Why is it so hard to find a job?

[The Sloth]

Over the last three years, it made me wonder...

When I moved back to New York City in the very beginning of last summer, I was still fifteen and wanted to get a job. I searched for about two or so weeks, into early-mid July in, you know, little stores, department stores and offices and such.

I must have been to every damn store within a mile radius of my home, searching and searching, finding nothing and nothing. And when I did find something, they told me I was "too young" to do anything. "Too young"? I was a fifteen year old that looked like I was in my twenties, in excellent health, very responsible, hard-working and intelligent. I didn't mind it when there were certain "official" policies regulated by the state regarding age, but when it crossed into me not being able to work at a pharmacy, doing nothing but moving boxes and such, because I wasn't eighteen, it's became stupid. I wasn't asking for any pharmacitical work!

It is now a year later and I moved to a different neighborhood...it's summer time. Today...I just came back home about an hour and a half ago...not only did I search every place in my new neighborhood, but I also looked in all of these different places....I was on the bus and on my feet altogether for about three or so hours, checking offices, department stores, libraries, small stores, etc. Some of it made me feel threatened, because here I am, repeating the same damned line..."hi, I was wondering whether you're offering any jobs for the summer" although I already knew the answer would be a polite smile and a "no"...I thanked them nonetheless, although I cursed under my breath every take I left one of those stores.

Two years ago, when I was fourteen, I was also looking for a job. At this time, I was in New Jersey....I searched for several days, all around the place, everywhere. Found nothing except a job that kept me for two days because they weren't even looking for another employee. That's kinda depressing, that I was hired for a few days even though I wasn't needed?

So, three years of searching, not one job. I tried to do things with politics...the best I found were internships, some of them I'm currently involved in. Don't think they pay anything, though...I do it as a "volunteer work" while still searching for a place to work. This shit is unbelievable to me....it's unconceivable that somebody like myself or like anyone else is out looking for a job, actively, aggressively, but cannot find anything...these aren't people that are lazy or don't want to work: we're saying, "hire us!" And almost everything so far has been menial work...can you believe that even menial work is hard to find for me? Three damn years, not one job that I could find even doing menial work!

Before I left today, I got off the phone with my friend who said all of the people he knew kept looking for jobs but never found any. I'm in the same position now. So what is left for me to do? It's like 4:00 here and I wasted hours of my time doing this bullshit, and in a couple of hours, I'm going out with some people, coming back home at night, and then thinking about the day, examining exactly how much of a waste it was. At least, however, I went out and actually tried to do something instead of laying around all day like some people...in the end, however, I still feel that the day was a little meaningless.

And when I do finally get a damn job this summer, I guess I'll be doing a boring repitition of nothingness for six hours a day, learning nothing, wasting away...because when I get back home, guess what, I've made only a small amount of money and I wasn't able to live up to my human potential. Doing this shit does not unlock my human capabilities, doesn't let me express creativity...and when you get home, all you have are worries with half of them revolving around money. Thank you, capitalism.

[John Galt]

Because you are lazy.


I have no trouble finding a job. I could work for the park district, I could work at a summer camp, I could work at a pizzaria, I could work as an intern in a law firm.

I have a wide variaty of jobs to choose from.

[Hoppe]

You can always work in my sweatshop as long as you don't give my other drones crazy ideas.

Don't you Americans have lemonade stands?

[John Galt]

Thats not a real job.



Hell, go crazy and be a stripper in a gay bar. I hear they get lots of "tips"

[monkeydust]

I also had a friend some time ago who failed to get a job via the "walk in and ask approach". Try something different. I'd suggest a job centre, or the equivalent in your country, if there is such a thing. Perhaps there's some ads around as well.

I never have too much trouble finding a job, finding a job that I enjoy is a completely different ball-game, however.

[Hoppe]

Originally posted by John [email protected] 28 2004, 08:52 PM
Thats not a real job.



Hell, go crazy and be a stripper in a gay bar. I hear they get lots of "tips"
Yes, good idea. My gay friends told me that they always like young boys such as him so he should be able to buy that playstation in an instant.

[DaCuBaN]

I'm the same - getting work isn't normally a problem, it takes me a couple of weeks but I'd advise against the walk in and ask approach - if your library provides word processing facilities (or anywhere else for that matter) simply get a good Curriculum Vitae drawn up and massively exaggerate your abilities.

It works like a charm ;)


I have no trouble finding a job. I could work for the park district, I could work at a summer camp, I could work at a pizzaria, I could work as an intern in a law firm.

