Why I Can't Find Work
I'm writing this for several reasons. One is I'm hoping that by getting it all out there, I'll feel better. Two, when I talk to people I get the same answers that I've already tried so I want to counter that ahead of time. Three, I just want to explain what the hell is going on, demonstrate all I've done and what's working against me. Finally, I've ran out of ideas, and genuinely do not know what to do next. Maybe you can see something that I haven't tried.
I've written this out in a FAQ format to make it easier to navigate.
These aren't excuses, but actual things I have either tried until I hit a dead end, or looked into, or due to circumstances I just cannot do.
Complications and Considerations
The biggest one here is that I am legally blind. I have a prosthetic eye, and the one that functions has severe near sightedness (my face is 5" from the screen right now). I can't drive. This limits me Incredibly.
For instance, it means that either I live in a large city (DC, NYC, Chicago, Seattle, San Fran) with good public transportation, or I live with someone who has a car. Well, the only city I've found that works transportation wise was DC; NYC is too big for me, I just can't cope with it. Also the problem with big cities is they are incredibly expensive - no way I could afford to live there with a minimum wage job, and it's incredibly difficult to get a job somewhere you aren't already living - going to interviews, etc etc. I livd in DC for a year while looking for work, and had to leave because I couldn't afford to live there any longer.
Right now I live with my parents in Tennessee, in a place where cars are mandatory for going anywhere (the nearest business is 7 miles from my house). The only person in the house who can drive is my dad, who works 8-4:30, full time, so unless I get a job that he can take me to in the morning and pick me up, I ain't getting a job - there's no one else who is Reliable who could take me. This means jobs where you're on call don't work, or schedules can vary day by day.
The other is insurance and income. I receive $720 a month from disability, and my insurance is tied to this. As soon as I start working, my check and insurance is cut off in two months. I therefore need to make more than $720 a month and the job has to provide insurance - part time work is right out.
With that said...
You have a Masters degree, doesn't that qualify you to do a lot?
No. I made the mistake of majoring in Psychology. I wanted to be a college professor, but I realized I didn't like it and I don't have the grades to pursue a PhD anyways so I didn't pursue a PhD. With a Masters degree in General Psychology (not counseling, not anything like that), I can only teach community college or work as an orderly somewhere in some outpatient facility. I have applied to jobs like these, no dice. I didn't know I needed internships, I wasn't able to get on any research teams, so my degree is Useless. It was a colossal mistake, a waste of time and immense debt.
What about work experience?
I have next to none, for a few reasons. One is that I thought I could get a job with my education alone. Two, I never got a job because I didn't want to lose my financial aid/insurance/check which was all tied to disability. And I'm finding that out there in the Real World, everyone wants you to have 2+ years of experience doing that specific job. Want to be a secretary? 2+ years experience. Wnat to do research? 2+ years experience. You have no idea how many jobs I've applied for and I've been rejected because "they passed me over for someone more qualified" - everyone is more qualified than me.
Here's my work experience:
Summer camp: 2 months.
Volunteer work with teens: 5 months.
Internship in congress: 5 months.
It's been pointed out to me that an employer looks at that list and sees that I haven't worked anywhere longer than 5 months - a red flag, even though I have legit reasons for working short term there. Furthermore, I have no references from these places. The summer camp guy won't answer his phone, won't answer his messages, won't answer emails - I've had employers tell me they can't reach him for references. The volunteer coordinator is only in the office after 2pm on certain days, so no employer ever can (or don't try) to reach her. And the congressman's staff are out in the wind because he wasn't re-elected - since it was back in 2005 I don't remember names of anyone I interacted with.
Can't you get a job in education, since your degree and some of that work is applicable?
I've tried, so hard - that's been my main focus. I can't do substitute work because they aggressively check your references - see the above question. Also, substitute schedules are sketchy best, unable to guarantee days, and being called in on short notice - see the issue of payment and also ride to work. Tutoring? Either you need to go to someone's house (which I can't get to because lacking ride) or you go to one building where everone is taught, and I've been unable to be hired from those places (they want all tutors to have high scores on standardized tests like SATs etc, and I just don't have the scores). Teaching middle/high school? You need years of experience, plus certification. I've tried to get hired as an adjunct professor, but I've only been contacted for an interview once - and again, passed over for more qualified people. I've looked into being a training instructor for various businesses, but again, they want experience doing that first.
