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

go into the military, and while you're in it goto college.

[QUOTE=Superstormj;26003558]I have a Diploma as well[/QUOTE] and that proves you can do what?

You can apply at mcdonalds

[QUOTE=FHamster;25997001]You should talk to a recruitment officer and make an informed decision. Don't just join because it seems like there is nothing else for you to do..[/QUOTE] except recruitment officers tend to do all they can to sell you unless you're very physically unfit

[QUOTE=FHamster;25997001]You should talk to a recruitment officer and make an informed decision. Don't just join because it seems like there is nothing else for you to do..[/QUOTE] Recruitment Officer = Informed Decision? You've obviously never met a recruiter. They'll lie through their teeth.

I'm considering joining as well; for entirely different reasons. Family issues at home. I've been thinking about it for a few months now, and I'd advice you do the same. I've had moments where I've been terrified or conflicted and other times it seems logical and appealing. I want to come to a decision before the holidays.

1: Finish College. Whatever about the degree getting you a job, finishing it shows dedication and intelligence. People want to emply people who are dedicated and smart, not loafers who can't be bothered to finish college ( Not saying thats you ) Debts are shit, but if you can't get a decent job from the degree you shouldn't be doing it. Balance living a while in debt with not getting the degree and ending up worse off in the long run. 2: If you have long hair, a beard, a three wolf t-shirt or any piercings, do not enter an interview with them. Sure they're expressing yadda yadda yadda but people want to employ normal people that look normal and act normal etc. Be upbeat and talkitive during the interview but don't dodge any questions. Smile, make eye contact but don't stare like a loony. If you look normal ( i.e conform to the above rules ) consider attaching a picture of yourself to your CV, thus showing at a distance you are normal. 3: Plaster the town with applications. Apply everywhere that employs people. I applied to 15 just this week and don't expect to hear from any of them. The point is get any job and stick with it awhile. Getting the job experience will be really helpfull getting future jobs. 4: Don't join the army for the sake of employment. That's what the nice, safe navy is for.

There's always the french foreign legion

i wouldn't join the army. too dangerous.

Have you tried applying for a call center? I'm doing that but it's not telemarketing, it's just customer support (reset your modem). I get $800 AUD for 35 hours a week (which is $800 USD actually) and it's raelly relaxed and awesome

Join the National Guard. You get paid, you can still keep searching for jobs, there's benefits, you can learn things that you might've never have even heard about. Oh, just be careful, because employers will find the dumbest of reasons to fire you if you are ever called up.

[QUOTE=CodeMonkey3;26004365]Recruitment Officer = Informed Decision? You've obviously never met a recruiter. They'll lie through their teeth.[/QUOTE] This. They're worse then used car salesmen. They have to get a certain number of Recruits every month, and they'll promise you anything to get you to enlist. Which is why I said, make sure everything they promise you is written down on paper with their signature.

Make sure you're giving a good impression. Have a good resume, dress well, and act capable. Also, if you are trying to apply to a position that requires a degree, lower your standards. If they're looking for a degree they'll throw your resume right out, even if you're qualified. Even going to college looks good on a resume, and put down any volunteer work you've done. If you haven't done any, do some for your community, just to put on the resume.

[QUOTE=power-mad;25997064] Fuck, as a neat freak I'd love that job, but something tells me a commute from minnesota to where ever you live that uses a pound is not an easy one.[/QUOTE] If you can come to Nebraska, you can clean my house. We'd be bros.

