Job Searching - Columbia Station,OH

Hit the temp agencies in your area, that would be your best bet.

Follow up.

Give an application a week or two, and then call to ask if they need any information. Keeps your name in their mind, and also might prompt an interview or even a conversation on the phone.

Go ahead and list your grandparents as past employers if you've worked for them in any kind of formal way. Also think about non-employers who can speak to your skills and work ethic. Did you take a prep class for the GED? How about the teacher from that course? A classmate you studied with?

What kind of jobs are you applying for? If the most important thing is to get a job, broaden your search if you can. You don't have to LOVE the job, you just need to make some money and build a work history.

Last, it may help to write a short cover letter to attach to you applications. Since you have no work history and limited references, it could help to explain your self a little bit before they toss you in the "no" pile. Something like "I would like to express my interest in the open position as __________. After spending three years as a full time mother, I am looking forward to transferring my skills of multi-tasking, organization, patience and interpersonal communication to the work place. Although I left high school in ____ (year) to ________ (have your daughter?), it was always important to me to continue my education. This spring, I earned my GED after ___ years away from school. Achieving this milestone has been a goal of mine for some time, and I am excited for the opportunity to begin working toward new goals with __________ (company)."

Hope this helps,
T.

Even well qualified, educated people can't find jobs, which is why they are applying for the same jobs you're applying for. Less jobs & more people out of work than normal makes for a tough job search situation. Basic entry level jobs here in my area are receiving hundreds if not thousands of resumes/applicants. There's just no way they can even look all those applications & you most likely won't ever hear anything back.

If you are inexperienced, it will make it even harder to find employment. Is it really even worth it, to work for minimum wage at this point, even if you were to get a job? Work on your education & job skills.

First, let me say congratulations!!!

Second, what's your resume look like? I've worked in the personnel office a long time and have seen everything from a one-page hand-written resume to four pages neatly typed goobly gop!! You need a neatly typed one-page resume! Whether you have work experience or not, put in anything that would help. If you babysat, put it in. If you volunteered anywhere, put it in. Seriously!!

Then just keep doing what you're doing and get on the web sites and apply to everything. There are plenty of reputable websites out there - just be careful. And do you homework - check out the company first before you actually apply for anything. And also get talking to people - you'd be surprised what you might find just by word-of-mouth!

Good luck!!!!

Temp agencies might be good. Other than that, you may have to start at the bottom and get some experience under your belt for future positions. You might try cashier or daycare worker or school receptionist or something. Something that they can train you on and then you have something to add to your resume. Other than that, you might try a home sales job like Scentsy or Thrity One or Pampered Chef. That can go with you anywhere and you learn some good skills that you can add as strengths to a future position. Also, look at your Objective on your resume. If you are applying at a Dry Cleaners and I see that you want to be a nurse, my assumption is that you are just bidding your time until something better comes along and as an employer, I would want to train someone when I know they already have one foot out the door.

I recently was trying to get a job and it is a lot different then 5 yrs ago. A lot of the employers didn't call for an interview until 4-6 weeks after feeling out the application. I won't get discouraged yet, just be patient and someone will call back.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. The reality is there are hundreds of people much better qualified than you applying for those jobs. Many people who have had years of experience and college education are taking jobs for which they are over qualified.

Try not to get discouraged and keep applying.

I don't know what STNA (guessing similar to a CNA), but the more education you have the better off you'll be.

Good luck.

Did you check into a grocery store or Department store? You could get out a couple hours in the evening a couple days a week. I know its probably not what your looking for but at least it would be a little extra money and you can breathe a little bit.

If I could do it all over again, I would not have gone to college (school was a huge struggle for me) and would have gotten a certification of some sort (like a CNA like you mentioned, or a phlebotomy technician, which I might do someday). Or, I would have been a nanny - especially when I was still living at my parents' house and HATED it. I wish I would have thought about being a nanny - specifically a live-in nanny, which would have gotten me out of the house! However, since you have a daughter, you'll probably want a live-out nanny job. Have you ever done any babysitting? I'm sure the fact that you are a mother is good enough experience (in other peoples' eyes) for you to be a good nanny. Have a few references of people who can vouch for you that you are great with children. There are always tons of nanny jobs on many different websites: www.enannysource.com, www.care.com, www.nannies4hire.com, www.sittercity.com, etc. etc. etc. There are a ton of them! I say be a nanny for a couple of years, and then get your CNA or whatever certificate you want. Or, if you want to be a CNA sooner, nanny during the day, and get your CNA certificate at night. Try to stay with your family who you are a nanny for at least one year because people really rely and depend on their nanny and usually want their nanny for years, if possible. Being a nanny is a great gig - especially if you work for a rich family who will take you with them on their vacations and sometimes provide you with a car! Good luck!

Hit the temp agencies, completely. I used them to find my last 2 jobs. Sign up with more than one!