Hate wasting away my life doing nothing

[xhayatox]

I am going to try and explain my situation in a nutshell..Just to clarify, I am 18 years old.

From April 2011 - Sept 2011, I spent countless days seeking employment. I applied at so many different retail locations and stores and distributed my resume everywhere. In the end, I managed to only get a few interviews but nothing really came of it. I was just starting to give up but then a family friend helped me get a job at Century 21 (Retail). After being hired there, I was assigned to complete 4 days of training. I successfully finished 3/4 but didn't attend the last day to an unexpected panic attack that left me greatly weak. I have recovered and gotten better now.

I contacted my job afterwards and I was informed that I couldn't make up the last day and that I would have to be let go. They told me I can re-apply and they will contact me if a position opens up but I am not counting on it. I've been greatly upset about this. I had full intentions of finishing the training but I just didn't expect things to go this way.

I was recently contacted by a different store, and they are offering me a 40 hour position and I will be interviewed next week. If the interview goes well, then I will be happy and I'll be able to redeem myself. But if I don't get this job either, I am going to be back at square 1. Exactly where I started. Unemployed and miserable.

In my spare time, I do nothing but sit home and try to look for a job but what else can I do? I see how hard my family works, and I just wish I could do more for them but I just don't know what to do. I help around the house,etc but that just isn't enough. I just wish I wasn't such a screwup. Each day passes by and I continue to sit at home, and wonder what God would do in my shoes. Where can I go? What should I look for? I know I need a job right now and its most important. It's just.. how much longer am I going to remain sitting around like this? This needs to end. Being confined to such a meaningless existence. Being a nobody. I have the desire to change my world around but I just don't know where to start guys.. I know a job has to be my top priority and it is.. I just feel like i could do more, but what..?

I just recently started reading self-improvement books, and trying to overall work on myself as a person. I think that's also something good to work on, but it won't help pay the bills,etc. I just wish I knew what to do right now.

Also, on top of not being employed, I also have to deal with being alone. My two best friends very rarely hang out with me, and besides them I don't have anybody else to see. As you can see, it's very difficult for me. I just wish the Lord would bless me with companions. I don't know. People say "Life is what you make it", but I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I know I could be doing so much more but I just wish I knew where to begin.

 

[Tidus]

Hey there. I know what that's like. I was looking for a job for a long time but couldn't find one that I liked. I got a job in a kitchen once but the environment just wasn't right for me. Job hunting can be a real challenge.

They say "make it your job to get a job".. It's best to get up early and have a routine, like checking certain job sites, the newspaper and whatever other resource you use to find jobs.

Cold calling can actually be very fruitful.. You can plan out a basic line, something like this..

"Hi, I was wondering if you guys are hiring people at the moment", or just print out your resume and go into stores and say "Hi, I was just wondering how I could apply for a job here."

They will probably just say "You can hand in your resume" which you can then do.

You will get many "sorry, we're not hiring"'s but it only takes one success to have a job. Once at my old work, a customer was at the counter and complaining to her friend, saying "I just can't get a job". My boss overheard her and asked her if she would want to work there, and she ended up getting a job there.

My main problem with getting a job was that I'd stay up pretty late and then wake up way too late the next day to apply lol. I ended up getting a job though, one that I really liked, the environment is great and the people are really nice. If you work really hard you will find a job.

When you don't have anything to do, be careful of falling into a "rut" of feeling like your life consists of nothing. It can be really maddening to be home alone and have nothing to do for weeks on end! Perhaps find some hobbies to distract you until you get a job, something constructive. If you can't think of anything, start a blog documenting your thoughts of Christianity, or even your job hunting journey!

And remember you have fellowship here on the forums! A blessing people would not have had even only 30 years ago.

God bless, and may God give you favor at your interview

 

[Acebopata]

I'm in the exact same situation, except all the doctors are saying that I'm not physically capable of an 8 hour a day/40 hour a week job. Yet getting social security is extremely hard, so right now I'm just setting on my couch, tiring to help as many people as I can.

