Anybody else here having trouble finding work?

(This's probably the first, possibly last, personal post I'll ever make on these forums, so bare with me; I promise I won't make it a habit).

I graduated from Walsh College, a small private business college, in Troy, Michigan, in the March of 2009, with a Bachelor's Degree of Business Administration in Marketing.

I've been looking for professional work (especially with respects to marketing, sales, advertising, customer service, and public relations) for the past year, only to find that I'm unable to get a job even with nameless companies; heck, I can't even get jobs in retail!

I thought my resume was good, I thought my credentials were good, I thought I had a good, strong cover letter, references, etc.

But, I'm still not getting anything other than interviews; they call me in for interviews, maybe even a string of interviews, but nothing that results in a hire.

At one point, I ALMOST got hired; they gave me a job offer, I accepted it, but then it petered right out at the background check phase.

So, I'm thinking there's a number of factors that're a reason why potential employers demote me from treating me like a diamond-in-the-rough, down to someone who has baby barf all over them:

(1) Graduated from an obscure college
(2) Graduated too late
(3) Graduated with a worthless degree
(4) They don't like my GPA; that one class I failed at the last exam REALLY took down my GPA
(5) Something negative's turning up on my background check that I don't know about
(6) Perhaps not having been on an official payroll since 2005 has something to do with it?
(7) Michigan's economy is in shambles, but even if that weren't the case...

I'm looking at all these problems (challenges?) I'm facing, and I'm trying to figure out how to turn it all around; anyone have any SERIOUS recommendations and suggestions?

Obviously, NO ONE would want to be in the position I'm in, as these're all serious reasons why you wouldn't be hired, so I need to figure out why they ought to hire me, despite all these blemishes I might have on my professional reputation...

i was delivering pizzas 6 days a week all summer after i graduated college in '04,, then i played fedex driver for 5 years while i built up my home business to the point last fall when i finally couldnt handle the combined 80+ hour weeks. now, some days we get our ass kicked so hard i almost want to hire an employee

get a resale license and a basic website,, start selling stuff you know about and that you would already collect yourself. take baby steps toward independence.
in today's world of blogs, twitter, youtube, and all that other social networking crap, word of mouth is your best advertising (and it's free with your paid internet connection).

I'm not qualified to give you job hunting advice, but I would ask if you know what negative information came up on your background check.  If not, maybe the company that dinged you on the basis of it would be willing to tell you.  Since they've already rejected you, it can't hurt to ask.  If they won't talk to you, you might consider running a background check on yourself.  If there's derogatory information about you on record, it's probably better that you know what it is.

Do you have bad credit?  Maybe that's what came up on the background check.  Many employers take credit history into consideration when reviewing job applicants.

I'm definitely going to look into doing a background check on myself; if they're dinging me for anything, it's got to be really petty, or something I don't know that's there...

In this world, your credentials do have some meaning. But if you know the owner of the company you're trying to get hired at, then credentials will have much less meaning. At my job, I got hired because I know the owner. I don't like the world of dealing with unfamiliar people. That makes very little sense to me. People should judge you based on their actual experiences with you - NOT a piece of paper. I actually went to a job interview at a computer company once and the interviewer made me furious, asking me personal questions and judging me, without having had any actual experiences with me. (Note - I got the interview because I knew someone there. Too bad I didn't know the interviewer.)

I thought I was underskilled at my job for years, first as a temp, then as a part-timer...I was moved to full-time recently. Then I just learned my problem was I don't buddy up to people and I'm not related to anyone in the office, so I just make up for it by actually doing my job really well and it seems to be working so far. Kinda puts pressure on people who don't really do much to earn their place.

My suggestion is go through a temp agency. If one of the assignment sponsors like you, they'll keep you. Even if they don't, they might decide you're cheaper to hire than someone with different skills (seriously, that is a large reason I became FT...was easier to move me from PT to FT than to get someone new to cover the position that was vacant). As stated though, do the background check. Temp agency should only test for drugs (at least that was all the ones I used did), but if you get hired on, I believe they will run it.

Edit: Oh, and I highly doubt any company with half a brain gives two shits about the class you failed. I mean, unless it was an extreme case (ex: you failed Meteorology 101 and you were applying to become a meteorologist). Schools and colleges only care about GPA because they're too lazy to look at stuff other than a quick number...No one in the real world in their right mind should care about it.

First, make sure your background check and credit are good.  If those are good, then you need to network.  The sad reality of life is that it is who you know that matters more than what you know, especially in a down cycle like we're experiencing now.  If you're looking for an entry level business position, you are now competing with people who used to have mid-level positions but lost their jobs, so it's that much harder.  Good luck!

Stay positive about it. You're at least getting by, correct? Try to imagine all the other people in your position who could be/are in worse situations; for instance a family of four with little kids to support.

I hate networking but they are right; who you know will get you a job. Also an internship during school is an absolute must these days as a Bachelor's is quickly becoming the new GED because of all the damn degree farms...

Point #6 might have been an issue if you had not just finished school. I got out in '07 and I have still not found a technical position yet which is making me more and more a toxic hire. I did land my dream job in the summer of '07 working on a computer game, but that ended in a complete and utter disaster.

