bikini who think being a divemaster is the coolest job on the planet)...I'm heading back there as soon as the youngest of my four children is independent enough to survive on her own...

These are just examples, and they may not suit your aspirations or interests, nevertheless I am simply suggesting that there are non-conventional options out there that can get you out of a dead-end situation. This is by the way the advice I gave to my own son who is 23 and finds himself stuck in a dilemma: make really big bucks in the tar sands, with all that this implies for himself as much as for the environment, or build himself a lifestyle that will be more in tune with his aspirations and dreams.

[backyardfeast]

iwanttobelieve,

I just wanted to give you some positive vibes right away.  Your situation sucks!! But you are doing all the right things, and you should be commended for your discipline, professionalism, and willingness to do whatever it takes to keep going.  It's ok to feel down and frustrated.  But as ykphil said, you may be at a crossroads, but you are not yet down and out.  You can read many stories on this forum of people in greater debt, with health challenges, and families to support who are making it against all odds.  Your turn will come!!

Given your circumstances, I would consider leaving your community, rather than spending another 3-4K on the driving course.  As ykphil said, there are other, cheaper, shorter training programs to get you working faster, if that's the way you want to go.

My suggestion would be to immediately contact or find the website for your college's career centre.  As a new alum, you should be entitled to help!  And the centre may well have postings specifically for students/graduates.  Your main focus at the moment needs to be to find work of any kind, but also be willing to go where work takes you, and it sounds like where you are now may be a dead end.  Look at internships through your alma mater, or even for jobs posted on college boards where you are now or close by.  Could you contact any of your former profs for suggestions/connections?  Use any and all contacts that you have, even through facebook, anywhere in the world.

Good luck--we're rooting for you!

[ritchie70]

I don't want to be difficult, but I find it hard to believe that:

1. You would move to Ohio in hopes of family being able to help without asking if they could help first.
2. None of your family likes you well enough to let you live in their basement.
3. McDonald's won't hire you unless there's something you're leaving out. It's hideous work but it's work and you need to keep being able to pay the fleabag motel bill.

If the ESL suggested elsewhere isn't good for you for whatever reason, could you do tutoring?

You talked about the military, so I assume aside from the stomach issue you're in fairly good physical shape. You could find out where the day laborers hang out and go try that, I guess.

I think the right trade these days is the skilled blue collar - plumbing especially. People will always need plumbers. Unless you actually want to drive truck, don't spend all that money on truck driving school.

[Peter]

I think that the problem isn't your "job gap" (employers don't consider getting a degree full time for 4 years a job gap) it's your age combined with the hodgepodge work history you had for 5-6 years prior to attending college.

How's your resume? If I were in your situation and getting desperate I would cut everything out of my resume except schooling and part time jobs during school, lie about my age and say I'm 22.

If your degree/skill set is not in high demand you need to look like the ideal candidate to get selected, as there's a thousand other applicants who are 22 with no baggage and good grades who also want the job.

What I would actually do though, in your situation, is get my butt to North Dakota and get a job in the oil patch as a labourer (to start). If the best job prospect you have is working as a menial paper pusher for 30k/year, and you're even struggling to get that, I would not spend one more cent or brain cell on perusing that line of work. Consider your education in that field a sunken cost and move on.

[oldtoyota]

I am sorry to hear about your situation. This truly sucks, and I think it stinks that folks won't give you a chance.

Have you thought about temping in an office? Doing so is a good way to make cash, acquire new skills, and network. Even if you have to do grunt office work, temping can provide you with a way to get your bearings while doing something productive.

You mentioned you are depressed. I wonder if that is coming through in the interviews or in your resume somehow? If at all possible, my suggestion is to find a place of joy in all this crap and make sure that is coming through when you meet new people/interview for jobs/submit resumes. People can feel negativity.

Another idea: Could you bartend or be a waiter to make some cash?

[gecko10x]

Going through a reputable temp agency (ManPower, etc.), should land you relatively consistent employment. You could do this in your current location, or move where you want, then do temp work while looking for permanent employment.

[ch12]

I think that the problem isn't your "job gap" (employers don't consider getting a degree full time for 4 years a job gap) it's your age combined with the hodgepodge work history you had for 5-6 years prior to attending college.