 

[stovebolts]

If you don't like the worthless feeling of sitting on your butt at home doing nothing in between looking for jobs, then get off your butt and go volunteer somewhere that desperately NEEDS YOU!

Get involved in your community and make the opportunity instead of waiting for an opportunity. You would be amazed at how doors begin to open up, once you open yourself up, and a good way to do that is to give your time where it's needed the most by volunteering. Make that a hobby, because there is a greater joy that comes from serving others, than a hobby that is designed to entertain yourself when the problem is a feeling of emptiness and self worth. It is better to give than to receive.

How about working at a soup kitchen, or a homeless shelter? You know, I wanted to learn how to fly planes, so I thought why couldn't I go out and clean airplanes in exchange for lessons? I am color blind, so that never happened, but YOU have to think outside the box! Get those gears turning!

Be cause over your life instead of the helpless state of being at the effect of life. Make things happen.... I know it's tough out there, especially in this economy, but keep your head up and more importantly, keep busy... really, it will make you feel better.

God Bless.

 

[Pard]

It's frustrating. Did two interviews at this place. The first was a preliminary one just to get my foot in the door and the second was with the boss man. I thought it was a tad excessive for a minimum wage job that was only looking to hire someone for the holiday months. I was actually rather insulted and looking back I'm kind of happy they didn't give me the job. I showed up ten minutes early to both interviews and neither one started until at least twenty minutes after the scheduled time. Rude right?

Anyways they called me (on my birthday no less!) to tell me they had "gone in a different direction". Oh well. There will be another job opening somewhere else down the road. Right now I am content with school. And that is what I was going to tell you to look into...

Try to find a place to get some further education. I go to a community college currently and the education is just fine. It's not expensive at all. There are grants and scholarships and programs out there so that you don't even have to pay for a college this cheap. Employers like to know that you are not sitting idly by waiting for a job. They want to see you bettering yourself while you wait for that job to open up.

 

[xhayatox]

If you don't like the worthless feeling of sitting on your butt at home doing nothing in between looking for jobs, then get off your butt and go volunteer somewhere that desperately NEEDS YOU!

Get involved in your community and make the opportunity instead of waiting for an opportunity. You would be amazed at how doors begin to open up, once you open yourself up, and a good way to do that is to give your time where it's needed the most by volunteering. Make that a hobby, because there is a greater joy that comes from serving others, than a hobby that is designed to entertain yourself when the problem is a feeling of emptiness and self worth. It is better to give than to receive.

How about working at a soup kitchen, or a homeless shelter? You know, I wanted to learn how to fly planes, so I thought why couldn't I go out and clean airplanes in exchange for lessons? I am color blind, so that never happened, but YOU have to think outside the box! Get those gears turning!

Be cause over your life instead of the helpless state of being at the effect of life. Make things happen.... I know it's tough out there, especially in this economy, but keep your head up and more importantly, keep busy... really, it will make you feel better.

God Bless.

I really appreciate your positive feedback.. I would consider doing volunteer work, but it's just I can't afford to waste any time volunteering because my Mom is struggling to meet ends at home, and needs me to get a job so I can assist her with making payments on time. Volunteering would be nice, but it wouldn't really help me.. I just need a job right now. That is my top priority.. I have wasted away too much of my life doing nothing and I need to make up for lost time.. It's just the job thing is a problem..

 

[xhayatox]

Hey there. I know what that's like. I was looking for a job for a long time but couldn't find one that I liked. I got a job in a kitchen once but the environment just wasn't right for me. Job hunting can be a real challenge.

They say "make it your job to get a job".. It's best to get up early and have a routine, like checking certain job sites, the newspaper and whatever other resource you use to find jobs.

Cold calling can actually be very fruitful.. You can plan out a basic line, something like this..

"Hi, I was wondering if you guys are hiring people at the moment", or just print out your resume and go into stores and say "Hi, I was just wondering how I could apply for a job here."

They will probably just say "You can hand in your resume" which you can then do.

