Can't get a job anywhere...

[Anonymous]

Get a job at the local hobby store sweeping the floor and cleaning the layout....ask them to pay in Lionel rolling stock and track\;d

[Anonymous]

Chris,

I had the same problem when I was your age. I delivered papers until I was sixteen and did a lot of odd jobs.

What I found that worked best then and now is net working with the people you know, and the people they know. Most people like to hire people they know. Let your parents, their friends, your friends, church friends, teachers, train clubers and everyone you meet know you're looking for a part-time job.

Your best friends when you're looking for a job are your rolodex and a phone. Make it a point to call 10 people a day and let them know you're looking for a job, if they don't have anything available ask if they could give you the name of someone who might and then call them and repeat the process.

Making cold calls looking for work is hard to do, ask any salesman. Keep an open mind. Take a job that's offered to you, and if you don't like it keep looking and quit when you find a new one.

There is no magic to job hunting, it mostly perseverance.

[highrailjon]

David, not to get off the main post, I snatched that picture of the tunic off the internet. My uniform is hanging in the gun room!! Mine is '70's era for sure[;)] Actually right as the Marines transitioned from the wool tunic to the Dacron one.[:(]

Chris, Parents know best!! It was just an option!!![:D]

[laz 57]

BUCKEYE that has to be the best job in the world. I should have went to school for that.
laz57

[Buckeye Riveter]

Are you old enough to run the beer cart at the golf course in your state?

[Anonymous]

Hello Chris: You just received a great life lesson, no matter how high or low you are on the totem pole keep yourself surrounded with good people. Kind Regards Steve

[underworld]

Cutting grass, painting houses (interior and exterior), yard cleaning and a big one these days....recycling. I don't mean just bottles and cans, there is a whole world of free stuff to be found. When I was just out of school my friend Henry and I made quite a bit of money recycling lawn mowers. We would find ones that were being thrown out.....some of them even worked. The ones that didn't work we sold to people that woked on mowers.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

One other option, sometimes you can find gas stations and auto parts stores
that are willing to pay "under the table".
Just a thought-anything to make a buck--almost.

[laz 57]

CHRIS try the local golf course we have one three miles from our place and lots of kids cut grass there.
laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Chris, NJ is not all city. I have seen some nice farms and greenhouses. How far away are they? Get you a summer job on a farm or greenhouse operation. I grew up on a farm, I always had a summer job [spring , summer, fall and winter]. Frankie worked summers [and evenings during school] for grocery store until he landed one with a NC based store like Walmart. He worked in shipping and receiving [mainly receiving].

[laz 57]

CHRIS, try contractors, I did this in the summers learned acement finishing trade. Also try recycling yards (junk yards) I also worked there cutting metal and making little squares out of junk cars.
laz57

[FJ and G]

John,

Those are some older looking sets of blues, 60s or pre-60s, before the crossed rifles.

Chris,

Why don't you write a short story about your job hunting endeavors. Might turn out to be a best seller.

[Anonymous]

Jon, I've got no problem enlisted, Parents do...

Here, in New Jeresey, you can leagaly work at 14... but no one will hire you.

Steve(Redhawk) already beat you to that, just took the cans and almuinium down thje past weekend, Alumi is $.45 a lb here. Ive also taken lawnmowers when people have been tossing them for clean up, If its not a simple fix, i take it apart and use the motor (alumiinum block) for scrap.

Thanks for all the replies.

[Anonymous]

You think you have problems---Try finding a halfway decent job at age 62--It took me almost eight months.
They say "don't discriminate against age" but they all do, especially around retire. age--you just can't prove it. I got no response from dozens of companys whatsoever. Its been rough I guarantee!
Any way I thought if you have a school work permit you should not have too much of a problem but I don't know the rules in your area---
How did you earn the money for your trains??