How's your resume? If I were in your situation and getting desperate I would cut everything out of my resume except schooling and part time jobs during school, lie about my age and say I'm 22.

If your degree/skill set is not in high demand you need to look like the ideal candidate to get selected, as there's a thousand other applicants who are 22 with no baggage and good grades who also want the job.

What I would actually do though, in your situation, is get my butt to North Dakota and get a job in the oil patch as a labourer (to start). If the best job prospect you have is working as a menial paper pusher for 30k/year, and you're even struggling to get that, I would not spend one more cent or brain cell on perusing that line of work. Consider your education in that field a sunken cost and move on.

EDIT: Here is the link to the NYT column on where to find jobs (North Dakota): http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/06/where-the-jobs-for-the-young-are-and-arent/?_r=0

+1 on moving to North Dakota. I moved to what the NYT calls the "upper Midwest" (though not actually North Dakota) myself for a job. North Dakota has a huge shortage of people for the jobs that they have available.

Williston has skipped the recession entirely. Unemployment there is less than 2 percent. The population, the mayor estimates, has grown from 12,000 to 20,000 in the last four years.

"We actually have probably between 2,000 and 3,000 job openings in Williston right now," Koeser says.

From NPR: http://www.npr.org/2011/09/25/140784004/new-boom-reshapes-oil-world-rocks-north-dakota

Anecdotal evidence: My roommate's cousins live in Fargo, ND and when they decided to look for a job as 14-year-olds, they had 2-3 offers each. That was before fracking happened and ND exploded with oil money. If I honestly needed a job, that's where I would go.

[unpolloloco]

Goals:
1) Find a temp agency and find office jobs through it
2) Consider moving elsewhere (find a job first - employers will probably pay for you to travel to come interview with them, so don't worry about moving first).  North Dakota is a very good option...
3) Start developing ties to wherever you find permanent employment.

[totoro]

It is going to be okay.  Really.

I'm sorry your family can't help.  This is a situation in which I would do anything to help my kids.  That said, it is what it is and you will find something and things will get better.

Of course you are feeling anxious, you are living in a motel with uncertainty about the next month.  This is normal.  Some depression is normal too.  A lot can be crippling.  If you can't go on medication, can you make sure you are getting some exercise?  Helps with both.

I don't know the US job market well.  I can tell you what I would do where I live:

1. I would move to an area with lower unemployment rates asap.
2. I might consider living in my car during this move period to conserve cash.  Find a Y or community centre for showering etc and set up for camp-style cooking.  Many parks have picnic areas here.  Treat it as an adventure while the weather is good.  Hang out in the library with their free wifi while you search for jobs. 
3. I would make sure my resume is tailored to the job I am applying for.  If you need a job right now and you are being turned down because you have a college degree I would consider removing it from my resume for that job application.  Sorry to folks who think this is "wrong" - I would say your well-being is worth more right now and its not a terrible thing to do.  There is a lot of turnover in lower paying industries for a reason and it is okay if this is not your forever job.  You just need to get on your feet.
4. I would think of a good reason to explain the relocation to prospective employers other than you desperately need a job.
5. Apply to temp agencies.
6. See if you can get your loan payments deferred.
7. Keep checking back in here or posting for advice again because US MMM folks know a lot about the job market.

You are going to be okay.  Keep moving forward.

[StarswirlTheMustached]

+1 to living in a car.
+1 to ESL in a low-cost Asian country, or enlisting.
I've a friend who has a cross-border family; he grew up here but did high school in Compton, NJ, and he often says "Everyone I knew is either in the military, in prison, or dead." Bloody depressing.

Can I ask what your stomach problems entail? I have IBS and have had good luck with probiotics and herbal remedies; then I ended up on antidepressants and it helped immensely. I'd be able to qualify for enlistment now, if my main trigger food wasn't corn, which every processed food, including rations and a lot of on-base cooking, is pretty much made from.

[iwanttobelive]

Just came back to check on this. Wow! I think you guys have some great ideas.

[Villanelle]

If you would genuinely join the military if it could work, talk to a recruiter.  Until he tells you your issue is disqualifying, don't believe it. 