EDIT:
Have you started building a credit history? I know in this day and age that sounds ridiculous but I haven't and I'm in my late 20s, and that may be lumped into #5. The background + credit check filter is being used more and more as a filter for "honest" workers.

Another thing to remember with background checks is some companies will go the extra mile and track you down on facebook these days. When you think about it, most people are probably more honest about themselves with perfect strangers than those they work for/interview for. Another reason I shy away from social networking sites - no need to give them any additional reason not to hire you - and I've heard when it comes to actually removing information those sites aren't making it easy.

I agree with GoldfishX:  see if you can find a temp agency.  When I was out of school, that was the easiest way for me to find work.  If you have any sort of computer or clerical skills, it shouldn't be too hard to get placement.  Once there, work your butt off and show that you can provide real value to the company.

Almost forgot most important part: Anybody know any good, reputable agencies through which I can conduct a background check?

Yeah, I'm finding a harsh lesson in reality in that, now; I've always been the type who wanted to see how far he could get just on his own merits; when I get interviews, or even that one job offer - that was rescinded - because of people I knew, it's just so easy, I can't help feeling guilty.

That's the way I am, too, man! No shame in it!

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube can also help get you a job, besides getting you fired from your old one; at least, that's how SOME people get their jobs...

Anybody here on Linked In? (E-mail me if you want to connect via Linked In!) That's a really important networking site for professionals; I'd swear that HR for some companies SOLELY sifts through Linked In profiles to call in worthy potential employees, rather than sifting through the snail mail and e-mail they get in cover letters, resumes, and applications.

I was able to pull all my information on Facebook, and close down my page; unfortunately, it's the only really thing that people use to keep in contact with one another these days; not even e-mail or instant messaging is enough, apparently. I miss those days in which people actually used to talk to each other face-to-face.

Definitely it may happen so on you because of world economic crisis. High amount of unemployment can be seen all over the world. Even the countries like Japan, America, and many European countries are badly affected by economic crisis.

We live in an age of accelerated differential expectations. Back when I was 10 years old, I would ride my bike to my friends' houses to see if any of them wanted to do something. In the recent past, within the past 100 years or so prior to 1990, such a behavior would've been carried out through one's whole life. For example, if I were to have kids today, then they should also physically go out, rather than use facebook to check availability. But the technology we have access to is accelerating in ways that changes lives within spans less than half a decade. So any kids I were to have would not do things how I did them; this is remarkably different from almost all previous generations.

Some people believe this acceleration is leading to a singularity (word coined by Vernor Vinge in 1983), a state in which computing power would rival that of the human brain. I do doubt that anyone will be using facebook on physical computers. More likely, all technology will be integrated in human bodies, providing us with a level of convenience that renders us practically sessile. Some people will choose to become more integrated than others. (I'm being very munificent in this notion, since I'm assuming a 'choice' will be offered.)

Much as I'd long thought my current job just sucked and had nothing to learn, I just got the sack and started job hunting. Over the past one month, I finally realize how important our backgrounds are. Once we fallen into low-wage laborers (who are usually given low-level tasks, which by no means valued later) or blue-collar workers, it's incredibly hard to get back on the winning side, and late 20s is already to late for us to pursuit a decent life. I assume US is more generous with one's restart, but I don't know.

Feels like I have nowhere to go.

It's the same on the blue-collar issue in the US.  The longer you stay in labor based work rather than white-collar office work, the harder it is to transition to the other side. 

Restarting in late 20s or early 30s is largely only possible if you haven't started a family with dependent children and a house to maintain.  After you have those things which require such a huge amount of financial maintenance, it is exponentially harder to switch to the base wage of a different field.

Even staying with blue collar work, the feeling of "nowhere to go" still looms and life is still miserable, so the paycheck is of little comfort anyways.  I'm coming up on 10 years next month and still wish to escape and start over somehow. 

On the bright side, getting canned forces you to look vigilantly for any opportunity, versus staying and being lulled into complacency like me.

not to belittle your current situation, but that part is bullshit.
don't let society's set of standard 'expectations' set your timeline for you, otherwise you'll feel just like the little-league kid whose douche-bag dad yells at him for not hitting a home run. the 20's for plenty of people can be just a bewildering as the teens. i still didnt have a fricking clue where i was going four years ago at 32.

Yeah, agreed. I think I should have quit earlier once I realized any further career at that office brought anything good to my life, but I was too lazy. 

It might have been hasty of me to post that, but from a pure occupation standpoint, I still think it's too late for a late 20s guy to pursuit a nice second career unless your resume is dominated by good work experiences at a large firm but no blank period. I guess it varies in different countries, but I've been selected for no interview so far, despite dozens of applications. Our life still can be decent without a good job, but...

