/Hey guys and girls, maybe? Right here is the situation. I'm 17, out of college and no job. So naturally my mum and other family members are getting on at me for not bringing any income or production into the home or myself. In 3 years im joining the army so there is no point in me doing an apprenticeship or a programme that lasts several years, so i need a quick job. But its impossible. Here in England if you apply for a job you're against anywhere between 30-100 people applying for the same position. So, inevitably i cant secure a job and/or an interview because the other 99 people have experience. But you cant get job experience because every job requires job experience -,- its a cruel situation. One step forward, 2 steps back.

So anyway enough of the rant and introduction. I am thinking of applying at stores without using a c.v, resume. So just walking in and saying can i speak to your manager and then asking for the job, straight up, no [censored], no precautions, no trouble? because on paper im a failure to the computers and obnoxious employers. So if i just walk in and speak to the manager with respect will that improve my chances? Im thinking of trying it at this game shop in town. So yeah, any tips? Or stories that will boost my morale, because i feel like a failure at the moment and these 3 years waiting to join the army are going to be tough.

What you need is to walk into the shop WITH a CV and ask if they have any jobs going.

You should, by 17, have racked up some sort of work experience - babysitting, paper round, working at McDonald's on a Saturday. If you haven't, start now! Burger bars will normally take someone with zero experience who shows a basic willingness. You should also be able to get cleaning work with no hassle. Remember: it's not going to be fun, but then neither will army training. Imagine that this is your "boot camp" for work experience.

It's all about attitude. The last time I was unemployed, I found myself work within one hour! The secret? I went into an employment agency and said, "I'll do anything legal." The next day, they put me to work building shelves. The day after that, I was working on reception. The day after that, I was filing all day. Within a month, I was at the job I've been doing for the past nine years - I'd proved myself worthy of the best job they had on their books just by being keen and reliable.

One: i need to remember this for getting a job...
and 2: i spent more time looking at your bunny avatar than I did reading... BUNNY HUGZ!!!

Don't just look at the main businesses. Look at everything. I used to look only at main popular businesses, and I never got a job. When I started looking at everything, I found a job pretty quick. A job is a job, and since you are going into the army in three years, you don't need anything major. Once you find a place, just keep bugging them until you either get a job or until they tell you not to come back. Seriously. Persistance is key.

This seems like sound advice to me. Is there a jobcentre near you? I don't know about where you live, but round here there's lots of agency work going around - so like Stomper said, you'll probably end up doing lots of different things (and probably not the best hours), but there's always the chance they'll take you on a more permanent basis.
Also, has someone looked over your CV? I pretty much had no luck until I got a friend who was older and wiser than me to look it over and make some changes.

It helps to know people. If you have an uncle with a shop, or a family friend, or something like that. Even if all they can do is put in a good word for your somewhere, it's sure to help your chances. That's how I got my job. Knowing the right people.

The only argument I had when I had no specific work experience was : "I'm a blank slate, you can train me anyway you like, I don't have bad habits yet." I made a manager laughed once (and got the job, McDo, yeah, lasted 8 months). Specify that you can work days, evenings, week-ends, even nights, anytime... They like that. That's about it.

The food industry is just about the best way to start getting experience. Thats where alot of people start. I think anyone with experience with the food industry is smart enough not to go back, so at least you wont have the problem about competing with other experienced people :goodjob:

EDIT: As you can see, my post is full of experience.

Look for out of the way businesses for they hardly get applicants and just higher people they know. Say youll work any hours they need and can do anything that needs doing from scrubbing the toilets to stacking the crates. And like someone said above me persistence is key.

whats a "cv"?

Don't know what it stands for, but it pretty much means resumé.

It's not possible just to skip joining the army and join some program or apprenticeship ? Or even take another go at college, unless by being out of college you mean you've failed 3 semester in a row.

I myself am currently in college and got myself a part time job at a supermarket so that I can study and work (it may be a pain to neither be allowed rest during the main course of the week nor the weekend itself but it′s nice in its own way). I failed at applying for my job the first time but just tried again with a different manager that let me work there Sometimes if you get shot down you just need to try again, just as long as you do try I bet you will find your way to a job eventually.

Curriculum Vitae. Yup, just a resume.

Why are you waiting 3 years to join the army? Why not just do it now?