Since you have a degree, start with an officer recruiter.  This is not the same as an enlisted recruiter, though an E recruiter might tell you he can do both.  You want an O recruiter.  If that won't work, talk to an E recruiter about enlisted.

This isn't going to get you a job and a pay check right away, however, especially not the O route.  But it is a longer term solution.  Don't take the word of rumors and people who aren't paid to be up to date on the rules as gospel.  It cant hurt to talk to a recruiter. 

[CU Tiger]

I agree with some of the others. Head up the oil boom camps in ND, etc. You are a month from living in your car or a homeless shelter, it's time to take bold action.

Go to the library, do some google-fu and find the names/addresses/hiring centers of at least four or five oil camps. Buy yourself a pair of Red Wing workboots and some Carhartt work pants. Sell any of your things that you don't need to live, gas up the car and  and head north and west.

If you aren't willing to take decisive action like that, at least register with every single temporary agency in town. Emphasize that you can do administrative work, reception work, filing, physical warehouse work, etc. Any time I've registered with a temp agency I could work 40 hours a week every week. I worked as hard as I could, demonstrated a sparkling, upbeat personality to show I was easy to get along with, and got a couple of offers for full time work.

[mpbaker22]

Was there an overly good reason for working 5 years before going to college?  Anything you could put in a cover letter for a job app?  You don't want to be overly dramatic, but if there's a good reason, employers like hiring those types ...

[StarryC]

I agree with altering your resume/ application.  You don't have to put everything on it.  If you are applying for a job where you think college is a disadvantage, leave it off.  Or just put the community college.  If asked directly, don't lie.  You should be able, with your English speaking ability, citizenship, and a willingness to work very hard, be able to find some kind of minimum wage work.  Maybe short term farm employment, fast food, or waiting tables, day labor, etc.    I have actually hired people off of craigslist to do things.  Try posting an ad saying you will do yard work, moving, chopping wood etc. for $8 an hour.  You might get a taker.  This is a short term plan.

What I think they meant by you aren't "big box" material might be something that is a problem overall:  When the job is dead end, people at least want to work with others who are happy, optimistic, fun, etc.  The bosses don't want you to THINK it is a dead end job.  So, you have to fake it.  When you are desperate and smart, this is hard.  But you can do it! Also, to these employers things like being clean, dressing appropriately, enthusiasm, and arriving on time are very important- more important than in higher paid jobs.   Get your food handler's card if you don't already. 

I understand your family won't "help you out" as much as you thought.  Even if you can't live there, could someone serve as your address so when people look it up it's a house instead of a motel?  Or serve as a character reference to say you are hard working?  Let you use their washer/dryer, iron, and ironing board? 

If you do move to ND, be prepared to live in your car.  Employment is high, but there isn't enough housing. 

Are you involved in any sort of community group?  I always think of churches in a situation like this.  If you can ask around, you might find someone willing to let you use their appliances, park in their driveway or parking lot, or pay you some cash for some yard work.  There might even be some business owners who would take a chance on you that they otherwise wouldn't take.   There are, of course, other people who will do these things outside of churches, but Sunday at 11am is a good time to find a large group of them all in one place. 

Meanwhile, apply for food stamps and find the food banks.  You do not need to be spending money on food if you are going to lose your place to live soon. This will buy you some more time.

[backyardfeast]

Just wanted to +1 the get your student loan payments deferred.  I don't know how the US system works, but here there are a lot of options for students in your situation: interest relief, partial forgiveness, reduced payments, and temporary deferrment.  Make a couple of phone calls and see what happens.

If the oil industry doesn't sound appealing, give some serious thought to where you might want to live.  You need a city not so big as to be intimidating or overwhelming, but big enough to have solid work with temp agencies, and opportunities to do the side hustles that MMM's recent posts have been about: tutoring, dog-walking, etc.  A city with a large enough wealthy population to support you, a desirable university or college, but with a low enough cost of living to not leave you homeless.  Think about places with lots of under-30s where you will be in good company, and finding roomates, etc will be easy.  Remember that if where you are truly won't work for you, that means the world is your oyster!

[Rebecca Stapler]

About the student loans -- instead of getting them deferred, get on an income-based repayment (IBR) option. If you have $0 income, you should have $0 repayment. This is better than having them deferred because you only have so many years of deferment available, whereas there is no limit to IBR.

