Where do you look for entry-level work when you don't even know what you want to do?
December 28, 2011 7:16 PM Subscribe
What are some ideas for entry-level jobs?
My 19-year-old son needs job experience, but he's having trouble finding a job. The problem (besides the economy) is that he has no idea what he wants to do.
He's currently on academic suspension from his second year of university with a C- grade point average. Some time working would do him good, if he can only find a job. Minimum wage would be fine with him for now. He's taken around his resume to various retail establishments and applied online to Target and to local grocery stores. Nothing yet. What else should he be doing? It doesn't seem to be a very good time to find a job, judging from his lack of success so far.
On the plus side, he's smart, neat, clean, and good-looking, and doesn't smoke, drink, or use drugs. He can drive, and has a car, but he has had a couple of accidents. His only job experience is the summer volunteering he did at a hospital in high school. He's quiet and shy and probably could never succeed in sales. He likes to play D&D, make figures for D&D games, and (like any kid his age) play video games. He's been majoring in biology, but doesn't like it all that much. Neither he nor anyone in his family wants him to join the military.
What are some ideas for different entry-level jobs he might be able to try?
My 19-year-old son needs job experience, but he's having trouble finding a job. The problem (besides the economy) is that he has no idea what he wants to do.
He's currently on academic suspension from his second year of university with a C- grade point average. Some time working would do him good, if he can only find a job. Minimum wage would be fine with him for now. He's taken around his resume to various retail establishments and applied online to Target and to local grocery stores. Nothing yet. What else should he be doing? It doesn't seem to be a very good time to find a job, judging from his lack of success so far.
On the plus side, he's smart, neat, clean, and good-looking, and doesn't smoke, drink, or use drugs. He can drive, and has a car, but he has had a couple of accidents. His only job experience is the summer volunteering he did at a hospital in high school. He's quiet and shy and probably could never succeed in sales. He likes to play D&D, make figures for D&D games, and (like any kid his age) play video games. He's been majoring in biology, but doesn't like it all that much. Neither he nor anyone in his family wants him to join the military.
What are some ideas for different entry-level jobs he might be able to try?
Where do you live? My son worked at after school daycare camps, and then took that experience into working with autistic kids as a one-on-one aide for the school district.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:34 PM on December 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideefixe at 7:34 PM on December 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
any tech support call centers nearby? they're the first landing zone for anyone with a modicum of computer skills. almost all of them are "walk in off the street" level jobs. there will be a basic competency test, probably, but if he can boot the pc and browse the internet he should have all the skills he'll need. they'll teach him the rest.
posted by radiosilents at 7:36 PM on December 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by radiosilents at 7:36 PM on December 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Americorps? NCCC might be a good fit if he's looking for some more structure in his life.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 7:43 PM on December 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Snarl Furillo at 7:43 PM on December 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you're in an area that experiences all four seasons - snow shoveling/plowing? I usually see lots of ads for this when there's a lot of snowfall. If you're in a warmer climate - landscaping? It's winter now where I am, but those jobs are pretty plentiful in the better weather and probably in abundance in a warmer area now. Stocking or warehouse work? It might be a good idea for him to check out different delivery services, like UPS or FedEx, too. I've seen ads for someone to go on runs with another person and deliver packages, part-time. I am not sure how keen your son would be on any kind of physical work, but these kinds of jobs would probably be his best bet.
posted by sevenofspades at 7:45 PM on December 28, 2011
posted by sevenofspades at 7:45 PM on December 28, 2011
Best answer: Direct care positions working with individuals with disabilities usually don't require previous experience or education. These employers are looking for ethical, hard-working, and kind individuals who don't use drugs or have a criminal background. In my experience, employers will provide lots of training, including CPR & first aid. Your son might also learn skills related to teaching, reinforcing positive behaviors, and assessing the skills of others (which, in turn, may help him to assess his own skills & potential).
posted by kbar1 at 7:46 PM on December 28, 2011
posted by kbar1 at 7:46 PM on December 28, 2011
A quick peek at your posting history indicates that his ADD might be a factor to be considered when offering suggestions? Is it under control, or are accommodations needed?
He should also be using whatever connections he has, or you have. Almost all of my work comes from contacts I've made - former clients, people I've worked for, friends, and recommendations from former employers. Is there something at the hospital?
Can he work in a small retail environment where his hobbies and interests come into play? Some place where he already has a reputation as a knowledgeable and nice guy and good customer?
Would he enjoy working off-hours, such as a night clerk or performing housekeeping at a hotel/motel?
Does he like being more sedentary or more active? Would he be able to handle being a bar back, or could he work for a moving company?
Can he even just volunteer at some place that might lead to a paid position? As it was mentioned previously, I began volunteering at a school, which led to paid work there.
posted by peagood at 8:38 PM on December 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
He should also be using whatever connections he has, or you have. Almost all of my work comes from contacts I've made - former clients, people I've worked for, friends, and recommendations from former employers. Is there something at the hospital?
