Went to school for a trade, took me close to 2 years to find a job. Same problem. Everyone wanted experience, but nobody was wiling to take me on. Most of them also told me to come back after a few years and they would treat me and pay me better than wherever I found work. This was also when the economy was quite good before the 08 collapse. What a bunch of slime balls. They wanted everything for nothing. That's not how the world works. I never went back to any of them.

I ended up getting a job in my field, only because of coincidence and an old family connection, even though the individual from that company wasn't tied to my family in any manner. It wasn't what I was looking for at all. It was at the very bottom of the list within the industry. Always outside in the heat and cold, rain or shine. Lot's of manual labor, enough to leave you sore and dead tired at the end of the day. 12-14 hours per day, 6-7 days a week. Always on the road for weeks at a time and never being home. Pay that wasn't all that much higher than minimum wage at the time. It sucked, but in the end, was totally worth it.

Due to the 08 collapse, plenty of people I worked with over the years had no intentions whatsoever of ending up in the trades, and were headed in completely different directions prior, but things don't always work out the way you think or are told, and that's just life. Some of them downright hated the work, couldn't stand it, but they didn't have a lot of choice. Now most of them, after a few years or more of any OT they could get their hands on, and as much saving as possible, used that for more schooling to head in yet another direction that they felt was more likely to work out in the future.

The world isn't made to cater to you or anyone, you have to cater to the world. That's how it works. If you want to be wealthy, respected, etc, you need to find a way to cater to as many people as possible, as efficiently as possible. This doesn't happen overnight, and the world makes you work for it, unless your born rich or have connections of course. You also gain experience and respect that you never would otherwise by starting at the bottom. That, and the people at the middle or top who've already worked their way up there, aren't giving it up for you, and if you want it, your going to have to earn it and take it, that's for sure.

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, isn't just some random saying. People have to do whatever they need to, to survive, and to thrive. Anyone who is under the impression that the working world is going to welcome you with open arms and hand you the keys to the castle are dead wrong. Human beings are animals as well and take what they can get, based on how strong and intelligent they are. As much as it sucks, and as depressing as it can be, you have to come to the realization that you will always work for the world, and it will never work for you, unless you invent something awesome or end up a CEO down the road, then you truly call the shots, but definitely don't count on it.

*I should also mention during those 2 years I was looking for work, I worked on the family farm. Farming during the spring, summer, fall, and logging during the winter. Mostly manual labor at minimum wage as well. No riding in the tractor all day, no family bonus. My parents made sure I understood what it was like to start at the bottom and how much it sucked, and it helped me to realize what it was worth to try even harder and better myself to get to a place where I didn't have to worry eventually.

Also, having a degree will eliminate your chance at getting most entry level jobs. Employers want people without prospects who will stay in the job for longer, not someone who will leave the role once they're back on their feet.

I've previously been unable to find work due to being overqualified - and just under-experienced enough to get across the line for a position I had studied for. Every week without work makes your resume weaker as that gap in employment grows.

I eventually got a shit-kicker job that barely covered bills. The car then broke down, which limited the number of shifts I could take, leading me down a negative feedback loop. Living around the poverty line will keep you too occupied to improve yourself, as even minor events can take weeks or months to overcome.

In the end, a good recommendation got me into a low-level position which needed immediate filling. That allowed me to prove myself and move up to a great position that required my degree.

Unfortunately I don't have much advice to give on getting out of that situation.You can only do your best to keep as many opportunities open for yourself. The skills required to get a job are different to the skills required to do the job (and luck plays a large role too). Use whatever network you have, no matter how weak the connections. Don't be shy to ask.

Yes. I get laid off from my job around Christmas, every year, and don't go back until March-April. I love my time off, as i get to play lots of games.

Well yeah, a few months after I finished school and when I left university.
But I never applied for government welfare in that time, so officially I was never unemployed.
Now I'm in a job where I can't be layed off in my lifetime, so I will never have to worry about unemployment.

Kinda same here.

Failed my university degree and went on to be unemployed, tho I never got any government welfare (I didn't need it). It lasted for 2 and a half years.

Found a random job as a public servant and can't get fired in the foreseeable future, still studying for a baccalaureate after hours to be safe.

@OP : find a meaningless job while getting another degree for security until you can get a better job. It can take a long time but don't loose hope :)

I didn't start working until I was 20 going 21, so 18 to 20 was the hardest time for me, parents treated me like shit, I contemplated suicide, but during college I started working part time in IT and became financially independent.

I was stuck like that. Joined Army. Got wife two kids own my own home now and two sweet cars.

I did a green keeper apprentice and went on to stay at my job for 9 years. A new general manager came along and let me go.
I ended up going to the unemployment office to get the ball rolling on how to find new work but you can't enrol in their system unless you recieve new start allowance.
8 weeks later I started working as a school cleaner having little pricks mock you and you can't say a word back. I constantly kept my eyes open on the job ads, and evently, I landed a fifo job that completely changed my life.
It was a hard role, train to Sydney, plane to Brisbane, plane to Port Moresby and then with 21 days of 12hr shifts on, 7 days off at home. I'll never forget coming home from the first trip and checking the atm at Brisbane airport.
You just gotta keep your eyes open and be willing to take any the chance.

I don’t know where you are in the world lol but in my experience the trades generally have work. I’m in the commercial/industrial Flat roofing industry and we cannot find enough roofers. This trade pays well because it kind of sucks( lots of work in harsh conditions) but it’s the only place I’ve seen people that never went to school or have a grade 3 education make 100k a year. Those are the guys that work hard, understand the trade and know how to lead a crew but even skilled roofers can make 80k a year easy.

Yeah I know it’s not accounting but it sounds like you may be a little desperate now. Maybe you should even consider relocating, why is that not an option?

Get a job as a security guard.