[onehappypanda]

Lots of practical suggestions for places to look for work - if you're in the Central Ohio area, FedEx and UPS are always hiring this time of year. It won't be lucrative, but you could get a night shift position while they need them for the holidays, and it would keep you from being homeless while freeing up your days for more interviews.

My suggestions below are more general things you can do to help yourself, vs. places to look for jobs:

In general, I think you need to look into public and nonprofit assistance in your area. You probably qualify for foodstamps or another assistance than can help make ends meet. Housing often has a waiting list, but you some places offer rent assistance. You need to get down to Job and Family Services and ask about any benefits they may have.

Also look into nonprofits and public services that may provide job-hunting help. My local library system (central Ohio) offers resume help, job hunting seminars, job fairs, etc. Job and family services often offers job assistance. Some organizations will even help you practice your job interview skills. From what you've written, it sounds like you may be sending red flags in interviews without realizing it. I think you need someone impartial who can help you work through that.

I would also see if there's a free clinic or low-cost clinic that treats depression near you. They're in almost every city I've been to, you just have to ask around for a bit to find them. While your situation is difficult, it isn't hopeless. But you sound like you think it's hopeless. That's red flag for depression and depression can make it a LOT harder to find a job or ace an interview. A clinic might be able to treat you for that and help you work through your job-searching issues at the same time.

I would not lay down more money on job training right now unless you're sure it's a good match for your skills/interests AND you know there's a need for it in the market. Right now, trucking in the Midwest is not a hugely booming industry, so I personally wouldn't spend a lot of money on training to become a trucker. There are manual trades (plumbing, welding, etc.) that could be lucrative if you get skilled enough. They would also likely let you use your business degree to climb up the ladder- my impression is that people who can match trade skills with business knowledge tend to be very successful in those fields.

[zinnie]

I don't have advice as it seems like you have gotten plenty, but I just wanted to wish you luck! My husband and I have both been there with feeling completely desperate in terms on finding a job and I know how it can impact your mental health.

Keep your head up. Eventually you'll get a break.

[footenote]

+1 on driving to North Dakota. You will be employed virtually instantly. Housing is indeed tight. But if you don't mind living in a "mancamp" for the foreseeable future, you will have better than decent income.

That would give you breathing room to regain your self-confidence, build up emergency funds, and chip at debt.

[Dee]

Sounds like posting to the MMM boards was an excellent step -- lots of concrete advice has come up. Like a few others, I have little to add but wanted to acknowledge your post, your difficult situation and wish you the best. Keep taking the steps you have been taking. Keep working hard. This too shall pass.

[AJ]

There have been so many good suggestions! I would only add that the book "60 Seconds and You're Hired" is very very good, and will help you tailor your resume to each job, plus gives a giant list of good answers to the typical interview questions. I can't recommend it highly enough.

On a more personal note, when I was going through a very stressful and difficult time, I also suffered from depression and anxiety. I found that 5HTP (available OTC) was helpful for me. I hesitate to recommend it since everyone reacts differently,  but for me it was just enough to take the edge off the really "hopeless" moments. If you aren't able to find a free clinic (which should be your first stop), trying something OTC might be better than going totally unmedicated. YMMV.

[derekh]

I graduated in May, got and then quit an extremely cushy teaching job. As someone who is only a few things away from being in your situation, let me tell you what has helped me the most:

1. Accept Help: BE WILLING TO ACCEPT HELP.  Between all the food banks/resume services/ LIBRARY/offers, you can sort of meagerly keep on.  I've learned to not only swallow my pride, but also the key to where I locked up my pride.  I outright ask people, strangers, if they know of job openings, and find that a smile and a compliment goes a long way to this end!  Also check out churches- many have free dinners once a week, and after many services, at least in my denomination, there is a reception with fruit/cookies.  Also ask to join your local Lodges, which are veritable sources of networking and help - Moose, Lion's Club, Masons, etc.
2. DO Volunteer:  If you cannot volunteer within biking distance, then live in your car near volunteering. I have received MANY job leads from volunteering people.  Because?  Volunteering is spectacular and I think it could help mitigate some depressive symptoms: it makes you feel less powerless and trapped to help others (trust me, I've been there)
3. Get CHEAP <1000 training :   Don't get into MORE debt for trucker school!  Medical billing coursework, for instance, can be had for under $1000.  Become a CNA for around $500 and be up to your ears in work, even if it is not comfortable or particularly well-paying.
4. If you will live out of your car, JOIN A CHEAPASS GYM.  YOu might think that those $10/month is a waste, but really, access to a shower, and more importantly, exercise endorphins/random people for socialization/possible networking, is important!