I have a wide variaty of jobs to choose from

Really? I thought you said you were self employed ;) :P

[gummo]

When I was 15 I wanted to work at a bike shop but none were hiring. So I called the one I liked and told them I would work for free if they taught me how to work on bikes. I spent about 2 weeks sweeping floors and then they started paying me. Worked there for almost two years. Guess it just depends how bad you want a job.

Leave your communist, someone owes me, attitude at home. Productive people will not give you the time of day.

[John Galt]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2004, 09:03 PM
Really? I thought you said you were self employed ;) :P
Nope.

During the year I work at my karate dojo teaching.

This summer im going to Israel, but all those places I listed above were willing to hire me.

[gummo]

Originally posted by John [email protected] 28 2004, 09:16 PM
Nope.

During the year I work at my karate dojo teaching.

This summer im going to Israel, but all those places I listed above were willing to hire me.
Would you mind beating up a palistinian for me while your there?

[John Galt]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2004, 09:04 PM
When I was 15 I wanted to work at a bike shop but none were hiring. So I called the one I liked and told them I would work for free if they taught me how to work on bikes.
That is a great idea.


Offer to work for free/minimum wage and you get valuable experiance.


You can tell your next employer you have done this before, and know lots of stuff. They pay you more.

You go to another employer, tell them you have been "in the business" for several years, and your last job payed a certain amount, and they will pay you more.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2004, 09:18 PM
Would you mind beating up a palistinian for me while your there?
Are you deliberately trying to get banned?

[John Galt]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2004, 09:18 PM
Would you mind beating up a palistinian for me while your there?
If they throw rocks at me, I will.

[gummo]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2004, 09:19 PM
Are you deliberately trying to get banned?
Why would I get banned?

[gummo]

Originally posted by John [email protected] 28 2004, 09:19 PM
If they throw rocks at me, I will.
Hehe that'll work :P

High five some Israeli soldiers for me!

[John Galt]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2004, 09:20 PM
Why would I get banned?
This board has a very...... authoritarian administration.

Its somewhat ironic.

[gummo]

Originally posted by John [email protected] 28 2004, 09:24 PM
This board has a very...... authoritarian administration.

Its somewhat ironic.
Supression of speach on a comunism/socialism board? I don't believe it.

[DaCuBaN]

Liberals aren't much liked, agreed.

C'est la vie

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

This isn't a country or society, there are other places where you can spew out your views, get over it.

[gummo]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2004, 09:26 PM
This isn't a country or society, there are other places where you can spew out your views, get over it.
I am over it. It's your board and you can call the shots. I just think it's funny that you are practicing suppression of speach on this board. That's one of the biggest things people fear of red societies.

[DaCuBaN]

There's a reason for this - and it's called extremists. There are many - some on this board - who would love to see free speech curtailed.

Those of us who advocate it are in fact often demonised - Have you ever read Orwell's 1984? Think about Goldstein.

Nothing new here I'm afraid bud.

[The Sloth]

Alright, what the fuck...someone please close this shit.

The helpful members on this board just gave me a few tips on finding some jobs (some of which like a "job center" I already tried with no luck), so I don't see why this turned into a thread on my alleged laziness and a debate over free speech.

[DaCuBaN]

It's in opposing ideologies for crying out loud!

You&#39;d have got a more sensible response in Chit-chat - which says something <_<

[John Galt]

Originally posted by Brooklyn&#045;[email protected] 29 2004, 01:00 AM
Alright, what the fuck...someone please close this shit.

The helpful members on this board just gave me a few tips on finding some jobs (some of which like a "job center" I already tried with no luck), so I don&#39;t see why this turned into a thread on my alleged laziness and a debate over free speech.
Have you looked in the wanted ads?

[dopediana]

brooklyn-mecca, this is what i did:

1. i looked in the classifieds.
2. i went around town at the beginning of summer looking for help wanted signs.
3. i asked friends who had jobs.

in the end, 3. paid off. i work a supermarket as a courtesy clerk/cashier. i get tips too sometimes from little old ladies who i help to get their groceries out to the car.

also, you&#39;re not allowed to officially be employed if you&#39;re under 16. you should be in the clear now. good luck.

[The Sloth]

Well, my friends couldn&#39;t help as they are having similar problems.

But I was looking through the classifieds, and I think I found some things :)

[Y2A]

Not lazy....it&#39;s because your to young. It&#39;s pretty easy finding work if you really want to however. Just go to a factory that&#39;s hiring and don&#39;t ask for like 10+ bucks an hour. Right now I&#39;m working at a factory for the summer until I start college. Trying to save up to move out.

