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Need Advice on Job Hunting

Grunt's GhostsGrunt's Ghosts Registered User regular
edited June 2012 in Help / Advice Forum
I've been "unemployed" for since I got out of jail about 3 months ago. The only "job" I've really had was selling drugs (I know, stupid but the money was amazing but the lifestyle sucked) and since that sent me to jail, I'm looking for legal work. I've applied to every place here in town but without a car or bus transport my area of travel is limited to how far I can go on a bicycle. My savings are draining quickly and I might end up homeless in the next month or so. Are there any tricks or better options out there for someone like me? I've tried and got denied unemployment since I've never held a real job and it's either get a job or go broke.

Grunt's Ghosts on

Posts

  • billwillbillwill Registered User regular
    Spend eight hours a day searching. Treat it like your full time job until you're employed. Dress nicely, act professional, and apply everywhere, including fast food, janitorial, and retail positions.

    I hate you and you hate me.
  • JohnnyCacheJohnnyCache Starting Defense Place at the tableRegistered User regular
    ask your old customers since they won't judge.

    Be willing to work at any damn job for the next year.


    I host a podcast about movies.
  • Grunt's GhostsGrunt's Ghosts Registered User regular
    edited June 2012
    JohnnyCache wrote: »
    ask your old customers since they won't judge.

    Be willing to work at any damn job for the next year.

    I've moved away from that area to try to get away from the scene. Shows like Weeds and Breaking Bad make drug dealing look easy but when some gang wants to move into your area and kick out the independent dealer by burning your house down with you inside, jail feels like heaven.

    Grunt's Ghosts on
  • see317see317 Registered User regular
    Just curious, where do you live? Large town, small town?
    What level of education have you completed? Do you have any kind of special skills (that would be useful in legal employment)?

  • Grunt's GhostsGrunt's Ghosts Registered User regular
    I live in a small town that's about 10 minutes outside of a larger city but I have no car. I completed high school but I've been dealing since 10th grade back in Pennsylvania. I can do some computer hardware maintenance but that's mostly hobby stuff I self taught myself. I've applied at Geek Squad before you say that. No college.

  • jwidemanjwideman Registered User regular
    10 minutes by car? So, about an hour by bike. Go to the city, apply at Manpower, Labor Ready, or whatever day labor place they have there. Find a secure place to keep your bike during the day.

  • E.CoyoteE.Coyote Registered User regular
    Check out warehouse/factory work, if you have an industrial park near you pick up applications from everywhere you can. The problem is that unless you're really lucky it's going to take longer than a month to nab a job. I'd suggest looking into the assistance programs for ex-cons as well, you may be able to get some help there until you find work.

  • SkulloSkullo Registered User regular
    It's a longshot, but you could also check your local library to see if they do any programs for this sort of thing. People talk up libraries as places that help people find employment, but it really does depend on the quality of your library staff.

    If they don't do any programming, a good reference librarian should be more than willing to help you at least look/give you tips.

  • Grunt's GhostsGrunt's Ghosts Registered User regular
    Skullo wrote: »
    It's a longshot, but you could also check your local library to see if they do any programs for this sort of thing. People talk up libraries as places that help people find employment, but it really does depend on the quality of your library staff.

    If they don't do any programming, a good reference librarian should be more than willing to help you at least look/give you tips.

    Not sure I can trust this looking at your title/location under your picture. lol.

  • DerrickDerrick Registered User regular
    Unemployment is a no-go, but you'll qualify for food stamps. Temp agencies might be able to help you out. It's worth a shot, but it really depends on the kind of economy you have going in your area. Big cities should be able to dredge up something. Really think about what you can handle so far as experience. Anyone can be a waiter, and catering is a gig that a lot of temp agencies handle.

    Your first goal is to get you through the month, and that might involve temp agencies, donating plasma, and selling shit on ebay. Your next goal is to set yourself up on a more permanent basis. You can luck out with that on the temp agency. You need to target jobs that people don't like and that have high turnover so they'll be looking to hire. Fast food, manual labor, that kind of thing.

    I found this webpage with some tips for ex-cons: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_a_person_with_a_felony_find_a_job_after_he_has_served_his_time

    This website seems like a good thing also: http://www.xamire.com/ They specialize in finding jobs for people with prior convictions.

    I'm not sure what services are available in your city, but you may be able to talk to a social worker when/if you apply for food stamps.

    Good luck!

    Steam and CFN: Enexemander
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