You will get many "sorry, we're not hiring"'s but it only takes one success to have a job. Once at my old work, a customer was at the counter and complaining to her friend, saying "I just can't get a job". My boss overheard her and asked her if she would want to work there, and she ended up getting a job there.

My main problem with getting a job was that I'd stay up pretty late and then wake up way too late the next day to apply lol. I ended up getting a job though, one that I really liked, the environment is great and the people are really nice. If you work really hard you will find a job.

When you don't have anything to do, be careful of falling into a "rut" of feeling like your life consists of nothing. It can be really maddening to be home alone and have nothing to do for weeks on end! Perhaps find some hobbies to distract you until you get a job, something constructive. If you can't think of anything, start a blog documenting your thoughts of Christianity, or even your job hunting journey!

And remember you have fellowship here on the forums! A blessing people would not have had even only 30 years ago.

God bless, and may God give you favor at your interview

Thanks I appreciate it! Everything you listed above is exactly what I did for three months. I would make lists of all the potential stores that I could apply, I would call them up, I would come in and bring my Resume. I did that for 3 months. In those 3 months I only managed to get a few interviews but didn't get anything more.

Also I just want to make a brief update. Today, I went back to my job (Century 21) to pick up my check for the 3 days training that I attended. They also made me sign an exit form so it's safe to say that I am officially unemployed again. It's a terrible feeling because I took the job for granted when I had it. Now i know what it feels like.

But afterwards, as I was going home I stopped by my local Video Game retailer, and managed to befriend some of the employee's who work there, and spoke to them about employment at their store. They seemed really nice and gave me their contact information and I handed in my resume and they told me that their manager will be in the store tomorrow, so I should give him a call and speak to him personally and try to be convincing and let him know I'm interested in the position. So I suppose I'll do that. I'd love to honestly work at this store. I've always been passionate about Gaming, and it definitely seems like something I can excel at. So since Century 21 fired me, I guess I gotta start somewhere you know.. So this other store is a good start..

 

[Tidus]

Well look at that! If you do get the job at the gaming place, it will be better then Century21 and you'll actually be glad that you ended up leaving there- cos if you didn't you might not have got the job at the game shop.

Anyway, no getting hopes up till you're on the payroll!

 

[stovebolts]

I really appreciate your positive feedback.. I would consider doing volunteer work, but it's just I can't afford to waste any time volunteering because my Mom is struggling to meet ends at home, and needs me to get a job so I can assist her with making payments on time. Volunteering would be nice, but it wouldn't really help me.. I just need a job right now. That is my top priority.. I have wasted away too much of my life doing nothing and I need to make up for lost time.. It's just the job thing is a problem..

I understand what your saying. You NEED money to pay the bills and keep a roof over your head. Trust me, I get that.

Volunteering would help you more than you may know. It raises your self esteem because your making a positive impact in the lives of others. As far as getting a job, have you ever heard of transferable skills?

While serving at your local soup kitchen, or whatever.... it shows your character, ambition and integrity. These are skills that employers are looking for because you can always count on a busy person to get the job done. They are called transferable skills.

And you never know who you'll meet while your out and about. Could be somebody that already has a job, and maybe their employer has an opening. It's called networking.

Pard has it right. Employers are looking for people who are busy doing stuff. That's the kind of employee an employer wants. They don't want the norm, they want the best. And in a world where your competing against a limited amount of jobs, what sets you apart from the rest?

Get it?

By the way, any time you put an application in, you should be calling at least once a week to check on the position and your application. In a polite way that is. Unless they tell you NOT to call. All of my kids got their jobs because they called and called and called. It shows that they WANT the job.

 

[xhayatox]

Well look at that! If you do get the job at the gaming place, it will be better then Century21 and you'll actually be glad that you ended up leaving there- cos if you didn't you might not have got the job at the game shop.

Anyway, no getting hopes up till you're on the payroll!

