Getting hired with no experience

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Alright I'm 23 and I got hired at my first job this month, only to get fired because they over staffed.

I don't have any volunteer history because the area I live in has few opportunities that aren't through churches.

I'm not sure what to do because I have a 5 year gap between turning 18 and now without a job and I'm not having any luck finding employment because of it. If I could have worked the last 5 years I would have, but my mental health was so bad that I could not have even gotten hired, much less kept a job if I had been.

Before anyone asks I am trying for minimum wage service industry jobs. Unfortunately they have other people applying too, people with experience that I don't have.

I went through DVR and they eventually connected me with an employment specialist company, which was how I got that job I mentioned, but since I got the job they got paid and the contract is ended.

Now I'm expected to work with someone who essentially works through WorkSource, because they think I'm capable of handling this stuff on my own. And yes, I'm capable of applying and coming in for interviews, but it doesn't mean a damn thing if I can't even get a call back.

How am I supposed to get called in when all people see is the gap in my employment? I can't force them to see that I'm willing to work hard and be a good employee. I'm feeling really hopeless and I'm afraid I'm never going to get hired.

Does anyone have any advice?

You may have to expand into a larger geographical area. It sounds like you must live in a small town. Are there any large cities or even mid-size cities nearby?

I would be surprised if a 5-year employment gap was a big deal for you. Most people don't expect young people to have had many jobs at your age.

If the interviewer asks about the gap, you can say that you took time off for education if you went to school (or even just studied by yourself at home). If you did almost anything for anyone, you can call it volunteer service. But if you did absolutely nothing that looks good to an employer, just say you were caring for a sick relative.

I actually live in a mid sized area. There's three decent sized cities (that literally are so connected geographically that you drive one block and you end up in one of the other cities) and several outlying areas that all together have over a quarter of a million people. The problem is that this entire area has a small town mentality that's never faded no matter how much it expands.

I mean I have been educating myself (I constantly read to learn new things, and if line cook work wasn't so fast paced I'd try for that because I cook a lot at home), I'd have gone to an actual school except... well. I didn't have a job so I didn't have money. And I never bothered trying to get on disability because I haven't gotten a diagnosis for my aspergers and I was afraid that my severe depression and anxiety wouldn't be enough.

Do you feel like you are at a point now that you are able to work? You should really only try for disability if you feel you truly are disabled. Sometimes getting a job takes a while. I know it did for me. It is very frustrating. Just apply for all the jobs that you can and be patient. Keep looking for volunteer opportunities. A lot of churches have volunteer opportunities like doing food drives or going to homeless shelters. You may not want to teach Bible study or anything like that but that doesn't mean you should just completely avoid churches.

Oh, update, I found volunteering opportunities through a church that don't require joining. I may join in the future if I connect with other volunteers who attend, but for now I'm waiting to hear back about my application. I'm excited - I don't just want to do this for experience, I'm glad I have an opportunity to help people.

That's great. I hope it goes well.

Just say you took care of a sick relative for a while.