Experience? How can experience be learned if no one gives the person a chance?

I have had the same problem, when I left school, I decided to go on a training scheme, so as I'd have work experience AND gain a qualification or two and a little bit of money. Once I completed my training and tried to look for a job, I was told that even though I'd worked in the 'real' world, it didn't count as work experience as it was with a training scheme. Eventually I changed my CV to saying that I just worked at those places, I mentioned I was on a training scheme too, but not in the same bit. I eventually managed to get a job, even though I didn't have any 'real' experience. That's one reason why I'm back at college, that way, once I've passed my exams at the end, I can set up my own business, I can employ whoever I like and I know I'll almost always have a job, due to the nature of the business. I really hope your husband can find something, but I know job-hunting is difficult at the moment.

I think the problem is that so many people have been laid off lately, that they're all looking for new jobs, and many of them are over qualified for the jobs they're looking for. I saw this on the news recently, people with business degrees applying to be a waitress just because they need the job right now. All he can do is keep his head up and keep looking!

This is exactly why people lie on applications and such. Frustrating thing that has happened to me? How long do you have? My SSI check went to the wrong place and I am still waiting for it to arrive in my account. It was supposed to be there on the 3rd and I received incorrect information on how to navigate things and I am in a great fix. It is very frustrating and irritating as well!

My answer to your question is still affimative. one can still gain experience. why ? because being refused time after time, one must find some reason in oneself , why everyone refuses him. What's more, taking interview itself is kind of practice. I used to take some which I didn't really mean it. By doing so, when the golden chance comes, I can pay more attention to it and get the post i want.

It's one of life's biggest ironies: Such as, "You need a job to get experience, but you need experience to get a job". I think eventually he'll find a job that will hire him, it's only a matter of time.

i feel that is the consequence of the current global crisis we are experiencing nowadays. companies will hire people who have experience over those with no experience and they feel they have to train newbies who are seen less productive compared to those who have prior working experience. it's not just your husband out there being treated like this. generally, it is hard to find work nowadays. hope this crisis passes so we can have stable jobs again

i agree with you on this matter... employers are always asking for experience during the interview... and if we say that we don't have any, then they will refuse us... it happens to a lot of my friends and i think it is not fair... like you say, if we are not given the chance, where can we get the experience??? that's why i think it is very important to start to work during the university years to gain experience... even as an apprentice... it will add up to your resume and help you to find jobs easier when you graduate... good luck to your hubby... hopefully he will be able to find another job soon... take care and have a nice day...

Well tell him to offer his services somewhere free for a week. We do it over here in Australia all the time. It's called Work Experience and students do it...all students, not just school students. Lack of experience has always been a problem here too. Of course you have to find a willing company...even though you are not paid, you still have to be insured. I can totally understand not hiring someone without experience. Even the place he got his license should be able to set him up in a place to get some experience. As for not being paid...he's not earning now anyway so this would be an investment.

I hate it when they say that. The only way you're going to get experience is if they give you a chance. Our resumes tell them what we are capable of, and even though experience may not be there, our qualities and work ethics and work experience/history in other areas should show whether we are capable of learning the skills necessary to do the job. It should be enough, but sometimes it isn't. They need convincing and that is done at the interview. He needs to sell himself and somehow show his keeness and willingness to learn the skills necessary to do the job. My last job interview in Samoa was for a Snr Administration position in a bank. I had no bank experience but had a few years administration experience. Prior to that I had 10 years working experience in the library field. So I really didn't have that much compared to the rest of the interviewees. Language was a huge factor as most of the 17 Admin staff spoke Samoan and very little English. All paperwork was in English though (go figure). I had very limited Samoan and knew that was going to be a huge factor. My experience in the library industry helped me get in, my willingness and keeness to learn the skills required to get the job done, the fact that my working habits in my previous job also helped. I also thrive on challenges and am not scared to give anything a go. That showed through the interview and the next day they offered me the job. The next few weeks after I started were not, lets say welcoming. Ten other Snr staff members sent a letter to the CEO disputing my appointment. The fact that no-one knew who I was and what I was capable of, thought I shouldn't have been hired because several other long serving members that had been working at the bank for so many years, deserved the position, and not me. I was an outsider and noone knew who I was and what I was capable of. The panel did though and stuck to their decision and the CEO supported it. The sad thing about this is that it was instigated by my Aunty, my mothers half sister who also worked at the bank. I had not realised she worked there at the time though, I had not even met her LOL It worked out in the end, I got stuck in and made a lot of changes and showed how much of a hard worker I really was. They all saw it not long afterwards too. Hang in there, I know he'll find something soon :)

I remeber posting something like this when I was out of a job a few years back. It seems every employer wants people with experience. Even when you have the qualifications to do the job, they still want experience. I mean, if you just learned a new skill, where in the world does experience come from if no one is willing to let you gain in thru work? I feel and understand the plight your husband is in. Fret not. He will find a better job than the one he last worked in. Just have to be a little more patient. And also not so choosy while searching for a permanent job. Any short term contract job that will put food on the table, take it. Good things come to those who wait. So keep sending out those resumes. Send my regards to your husband's search for a job.

my problem was education I worked since i was 17 in a store an when applying for a job at another store they wanted more education didn't matter I was working in the field for 10 years by that time doing the ordering of the stock an so on they wanted more college time so I stayed where I was at till I got married an had kids now I have another working title stay at home mom love my job

gemini_rose, Just don't loose heart and even though you might be expecting the same answers from the next few interviews. Do up and improve that experience less resume and continue going around who knows he might be accepted eventually. It may not be soon now but it will be once the market feels that the experienced are all snapped up then they will be considering whatever is next better qualifier i.e. good working records, excellent testimonials and etc.. I am sure that you are aware that the workforce market is simply flooding on the supply side so you will just need to be patient and go about this level headed and one step at a time. So, just be positive minded and accept whatever is coming your way for now, as in the words of my favorite Dale Carnegie: "Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." Take care and God bless.

That's what I got frustrated when I was looking for my first job. All the job needs at least like 1-2 years experience then I was like if you don't give chances to people, how can we have "experiences"? You don't hav experiences doesn't mean you are not able to work... I don't know, it's really aggravating to me.

Since he can't go by the front door, try to go through the back door. Can he befriend the supervisors of those drivers? Can he get the supervisors to test him out for a short distance? Can he follow the other driver and gain some "real working" experience? Usually the company is more receptive if the supervisor or manager makes recommendation.