Hey, thanks so very much for your support!! You're exactly right! Also, I have a little update!
I ended up calling the manager like I was told, and he told me I can personally come in and bring my Resume. So I took the initiative, and I went all the way down there to the store. I showed up, and he briefly reviewed my Resume, and spoke with me for about 10 minutes. He supposedly likes what he sees so far. He explained the rules and guidelines about working there to me, and I gave him my full cooperation. I listened very carefully and agreed with everything. Overall, I think it went pretty good. So if God allows, then I may end up getting a job there. I took the Initiative and I'm glad. I just need any job, but I feel like this one in particular will be really good for me since I have vast gaming related knowledge and I can apply myself really well at this store. So hopefully I will receive a call sometime soon..

If not, then what else can I really do.. I just need to make up for lost time. It's already October and I've done basically nothing. Well, I can't say nothing because I spent a great deal of time applying everywhere over the summer, so I guess I invested a good amount of effort into looking for a job. I really did apply at many locations. I personally hate sitting at home and wasting my life away. I don't want it to be this way. I want to be working at least, being active, engaging with other people. I just really hope that my life will make a little sense soon. I am just so confused right now. I just really need to make up for lost time. I really do.

 

[xhayatox]

I understand what your saying. You NEED money to pay the bills and keep a roof over your head. Trust me, I get that.

Volunteering would help you more than you may know. It raises your self esteem because your making a positive impact in the lives of others. As far as getting a job, have you ever heard of transferable skills?

While serving at your local soup kitchen, or whatever.... it shows your character, ambition and integrity. These are skills that employers are looking for because you can always count on a busy person to get the job done. They are called transferable skills.

And you never know who you'll meet while your out and about. Could be somebody that already has a job, and maybe their employer has an opening. It's called networking.

Pard has it right. Employers are looking for people who are busy doing stuff. That's the kind of employee an employer wants. They don't want the norm, they want the best. And in a world where your competing against a limited amount of jobs, what sets you apart from the rest?

Get it?

By the way, any time you put an application in, you should be calling at least once a week to check on the position and your application. In a polite way that is. Unless they tell you NOT to call. All of my kids got their jobs because they called and called and called. It shows that they WANT the job.

Um, well I certainly can look into it then! I do personally enjoy helping people and I guess It's better than nothing. I try to give money to the homeless and needy whenever I see somebody in despair.. I always try to help and give a little. I do feel like I take things in my life for granted. More then I know. I'm working on changing myself for the better. I don't like how I am at all. I feel like a part of me is very pure, but the other part is somewhat corrupted and I truly do acknowledge all the gifts I have.. I just need to learn how to be more appreciative. I love my family and God. They are all that I have. I Just need to know how to cherish these things more.. I believe I'm improving day by day.. I can see the change happening.. It's gradual but I'm working on it..

 

[Danus]

I'm about to go all old man up in here..... (not to take away from your post Stove, but to add to it)


I'm hearing Excuses! "I'd like to do (blank) BUT......."
Pity parties! "I just wish that (Blank)....would happen"
And some covetousness pride ,"Where's my peace O Pie? I deserve (blank)" I've been reading stories all week about this whinny, worthless "Occupy Wall Street" group and I'm in no mood to play!

Here is the short of it about this world you live in. This is what every Christian needs to know about this world.

This world is fallen. It does not care about you, or your situation...this world that is. It may say it does, it wants you to think it does. It may try to place a kind face on itself, but it doesn't. So please repeat this mantra, write this down, keep it in your pocket and refer to it often.

This world will lie to you. It will tell you that if you follow a path outlined for what it calls success, you will be successful. In some countries success is just being alive the next day. In other countries success is being taken care of by the powers that be, and in America success is being famous, or rich, or powerful, or all of the above, by your own independent skills, talents and insensitive. However, the real success in life is none of this, but realizing that you are not about any of these things. That these things are not what makes up your life, or your value of existence.