[Urban Rubble]

I find that when I couldn&#39;t get a job, it&#39;s because my standards were too high. Finding a job is easy, finding a good job is nearly impossible.

[Y2A]

True UR. And B-M, you should really go to a factory to work or possibly do some construction. Try and find work early so then later you can put it down as work experience for future employers. You also shouldn&#39;t be a dumbass and waste what you earn on "Air Force" sneekers or Galaxy white T&#39;s either, use some of it for fun but always save up atleast a little.

[synthesis]

Political boards that do not engage in some form of containment or censorship are extremely rare. We opted for the former rather than the latter so as to keep leftist debate on topic while not cutting out capitalist input entirely, although we still ban trolls and bigots.

[Y2A]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30 2004, 02:01 AM
Political boards that do not engage in some form of containment or censorship are extremely rare. We opted for the former rather than the latter so as to keep leftist debate on topic while not cutting out capitalist input entirely, although we still ban trolls and bigots.
Just what the fuck are you talking about? I think you posted in the wrong thread there Dyermaker. ;)

[Vinny Rafarino]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30 2004, 03:08 AM
Just what the fuck are you talking about? I think you posted in the wrong thread there Dyermaker. ;)
I think you need to try a little bit more o&#39; that thar book lernin&#39; son.

His comment was a response these posts in this thread (on this very page, Earl)



This board has a very...... authoritarian administration


Supression of speach on a comunism/socialism board? I don&#39;t believe it.


I am over it. It&#39;s your board and you can call the shots. I just think it&#39;s funny that you are practicing suppression of speach on this board. That&#39;s one of the biggest things people fear of red societies.


And now back to the OI&#39;s regularly scheduled programming featuring the encore showing of the "Deulin&#39; Banjos" episode.

[synthesis]

Thanks RAF, although Y2A wasn&#39;t particularly unjustified, he actually had me worried for a moment. I should have quoted the post I was responding to.

[Guerrilla22]

Originally posted by John [email protected] 28 2004, 08:33 PM
Because you are lazy.


I have no trouble finding a job. I could work for the park district, I could work at a summer camp, I could work at a pizzaria, I could work as an intern in a law firm.

I have a wide variaty of jobs to choose from.
;) I wouldn&#39;t call those real jobs either. Those jobs would be fine if you are a ateen age kid just trying to make some extra cash, but if you have a family to support and are actually trying to find a REAL job you will have a far greater time trying to find one. The only jobs that are becoming avaible are in the service industry, although the Bush administration doesn&#39;t seem to think thaat there&#39;s a difference because they keep touting that more and more jobs are becoming avaible.

[refuse_resist]

I haven&#39;t had a job in the past year now and I&#39;m constantly looking for them.

[fuerzasocialista]

I live in NY also and my feeling is that the reason you can&#39;t find a job at this moment is because you&#39;re too young. You had mentioned this in your initial post and I agree. Its hard to believe though that you can&#39;t find anything in local stores or such. But then again my cousin is in Queens and she is having a similar problem.

[Invader Zim]

I&#39;m a volunteer for a charity, dedicated to the running of Bletchley park, the place they cracked cyphers during the war.

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

During your wasted days start writing, or leanr to play an instrument and start a band, get some gigs or whatever. At 15 you wont get a good job, there&#39;s just too much shit about laws etc. these days that people would be afraid to hire you.

In a year or so it shouldnt be a problem, always have a C.V. by the way.

[HankMorgan]

Perhaps the minimum wage is working to price you out of a job?

[colombiano]

After 1 year from being laid off, I have been picking up odd jobs just to survive. I am being told that I need to go back to school and re educate myself into another field. 4 years of college and over 18 k invested in my education . ARGH&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; By the way I worked for a major telecommunications company , guess where my job went.

[The Sloth]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2004, 06:06 PM
By the way I worked for a major telecommunications company , guess where my job went.
I&#39;m guessing your job went to China.




But I found a job though.....&#036;5 an hour, four days a week, from 7 AM to 1 PM...walking on my feet six hours, in this hot weather, putting flyers in people&#39;s houses. I think I get one 30-min break for lunch, that&#39;s about it....and, oh yeah, the break is added on to the hours, meaning, if I take 30 mins to eat, I stay unil 1:30 PM instead of 1:00. I think that&#39;s a little extreme, considering it&#39;s 85 degree New York City weather, where I&#39;m walking around for six hours.

This is really the worst job I can imagine, but considering how I found nothing else, I&#39;ll have to go through it.