Can he work in a small retail environment where his hobbies and interests come into play? Some place where he already has a reputation as a knowledgeable and nice guy and good customer?
Would he enjoy working off-hours, such as a night clerk or performing housekeeping at a hotel/motel?
Does he like being more sedentary or more active? Would he be able to handle being a bar back, or could he work for a moving company?
Can he even just volunteer at some place that might lead to a paid position? As it was mentioned previously, I began volunteering at a school, which led to paid work there.
posted by peagood at 8:38 PM on December 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have worked in retail, waitressing, restaurants etc. In my experience, what got my resume looked at was calling them back instead of waiting. There are dozens of applications sitting around at any entry-level place. I would put in an application, wait about a week, and call to ask if they had gotten a chance to look it over. I have had managers ask me to come in for an interview multiple times, just by taking the initiative to call them and demonstrate that I wanted the job enough to check up.
posted by nakedmolerats at 8:46 PM on December 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by nakedmolerats at 8:46 PM on December 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
My nephew's first job was in a restaurant kitchen. He's pretty quiet too but seemed to do okay in that environment. If he ends up liking it, that is a potential career.
posted by cabingirl at 9:01 PM on December 28, 2011
posted by cabingirl at 9:01 PM on December 28, 2011
My job at that age, working as an afterschool camp counselor for the YMCA was a lot of fun. They are always lacking in male employees and he can use his skills to bond with other little nerds who would love the attention.
posted by Saminal at 9:04 PM on December 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Saminal at 9:04 PM on December 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Network network network. It's not just for office jobs. In all of the entry-level service-industry jobs I've worked, the majority of folks were hired as a result of having some connection (friend, family, met at a party, former coworker, etc) to an employee. He should get across his active desire to find work to most people he encounters. People love to hook up those they know and like.
posted by threeants at 10:19 PM on December 28, 2011
posted by threeants at 10:19 PM on December 28, 2011
Best answer: Security guard.
Tell him to apply or find career information for the places he likes to go. So if he has a particular coffee shop or something he likes, he should check with them. Caveat: unlikely to yield any results in a gaming store.
USAJOBS.gov lists government jobs, some of which are entry-level things. In fact he should check the employment website of every little local arm of government you can think of, from the state on down.
Janitorial work.
That's about all I can come up with at the moment, sorry! It can be tough and demoralizing knowing you're just another faceless kid looking for a job right now. Good luck!
posted by kavasa at 11:48 PM on December 28, 2011
Tell him to apply or find career information for the places he likes to go. So if he has a particular coffee shop or something he likes, he should check with them. Caveat: unlikely to yield any results in a gaming store.
USAJOBS.gov lists government jobs, some of which are entry-level things. In fact he should check the employment website of every little local arm of government you can think of, from the state on down.
Janitorial work.
That's about all I can come up with at the moment, sorry! It can be tough and demoralizing knowing you're just another faceless kid looking for a job right now. Good luck!
posted by kavasa at 11:48 PM on December 28, 2011
Best answer: Are you looking for a job that could work more for a career or something just to make money and hopefully give him more of a professional demeanor? Also what is he majoring in college? There are lots of things he can go into besides the basic retail environment and his interests could greatly change what he wants.
I work in a laboratory. I work with chemicals and testing products and we hire many people with only highschool diplomas. I also know when looking at job boards like career builder that there are many companies that hire lab technicians with no college. The positive of a lab job is that it is hands on type of environment. It can be interesting from testing products to cleaning glassware. There are all shifts from first, second, or third. Slightly related to this might be manufacturing jobs. So I would look at what companies are nearby where you live and see what they have available.
I would also recommend temping agencies. I have gotten all my jobs and even interviews from temping agencies post college. Chase is a pretty big one that does general areas. I worked with Kelly scientific which is specific to the scientific field. My company hires only temps to start in their entry level jobs and then they get a permanent position after working for a while. The temping agencies may have access to entry-level jobs that are not advertised and there is no cost to work with them.
From my experience working in retail pays minimum wage to start, but the temps at my company get paid $11/hr and when hired permanently I think they go to 13.50/hr which is much higher than minimum wage.
I would recommend him to look for a job that is related to his college degree, that way he can get experience in the field he likes and maybe it will motivate him to try harder at school once he realizes the end goal, or maybe he will find a job he will love and want to stay with it.
I really recommend temp agencies as a good place to start. They can look for you, while you also try the more traditional methods of finding a job. It can not hurt.
posted by Jaelma24 at 12:13 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I work in a laboratory. I work with chemicals and testing products and we hire many people with only highschool diplomas. I also know when looking at job boards like career builder that there are many companies that hire lab technicians with no college. The positive of a lab job is that it is hands on type of environment. It can be interesting from testing products to cleaning glassware. There are all shifts from first, second, or third. Slightly related to this might be manufacturing jobs. So I would look at what companies are nearby where you live and see what they have available.
