A year and a half of job hunting, is it time to just join the army? - General

Join the National Guard, volunteer to deploy when you are between jobs. It's working out pretty good for me, I'll be going back to school after my next tour.

[QUOTE=power-mad;25996965]So I've been actively looking for a job for a year and a half now and every interview I go to (about once a month, twice if it's near a holiday), it's the same story. I go in, usually a line of people waiting for an interview, "We'll call you about the job in about a week". A week later, I have to call them, and they tell me they filled the position. But just recently, I think I've finally hit an all time low. I was applying for target, they were hiring for seasonal. I go in, interview as usual, leave for a few days and now I see on facebook a person I knew from school who I know had a criminal record of shoplifting got hired over me. I'm 19, I have no work experience, I'm slowly losing my list of contacts I can use, and now I'm apparently worse than a shoplifter. Is it time to just give up living a normal life and join the army?[/QUOTE] Don't join the army if it's just a last ditch effort, no-one wants that sort of person in their army. I may disagree with some of the reasons we are at war right now, but my cousins serving have told me enough for me to see that the army is for soldiers, not runaways.

Surely there must be even a small shop that will employ you. I'm 16 and got one easily

[QUOTE=power-mad;25996965]So I've been actively looking for a job for a year and a half now and every interview I go to (about once a month, twice if it's near a holiday), it's the same story. I go in, usually a line of people waiting for an interview, "We'll call you about the job in about a week". A week later, I have to call them, and they tell me they filled the position. But just recently, I think I've finally hit an all time low. I was applying for target, they were hiring for seasonal. I go in, interview as usual, leave for a few days and now I see on facebook a person I knew from school who I know had a criminal record of shoplifting got hired over me. I'm 19, I have no work experience, I'm slowly losing my list of contacts I can use, and now I'm apparently worse than a shoplifter. Is it time to just give up living a normal life and join the army?[/QUOTE] Don't do it, the pay is absolute shit for the work that you'll be doing.

You don't have to look it as a bad thing. I joined the air force as an avionics technician and I absolutely love it. I either am going to go into Avionics or Electronic Engineering if and when I get out. The (U.S.) Air Force is a great way to go if you can find a job that could carry over to something that you'd like to do when you got out of the Air Force. There's some bullshit and some drama but it's not bad. Pay is good and although it's hard to get in once you're in they are going to want to keep you. I was 18 and with no job experience too when I signed up. Others have a point too.. don't join the army as a last ditch attempt. The Air Force have a lot of jobs that can carry over to civilian life. Also, at least in my career field going to Afghanistan isn't that bad, and you make BANK (tax free pay and nowhere to really spend it) when you come back. PM if you have any questions.. I can get answers pretty fast.

fast food. it's almost (99% of the time) always hiring [editline]11th November 2010[/editline] btw: try delivery driving for whatever takeout places (chinese, pizza etc) if you have a good car that is

Shit this is pretty depressing for someone currently job hunting. While I'm not currently working I am doing paid website and PC maintenance etc for friends of my parents, as a facepuncher you may have similar skills so I would try to do this sort of thing that you can point to as experience. Don't make an emotional decision because things are looking down just try to see where you have gone wrong in the past and what you can do about it.

[QUOTE=Overworld;25998278]If you can't afford school, I'd suggest joining the navy. They'll pay for your school and you'll get a nice paycheck.[/QUOTE] Every branch has some kind of incentive to pay for school, and the pay is basically the same in all the branches.

[QUOTE=M23;25998385]Surely there must be even a small shop that will employ you. I'm 16 and got one easily[/QUOTE] If I was 16, I imagine this would be a lot easier. People who are 16 have a reason to have no work history and get a lot of lenience. [QUOTE=Penguiin;25998442]fast food. it's almost (99% of the time) always hiring[/QUOTE] I don't think you understand what job searching for a year and a half means, I've applied to every fast food joint I can, every month.

Military has some of the greatest benefits, it's probably what I'm going to make my career. So of course I'm only saying "Do it" because I'm doing it.

[QUOTE=not_Morph53;25998476]Every branch has some kind of incentive to pay for school, and the pay is basically the same in all the branches.[/QUOTE] I'm just going with what i was told by the veterans i spoke to when i was considering joining the armed forces.

Joining up was the best choice I've made. You British or American? You'll make some really good mates, have a good laugh, learn a lot of new stuff, make a lot of money (17 and on £1000 a month ain't bad), get a trade, get fit and it's just overall enjoyable. Training does have it's downs but it's nothing like the field force.