[Hoppe]

Well you know what say, from paperboy (or putting flyers in people&#39;s houses) to millionaire. So keep up the good work and maybe someday you&#39;ll get there.

[Snitza]

Man, I feel bad for you, Brooklyn. I put in 2 applications, one at a movie theatre and one at a grocery store. I have an interview for the grocery store job tomorrow at 2pm, im hoping i get it&#33; i need &#036;&#036;&#036; for the summer


By the way, have you posted at YFIS before? I thought I recognized your name

[Y2A]

Your lucky. I work at a factory. Freakin 8hrs a day packing blinds.

[colombiano]

This is completely insane. Most of the people up here sound fairly intellegent and educated .Well except for me when I am stoned I do not tend to make alot of sense. I must admit due to stress and pressures I have been doing alot of that lately. However,These same people are having a difficult time getting a job at a grocery store for chump change.

[The Sloth]

Your lucky. I work at a factory. Freakin 8hrs a day packing blinds.


I would love to have your job, Y2A. By the way, it&#39;s not sarcasm.



Anyway, job update: today was my first day. I woke up at 6 A.M. and arrived at 7:00....my employer had several other people in the car, and although I thought we would be giving out flyers around the neighborhood, he took us to some of the worst neighborhoods in Brooklyn while he mostly sat in the car, looking. I been to some of these places before, and I figured that he must be a pretty tolerant of other races man which is rare for an older Russian immigrant.

At first, I thought it would be fine....four hours into it, my feet was hurting like hell....I had a short break, and bought a second water bottle. My neck felt sunburned.

As I was getting ready to leave, he told me that I was looking very tired and maybe I shouldn&#39;t continue...of course, compared to the other people, I could have definitely continued. But in reality, although I could, I definitely did not want to....for a job like this, &#036;5 an hour is absolute robbery of my labor and my time. What really told me I wouldn&#39;t ever return was when we were ready to leave, and this guy points to a black man and says, "I wasn&#39;t looking to hire HIM because I&#39;m not interested in people like him," and when I asked why, in Russian he told me, "because niggers have been born apes and will always be monkeys."

I scolded him, and he apologized and said he wouldn&#39;t every say shit like that around me, which is meaningless because his mentality will remain the same anyway....I told him a bit about genetics, which was difficult because I have poor Russian skills, and even though this man went through college and such, he seemed so ignorant. He informed me I must have "many black friends" and apologized again, which was stupid because it&#39;s unbelievable that a man is living in Brooklyn and has not a single black friend. On the way home, the people in the car talked so crudely, one of the employees saying the Russian equivalent of "fuck" as every other word, while talking about nudist beaches and how they&#39;re ashamed of their naked bodies. The employer commented that he would like to have my type of body, which was odd but made me laugh, while the other young person in the car made me angry because he refused to even acknowledge the fact that the employer is a crude and racist pig piece of shit and still wanted to work for him.

So, yeah, unemployed again.

I came home and went to the library, now I&#39;m going to go read in a little bit in my room......at least I can stay on the phone late again (finally) because I don&#39;t have to wake up at 6:00 AM as if my summer vacation has just ended after two weeks.

[Invader Zim]

Brooklyn-Mecca stop whining, I barley get paid and I have shittier work than you do by the sound of it.

[Nas]

man, get your education and get a proffesion , not a job , a proffession

[colombiano]

I have my education like many othershere I am sure. However I should not have to re educate myself due to fucking corporate greed. Countless numbers of tech&#39;ies all over the country are feeling the crunch and really pissed that their jobs have gone to India and other cheap "slave labor" markets.

[Guerrilla22]

Yes, you do need an education, however life&#39;s expenses don&#39;t magically cease to exist because you are in college. Luckily for me my school employs lots of students at pretty good wages too.

[Y2A]

I concur with Enigma. Your *****ing about one day of work? C&#39;mon man. Anyway, are you Russian?

[The Sloth]

I concur with Enigma. Your *****ing about one day of work?

Well, considering that it was the first day of work and, six hours later, my first day of unemployment (again), I have a right to complain. Of course, some people on this board would rather have everyone just "shut the fuck up" and accept conditions the way they are because we live in such a perfect society with no room for improvement, plus the fact that there are some that are "worse off"...well, those that are "worse off" usually not only do not have a voice, but are blamed for their unfortunate situations and those that are "worse off" will benefit from those that complain.