Go to school and get paid

My grandfather was a drill instructor in the army reserve for well over 37 years. He's retired, but if there's one thing he told me that I'd consider to be good advice, it would be 'keep your stuff under lock and key, the army is full of thieves.' Seriously OP, if you're planning on joining the army, no matter what branch you join you must keep your shit locked up or they will fuck you over and sell it on ebay. - That aside, since you have a diploma, I'd rec the Navy since my buddy is there and he says it's pretty non-combatant depending on which position you'd go after. Honestly, if you're not really athletic or motivated to tough it in rugged terrain I WOULD NOT go for the marines. Marines are the first to die in most combat situations, they're the bullhorns of the American Military and are overglorified bullet stoppers. I wouldn't consider going for an Officer's position in the Army either if you're not exactly an assertive person or crack under pressure easily, West Point is a no doubt a great place to learn but if you're looking to go active duty that means they'll throw you right into the action and then you'll have human lives in your hands. I'm only saying this because I'm going army before I go to law school to become a police officer. I'll most likely end up as an 11B(Infantryman) in the U.S. Army due to me wanting to have experience for law enforcement in the future since I plan to go S.W.A.T and all that shit. I expect it to be difficult, as should you if you ever decide to go infantry. But in your situation you would probably be better off as a techie or an engineer if you're hell-bent on not getting shot at anytime soon. Military isn't a walk in the park, alot of people can't hack it these days, primarily people in your position that are using it as a scapegoat to try and make money. But hey, if you're able to rough it out, more power to you. Just don't expect it to be easy*, is really what I'm saying here.

[QUOTE=R3mix;26003063]Go into politics or work for the government. But don't join the armed forces, you'll end up crazy or something.[/QUOTE] Most in politics have a job next to it, only a few can live from it, requirements are pretty high to. My dad was a skilled plumber, got conscripted drove trucks only once was in a situation that could be seen as "holly shit drive as fast as you can as they are firing at us." Became a trucker, did a few years as a lifeguard then a driver for political people (pretty high up to). And a few months ago the entire thing he did was budget cut to hell and back leaving him jobless to.

[QUOTE=evilking1;25997272]go to school[/QUOTE] Damn right, go to school, get a job that you don't like or a job that you like and won't like in three years and then idle away the rest of your life. Not saying the army is pixies and daises but "go to school" is not always the best option. If you really break it down most peoples lifelong goals include and are limited to "go to school, get a career, get rich (fat chance, lol), have kids, retire, die," It's a bit mundane if you think about it. [editline]12th November 2010[/editline] [QUOTE=Moose;26005594]My grandfather was a drill instructor in the army reserve for well over 37 years. He's retired, but if there's one thing he told me that I'd consider to be good advice, it would be 'keep your stuff under lock and key, the army is full of thieves.' Seriously OP, if you're planning on joining the army, no matter what branch you join you must keep your shit locked up or they will fuck you over and sell it on ebay. - That aside, since you have a diploma, I'd rec the Navy since my buddy is there and he says it's pretty non-combatant depending on which position you'd go after. Honestly, if you're not really athletic or motivated to tough it in rugged terrain I WOULD NOT go for the marines. Marines are the first to die in most combat situations, they're the bullhorns of the American Military and are overglorified bullet stoppers. I wouldn't consider going for an Officer's position in the Army either if you're not exactly an assertive person or crack under pressure easily, West Point is a no doubt a great place to learn but if you're looking to go active duty that means they'll throw you right into the action and then you'll have human lives in your hands. I'm only saying this because I'm going army before I go to law school to become a police officer. I'll most likely end up as an 11B(Infantryman) in the U.S. Army due to me wanting to have experience for law enforcement in the future since I plan to go S.W.A.T and all that shit. I expect it to be difficult, as should you if you ever decide to go infantry. But in your situation you would probably be better off as a techie or an engineer if you're hell-bent on not getting shot at anytime soon. Military isn't a walk in the park, alot of people can't hack it these days, primarily people in your position that are using it as a scapegoat to try and make money. But hey, if you're able to rough it out, more power to you. Just don't expect it to be easy*, is really what I'm saying here.[/QUOTE] You? [I]You[/I] a police officer? You're the reason many (normal) people dislike police officers.

I suggest community college. If you can get financial aid and/or scholarships, you can get a free ride through the two to three years it'd take you to get your basics or even your associates in a certain field. I'm currently getting my associates in 3D Animation and it's only costing me $800 a semester. My boyfriend managed to get a $1300 Pell grant via Financial Aid due to the fact that his father didn't have a job. It's not that hard to earn financial aid. So I'd give that a chance before you decide to join the military.

OP, I'm not aware on how much you know about the army or any branch but don't listen to the retards who say " LOL U JUST DIE AND ALL SOLDIERS R STOOPID" No, you get free college, free housing, insurance, pretty great pay considering all the money is basically spending money since all your necessities are already covered. It's a great option to join any branch and you don't have to have a combat job. You could spend your entire military carrier home in America and not all recruiters are just sales men, at least give them a chance but theres always the internet.