I was in your position last year and I decided to join the Air Force. It's been pretty great so far. My father was in the Army so I have experience with their bases and I've got to say that Air Force personnel have it better. It's also harder to join the AF than the Army.

[QUOTE=power-mad;25997351]I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of people at facepunch. I've been here for quite a while and find them usually friendly well informed people. High school diploma. I finished a year of college but I refuse to continue that until I find a job. Otherwise debt will just pile up and there's no guarantee finishing college will make me any less jobless.[/QUOTE] I'm in this boat. I've been wobbling about military ever since I started college; knowing that given my jobless state, my debt will be horrible by the time I finish four years. After a solid year of consideration, I'm about ready to just join the Air Force. While I can't recommend military service entirely, I would say that you should weigh the decision very carefully. Four years is a long time.

One interview a month isn't enough. Everyone I knew that was job hunting would hit 5 places a day if they had to.

Minnesota National Guard Website [url]http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/careers/[/url] [url]http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/press_room/fact_sheets/military_specialties.php[/url] Contact information for a recruiter (Probably out of date) [code] SSG BRIAN NEUDECKER OFFICE # 507-637-4086 CELL # 507-269-4228 EMAIL- brian.neudecker@us.army.mil [/code]

[QUOTE=Squad;25998679]One interview a month isn't enough. Everyone I knew that was job hunting would hit 5 places a day if they had to.[/QUOTE] One APPLICATION a month isn't enough, I agree. An interview is not an application however. I right now basically hit every store within a 10 mile radius of my house every month. Only one a month ever calls back and asks for an interview.

[QUOTE=power-mad;25998502]I don't think you understand what job searching for a year and a half means, I've applied to every fast food joint I can, every month.[/QUOTE] how is that possible? are your high school grades that bad? I mean no disrespect, but a fast food job isn't exactly rocket science, shouldn't an average high School student easily be able to get a job like that?

[QUOTE=power-mad;25997626]Any big difference between the 2? Marines certainly have the less retarded of the 2 commercials.[/QUOTE] If you have to ask that question, then I think you should maybe do a little more research on the subject. Also, commercials mean nothing. Don't base your opinion on them.

[QUOTE=Sharp;25998811]If you have to ask that question, then I think you should maybe do a little more research on the subject. Also, commercials mean nothing. Don't base your opinion on them.[/QUOTE] The commercials are a trap, the girls aren't as pretty.

Go Air Force.

[QUOTE=Sharp;25998811]If you have to ask that question, then I think you should maybe do a little more research on the subject. Also, commercials mean nothing. Don't base your opinion on them.[/QUOTE] I admit, I understand very little about the military. Not exactly something I've been looking into til now. I can however pick up one thing from commercials, and that is target audience. I once went to a movie theater and there were 2 pre show commercials back to back. One showed a bunch of boom box blasting yee haws towing around guns and kicking around a football, and the other showed serious people getting in shape for service. I'm obviously not going to say "WOW, I wanna look cool standing on a mountain with a sword, I think I'll join marines!", but target audience man. Besides, I think I'm more leaning towards navy or airforce if I do go down this road.

One word of advice, don't even think of talking to a recruiter if you don't have a job(specifically a MOS) in mind. It's as bad as going grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

[QUOTE=not_Morph53;25998921]The commercials are a trap, the girls aren't as pretty.[/QUOTE] They look fine to me.. [Media]http://freakhookup.com/hosted-images/910e4885c43181fc1397af63f9261463/382229uscamp.jpg[/Media] :smug:

OP have you gone through college? [editline]11th November 2010[/editline] Read that you have OP; Here's what I suggest. Contact a college that has an ROTC program, they will pay your tuition but you will have to serve a minimum of 4 years in active service, however that will be as an officer, 2nd Lt. or higher. You'll get decent pay, and free housing. Well worth it in the end.

go to an aerospace academy and join the air force as a pilot and kick some ass

[url]http://colleges.collegetoolkit.com/colleges/browse/rotc/minnesota/27/results/army/51.aspx[/url] [url]http://colleges.collegetoolkit.com/colleges/browse/rotc/minnesota/27/results/navy/52.aspx[/url] [url]http://colleges.collegetoolkit.com/colleges/browse/rotc/minnesota/27/results/air_force/53.aspx[/url] Try this OP

Join the air force you have the least chance of dieing.

I say dont give up on finding a job

[QUOTE=PEn1s lol;25999735]Join the air force you have the least chance of dieing.[/QUOTE] Just because he joins the Army does not mean he is going to be in an active combat situation. So every branch has an equal chance of dieing based on the situation he's placed in. My neighbor lost his friend in SEAL's training. My brothers friend died in Basic Training for the Air Force.