[Anonymous]

When I was young I got a job for the local bus company. I wasn't even looking for that job I just happened to always be polite and friendly to the bus drivers when I used the bus...one day a bus driver told me about the job and a few of them helped me get it. Just to say you never know where that job may be. Personally I think thats a good thing if those large corporate types won't take you on. My most fun jobs have been with small companies and its just a matter of asking enough people and a positive outlook will get you to the place you want to be.


Good Luck
Mark Mandolin

[highrailjon]

When I turned 17 I did'nt want to flip burgers or sack groceries. I got my parents consent and earned this:

[Anonymous]

When I was a teenager, I found that self-employment was a good option. I cut grass, cleaned pools, raked roofs, hauled garbage to the dump, and anything else that would help me get by. Try these. Good luck.

[Dr. John]

Chris,
My son, Ryan, is also 17. He is working for a local building contractor, helping clean off residential construction sites when the house is nearly complete. Granted it's not everyday work, but it is something to put on the resume for later. If Ryan does a good job, he may get to help out a little more with actual construction (at least carrying materials and the like). Not only a chance to make some money, but to learn some construction skills.

[Anonymous]

Hello again Chris, David's TRASH post reminded me of something, right the price of scrap metal is pretty high, I get $1.60 a pound for bare copper 45 cents for insulated at the scrap yard. A retired guy down the street scrounges soda pop cans for something to do, he gets $20.00 for a green garbage bag of crushed cans. Scrap steel is difficult because of the weight to handle it unless you have the means. Scrap aluminum siding and doors are also a pretty good go. I know it may not be a lot but something is better than nothing, ( Imagine how much scrap you could scrounge if you lived in the South) Good Luck Steve

[garyseven]

In addition you may want to call a general manager and ask for an informational interview. Ask how to get started in the restaurant biz. Alot of hiring is done on an as needed basis. When "Ol Jim" doesn't show up for his host shift, the first decent applicant to show up with an application gets the job.
Furthermore, you may want to hit the places with outside dining. They will start boostiing their hiring about this time for the summer.
Always apply at a restaurant between 2-4PM M-Thrs and never when they are busy. Dress nice and be extra clean cut. No stubble on the face and super clean hands (especially under the nails!- and keep 'em real short) No wrinkles on shirt or trousers, shined shoes. If you eat there, tip well.

Good luck.. E-mail for questions.

[garyseven]

Chris - Check your state and local laws re: hiring minors. Apply for the jobs that you are eligible. No use to apply for "Dish Machine Operator" when state law says that you must be at least 18 to operate that machine due to chemicals and high pressure hot water.. Although an interesting series of posts about politics and the economy... .[|)]. ...I have a wee bit of knowledge about the subject about restaurants.[;)]

[cnw1995]

Hang in there, Chris. It can be v. tough. My teen years coincided with major recessions - I struggled to find work competing with all the older guys out there. I finally made a list of businesses I could reach on my bike - drew a circle on a map - and called on most every one in person - this led to a warehouse job for one season, and another taking apart defective smoke detectors, and another as a dishwasher - where I worked my way up to set-up cook. If I could get to see a manager or decision-maker, I guess they were usually impressed with my 'gumption' or persistence.

[FJ and G]

chris,

Sounds like your train budget cash is getting low.[:D]

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckeye Riveter

I mowed grass at a trailer court....a big trailer court.

Buckeye, that would be all of OHIO. [;)]

Chris, try local car washes. They usually get young guys [and girls too] to work.

[Anonymous]

I forget one thing about volunteering, In Ontario all High school graduates MUST do 40 hours of volunteer work to get their Diploma. Kind Regards Steve

[Anonymous]

Keep pounding the pavement & believe in yourself, something will turn up & when it does make the most of it. It may not be the job you wanted but it is income & a stepping stone & experience for your next resume'. Try some volunteer work at a hospital, or seniors centre.#1 you will feel very good about yourself, #2 Its good on a future resume, #3 you may be surprised at who you meet to get you connected in the job market ( Those seniors have kids & they generally take a liking to people who have treated Mom & Dad with respect. You live in the United States I live in Canada, both countries have one thing in common DREAMS can become a reality, I don't know anyone who has made it without working hard & staying focused on the goal. Thomas Edison worked on an experiment 8000 times & failed, his answer was " I now know 8000 ways that won't work". So keep your head up, your running shoes on & things will get better. Good Luck & Best Wishes Steve

[Frank53]

if you are a life's plan type of fellow - the service is a nice gig.

