[Mosaud1998]

I'm honestly having a hard time finding a new job. I've been looking for about a year and have had little luck landing one. I've had a few good opportunities, but the companies ended up going with someone who has more experience or just blatantly ghosting.

I'm 26 years old, and I've been in the sales industry for about 6 years now. I was a used car manager for about 1.5 years until Ford decided to take the Ford ticket from the owners, resulting in the dealership shutting its doors. Ever since that happened, I've had a hard time finding a new job that isn't selling cars or any kind of sales gig.

I don't even know where to look anymore or what kind of jobs to apply for. I got my bachelor's while working as a used car manager. I got a B.S. in technical management. I've had 2-3 interviews with General Motors for a district sales manager position, 1 with Honda for a district sales manager position, and 1 with J.D. Power for a software implementation manager role (I for sure thought I got the job since I had 3 interviews with different people. They ended up going with another guy with more experience).

I get sales job offers, but I want out of sales. Kind of feel like giving up looking for a new job. It's becoming stressful.

[vreihen16]

As a baby-boomer forced into involuntary retirement that's more than twice your age who has paid his dues, let me offer a friendly comment to everyone in their mid-20's that society doesn't hand out management positions with private corner offices and company cars to every college graduate just because you have a degree. Even for me with almost 40 years of IT experience and managing million dollar internal projects, the only jobs out there now are all schlepping computers around or crawling through server room floors for might-as-well-be french fry money even compared with my former non-profit sector job's low IT pay. I played that game for decades to work my way up the ladder, and paid my dues and then some along the way.

Or, let me give a better example. My wife got a job using her bachelors degree in her 50's working as a literal turd-herder, for about the same pay that the burger-flippers make for producing the poop that comes into the sewage treatment plant. No corner office, no day shift, and definitely no ability to work from home. Even in that crappy job, it takes a few years of raking poo off of filters as a trainee to get a license, while the supervisor with the license updates their fakebook status in the warm and not-smelly office griping that they missed a spot with the rake.

So, to answer your question, the job market has always sucked. If you want to succeed, be ready to shovel poo even with a 4-year degree.....

[DrVenture]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/20/empl...-20-years.html

Vriehen is right, patience and dues paying is not unusual. My first 15 years out of school were defined by a lot of suck. And those were the good old days that you probably hear about often. If you are young and relatively unburdened by debt or obligations, you are still in a good position.

[erickonphoenix]

Always be building a network. That always comes in handy.

• Professional associations
• Country clubs
• Hobbiest groups
• Religious institutions
• Not my first recommendation, but bars worked for me back in the day

Hell, our son got a job from some guy he games with on the internet.

[Watching The World Burn]

What experience do you have being a district manager? You didn't really say. It sounds like you have sales experience, and you were a used car sales manager for a little over a year but that's at one dealer and it is a relatively short period of time.

Nobody hands anybody anything, have to put in the years to get the experience. Sounds to me like you might be trying for something you just don't have the qualifications for yet. You can get there I'm sure, but you have to be able to show the experience and why you are the best pick. My guess is all the others who were hired just had more experience.

Maybe broaden your search for an opportunity to step into this type of role - a company that has a clear career progression path (is big enough).

I have been advertising for a CPA for months upon months (I've now taken down the ad) but it was so hard to find anyone. Eventually I too broadened my search criteria to include non CPA's and ultimately found someone who is working out well. If I had refused to consider a broader swath of candidates, I have no doubt I'd still have no one working for me right now.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Elijando

You’ve got solid experience and a good degree, so there are definitely options outside of sales. Have you thought about looking into project management or operations? It could be worth exploring industries that line up more with your degree or what you're into. Networking can also really help—reach out to people in similar fields or recruiters to find opportunities you might’ve missed. Keep at it, and go for roles that you’re excited about!

[IanH]

Originally Posted by Elijando

You’ve got solid experience and a good degree, so there are definitely options outside of sales. Have you thought about looking into project management or operations? It could be worth exploring industries that line up more with your degree or what you're into. Networking can also really help—reach out to people in similar fields or recruiters to find opportunities you might’ve missed. Keep at it, and go for roles that you’re excited about!

