how did you get free? hi y'all, i am having a heck of a time trying to get out on my own. what was the process for you in getting out of the family house, getting a job? i've been applying for jobs like crazy, looking at apartments, even lived in other parts of the country, lived out of country for a bit, and i'm back here. if you could share your stories and inspire a young 20-something, i'd really appreciate it. i posted in the queer forum, but it's too long and a bit spammy to repost in here.

what do you mean by overeducated? what's your degree in?

where is unk?

unknown

how does one post from an unknown location?

is there really such a category? or are you joking?

and what kind of jobs are you looking for? what is your degree in? (i read some but not all of the queerforum post...) Are you looking for jobs in that feild, or just anyhting? The job market is pretty crappy these days... you will have better luck near a big city, if you're not already. The shelter idea is a good one, even if it feels like it's beneath you, it could be a good learning experience. Also look for hostels, where the nightly rates are cheap, but most are clean and safe (try hihostels.com) GOod luck to you my friend.... get out of dodge, join some kind of group, a hobby, a sport, anything... making friends and having people to lean on is important when you're establishing yourself someplace new.

It happens when you realize you've got no other option. I found my first job not through the bajillian resumes and cover letters I sent out, but by talking to people in the field I was interested in (informational interviews). One of them posted my resume on a list-serv, and my first boss ed me, and before I knew it, I had an interview and a job offer. I had already moved to the new city away from home, and was staying with family friends for a couple of months. Soon after I got the job, I moved into a place with a roommate, and voila! Out on my own. Free at last!

thanks, y'all. i will work on the job-, er, net-working. i appreciate the feedback. keeping on keepin' on, riotgrrrl

addendum those interview and resume books worked for me. Pick up one or two.

except don't believe the resume books when they tell you you should be writing a resume with the summary section and then the employment section because you are limited in experience. as the person reading resumes at my company this year, we take it as a sign that you think you're missing experience and you think it's a bad thing.

geez louise-- a summary for every job? I only wrote a sentence or two for my previous experience and for the jobs I had way back, I didn't write anything except the title. The books I read said brevity is key (in the cover letter also) and make sure the resume stands out (format wise) from the other x the hr person is reading. Plus, my references love me.

exactly some books tell you to summarize everything and to do it in a separate section. visually appealing is key

good to know. riotgrrl - you may want to consider signing up with a temp agency. That's how I got my awesome job. I worked through the agency for x months and then they hired me full time. I left home when I was x - I worked at coffee shops and lived with a room mate. I think determination is the key to freedom