You can be in and out in 25 years - retire with a pension at 45 - take the training you get in teh service and build a new career. You can also get a college degree, get into the best shape of your life and stay there, build great habits, and generally be a squared away fellow. If you are smart enough you might fly some planes and get a nice gig afterwards.

All things considered, if you want to plan it all out - you could do considerably worse.

[Anonymous]

And if you don't want to take the risk of Frank's way, Your local Marine Corps Recruiter is looking for a few good men.

[Frank53]

actually, it depends on your view of reality.

I had jobs from 1974-1981, jobs with what I figured would be a bright future with major coporations - Bell Laboratories and Exxon. Jimmy Crater was killing teh economy faster than you could say Jimmy Carter is killing the economy.

In 1981, with Ronal Reagan in the White House, I started my own enterprise. I had no college degree, marginal experience in the field, $10,000 of my own money I had saved and a willingness to work hard.

I worked nite and day for two years and paid myself better than ok in the process. In my third year, I hit my stride and for twelve years I was making 6-10x the amount I would have been making had I stayed with big oil. Granted I was forecasting my future Exxon salary, but I was liberal in the calculations. In those twelve years I paid myself several million dollars and paid Uncle Sam every nickel due.

Sold the business in 1996, kicked around a bit, had a few things go very wrong and in 1999 I decided to get started again by starting a new business out of a spare bedroom. It took six months to start earning at a six figure pace.

I have no employees and work around the clock, selling my time and skill for top dollar. I have never in my life seen such a fertile earning environment. Never. Ever.

If I were so inclined, I could quadrupal the size of my business in one or two quarters with the addition of staff and overhead. I have chosen not to thus far, as I like it this way. I am willing to work as hard as necessary to provide financial stability for my family and I am earning absolutely sick money for a one person effort.

I see more than just coincidence with my greatest success coming in the Reagan and GWBush years.

ANother long winded story:

There is a fellow in my neighborhood named Pete. He is in his eighties and he owns a beautiful home in our neighborhood. He has two nice cars a large family that visits him often and his home is elegant.

I love to hang out with folks in their 80's because I truly believe these folks will always be the greatest generation - like my Dad was.

Considering Pete has been retired since about the late 70's, I doubt he ever made big dollars. He came up with an idea to earn some extra dough - although he didn't need it. He cut lawns in our neighborhood for $100.00/month, which is a little below the going rate. He got twenty-five people in the neighborhood to hire him and he would do four -five lawns every day starting at about 8:00 am. He was usually done by 11:00-12:00. He would go home, have lunch, take a swim in his built in pool with his wife and take his afternoon walk before turning in around 10:00 pm each nite.

He figured out a way for a man in his eighties to make $2500.00 a month extra by working about four hours a day. He didn't use a rider either, he used a non-power driven gas cutter. He rigged up a cart attached to it for his leaf blower, edger, etc and his gas can.

I asked him about why he did it. He said the exercise was great, he had the energy, he loved being outside and he was a child of the depression and couldn't resist putting his earning power to work because he learned very young that nothing is forever. Guys like Pete are inspirational to me.

So, can't find a job? Set up a landscaping business, a delivery service, an odd job service, an enterprise in your field of expertise - something - anything. There is so much business out there and so much demand for help if you lift up a rock you'll find a fifty dollar bill underneath it. If you don't lift up the rock, you're going to be unhappy about not finding a job.

I haven't had a job in 25 years, and I seriously doubt I ever will again. Wealth is built in enterprise - not employment.