Help! Serious Career Advice Needed! Not Sure What To Do With My Time Or Skills... Thank You In Advance!?

I am a white, middle-class, mid-twenties, "average" guy, slightly behind the rest in terms of education, but with plenty of my own unique abilities. I am athletic, happy and generally healthy. My problem is a JOB! Yeah, the j.o.b. I can't seem to figure out this simple problem. And here is why: I have no college degree; I am 1 year short of obtaining it. It is a tricky situation. I attended 2 years at one university for filmmaking and then 1 more year at another university for business. I am still 1 year shy of an undergraduate degree. But for the last 3 years I have struggled to find my niche, without the degree and without any connections. I have lived in L.A. for almost a year now... I don't know what to do. I have tried craigslist and monster, both failed. I have tried networking but most seem to be struggling too. I have filmmaking and writing skills, on a professional level, as well as MANY others. What should I do? I live in L.A. for crying out loud! I WANT TO WORK! Help

I was born and raised in L.A., and let me tell you, with no malice intended, that you can't spit in that city without hitting a wannabe writer, director, actor, or film-maker. So, yes, you've got to have connections. You've also got to have something special. Maybe you do, maybe you don't. Figure that out by making films. You've got to do work to get work. And you've got to be willing to work up from the bottom, as others have mentioned, already. I would also recommend getting that degree, even if it's in business and not film-making. Maybe you'll learn something about how to promote yourself, how to write a resume, etc.

One thing that stands out, to me, is you mention right off that your are athletic and healthy. Maybe you're going after the wrong career path? Maybe you should pursue being a personal trainer or nutritionist or something like that... those work in Hollywood, too! Good luck.

go to the local community college and speak with a counselor. keep an open mind.

write and make your own movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And if you do I want to star in it please!

Listen, im not really sure what you can do at all! I think you just better call somebody... um.. well put it this way buddy..... sorry but you're screwed no offence but it's true sorry!!

Since you don't actually have a degree, those skills won't do you much good as there's no way to verify you have them. You'll have to rely on your previous experience to find a job.

Why dont you start by making simple films and show it to someone or u start ur own website to get u know abit on the web the when u r making money from that make movie nights and things like that get ur self well knowen and then someone will find u.

Whoa! Slow down..sometimes it's not WHAT you know, but rather WHO you know. Get out there and meet new people and tell them about yourself and what your passions are. Sooner or later someone will come along who knows "somebody" who has a J.O.B. FOR YOU!! Keep your eyes and your mind open and it should come to you. I promise.

Go to Hollywood and get a job as a truck driver or something. Hang around the studios at night and try to get in as a stage hand, make up artist, etc. Make connections and work yourself up. Thats what a friend of mine did and he became a producer.

Whats missing here? ....
You haven't said what you WANT to do. Determine that first, then set out to do it. There are lots of jobs out there, you need to pick a field and go for it. If you have to mop floors in the studio to get exposure to the world you want to work in, do it. If you have to start in the mail room of a company you want to work for, do it. You're not going to jump right into the position you want, unless you are lucky enough to win the lottery. Good luck, and keep the faith.