What about the usual entry level jobs like food service, sales, retail or customer service?
I can't due to my vision. I had a job for a day at a bookstore, and I couldn't see the register, or the computer (they had it planted at a certain distance). I couldn't see high up on the shelves to handle magazines. With food service, I have no peripheral vision, and so I can't juggle plates or work in a cramped kitchen where I will run into shit or people. I've tried doing tests for customer service like call centers, you need to juggle a lot of screens, type fast (I can do 90 wpm but my 1-0 numberpad isn't up to par) and so forth and I just can't do it, I've tried. On top of that I don't think I have the social skills for customer service. I am [i]definitely[/i] uncomfortable with sales - I've went on interviews for sales jobs, you are Supposed to convince people to buy things, and I just can't do that in a good conscience.
But I've still looked for other types of jobs - I would happily work at Wal-Mart, or a grocery store, etc for stock, and there are never jobs for those.
Hey, aren't you published? Doesn't that show your ability to compose words and edit and such?
I am, but it's all porn. I've been told from several career people that you just can't put that on your resume. Even if I could, employers that would be hiriing for specific editing or writing work want more than just a few stories, they want an education background in that too, etc etc.
Have you tried...
Yes. I've tapped every resource I can.
Networking?
I've asked relatives, friends, friends of the family - there's either nothing available, there are things but I don't know how to do them, they've tried their best but no dice, or they are in no position to help at all because HR handles everything. I can't network with old classmates because I didn't interact with anyone. No honestly, I didn't make friends, I didn't do shit, I went to class and then went home. I don't even remember people's names, and I don't think Networking works in the "Hi, we never talked but we had a class together - can I have a job?" Bottom line: I know no one.
Going back to school?
I've looked into that; I don't have the grades to get a doctorate, so it's either another Masters or Bachelors degree. It's too late to apply anywhere - most grad programs only accept people for fall, and the deadlines are over so I'd have to wait a year even BEFORE I could attend anywhere. Even if I did, I've checked - schools do not like to carry over more than 9 credit hours, so we're looking at 2+ years college. This, on top of the $70,000 I have in student loan debt. Going back to school also doesn't address the ROOT problem of me having a ton of education but ZERO experience.
Internships and volunteering?
1) I have both of those on my resume and neither has helped in the past. 2) I can't get internships now because everywhere I look, they are for CURRENT STUDENTS and for majors I don't have. 3) Volunteer work? Sure, there's soup chickens and other bullshit, but that's not going help. More importantly, 4) I need years of experience here, and unless I'm willing to just volunteer for years, then it's not going to really be worth it.
Job Placement agencies?
Yes. They work one of two ways: 1) There's not a human being who helps you Get a job, they merely help you write a resume, gain interview skills, and give you access to a database of jobs you could find anywhere else online. I've already gotten all the resume/interview help I need. 2) They're a temp agency that does have a human who helps you find a job, but they have to Accept you into their program. These places want you to upload your resume onto their database, and if they decide you're worth their time, they contact you. I've tried two separate places like this, they don't talk to me, they say 'We'll get in touch if we are satisfied with your resume'. No amount of harassment helps.
Programs that give you a job and training at the same time, like Teach for America or teaching English overseas?
Yes, Teach for America (and another similar program, TNTP) rejected me. Also, if I can't function in an American city because of my eyesight, get around, etc, then I sure as hell can't do it overseas. I need to see glacoma doctors, I take anti-depressants - I will need doctors and all this other stuff, plus moving around, and I just do not think I can DO it overseas.
Getting some Disability office to help you find work?
I tried that in DC and all I received was the runaround. Here, I've made calls, but not received any interviews. I don't have my hopes up though.
What about extra training before getting a job?
The disability place in DC hooked me up with a training program. I went through the training. There are no jobs for it that I can find. It was a complete wash.
Conclusion
I have no clue what to do next. It feels like I have turned over every rock, I've tried every bit of advice, and I've applied and applied and interviewed and interviewed until I can't think straight anymore. Looking at job ads actually makes me want to cry at this point and it's all I can do to get out of bed in the morning. Right now I genuinely do not believe that anyone will hire me - there's no more "try" left in me, because every single avenue that I have put at my disposal has been a big fat NO. I've used up all my effort and have nothing to show for it. And I can only see "no" so any times before I lose all hope.
