Even entry-level minimum-wage jobs want or expect experience

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Is volunteering, internships literally the only way out of this rut?

It's that infamous catch-22 regarding job experience, you need experience to get a job but you can't experience if nobody will hire you, obviously nobody in life is born with experience, there is always a first time for everything.

I don't have much job, work experience for someone my age and i've been applying for the simple minimum-wage, entry-level service jobs such as McDonalds and Grocery Stores, Walmart, Target, etc.

I've applied at simple work positions such as bagging groceries, stocking merchandise, gathering shopping-carts, bussing tables, washing dishes, being an usher at a Movie Theater, etc., and no luck at all, i've had 11 job interviews this year since i was released, let go from my Target job at the end of last year, which was a Seasonal job unfortuneately, i'm guessing the reason why i was easily able to get hired at Target last Fall during the Holidays is that because experience and qualifications do not matter as much, are not as important when getting hired for a seasonal job during the holidays than they are for getting a regular job during the normal times of year.

Sometimes they use "wanting someone with experience" as a nice way of turning someone down. If you don't come across well in interview or on paper, or if Target gave you a bad reference, then that could be why. Next time you get turned down, ask what you can do to make yourself more attractive to the next employer. It can't hurt to ask and you might get some good information.

I hate to be the one who brings this to you, but to bypass the catch-22 situation, you're gonna have to lie or feed the other part half truths. I did that to break away from a similar situation at age 19.

Lying for an aspie is hard, so prepare for all possible follow-up questions the interviewer may ask. Also, check if there's any recently abandoned businesses near your house. You could tell an interviewer that you used to work there and he can't really proove you wrong.

Read this first paragraph if you choose to read my post at all. Now that I think about it, maybe you should apply through temp agencies in your town. You will get work offered and just take it when you do. You might have to explain to these guys your willingness or unwillingness to travel out of town or too far though. I actually got into my current job with the help of a temp agency, and I was the only one from my group of agency workers that got in despite being the biggest underdog of the group.

The Less important stuff:I got into Wal-Mart when I was 19 and after finishing high school. They seem to hire anybody for truck unloading and night shift jobs. They probably won't hire you for in store work such as cash and department work. I remember having to lie to get through that interview and it helped me get the job. I left there after 11 months because I felt I was working in a hostile environment by that point. Ask me if you want to know why I thought that.

I worked at Pizza Hut a short while later while I was in college. I got in because I knew one of the managers as he was a close friend. The interview was more of a formality than anything and it was hard to screw this up because of the circumstances. I left for two reasons: Environment had potential to become hostile, and found other work

I got another job while I was still at Pizza Hut, but this one guaranteed full time hours. I then handed in my notice to Pizza Hut.
This new job was a factory job down the road from Pizza Hut actually and it was a place that pretty much hired anyone, and brought in temp workers through an agency as well.

I worked at a gas station as well primarily doing cash with some experience from Pizza Hut to fall back on. This is where I think I developed my social skills the most. The interview was a formality and the boss here didn't even ask for references believe it or not. He just said to me after the interview "Come back on Monday for 3 hours of training." I left this because I moved to another city

The post above mine gave me an idea. When my husband has been out of work and needed something fast, he would sometimes go to the labor finders places. My older son has too. A lot of it is unskilled, and you just clean up construction sites and stuff like that, or work as a gofer or helper handing tools to guys and toting things up and down ladders. All minimum wage and hard physical labor, but it's a paycheck at the end of the day. They pay you every day and you show up at 6am or so and it's first come, first serve as to who they send out on jobs.

I went through the same "catch-22" a few months ago. I had recently finished school and I got my accounting technician degree, but every single accounting office requires people with experience, even if you apply for the lowest positions. I wish I could help you, but to be honest, I only got my current job because I was lucky. I mean, I did a good job in the interview, but being invited to an interview was pure luck.

They call this Labour Ready or Laboready or something like that here. I prefer not to use them since I hate getting up at 6 am for them. I personally prefer Manpower or something like that since you do all the whmis testing and skill applications and stuff and they call you when there is something to offer. Keep in mind the calling lists are like waiting lists and they are more likely to call people they can rely on and they will call new temps farely quickly if possible. Take the jobs when offered and you should always be at the top of the waiting lists, especially if you are on assignment and waiting for a new one that is more to your liking.

They have Labour Ready in my city. I have a friend that used to go there.

I can't really imagine myself doing that. I'm too anxious and most jobs through there would probably be too strenuous for me to be able to do, plus I'd have to spend $4 for the bus or walk a long way to get there.

That's a definite positive. You worked last Christmas on a seasonal basis. This year will be easier to get on at JC Penney, Kohl, Walmart, etc. Still very much a numbers game as you well know.