Don't go in after college, go in before. You can get college for just about free that way. As far as getting in with a commission, personally I'd rather earn it in the military than get it free, that way I know what I'm doing.

[QUOTE=hypno-toad;26006068] You? [I]You[/I] a police officer? You're the reason many (normal) people dislike police officers.[/QUOTE] No one is 'normal' these days. There are very few nuclear families left.

[QUOTE=NuclearAnnhilation;26006370]OP, I'm not aware on how much you know about the army or any branch but don't listen to the retards who say " LOL U JUST DIE AND ALL SOLDIERS R STOOPID" No, you get free college, free housing, insurance, pretty great pay considering all the money is basically spending money since all your necessities are already covered. It's a great option to join any branch and you don't have to have a combat job. You could spend your entire military carrier home in America and not all recruiters are just sales men, at least give them a chance but theres always the internet.[/QUOTE] With a 3 year service and only spending money on the bare essentials you'll probably walk away with about 80-90,000 dollars. To my knowledge, food and room & board all paid for. In terms of gross income after expenses you're probably making more money that an normal person would make in three years with double the low-end military salary. [editline]12th November 2010[/editline] [QUOTE=Moose;26006460]No one is 'normal' these days. There are very few nuclear families left.[/QUOTE] Oh you're a troll. :rolleye: Only a really, really stupid person would say that, and there's more trolls than really, really stupid people here, so the latter seems more plausible.

[QUOTE=hypno-toad;26006474]With a 3 year service and only spending money on the bare essentials you'll probably walk away with about 80-90,000 dollars. To my knowledge, food and room & board all paid for. [editline]12th November 2010[/editline] Oh you're a troll. :rolleye: Only a really, really stupid person would say that, and there's more trolls than really, really stupid people here, so the latter seems more plausible.[/QUOTE] Exactly. I'm in Army JROTC so I'm leaning a bit more towards the Army but the Air Force is still a great option and I highly recommend it. But don't base joining just off pay, you have to enjoy it since the government owns you for 8 years. Don't expect to join the Army just to be a frontline infantryman, Air Force to be a pilot, Navy to work on a carrier and Marines to be some hurf derf retard (although it's pretty close :v:) Make sure you get a good asvab score as well, that opens plenty of options.

OP, I was in the same boat as you. But you are far more patient than I am. I was ready to do it after 6 months... It sucks, everywhere I look, it is for entry level jobs, where you need 4 years of experience and a half dozen certifications. That is NOT entry level, that is companies looking for experienced employees and wanting to pay them an entry level salary... [editline]12th November 2010[/editline] A friend of mine just finished an 8 month tour in Afghanistan....on top of his normal Army salary, he got $50k combat pay, entirely tax free...he was able to buy himself a couple nice toys when he got stateside again.

[QUOTE=Heres Jonny!;25997349]You live in Minnesota? WELL YOU'VE GOT A JOB EVERY WINTER!! Just scrape people's driveways of snow.[/QUOTE] Isn't that sort of a kiddie job?

[QUOTE=power-mad;25997064] Fuck, as a neat freak I'd love that job, but something tells me a commute from minnesota to where ever you live that uses a pound is not an easy one.[/QUOTE] if you can drive up to elk river maybe we can work something out

I guess I am just lucky, I moved and found a job working at a call center for $9 an hour within a weeks time.

[QUOTE=>VLN<;26001325]Please, Please, PLEASE. If you join anything related to the government. Please consider the National Guard. I had a cousin who joined (He didn't go to college either). He did not get sent off to Iraq or some other country that he could be killed, he was sent to help with national disasters and really made a difference. During Christmas time, he even was a door ringer and got paid the same for doing either job. You're still helping our country, being paid, and not wondering if your might be killed in Afghanistan and or future wars. I'm not a spokesperson, but really consider the National Guard if you want to get into that sort of stuff. I can give you some links if you want some. :)[/QUOTE] You can still be deployed to active duty at any time in the Guard.

I would at that rate, but like everyone else, don't just go join. Look around first.