He isn't being forced ? I thought that was the problem.

Literaly: Life carreer. Curriculum = Course, race, Vitae (pron 'veetay') = Life. Now we all be more clever tonight.

if you want to make someone money, get a job.

if you want to make money, go into business for yourself.

Is there an eBay shop in your region/city/hamlet/whatever?

An eBay shop is a place where people can have their stuff sold for them online (hence the eBay). They drop it off, you agree on what price it should fetch, photograph it nicely, and sell it for them. A fixed percentage is yours, as well as any mark up over the agreed price with the customer. you also deal with packaging and postage.

People want to sell their stuff, but often can't be bothered with everything around it; watching the site until it's sold, people emailing back and forth, dodgy [censored] and transactions etc etc etc

If you set up shop -and you're reliable, you'll gain triple A trading status on the different boards in no time, which only increases your selling potential.


I thought of doing it here on the island, until I realized that most of the stuff is sold on two local island trading sites, and it's all neighbourly here. But if you don't have such a natural barrier isolating the second hand trade like here, then these shops are gold, where ever they spring up

-kind of llike cash and carry's. They always make money as well.

This. Nepotism's just what you're going to have to go with. It works. :shrug:

Well whatever you do don't tell your parents you'll join the military just to get them to shut up.

Don't forget about voluntary work. There are a fair few charities out there who could use an extra hand, and will be more than happy to give you a reference as well.

He could be doing ROTC, he really didn't give enough information for anyone to know.

aww, sorry guys for not replying i don't want to come across as obnoxious or ungrateful. You've all gave me really good advice, so much so that i can't thank individuals. Just answering a few FAQ's


1) Emjayhaych, why not join now?
Because im joining ---> http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/royalmarines/ (equal or maybe above your SEAL's, these are the guys the SAS go to first for selection. ) 99% of people who apply fail, so im spending these 3 years getting into perfect shape another reason i need cash for equipment

2) Hey, you know any people who own businesses?
No i do not Most of my family have worked up from companies that offer constant promotion up to the top. Thats why they are trying to persuade me into doing the same (they dont know im joining the marines yet, but i've spoke to the army advisers and everything already in secret ^^ )

3) Ebay shop, a revolution!!
Nope none of those around here

4) Is it possible to forget the army emjay?
Na, sorry im not really good at anything corporate. My problem is i dont actually care about money, i dont really care about items really i haven't been brainwashed by society I just want to do something that i can look back on at 60 and say yeah i made a difference You know?

Next weekend im going to go into my local town with a CV, resume whatever and just walk into every shop/business and really sell myself there and use some of this advise provided. Ill bump this thread to let you guys know what happened, in the meantime ill still take advise and these interesting life stories. I started reading this and decided i had to put some relaxing ink spots on and grab a cup of tea becuase i was really interested lol.


EDIT: Wow i use so many smilies lol! Might be a British thing?

Would you honestly call your current goals realistic? The problem I see in many of my friends and family is they set unrealistic goals for themselves, and are devastated when it all falls apart. This, from what you've said so far, seems will be the case.

Your 17 and have already gone through college?

I agree.

Not to be a downer, but if only 1% or so of the people that join the Royal Marines succeed (sounds a lot like Navy SEALs or Force Recon), you shouldn't be developing your whole future around that 1% chance. It's a gamble. By all means go for it, but have some kind of back up plan to fall on. I would suggest just joining some British military so you have experience, then move up to the Royal Marines. Like here, if I were to want to join the Navy SEALs, I would need some military experience in either Marines or Navy (I'm a Jarhead) and then I can go to SEAL training, and then have the chance to become one. If I fail, then I go back to Marine duty and I have no real set-back.

If you really want to join military, do it now at a not-so-hard-to-join level, then you will be more prepared than ever for your future endeavor and if you fail then you can always pick back up where you left off instead of being set 3 years back in life.

I wish it was the same here... I went to an employment agency a week ago, filled out an application, and during the 15-20 minutes I was there, 2-3 other people also filled stuff out, and after they talked to me they let me know that they didn't have anything at the moment and to try calling back in a week, still had nothing when I called them back


you should really let your family know, this is going to be the biggest part of your life you shouldn't surprise them around the same time your packing up


and signature kind of related to the topic as far as getting a job is concerned where i live