AI chat bot spam. Happening in every forum I'm a member of.

[iminhell1]

But joining in march of 2022?
Just sat in wait for this exact time. LOL Hire that coder now!!

[floridaorange]

Get any job while you are looking for the job you want. That way you aren’t desperate.

[soldes]

Unless your family owns the business, the jump from a regular salesman to District manager is almost impossible to get, without a college degree and/or extensive experience. Even though is hard to work and study at the same time, additional schooling never hurts and will make your resume and qualifications more attractive to employers/interviewers.
Do it now that you have youth, and not so many bills and responsibilities, it will pay off in the long run.

[XutvJet]

Is 26, owns a 2019 540 and a 2006 Accord, and no job for nearly a year? Damn, you need to go get a 30+ hr/week job at grocery store, Chipotle, whatever and get some income while still searching for the big job. These jobs don't pay especially bad either. Even my 20 y/o son who's in college for engineering, knows he needs to have a part-time job to pay his part while he's in school and working nearly 40 hours/wk when he's on breaks. This kid has a fully funded 529 but we still require him to work to help pay his rent/expenses/car insurance/car payment. There are plenty of these jobs out there paying $15+/hr, especially in Chicago. At least it's something to get you buy and will help motivate you. Also, you're 26. You're gonna have to start at the bottom and work your way up for at least 10+ years.

[ezaircon4jc]

You can always check out gummint jobs.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by iminhell1

But joining in march of 2022?
Just sat in wait for this exact time. LOL Hire that coder now!!

I tagged that account in 2022, but it never came back to edit the handful of suspicious posts it made then to add an SEO link so I could report it.

I'm sure that this forum's user database has 10,000+ members that are just spam sleeper accounts waiting to be activated just like this one. It just made the mistake of drawing attention to itself in front of the wrong crowd this time.....

[ASAP]

I'll be the one to agree here and say (even outside of your situation), yes the job market does suck.

I know a TON of folks with white collar jobs / office jobs, IT, SW engineering etc that all got laid off and are having a tough time finding a job.

The gaslighting on the strong jobs report is based on 2 things - lower end service jobs, govt and healthcare positions and folks working multiple jobs for a low salary... nothing else is booming per say... then they sprinkle in nonsense about AI lol.

[gtr2M3]

Call me crazy but I believe that we’re at the beginning of a recession. Everything is sunshine & roses until projects on the books today are completed next year at which point many people won’t know what hit them

With that said, find something you don’t hate doing and stay in line until you find something you really like

[FrankMstein]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

As a baby-boomer forced into involuntary retirement that's more than twice your age who has paid his dues, let me offer a friendly comment to everyone in their mid-20's that society doesn't hand out management positions with private corner offices and company cars to every college graduate just because you have a degree. Even for me with almost 40 years of IT experience and managing million dollar internal projects, the only jobs out there now are all schlepping computers around or crawling through server room floors for might-as-well-be french fry money even compared with my former non-profit sector job's low IT pay. I played that game for decades to work my way up the ladder, and paid my dues and then some along the way.

Or, let me give a better example. My wife got a job using her bachelors degree in her 50's working as a literal turd-herder, for about the same pay that the burger-flippers make for producing the poop that comes into the sewage treatment plant. No corner office, no day shift, and definitely no ability to work from home. Even in that crappy job, it takes a few years of raking poo off of filters as a trainee to get a license, while the supervisor with the license updates their fakebook status in the warm and not-smelly office griping that they missed a spot with the rake.

So, to answer your question, the job market has always sucked. If you want to succeed, be ready to shovel poo even with a 4-year degree.....

Could not have said that better. As an AUTOMOTIVE Quality Engineer laid off in '07 AND '08 I got a job within 3 months again in each timeframe. Today may be different.

Not trying to hijack this thread but I have to bitch about the "new" IT quality jobs in the last 5-7 years that recruiters just read the title on our resume and call me and start talking IT jargon! GRRRR The endless emails too.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

I'm honestly having a hard time finding a new job. I've been looking for about a year and have had little luck landing one. I've had a few good opportunities, but the companies ended up going with someone who has more experience or just blatantly ghosting.