So that's why I can't find work.
I've written this out in a FAQ format to make it easier to navigate.
These aren't excuses, but actual things I have either tried until I hit a dead end, or looked into, or due to circumstances I just cannot do.
Complications and Considerations
The biggest one here is that I am legally blind. I have a prosthetic eye, and the one that functions has severe near sightedness (my face is 5" from the screen right now). I can't drive. This limits me Incredibly.
For instance, it means that either I live in a large city (DC, NYC, Chicago, Seattle, San Fran) with good public transportation, or I live with someone who has a car. Well, the only city I've found that works transportation wise was DC; NYC is too big for me, I just can't cope with it. Also the problem with big cities is they are incredibly expensive - no way I could afford to live there with a minimum wage job, and it's incredibly difficult to get a job somewhere you aren't already living - going to interviews, etc etc. I livd in DC for a year while looking for work, and had to leave because I couldn't afford to live there any longer.
Right now I live with my parents in Tennessee, in a place where cars are mandatory for going anywhere (the nearest business is 7 miles from my house). The only person in the house who can drive is my dad, who works 8-4:30, full time, so unless I get a job that he can take me to in the morning and pick me up, I ain't getting a job - there's no one else who is Reliable who could take me. This means jobs where you're on call don't work, or schedules can vary day by day.
The other is insurance and income. I receive $720 a month from disability, and my insurance is tied to this. As soon as I start working, my check and insurance is cut off in two months. I therefore need to make more than $720 a month and the job has to provide insurance - part time work is right out.
With that said...
You have a Masters degree, doesn't that qualify you to do a lot?
No. I made the mistake of majoring in Psychology. I wanted to be a college professor, but I realized I didn't like it and I don't have the grades to pursue a PhD anyways so I didn't pursue a PhD. With a Masters degree in General Psychology (not counseling, not anything like that), I can only teach community college or work as an orderly somewhere in some outpatient facility. I have applied to jobs like these, no dice. I didn't know I needed internships, I wasn't able to get on any research teams, so my degree is Useless. It was a colossal mistake, a waste of time and immense debt.
What about work experience?
I have next to none, for a few reasons. One is that I thought I could get a job with my education alone. Two, I never got a job because I didn't want to lose my financial aid/insurance/check which was all tied to disability. And I'm finding that out there in the Real World, everyone wants you to have 2+ years of experience doing that specific job. Want to be a secretary? 2+ years experience. Wnat to do research? 2+ years experience. You have no idea how many jobs I've applied for and I've been rejected because "they passed me over for someone more qualified" - everyone is more qualified than me.
Here's my work experience:
Summer camp: 2 months.
Volunteer work with teens: 5 months.
Internship in congress: 5 months.
It's been pointed out to me that an employer looks at that list and sees that I haven't worked anywhere longer than 5 months - a red flag, even though I have legit reasons for working short term there. Furthermore, I have no references from these places. The summer camp guy won't answer his phone, won't answer his messages, won't answer emails - I've had employers tell me they can't reach him for references. The volunteer coordinator is only in the office after 2pm on certain days, so no employer ever can (or don't try) to reach her. And the congressman's staff are out in the wind because he wasn't re-elected - since it was back in 2005 I don't remember names of anyone I interacted with.
Can't you get a job in education, since your degree and some of that work is applicable?
I've tried, so hard - that's been my main focus. I can't do substitute work because they aggressively check your references - see the above question. Also, substitute schedules are sketchy best, unable to guarantee days, and being called in on short notice - see the issue of payment and also ride to work. Tutoring? Either you need to go to someone's house (which I can't get to because lacking ride) or you go to one building where everone is taught, and I've been unable to be hired from those places (they want all tutors to have high scores on standardized tests like SATs etc, and I just don't have the scores). Teaching middle/high school? You need years of experience, plus certification. I've tried to get hired as an adjunct professor, but I've only been contacted for an interview once - and again, passed over for more qualified people. I've looked into being a training instructor for various businesses, but again, they want experience doing that first.
What about the usual entry level jobs like food service, sales, retail or customer service?