I would also recommend temping agencies. I have gotten all my jobs and even interviews from temping agencies post college. Chase is a pretty big one that does general areas. I worked with Kelly scientific which is specific to the scientific field. My company hires only temps to start in their entry level jobs and then they get a permanent position after working for a while. The temping agencies may have access to entry-level jobs that are not advertised and there is no cost to work with them.
From my experience working in retail pays minimum wage to start, but the temps at my company get paid $11/hr and when hired permanently I think they go to 13.50/hr which is much higher than minimum wage.
I would recommend him to look for a job that is related to his college degree, that way he can get experience in the field he likes and maybe it will motivate him to try harder at school once he realizes the end goal, or maybe he will find a job he will love and want to stay with it.
I really recommend temp agencies as a good place to start. They can look for you, while you also try the more traditional methods of finding a job. It can not hurt.
posted by Jaelma24 at 12:13 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also sorry, I see the biology part of your post. I am a biology graduate myself. I love working in a lab, it is different than school was. So getting a lab job might be easier for him since he has some experience in a lab and classes to match. He can see if the real world is better than the college world of biology. I work in a chemistry lab. I disliked college and frequently skipped classes. Working for me is so much better and so different than sitting in a class.
posted by Jaelma24 at 12:18 AM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Jaelma24 at 12:18 AM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Temp agencies aren't just for office work, as Jaelma24 says. My siblings have gotten factory work and retail work through temp agencies. It can be a double-edged sword -- if you heard about the issues that Amazon had in their Lehigh Valley warehouses this summer, it emerged in those stories that the lack of temp-to-perm hiring in the warehouses was a common complaint. But for someone who needs money and work and is adaptable and could benefit from having exposure to a bunch of different work environments, temping can be a good way to go.
posted by EvaDestruction at 7:17 AM on December 29, 2011
posted by EvaDestruction at 7:17 AM on December 29, 2011
Response by poster: Located in the Houston area.
The range of ideas here is wonderful! This is exactly what we needed, and much better than I had hoped for.
"Direct care positions working with individuals with disabilities" — where do you look for these? At a temp agency?
When he looks at websites for temp agencies, they show only the better-paying jobs, and don't have a filter to show just entry-level or low-wage. How do you get started with a temp agency?
posted by artistic verisimilitude at 7:23 PM on December 29, 2011
The range of ideas here is wonderful! This is exactly what we needed, and much better than I had hoped for.
"Direct care positions working with individuals with disabilities" — where do you look for these? At a temp agency?
When he looks at websites for temp agencies, they show only the better-paying jobs, and don't have a filter to show just entry-level or low-wage. How do you get started with a temp agency?
posted by artistic verisimilitude at 7:23 PM on December 29, 2011
Best answer: In the past, I've picked a temp agency more or less at random, filled out an application, gone in for interviewing and testing, and started getting assignments. I wasn't applying for specific jobs, just putting myself in the pool. I had an okay experience with Manpower and a pretty good one with Office Team, but look over some reviews in your area and ask around to see if anyone has suggestions -- even if someone hasn't temped themselves recently, they might know or be able to find out what agency their employer uses.
posted by EvaDestruction at 9:58 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by EvaDestruction at 9:58 PM on December 29, 2011
Best answer: I get called for temp positions that are not always posted on the agencies website. So once you get your name to a recruiter they may pull your name up when they have something available. Sometimes they fill the spot before they even post it. The job market is still bad so it might be quick and it might not, but trying everything is the best way to get a job and to get it quickly. The websites may not have an entry-level job Today, but it might Tomorrow.
You should just call the agency. They will have their phone number on their website. Ask to talk to a recruiter and you are good to go.
Also I would be careful of very small not well know temp agencies that seem like they don't even have a local office. I might be paranoid but I want to be able to walk into an office and talk to a recruiter if I am to give away any information about myself during the hiring process when I have a job. I have had some agencies who don't seem to listen to me, are very pushy and contact me even if I do not qualify for the job.They seem shady, but you can get that in any industry and I think they are just people on a quota to get as many applicants as possible. So just keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
posted by Jaelma24 at 11:07 PM on December 29, 2011
You should just call the agency. They will have their phone number on their website. Ask to talk to a recruiter and you are good to go.
Also I would be careful of very small not well know temp agencies that seem like they don't even have a local office. I might be paranoid but I want to be able to walk into an office and talk to a recruiter if I am to give away any information about myself during the hiring process when I have a job. I have had some agencies who don't seem to listen to me, are very pushy and contact me even if I do not qualify for the job.They seem shady, but you can get that in any industry and I think they are just people on a quota to get as many applicants as possible. So just keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
posted by Jaelma24 at 11:07 PM on December 29, 2011
After floating around at university for half a decade or so, I found myself unemployed and took a job as a bicycle courier. Spent the next few years making some really great friends and generally having a wonderful time, and eventually was offered a position as a despatcher with one of the better companies in the city. It's a fun job, which may be what he needs right now.
posted by chmmr at 3:35 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by chmmr at 3:35 PM on December 30, 2011
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posted by Serene Empress Dork at 7:19 PM on December 28, 2011 [2 favorites]