Another seasonal possibility is H&R Block (typically lasts for about five weeks for the early refund season and that's it). You can pay to take a class starting late pretty much right now. Or you can study on your own and pass a test. You can start inquiring into getting hired starting late November or early December. And the job typically lasts from late December to early February.

It sucks that it's easier to get hired as a seasonal employee during the holidays than it is to get hired during the regular, normal, non-holiday times of the year, as in, work experience and qualifications are not as important, do not matter as much during the holidays as they do during the regular, normal time of year, when hiring during the holidays, employers, hiring-managers are more likely to overlook a mediocre interview than they are during the regular, normal time of year, non-holiday times, because i'm guessing that is why i was easily able to get hired at Target last Fall, i even asked them if I could use them as a Reference and they said Yes.

I've also applied at Staffing, Temp Agencies around where I live but no available job openings, Home-Depot is one of the places i've really tried to get hired at this year, i had 2 interviews at Home-Depot this year, both at different locations each-time, it's because my really close friend who i've known since middle-school works at Home-Depot, he has been there for 2 years now, he's let me use him as a Reference, Connection, because people always say Networking really helps you get a job, i'm sure you have heard the quote "It's not what you know but who you know", but not enough to get me hired at Home Depot, overall i'm so hardcore desperate for a job that I will take almost anything I can get, even if it is minimum-wage, I just want to have a life again, hence my username, since having a job forces you to be social because you get to interact with your co-workers and customers, so being unemployed makes me feel like I have no life.

11 interviews in a year would suggest to me your CV and level of experience is acceptable for the type of work you're applying for. Don't take this the wrong way, but it might be you need to work on your interview skills. I'm the first to admit I really suck at interviews and have failed at them so many times at the in the past. I fall apart with anxiety and shake, stumble over words, can't make eye contact etc, etc. One thing I did which seemed to help was watch a lot of youtube videos on body language and interviews the day before I was due to be interviewed and imagined I was an actor trying to replicate this 'good candidate' material. Also looking at the typical interview questions online and preparing some answers, then having a run through the interview with a friend beforehand helps.

I was in that 22 situation for a few years before I had my 1st job. I was apllying at most every place I could think of for any job that I thought I might could do & didn't have more than 1 or 2 interviews. I had heard from different people that the experience thing isn't as much an issue if your currently in school & looking for part-time work or your looking for a summer job while you have a break in your schooling. I had graduated high-school a year & a half to 2years before I started looking for work(long story) & wasn't in college so that looks odd on applications. I got my 1st job because I was working with an organization that was founded through my state voc rehab who lined it up for me. It was a dish-washer & I HATED it but I took it because i needed experience & after 10 months I applied at WalMart & I had interviews at 2 different 1s in October/November. The 1st one was only hiring for one position & the hours wouldn't of been good for me because I didn't drive & arranging transportation for that shift would of been difficult. A week or so latter I got called about an interview at the other store I had my app submitted to. I don't feel my interview went well but they were doing a lot of hiring because Christmas was coming up & they had a remodel planned rite after holidays season. I had work history & passed the background check so they had me take a drug test & afew weeks latter I was called about orientation. I stayed there 25months but I was transferred to a different department after 4days because I had problems stocking due to my disabilities which I had mentioned to them in my interview.

I know the no experience thing can be a real catch22 but there might be a few things you can do. If you have any disabilities or documentation about AS or other mental issues; you could try seeing voc rehab. Getting on disability or SSI or any kind of assistance because of disabilities or mental issues or whatever if you can won't hurt; sometimes applications ask about things like that because companies may get tax breaks or want to have a certain quota. Apply at places that are more willing to hire disableds; my voc rehab counselor suggested I apply at Good Will; before I filled in the app there the woman ask me if I was on something like disability & when I told her No she told me not to apply because they were hiring people who could only work like 20 hours a week due to benefits or health reasons; I explained to her that I do have disabilities & I hadn't worked before & had been looking a while & wanted experience & the women let me apply. Also charity work may count as expedience & it might would be a good way for you to network with people.

my longest job ever lasted 3 months and that was 5 years ago when i was 19, i'm 24 now

personally i find the truth will set you free! what if you get caught in a lie? thats way worse!! !! !!

The places i've had interviews at this year were twice at Home Depot, both different locations each time, twice at Target, both different locations each time, 1 at OSH, 1 at Sports Authority, 1 at McDonalds, 1 at a Movie Theater, 1 at Walgreens, 1 at Goodwill, 1 at this Discovery Science Center Museum around where I live, got rejected by all of them, and some of these employers took initiative to call me first, to schedule me for the interview

but starting Friday of last week, i've been doing an unpaid internship at Smart and Final, it's a grocery store, i found out about the internship through the Asperger Syndrome Support Group where I live