[LowER]

Resumes are tough.  They need to stand out but not too much, or weirdly.  They need to have broad yet focused appeal.  I know this sounds a little off, but would you be willing to "submit" your resume to this forum?  I would XXXXX or just change identifying information that could possibly be traced back to you. 

I once reviewed a CV/resume for a lawyer who had mistakenly put "10th percentile" for her board scores thinking that was the top ten percent, and the poor thing had been sending it out, without much luck, like that for years, when she was actually 90th percentile!  She changed that and her life changed quite a bit not long after.   A seemingly simple mistake like that can be disastrous.

When applying to super-competitive grad school, I had dozens of "volunteers" from all walks of life read and (I requested this) viscously critique my personal statement, and then rinsed and repeated the process until I was satisfied, dozens of times.

Anyway, it's just a thought and would not be offended at all if you decide against it, but there are some really smart and broadly experienced people here who would love to help you!!

I feel for you, and I will help as much as I can.

I am not religious, but a quote often comes to mind that rings of it: For the grace of god (whatever), go I.  To me it just means that I am 0.5 steps from disaster - always.  I have been in your shoes and I wish you all the best.

LER

[MoneyCat]

When I was in a similar situation, I got a bunch of credit cards with 0% introductory rates and used them for moving/living expenses until I could get back on my feet.  I then moved to an area with employment options and rented a room in someone's house that I found over Craigslist (which didn't require a background or credit check).  It sucks to run up credit cards, but saving your skin is definitely a good use of credit.

Another option for you is to become a substitute teacher.  It's easy work and (at least in my area) pays $100/day.  It's not much but it will tide you over until you can get something better.

[olivia]

Sounds like posting to the MMM boards was an excellent step -- lots of concrete advice has come up. Like a few others, I have little to add but wanted to acknowledge your post, your difficult situation and wish you the best. Keep taking the steps you have been taking. Keep working hard. This too shall pass.

Ditto this.  You've gotten a lot of great suggestions and I don't have anything to add, but I wish you the best.  Please keep us posted, and if you do post your resume and/or cover letter I'd be happy to take a look.  I'm a former copy editor and am happy to help.

[minimalist]

Wow, you are in a tough spot, but you need to stay positive. You have a marketable degree, so the problem might be your resume, cover letter, and/or interviewing skills. Try to get some feedback from someone and/or check out some relevant books from the library.

I'm having trouble understanding that you have no family or friends to stay with. Where are your parents? Do you have any siblings or close friends?

[Zamboni]

You are getting lots of good advice here.  Keep your chin up!  Looking for work is a mental roller coaster.

+1 for renting a room you find on Craigslist.  One of my friend's is currently doing this, and the landlord let him go month to month.

If I were in your situation and getting desperate I would cut everything out of my resume except schooling and part time jobs during school, lie about my age and say I'm 22.

I don't think you need to lie about your age; but don't list that pre-college experience at all on your resume, or only list the most recent 1-2 years of it.  People will then just assume you are younger, but that's not a problem. 

Or, go with what others have suggested and leave the college graduation off the in-store applications if you just need a cashier or stocking job again to pay the bills while you continue to look.  You can list being in college to avoid a time gap, but some jobs are more likely to hire you if you didn't graduate.  If you get one of these jobs, go ahead and list it on your resume while you continue to look for something else bc ironically it's easier to get a job if you are currently employed somehow (most hiring companies won't contact a current employer unless you expressly give them permission to do so.)

Please remember that you don't HAVE to give the same information to every employer, and I don't consider leaving something off the same as lying.  Leave off HS graduation dates if it's on the employment application form; lots of older people do this to avoid age discrimination, but it also avoids you having to explain why you are 28.  Most companies will just ignore the blanks.  I have a friend with a PhD who worked in the produce department at a Super Target to get through a long unemployment gap.  Eventually he got a job for an American contractor in Japan that uses his degree (he loves it!)