Good job or bad job, the end result is the same for all of us. I have a low paying job, but I'm lucky enough to be an INTP. Those that value abstractions don't need as much money as the material seekers. Most people need to keep up with the Joneses; they place a great value on making sure their material objects are similar to those of their neighbors. For example, one of my neighbors has a fancy BMW. There is slight nudge in my mind to keep pace with that individual. Most people experience much more than a 'slight nudge', which results in a great loss of income. Many companies have been formed solely for the purpose of fueling the competition of the Joneses. Vast piles of money are circulating in a Penning Trapesque way by the Joneses and their competitors. Imagine for a moment if people only bought what they actually needed to remain alive. What would happen?

on a positive note,, it would be the end of MTV and VH1 reality shows as we know it...

When you put it like that, it doesn't seem like such a bad trade...

One consequence would be even more people would be "having trouble finding work".

I'd like to think that labor would be re-allocated to places in which people would actually do something more useful.

Problem is, unless income is generated, there isn't money enough for people to get paid...that's why teachers don't get paid much; their job is teaching, not making money. Although, doctors and nurses, their jobs is to make people well, but they get paid well. It's a matter of who's paying out your paycheck.

Oh yeah, another thing: As far as I'm told, using Air Conditioning (AC) destroys the environment.

And offices are larger users of AC than homes.

Somehow, I don't think offices would use AC as much they do, if office workers weren't forced to wear heavy and uncomfortable clothing (suits) as part of the dress code.

If I get a professional, office job like that, first thing I'm probably going to do is spend it on lighter clothing (silk clothes), the likes of which I probably wouldn't even purchase if I didn't have an office job; that and neck ties.

"...working jobs we hate to buy shit we don't need..." was the way the good man put it, I believe... (-_-);

I find it odd how some people don't supplement their diet with protein bars, protein shakes, vitamin pills, etc. But those same people, not exactly *realizing* the inadequacy of the human body, but more so through societal norms (usually madness), supplement the regulation of temperature through layers of clothing. And they don't always do this when there is not much heat outside relative to the freezing point of water.

As an example, I know a sales manager that works near me. Obvious revulsion manifests on her face when I mention any sort of dietary supplement that provides one with health benefits. She smokes and drinks heavily, as well as gorges on fried foods. But never mind that profound non sequitur. This same person that eschews supplementing her diet has no problems supplementing her ability to trap heat, through layers of completely unnecessary clothing. So people are not against supplementation, provided it is a conformist behavior.

Note: air conditioners are actually defined as heaters. And they don't make anything cold. All they do is transfer heat from inside to outside, which in itself generates a lot of heat. This is further complicated by inside refrigeration devices. An air conditioner also has to cope with the excess heat they generate. (I received this interesting little lecture from the guy that installed my new air conditioner.)

Here's another question:

What does everything think about recruitment / head hunting services and resume editing services that you have to pay for?

Scams, or do they work?

Is it becoming a reality that we have to pay for things we used to get for free?

My college's recruiting and advisement services haven't really helped me at all, and their career fairs are pathetic...

I actually ran into this a few years back when things started to look fairly bleak with my employer...I recall a nice office in downtown Phoenix (where I lived at the time).  The executive recruiter I met was a fairly old, nice Jewish woman, who frequently referred to me as bubby...They wanted $2,000 for what they called "premiere non-public job listings".  In the end I never went for it.  Neither did a coworker of mine who ended up finding a great job (at least he thought so at the time) outside of the pay recruitment firm

I think these types of services are more appropriate for executive level positions and even then, not necessarily the only route to pursue...Just depends on how much self and assisted marketing you can afford and are interested in.

With many jobs, recruiters are involved in placing the right candidate.  The recruiters themselves, if they have any salt, have built a reputation, so a business seeking to hire qualified employees typically partners with a a select few recruitment firms.  This is probably nothing new to anyone here, but, keep in mind the recruitment firms make money off of the job placement.  It's a significant fee, in most cases($1,500 to $2,000), and paid by the hiring firm.  So in alot of cases, (I would say any job under the $50,000 mark) you shouldn't have to pay to find placement.  Is it possible that a recruitment firm that wants to be paid has a connection or knowledge of a position that may not be known to other recruiters, or not yet posted on Job boards like Monster...yes it's possible.  But I wouldn't spend any money recruiters for first time jobs.

My .02.

Good luck on the job hunt to all who are seeking.  Stay with it

a surefire way to land a job behind the candy counter at a movie theater is to fill out the application as Ray Zonnett...

Recruiters are normally paid by the hiring company, not the job seeker.  Don't pay.  Networking is the key.  Go to seminars and trade meetings for the field you're interested in and make friends.  Some of this stuff may even be tax deductible if you document it properly.

dude, bachelors have become the new associates degree.
just like ppl with high school diploma cannot just go out and get a job as they did in the 40s-70s

For me, I had to take mine off my resume so people would stop asking about it. In a business environment, getting asked why I have a bachelors in Geography brings awkward moments in job interviews (Geography is generally useless unless taken to a masters degree).

Too bad bachelors degrees cost way more than associates degrees. I was happy to find out I can pay down student loans in an IRA, so the bastards get their cut before I can start really saving for retirement. One day will be like, "Yay, my penny stock is now worth $15000! Here you go Sallie Mae: Take it and go die somewhere...Leave me aloan!"