I'm 26 years old, and I've been in the sales industry for about 6 years now. I was a used car manager for about 1.5 years until Ford decided to take the Ford ticket from the owners, resulting in the dealership shutting its doors. Ever since that happened, I've had a hard time finding a new job that isn't selling cars or any kind of sales gig.

I don't even know where to look anymore or what kind of jobs to apply for. I got my bachelor's while working as a used car manager. I got a B.S. in technical management. I've had 2-3 interviews with General Motors for a district sales manager position, 1 with Honda for a district sales manager position, and 1 with J.D. Power for a software implementation manager role (I for sure thought I got the job since I had 3 interviews with different people. They ended up going with another guy with more experience).

I get sales job offers, but I want out of sales. Kind of feel like giving up looking for a new job. It's becoming stressful.

Humble yourself and get an interim “low level” job to help tide you over
while you’re looking for your “dream” job.

You should also consider joining the military. Free training, see the world…

[floridaorange]

Delinquent car payments are the highest right now since 2008. Americans have been using their savings more than ever - it’s all a response to inflation as is Trump whose going to hopefully help with the cost of household goods and energy and gas. When I was OP’s age around 2008 I learned the lesson, live way below your means and save your $. I’m good about the first rule, the second one I’m improving at all the time.

But ya now is not the time to hold out for the job you want - get the job you need while searching for the job you want.

[Leucosticte]

Originally Posted by ASAP

I'll be the one to agree here and say (even outside of your situation), yes the job market does suck.

I know a TON of folks with white collar jobs / office jobs, IT, SW engineering etc that all got laid off and are having a tough time finding a job.

The gaslighting on the strong jobs report is based on 2 things - lower end service jobs, govt and healthcare positions and folks working multiple jobs for a low salary... nothing else is booming per say... then they sprinkle in nonsense about AI lol.

From what I can tell, AI is a bubble that's similar to the dot com one, when that pops I think that it's going to be disastrous.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by ASAP

I'll be the one to agree here and say (even outside of your situation), yes the job market does suck.

I know a TON of folks with white collar jobs / office jobs, IT, SW engineering etc that all got laid off and are having a tough time finding a job.

The gaslighting on the strong jobs report is based on 2 things - lower end service jobs, govt and healthcare positions and folks working multiple jobs for a low salary... nothing else is booming per say... then they sprinkle in nonsense about AI lol.

The past couple of years have made it crystal clear for those that are seeing things clearly...you can't trust any government report being put out there. Especially anything tied to labor or the economy. These reports are so manipulated any semblance of truth no longer exists in them. Why am I saying this? Well, when you have constant revisions to these reports to make them more "accurate" and what gets added or removed, should tell you something. A classic example of this is when the strong jobs report was release a few months ago to be later revised down by 800,000 jobs. That's not a revision where you're trying to correct some inaccuracies. It's a downright fudging of numbers to have a gross revision like that.

[Watching The World Burn]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Delinquent car payments are the highest right now since 2008. Americans have been using their savings more than ever - it’s all a response to inflation as is Trump whose going to hopefully help with the cost of household goods and energy and gas. When I was OP’s age around 2008 I learned the lesson, live way below your means and save your $. I’m good about the first rule, the second one I’m improving at all the time.

But ya now is not the time to hold out for the job you want - get the job you need while searching for the job you want.

From everything I read, his main plan seems to be tariffs which will actually increase the cost of household goods? Is there something I missed which will actually lower the cost?

[peterfromsd]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

Always be building a network. That always comes in handy.

• Professional associations
• Country clubs
• Hobbiest groups
• Religious institutions
• Not my first recommendation, but bars worked for me back in the day

Hell, our son got a job from some guy he games with on the internet.

This. I've built my resume pretty much doing jobs that a lot of my network affiliates connected me with. No degree and just built up my experience from who I knew and the people they knew that could get me in the door.
Like what someone else stated, sometimes it's best to just get your foot in the door until you get an opportunity.