I'll come down with the other folks who have said don't go to truck driving school.  My Mom was a starving artist who decided to do that out of desperation.  Yes, she found a job, but it was dead end, loads of physical labor, etc.

You actually haven't said if you are male or female, which is fine, but I think some of the advice you are getting here is slanted towards you being male.

[iwanttobelive]

Edit:

-Tried some suggestions on here
-Still getting rejected for jobs

[ch12]

Good for you! I'm glad to see that you've taken action. Best of luck!

Sidenote: If it were easy to find jobs in Florida, I'd move there in a heartbeat. I actually tried to find jobs in Sarasota/Tampa to no avail before settling for where I am now.

[Christiana]

Relocating is your best bet, but in the meantime, there should be some seasonal openings in agriculture now--hand-processing and packaging fruits and vegetables. 

[Johnny Aloha]

You mentioned the military, and I'm a big fan of this option.

If you are seriously considering it, talk to an officer recruited ASAP.  Get the full medical exam - don't assume you won't get in.  There are waivers for EVERYTHING.

The benefits:
- amazing job training and education opportunites
- good salary to start, amazing salary four years later
- meet & work with amazing people
- very rare opportunities you might NEVER have in the private sector (ever been a 26 yr old dude invited to an ambassador's house in a foreign country to meet that country's president?)
- lots of opportunity for travel and adventure
- student loan repayment programs

The drawbacks:
- possible deployment to war zones (although the chances are decreasing)
- heirchical organization; can be frustrating

Stay positive! 

[Psychstache]

My mom lives with my grandmother here and she says I can't stay or sleep on the couch go somewhere else. There's a big everyone needs to be sufficient/no help attitude with my family.

Have you tried pointing out the irony of this situation to your mom. Probably won't but it's always fun exposing hypocrites.

[DoubleDown]

Sorry to hear you're going through this tough spot, but I know you are going to get through it, and be better for having gone through it.

Lots of great advice already offered above. Here's what I would add, in all seriousness: Pray to God and ask for help. Just trust Him that it's going to work out, and you don't even have to know how it will happen, or worry about it. If you pray and ask for help, something will happen to work it out, I am certain. Keep praying, every day. I'm so certain that it will work I will guarantee you will not end up homeless or hungry. If you reach that point, private message me and I will let you stay at our home and keep you fed with a roof over your head as long as you need. Lots of jobs too where we live (Washington DC). If you're crime and drug-free, then as long as you can get here you'll have a place.

Good luck!

[MoneyCat]

My mom lives with my grandmother here and she says I can't stay or sleep on the couch go somewhere else. There's a big everyone needs to be sufficient/no help attitude with my family.

Have you tried pointing out the irony of this situation to your mom. Probably won't but it's always fun exposing hypocrites.

I dealt with something similar after college.  Honestly, they could have just let me sleep out in the back room on a cot and I would have paid them a little something and provided my own food just to have a roof over my head.  Sometimes blood is as thick as water.

[frugaldrummer]

Sorry your family sucks :( but good for you for going to college on your own. 

Have you asked any good friends if they can think of some reason why you might not interview well?  Appearance issues, eye contact, anything?

AS for your GI issues - try a gluten-free diet if you haven't done so before.  Many people with chronic gut issues are just gluten intolerant.

[totoro]

Sorry to hear you're going through this tough spot, but I know you are going to get through it, and be better for having gone through it.

Lots of great advice already offered above. Here's what I would add, in all seriousness: Pray to God and ask for help. Just trust Him that it's going to work out, and you don't even have to know how it will happen, or worry about it. If you pray and ask for help, something will happen to work it out, I am certain. Keep praying, every day. I'm so certain that it will work I will guarantee you will not end up homeless or hungry. If you reach that point, private message me and I will let you stay at our home and keep you fed with a roof over your head as long as you need. Lots of jobs too where we live (Washington DC). If you're crime and drug-free, then as long as you can get here you'll have a place.

Good luck!

Awesome :)

[tomsang]

MMM just listed 50+ ways to make $50k plus. What have you done to make mney?  I don't understand why it matters what your family or friends have done. What have you done?