This world owes you NOTHING. It only wants a piece of you, and it will try to tell you that you owe it. It will use you and when it's done you're value to this world will be done and you will be forgotten by this world to the extent that the world might use you in your death. I'll give you an example. Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley is the highest earning dead entertainer on the planet. But, as the years go by he is becoming more and more forgotten, and soon he will be totally so. What was his life worth to the world? Only what can be added up in sales. The world did not pay him a debt it owed him, it just used him to the point where he felt he was obligated to the world in the worlds way. His death was a direct result of trying to keep up with what the world was taking from him, and they are still taking it. The world does not need him alive to keep using him.

The good news is this. The world may be fallen, but God is in charge. After all this is God's world is it not? It is! If God where not in charge man would have raped, plundered and murdered himself in to obviation, to the laughter of Satan years ago! But, it is not God's intention that his world be fallen, so much as it is his intention that we see through the fallen., That we don't accept the world by giving in to it, like say, Elvis did.

All I am trying to say to you guys, you younger gentlemen especially, is don't be fooled, don't be tempted, know the difference between this world and God's will for this world.

Remember Romans 12:1-5 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Pard, I said something to this effect address to you in another thread and It bares repeating here for the benefit of others here.

I have good news for those of you looking for a job. You all already have a job. You are already employed if you want to be.

You work for God! God INC. Now I know your asking "what's in it for me and how will I be taken care of!" Well, this is the greatest, most powerful corporation in the world. Notice I said in the world.....not of the world.

You will not find a stronger company than God INC. we are everywhere. We have the greatest number of employees ever in the history of employment. We are financially sound and we owe no debt. In fact our CEO paid off all the employees debts, over 2,000 years ago. How many companies will do that for you? Pay off your debts. None! That's how many. In fact other companies will say you owe them.

Your benefit package is very simple, but complex to understand, but basically you get full life insurance under a package called The "eternal life plan". You never ever have to worry about dying ever. It starts the moment you accept your employment in God INC. Because of this your health care is also covered I mean it's pointless since you have eternal life and you work not only for the one who created you, but also the greatest doctor ever. That's right God INC heals whatever your condition is. Retirement, days off and the rest of the package is all taken care of, so lets move on to the pay.

Your pay is simple. You will be paid in love, hope, peace and joy, which is all you really need, but the greatest of these is Love. Now I know your wandering about the money. Basically we own all the money in the world. Now, a lot of companies and people think they own some of this money and we like to let them think that for our own amusement, . Sometimes they will argue over it, steal it, or cry because they think they don't have enough, but the distributions of wealth is fair for the purposes of God INC. So, please don't grumble over it. However, if you are entrusted with some of our money you can do with it as you wish, but please read the employee hand book in this matter. Our CEO and several of our great VP's, have many things to say about the money part.

I mentioned the employee hand book. You can get a copy anywhere. They have been written in every language, and chances are you have a copy already. I can not stress this enough folks. PLEASE read the employee hand book. If you have trouble with it, get a senior employee to assist you. Also, we have meetings every week, mostly on Sundays so please try to attend these meetings if you can.

Our CEO has an open door policy. You can meet with him directly at any time and in any place in the world. Pretty cool. Don't ask me how he does this.

Now then. I know some of you have been on many interviews for world jobs and you did not get them because you where not qualified perhaps, or you screwed up. Well, good news. God INC hires anyone, but we especially desire those who think they are screwed up. The more of a screw up you are, the more qualified you are for God INC.

What we do here at God INC is we take the screw ups, and we turn them into promotable achievers. We teach all the things you need to know to do this and we do this through testing. So, if you are screwed up, or down, whatever; then welcome to God INC.

There will be assignments and Jobs for you, but first we will need to build you up for your assignments. So, again please read the employee hand book and attend the employee meetings. Over time your assignment will come to you.

I could talk all day on this company, but I'll just turn this over to any other experiences employees to add something.


.....Oh by the way....I do have an announcement to make. Lately many of our employees have been worried about being fired. I being told to remind everyone who is in fact an employee of God INC, we have a no fire policy. We do a lot of retraining based on the employees willingness to be retrained or directed, but we do leave this up to you, however, our CEO will continue to remind you when and as the need arises. He's very crafty at this BTW so your best bet is to relinquish your will for yourself in this matter and just let him take over. OK?