The employer was a racist slob and an exploiter. So what I&#39;m reaaallly trying to say is, "fuck you" if you want to be passive in such situations or complain about my legitimate complaints....nothing more pathetic when individuals such as yourself have the power to change things but remain a little passive.

Anyway, are you Russian?

Yes.




By the way, I noticed an interesting distinction between capitalists and communists living in the same society. Capitalists would rather have the workers silenced even though they are workers themselves because they take a much more passive role regarding job injustices. Communists complain about these injustices every chance they get and, ironically, "get on the nerves" of their fellow workers that are struggling with the same problems. Haha, it kinda reminds me of Malcolm X and the objections he received both from whites and blacks in the 1960&#39;s, where certain people kept telling him, "you&#39;re irresponsible....just give us time, look how much progress we&#39;re making&#33;" Yes, I guess the fact that some South Americans are now given a lunch break is "progress" and, domestically, immigrant workers are now exploited for &#036;5/hour instead of the normal rate of &#036;4, which is "progress", too.

[DaCuBaN]

Unfortunately that is progress... It may not live up to your high standards but... well Immigrants in the US are now getting &#036;5 instead of &#036;4 and S.Americans get a lunch break :lol:

Seriously, change is slow. Even those who advocate revolution (except the anarchists, who frankly are all barmy in my eyes) know that a period of change is required before exploitation can be stopped. Nothing happens overnight.


ommunists complain about these injustices every chance they get and, ironically, "get on the nerves" of their fellow workers that are struggling with the same problems.

Your &#39;fellow workers&#39; don&#39;t want to hear about it... Noone likes a man on a soapbox. If however you were to solve the problem, I guarantee they wouldn&#39;t be so hostile.

People get fed up with words very quickly.

[colombiano]

My wife has here Masters in Social Communications and was a TV News Anchor/Journalist in Colombia. After being here for two years the only work she can find is as a Medical Office Assistant. Get this she has to perform all clerical /customer service work, check in patients, perform many duties that a nurse should be doing, ex blood pressure ,weight, etc etc . To Top it off she is billingual ,perfect English and they only want to pay her &#036; 6 bucks an hour and the insurance plan is a lost cause . What a freakin joke.

[Hoppe]

Originally posted by [email protected] 7 2004, 04:15 AM
I have my education like many othershere I am sure. However I should not have to re educate myself due to fucking corporate greed.
Very friendly of you, to let the others pay for your laziness.


Countless numbers of tech&#39;ies all over the country are feeling the crunch and really pissed that their jobs have gone to India and other cheap "slave labor" markets.

So, good for the Indians, good for US consumers. Stop whining, your government has just protected the US shrimpfarmers against "unfair" competition from Asia, so now you can luckily pay more when you go to a restaurant.

[colombiano]

It is not a matter of laziness my friend. I have spent 4 years and over 18k on an education and now I am suppose to start my life all over again? You will NEVER understand until it happens to you. Would you feel the same if you were in the same situation?YES , I am sure you would.Walk in my shoes my friend&#33;

[Hoppe]

Originally posted by [email protected] 7 2004, 04:03 PM
It is not a matter of laziness my friend. I have spent 4 years and over 18k on an education and now I am suppose to start my life all over again? You will NEVER understand until it happens to you. Would you feel the same if you were in the same situation?YES , I am sure you would.Walk in my shoes my friend&#33;
As opposed to many people here I am not 15.

And if you think that you actually know something when you leave college then you are clearly mistaken.

[DaCuBaN]

if you think that you actually know something when you leave college then you are clearly mistaken

Probably the best post you&#39;ve ever made :D I don&#39;t know about anyone else, but I learned more about life on my first day &#39;on the job&#39; than in any educational establishment over an equivelant timescale.

[Nas]

education is a must have
any type of education - maybe you are not sure of the meaning of "education"

look at Che Guevarra , sure he was a revolutionary but he went to school and college and got to be a Physician

i think socrates said this , "you are what you do"

knowledge is more important than you think

[Hoppe]

Originally posted by [email protected] 7 2004, 09:25 PM
education is a must have
any type of education - maybe you are not sure of the meaning of "education"

look at Che Guevarra , sure he was a revolutionary but he went to school and college and got to be a Physician

i think socrates said this , "you are what you do"

knowledge is more important than you think
The only thing usefull they teach you in university is that you start to think in a certain "scientific" way.

For knowlegde you can go to your local liberary and read as much books as you can.

[DaCuBaN]

Exactly... education is a must have, but not necessarily institutionalised education. It simply teaches you the methods (and in the case of some courses, can give you the drive and ambition necessary) to actually learn something.