I can't due to my vision. I had a job for a day at a bookstore, and I couldn't see the register, or the computer (they had it planted at a certain distance). I couldn't see high up on the shelves to handle magazines. With food service, I have no peripheral vision, and so I can't juggle plates or work in a cramped kitchen where I will run into shit or people. I've tried doing tests for customer service like call centers, you need to juggle a lot of screens, type fast (I can do 90 wpm but my 1-0 numberpad isn't up to par) and so forth and I just can't do it, I've tried. On top of that I don't think I have the social skills for customer service. I am [i]definitely[/i] uncomfortable with sales - I've went on interviews for sales jobs, you are Supposed to convince people to buy things, and I just can't do that in a good conscience.
But I've still looked for other types of jobs - I would happily work at Wal-Mart, or a grocery store, etc for stock, and there are never jobs for those.
Hey, aren't you published? Doesn't that show your ability to compose words and edit and such?
I am, but it's all porn. I've been told from several career people that you just can't put that on your resume. Even if I could, employers that would be hiriing for specific editing or writing work want more than just a few stories, they want an education background in that too, etc etc.
Have you tried...
Yes. I've tapped every resource I can.
Networking?
I've asked relatives, friends, friends of the family - there's either nothing available, there are things but I don't know how to do them, they've tried their best but no dice, or they are in no position to help at all because HR handles everything. I can't network with old classmates because I didn't interact with anyone. No honestly, I didn't make friends, I didn't do shit, I went to class and then went home. I don't even remember people's names, and I don't think Networking works in the "Hi, we never talked but we had a class together - can I have a job?" Bottom line: I know no one.
Going back to school?
I've looked into that; I don't have the grades to get a doctorate, so it's either another Masters or Bachelors degree. It's too late to apply anywhere - most grad programs only accept people for fall, and the deadlines are over so I'd have to wait a year even BEFORE I could attend anywhere. Even if I did, I've checked - schools do not like to carry over more than 9 credit hours, so we're looking at 2+ years college. This, on top of the $70,000 I have in student loan debt. Going back to school also doesn't address the ROOT problem of me having a ton of education but ZERO experience.
Internships and volunteering?
1) I have both of those on my resume and neither has helped in the past. 2) I can't get internships now because everywhere I look, they are for CURRENT STUDENTS and for majors I don't have. 3) Volunteer work? Sure, there's soup chickens and other bullshit, but that's not going help. More importantly, 4) I need years of experience here, and unless I'm willing to just volunteer for years, then it's not going to really be worth it.
Job Placement agencies?
Yes. They work one of two ways: 1) There's not a human being who helps you Get a job, they merely help you write a resume, gain interview skills, and give you access to a database of jobs you could find anywhere else online. I've already gotten all the resume/interview help I need. 2) They're a temp agency that does have a human who helps you find a job, but they have to Accept you into their program. These places want you to upload your resume onto their database, and if they decide you're worth their time, they contact you. I've tried two separate places like this, they don't talk to me, they say 'We'll get in touch if we are satisfied with your resume'. No amount of harassment helps.
Programs that give you a job and training at the same time, like Teach for America or teaching English overseas?
Yes, Teach for America (and another similar program, TNTP) rejected me. Also, if I can't function in an American city because of my eyesight, get around, etc, then I sure as hell can't do it overseas. I need to see glacoma doctors, I take anti-depressants - I will need doctors and all this other stuff, plus moving around, and I just do not think I can DO it overseas.
Getting some Disability office to help you find work?
I tried that in DC and all I received was the runaround. Here, I've made calls, but not received any interviews. I don't have my hopes up though.
What about extra training before getting a job?
The disability place in DC hooked me up with a training program. I went through the training. There are no jobs for it that I can find. It was a complete wash.
Conclusion
I have no clue what to do next. It feels like I have turned over every rock, I've tried every bit of advice, and I've applied and applied and interviewed and interviewed until I can't think straight anymore. Looking at job ads actually makes me want to cry at this point and it's all I can do to get out of bed in the morning. Right now I genuinely do not believe that anyone will hire me - there's no more "try" left in me, because every single avenue that I have put at my disposal has been a big fat NO. I've used up all my effort and have nothing to show for it. And I can only see "no" so any times before I lose all hope.
So that's why I can't find work.