5 years without a 'real' job...who will hire me?

a reply to: AphoticJoe

I have my commercial fishing license but the regulations are ridiculous for the basic Salt Water Products without the Restricted species(RS) endorsement. In other words, there is some money to be made, but NOT doing it legally. To qualify for the RS, I need to have $5,000 in documented sales. Given the lack of fish I am allowed to harvest legally for commercial, it will take years to get there.

I have a cast net and fishing gear already.

I rather be dead than trade or sell in my surfboards, NOT an option. That said, I get over $20 an hour for surf lessons I just can't do them in the my home town because the City requires insurance and grease on their palms to do it legally.

Most good old school ways to make money are NOT legal without paying for the proper license and insurance, not that I have issues stepping all over gray areas of the law.

a reply to: AphoticJoe

Also driving is not an option. I need at least $1000 to get it re-instated after 1 DUI I had back in 2008.(I need a car, high risk insurance, my license re-instated, and a breathalyzer in my car before the State of Florida will let me drive). I got absolutely railroaded for a 1st time offense, I was pulled over for a burnt out turn signal. Since them I have been going lower and lower on the social ladder. Most consider me a bum, especially potential employers.

I've even considered doing porn and escorting. I had moral hangups about it when I was younger, but just don't give **** anymore. I can make more in a couple of hours than 2 full weeks at a fast food joint.

I'm looking for options outside the box. Any old Joe knows to look for yard work, remember it is tough because people are skeptical of me based on the impression I make. The crazy thing is, I have met actual pirates when sailing, the good ones have no problem talking their way into painting peoples houses and then robbing them blind.

I have morals in regards to other peoples property otherwise I would have no problem finding income in devious ways.

a reply to: Expat888

I'm trying to move down to the Florida Keys to do exactly this. It is not just as easy as sitting on a dock waiting for someone who needs extra crew, at least not in Central Florida. Most are skeptical of anyone else, especially someone like me. Would you want some stranger to crew on your yacht?

This is why I am trying to find good ways to pull in extra cash.

Not much work where I'm at right now.

a reply to: jrod

If hadnt sold my boat back in 98 would have given you a chance and hired you on ..
You should see some of the individuals I hired in past to provide security for clinics I ran in war zones .. they were far from saints but had the necessary skills for the job.
Always believed in giving people a chance ..
But yeah know what you mean about it these days have to be far more careful in hiring.

a reply to: Expat888

I've been happy and not worried about making money or finding my career because of the bad luck I have had and probably mostly because I am a free soul and despise the 40 hour work week and hourly wage. What changed is I moved in with my girlfriend and was tired of trying to fix up my sailboat so I sold her. It's not like there are any shortage of boats in similar condition all around Florida.

I figured when I sold it, I should have no problem finding steady work now that I have a place on land. I haven't and my girlfriend is becoming more frustrated with me because of I can't find a steady job. I have been able to make some money doing other things, enough for rent(even have made more than her the past 2 months

I've told her that I will likely never have a normal 40hr a week job, though if I find something I'm good at or start my own business I will likely be putting in more than 40hrs........

Large tube of $1 white toothpaste, squeeze out of tube into a plastic container (so most people wont know it's just toothpaste - it's a psychology thing), cardboard sign, bottle of water, and a rag. Offer to restore hazed over headlights on cars for $20, put in elbow-grease as necessary to get it done. (And even if people know how this is done cheaply, $20 might be worth it for the effort put in on a good job. It's work, as you have to really scrub.) You're down south so there's a lot of older cars which are also exposed to a lot of sun, thus plenty of cars that could use this service, might be able to make well over $100 a day like that if in a good location and smart about it.

Could also offer to do windows as well for a buck or two during love-bug season, I've been down to Florida before. Windshield washer fluid runs out sometimes...

Of course it's probably a dumb idea, but it just might work.

a reply to: Bone75

You are one pathetic person, it is absolutely wrong to tell someone go kill themselves. If I were suicidal I would make sure my death would not be in vain.

Ok. You are right, I have a lot of excuses because I am trying to find legal ways to make money.

Believe me, if I did not have any morals then I would have no problem finding money. I am not about to become a thief or con-artist just so I can have some extra money.

I am better than that.

a reply to: Bone75

Civility and Decorum are Required

Just because you don't agree with someone there's no need for what you posted , you've been here long enough to not sink to that level

Perhaps this could help....


www.mytopbusinessideas.com...

a reply to: jrod

Make up a employment history for those years. Make it plausible for the knowledge you have. You could use businesses out of country. I sort of had to do that when I was living in Central America to get my foot in the door to US jobs again. They never asked to see my passport even though I could have showed it.

Depending on how off the grid you have actually been that would be the best avenue IMO.

a reply to: Grimpachi

Central America or somewhere else seems like a valid option, so much easier for someone like me to scrape by . Still need to scrape together some money for a boat that will get me there or hop on someone else's boat as crew to get there.

I've lived aboard several sail boats that most would consider derelict. I'll be alright being away from los estados. It is not just the laws, it is the mentality of most Americans that I apparently can not understand much less mingle with. Too many liars, so many will tell you one thing and everyone else something else.

Didn't get surf lessons today, maybe better luck tomorrow. I did paddleout and surf some tiny waves.

a reply to: jrod

Sorry what I meant was when fabricating an employment history you could claim you were employed out of country for those missing years.

a reply to: Grimpachi

I suppose that could work. I have been told writing in self employed is a good option too. I am a halfway decent liar, just prefer not to.

I may just go buss tables at a restaurant, huge turnover at the busy restaurants.

Not having a job is stressing my relationship with my girlfriend. She lost her job 2 weeks ago, so with money being tight there is a lot of undue stress. She has another job, but won't start for another week. She is like WTF, i found a new job in 3 weeks. The difference is she has a lot of experience as a waitress, where I have none.

It is much easier from some to find work than others.

I truly feel like most attempts to make myself more employable have backfired, not that I haven't shot myself in the foot a few times.

a reply to: jrod

You ae being incredibly pessimistic.

Yes your conditions arent favorable, but you can still get a job if you tried.

It will depend on how you come across, how you look etc.

If you are someone who is scared crapless you will already be sabotaging yourself.. Just relax.

You will do alot better if you relax.

You may be able to make up past employment or references. Lots of people used to do this.

You may be in a spot where you have to leave your low confidence at home.

You are also going to hear alot of pessimistic on the internet about your spot when you may do better IRL.

In the past alot of minimum wage places dont even check on your employment history or references.

Ive been hired on spot a number of times.

I also have 2 misdemeanors, but they are petty.. ive never been called on it.

Do you honestly think most people in fast food live wholesome lives?

This is a conspiracy site.. Most people are incredibly pessimistic about such things.. but if you pay attention, you realize that alot of what is said is blown out of proportion.

I my self have been in VERY many situations where the advice on the internet seemed set in stone, they insisted "but no, you absolutely must do this or else die." but then i go into those situations with maximum fear and learn it is NOTHING like that, much more casual etc.

a reply to: jrod

For the record, I did not, nor would I ever tell you or anyone else to go kill their self. My point was that you can either lay down and die (which is a figure of speech btw), or you can drop the excuses and take back control of your life. I'm sorry if that was a little too harsh for you and I promise it won't happen again.

a reply to: Bone75

Excuses?

How in the hell can so many of you say I am just making excuses when I have been rejected from no less than 100 jobs?

No sane person will remain optimistic after so much rejection.