If you had had any interest in the Air Force, you should have done the ROTC route whule in college. But go, now, and speak with an Air Force recruiter. It's really not THAT easy to get to be an officer, just because YOU want to be one. But I believe there stillmaybe programs in the DoD to get them to pay off your college costs while you serve time on active duty. I don't think they have any need for those particular degrees but maybe they will take you anyway.

Most companies hire through within doesn't matter if you know someone or not some favor the fact that they do know someone because the trust factor is there but in my experience is show the company your loyalty and trust and you will find your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Such with a good personality and appearance also helps Let them know you want the position your looking for talk to the general manager and supervisors like they are your best friend that how I gain upper positions I'm not afraid because they have a title they are people just like us.

I took a job with lessor pay, and worked my butt off. Within a week. I was offered a higher position. Also be careful with any job that you may leave. You always want to end on a good note. Although I have changed companies, I still have to work with the same people I used to sit next to on the phone.

I hear u, Edward. But that's one thing Jobcase can help with. You can always reach out and start a chat or a direct message by searching for jobcasers that work there and asking for sons insight. People search (under main menu bar) keeps getting better and better. Hope this helps. In meantime, good luck and please know you've got a ton of jobcasers rooting for you! Fred

On a side note I notice your degree in criminal justice and sociology. Have you thought of maybe doing government work whether it's county, or city or even state. I applied for 3 in CA I just couldn't take the tests because I accepted a new position. Government jobs are very bureaucratic, but they don't play favorites and you don't have to deal with the frustration of networking all you have to do is pass the test and the interview and it's usually a 12 to 18 month process. You get paid well, good benefits and retirement. If it wasn't for me getting recruited I would have taken the test for the LA County Sheriffs Dispatcher. They are always in need of a 911 dispatcher. Just buy a book that will prepare you for the test. Key thing is keep applying and keep passing those tests and you will eventually land something.

Yea I faced that frustration trust me. I didn't get my job through knowing someone I was contacted by a recruiter and I stuck to my guns and they were willing to get a chance. My tip for networking honestly and pardon my french but don't rely on those stuffy networking events only because you're setting yourself up for failure. Do what you enjoy doing with a group of people. So if you like fishing for example then fish with a group of people you never know who you might run into. The key to not having people put their guard up is if you tell them you're looking for a job tell them in the sense of what your goals are. It's not fair but unfortunately it's a numbers game. That's why I had to pick a startup company because they were willing to give me a chance.

Be careful about over-generalizing based on limited previous experiences. When you embed victim mentality, it becomes a bad, limiting belief. Do what you can to make yourself a better job candidate and quit making excuses that keep you from achieving your goals. Good luck.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!!!!

Not what you know but WHO you know, right. I used to get so pissed off whenever I saw people getting handheld into amazing job opportunities over more deserving and experienced applicants but isn’t that what “networking” is all about? I know more than one instance where I influenced a hiring decision to go in favor of a personal friend interested in the job. I mean, don’t get me wrong, sometimes vouching for a family or friend on a job can be a double edge sword but our basic human instinct is to help out those closest to us. Try to use the same strategy. If you can’t beat’em join’em!

I agree with you for sure - it's tough out there if you don't have someone to vouch for you on the inside. BUT I will say that a good way to overcome this problem is to follow up on your applications by calling. It shows managers that you're super persistent, plus it separates your application from everyone else. I've been trying this out after seeing tons of advice about it on Jobcase, and it's been going pretty well.