[MoneyCat]

Sorry to hear you're going through this tough spot, but I know you are going to get through it, and be better for having gone through it.

Lots of great advice already offered above. Here's what I would add, in all seriousness: Pray to God and ask for help. Just trust Him that it's going to work out, and you don't even have to know how it will happen, or worry about it. If you pray and ask for help, something will happen to work it out, I am certain. Keep praying, every day. I'm so certain that it will work I will guarantee you will not end up homeless or hungry. If you reach that point, private message me and I will let you stay at our home and keep you fed with a roof over your head as long as you need. Lots of jobs too where we live (Washington DC). If you're crime and drug-free, then as long as you can get here you'll have a place.

Good luck!

You are a very good person.  God bless you.  I second the prayer and belief. 

When I hit rough times, my church was always there for me.  I would recommend that the OP check with his church for help  if he belongs to one.  Then, when things improve, he can pay it forward to someone else who needs it.  When I had trouble finding a place to stay, my church helped me and I've never forgotten it.

[EMP]

If you're open to another relocation I would suggest the Lincoln/Omaha area of Nebraska. Unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country, cost of living is low, and I know of a few good temp agencies out here for business careers; Aureus Group, Hemphill Staffing, Insearch, Accountemps, and Cornerstone Staffing (I only list this last one because you're desparate, I had a bad experience with them but they will get you a job and it will pay decent).

Lincoln is working on becoming bike friendly but since I live 1/2 away I haven't put to test how friendly it actually is.

If you're interested and want some contact info you can send me a message.

Another option is Indianapolis. Unemployment is a bit higher but cost of living is still low. And as long as you don't have a criminal background you can probably get a job at FedEx (best option, better pay and benefits) or UPS working nights so you can still work on getting a full time job during the day

Lincoln is a great city to bike in.  Especially if you live in the cheap/"bad" areas of town. 

[EMP]

If you're open to another relocation I would suggest the Lincoln/Omaha area of Nebraska. Unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country, cost of living is low, and I know of a few good temp agencies out here for business careers; Aureus Group, Hemphill Staffing, Insearch, Accountemps, and Cornerstone Staffing (I only list this last one because you're desparate, I had a bad experience with them but they will get you a job and it will pay decent).

Lincoln is working on becoming bike friendly but since I live 1/2 away I haven't put to test how friendly it actually is.

If you're interested and want some contact info you can send me a message.

Another option is Indianapolis. Unemployment is a bit higher but cost of living is still low. And as long as you don't have a criminal background you can probably get a job at FedEx (best option, better pay and benefits) or UPS working nights so you can still work on getting a full time job during the day

Lincoln is a great city to bike in.  Especially if you live in the cheap/"bad" areas of town.

And the awesome thing is that the "bad" areas aren't bad. I walk around them by myself at lunch and I'm a paranoid mofo :)

Yup.  I really want to buy one of those cool older homes around Near South or Everett, but the hubs keeps pointing out that my construction skillz are not that advanced. 

[iwanttobelive]

Update: Thanks everyone for the support and advice.

Edit:
-Family suggests I try to focus on Dishwasher/Server/Waiter positions.
-Still living in motel in the midwest, apply for jobs all day, going out on foot asking if people are hiring
-Still getting rejection for everything I apply to.

[Forcus]

Just saw this thread.

Got to say, you have a lot more positives than negatives. No criminal history, no bad credit, college education, no terrible debt (student loan isn't great but on the scale of student loan debt it could be much worse).

The only thing that I am curious about is all the rejections, especially the weak ones from pretty low end jobs (how much experience do you need to wash dishes, really?). Are you doing something wrong? Is your resume weak? Or too strong (it was mentioned above but I wouldn't mention any education beyond high school for a starting job like dishwashing)?

I also think there has to be some kind of state / public financial assistance for someone in your situation. Probably not unemployment because of your lack of a job for so long due to school, but some kind of assistance whether through the state or a non-profit. I mean, I'd much rather have my tax money go to someone who is educated and trying instead of a third generation welfare baby factory, IMO, but I don't make the laws.

