Free Career and Job Search Advice

StevenG · Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hello, I'm 35, disabled (on crutches). After having been self employed in a family business for many years, I've been searching hard for a job for a year or two now. I'm at wits end, however, as it's starting to look like I'm literally unemployable. I don't have a lot of work experience (they don't care about a reference and work experience from a family member it seems). I'm one class short of a philosophy degree (also not that useful in the job world). I've got basic computer skills (word processing, typing, etc). I've tried retail and such, but they all almost always want someone more mobile, someone who can move around behind the counter, walk the isles, stock shelves and otherwise be on foot all day (I can't do that at all.) I've tried banks and customer support/call centers... most jobs that can be done sitting down want a year or two of experience that I don't have. Experience is key, I guess, and I lack it. I'm really, really, really stuck. Even grocery stores are turning me away. If I don't get some regular, steady solid income, I will end up sleeping outside on the streets this winter, no joke. It's really serious. But without experience, it seems I can't be employed. Temp agencies and recruiters have been utterly, completely useless so far, not providing any leads or options whatsoever. All work at home jobs have turned out to be scams, or require a lot of money to begin. Any advice at all for regular, steady pay? I really hope someone knows what I can do without much job experience.

julian · Expert Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 255 Career Advice: +2/-0

Hi, sorry to hear about your situation. It appears to me that experience is your real problem now. I mean a problem which can be solved ultimately. Volunteering could be an option. You've said temping didn't help. So I'm thinking volunteering could back up some good references. Anyway, I may not be an expert, but here's what I can help you with:

http://www.cvtips.com/job_search_for_disabled_people.html

stevekerp · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:43 pm Post subject: Serious Job Hunt problems

Hi, Steven --

"Self-employed in a family business" sounds like a fairly impressive credential to me. Was it a business you enjoyed and were passionate about?

There are lots of problems that can be solved by people while they are sitting down. Most people work sitting down. In my younger days, I worked in retail in a convenience store with a paraplegic. Yes, there were a few things he couldn't do, but he had a great sense of humor, was good at people skills, and definitely earned his check.

You are understandably focused primarily on your problems and the anticipation of even more dire straits in the not-too-distant future, but if you can set that aside and maybe do some information interviewing or web research (preferably both) to find some problems in some industry of interest to you, then approach the prospective employers with a solution to their problems, you will get a fair hearing and very possibly an offer. You may have to 'think outside the box' </trite phrase> but if you can find a problem that you can solve, you can find someone willing to pay you to solve it.

That's a short answer that suggests a shift in your strategy. Hope it helps.

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Best,

mphcoach · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject: What About Online?

Hey Steven.

There are a number of online opportunities as people start to outsource the work they prefer not to do.

Websites such as www.scriptlance.com and www.elance.com offer good opportunities in as wide a range of activities that you couls care to mention.

If you take a look, be careful not to be put off by what seems like a lot of technical requests. If you can write, there are regular requests for article writers. Using a computer and wikipedia, you will be able to get the information you need pretty quickly.

Whilst at first the $5 an article rate might not seem to be that great, there are tricks and tools that will help you speed up and get smarter as you build your confidence and feedback scores. I've recently subbed out for 10 articles a week for $50. A good writer will be able to do this in a couple of hours, whilst for me it's a couple of days work - so it's a win-win.

And article writing might just be the start - there is desiogn work for headers of websites where you could find very cheap software online - or you might have it already.

If you are prepared to work at this a steady income is easily possible. You could also check out the requests for writers as some of the big content writing (PLR) websites often ask for writers too.

Just a thought.

Regards

Martin
http://www.HowToLandYourDreamJob.com

lexa10881 · Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject:

I know I have experience in my family business and this has actually been an asset in job interviews, as working in a small business usually means that you have to wear lots of hats and be good at managing all aspects. Play it up at your next interview. You have to find a job in an office somewhere, I would think, just from the small business expereience that you have.

http://www.cvtips.com/finding_a_job_through_classifieds.html

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