Consider also an alternative living arrangement. Just because it's not on the interwebs doesn't mean it doesn't exist. For example, some sort of farmhand / onsite caretaker, off the books. I think this is pretty common in many areas, a guy does odd jobs and lives in a trailer or extra room on site. Just a thought. Fliers or CL ads might help here.

The trucking job isn't necessarily bad... but I wince a little bit at taking on more debt if all the other avenues (conventional and unconventional) haven't been tried.

Military / National Guard could be a good option. But they may not want you due to age and ailments. I also wince at this a bit due to the committment.

[Rebecca Stapler]

The 5 page personality tests that each company wants you take is driving me crazy! As well as having to submit a custom cover letter/resume and then have to fill in the same information several times on their form for each position.

That is very frustrating! I think the best thing to do when each application takes so long is to choose your applications wisely -- apply at the places that best fit your experience first, before wasting time at something that is a long shot. When I was applying for professional jobs, I would tailor all of my cover letters, and once I had 2-4 different resumes, I didn't have to tweak each one.

I know that the last thing you probably want to do is volunteer, but if you can find a rewarding volunteer gig that you could do for a few hours each week, you will probably meet people who will want to help you out and that might get you an interview or even a job.

[iwanttobelive]

I can't explain it ether, why i'm getting so much rejection. Trust me, i've tried going over every possible variable as to why and then tried to fix what ever might be the issue.

I do really appreciate all the advice everyone has given on here.

[tomsang]

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. 

Based on the ideas that are on this blog, I could earn thousands a month within 30 days spending less than 5 hours a week.  I have not heard what you have done besides apply for jobs that apparently are not there.

1) Have you done online surveys for money?
2) Have you sold blood/plasma/semen?
3) Have you volunteered for medical tests?
4) Have you looked at the forum posts that talk about side gigs and income?
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/create-an-income-that-covers-living-costs-in-6-months/
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/freelancing/msg64129/#msg64129
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/who-has-a-side-gigjob-that-brings-in-extra-cash-share-with-us!/msg123605/#msg123605


MMM recent posts on making $50k per year without an education: Read all the comments as well.
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/07/25/50-jobs-over-50000-without-a-degree-part-1/
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/08/05/50-jobs-over-50000-without-a-degree-part-2/

Read her blog.  She gets stuff done.  She has made some poor choices, but is actively doing stuff to improve her situation:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/journals/tales-of-a-money-idiot/

Open credit cards bank accounts probably could get you a few hundred if your credit is good.  They won't give you much credit, but as a college grad with good credit you should get something.  Get an American Express for presale concert ticket offers...

I mentioned this somewhere else, but we easily make $200-$400 buying up tickets to concerts that we are confident will sell out and selling them through Stubhub.  Probably could make $2,000++ a month if you took this seriously.  We pretty much use it to pay for our tickets and maybe a dinner out.  This is all through your computer, only buying tickets in one area vs. around the country, and using Stubhub for connvenience even though they take 15% commission.

Like that materialistic company Nike says, Just Do It!!!!  Looking forward to your creative ways to get yourself rocking to financial indepence.   

[StarswirlTheMustached]

I can't explain it ether, why i'm getting so much rejection. Trust me, i've tried going over every possible variable as to why and then tried to fix what ever might be the issue.

I do really appreciate all the advice everyone has given on here.

Look on the bright side: at least you're getting rejected! Around here, they don't bother. It's just a wall of deafening silence.

[kkbmustang]

PM me with your resume and I'll be happy to review it. I'm self-employed now, but previously I worked in BigLaw, Big4, in house and in a high brow consulting firm, all the while heavily involved in recruiting. If your resume sucks, I'll tell you why and how to fix it.

[Rebecca Stapler]

Open credit cards bank accounts probably could get you a few hundred if your credit is good.  They won't give you much credit, but as a college grad with good credit you should get something.  Get an American Express for presale concert ticket offers...

I don't recommend this for the OP. These cc rewards require you to spend money to get them, and the last thing the OP should be doing is spending unnecessary $$. Maybe get one card and use it for your hotel bill if it will meet the required minimum to get the bonus ($1,000 over 3 months is the smallest I've seen).

That said, I highly recommend teaching yourself how to program software if you think you might be interested. There are so many resources out there. Python is super easy to learn. Once you have those skills, you can easily get side hustles through elance.