How do you gain job experience when ALL JOBS require work experience?

I graduated college with a Liberal Arts degree and I am looking for a job doing anything. I am open to a career in any type of field so I can gain experience. I am not picky when it comes to salary (my desired salary range is $14k to 20k annually) and I just want to find a job. I have tried both staffing firms, recruiters, temp agencies but when I send my resumes and call in, no one will even consider me for the testing interview. Oh and I have applied to hourly and seasonal positions with no luck (I always get the "It would not be in our best interest to hire you" phrases and emails. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do or should not do? I am running out of time and since I have no valuable experience according to the agencies and placement firms (I have only worked fast food and a temporary job) they don't want to waste time with the preliminary interviewing and testing. I have even had my resume looked over 3 times and was told it was fine.

I forgot to mention I am broke and I do not have any financial resources to relocate and I do not have any money in savings. So volunteering and paying to volunteer (in my case.... taking the bus) would put a big dent in the funds I already have.

There are a couple of specific things you can do....take a quick course in a couple of Microsoft apps at your local unemployment center, so that you can list these skills on your resume. Usually, those centers have courses, or you can find cheaper vocational courses where the skill taught is "customer service". Take those service skills seriously. They are the start to bigger and better jobs.

Check with your college on jobs and companies they partner with. Go to all job fairs. Arrive with printed resumes, professionally dressed, and with an optimistic attitude.

Lastly, by the time I had graduated from college, I had worked as a leader/trainer in Junior Achievment and as a trusted volunteer (with an entry level volunteer job and two promotions) with a hospital. Community service will keep you busy while you search, and add to your skills and resume. It might be the start of a lifelong habit of giving back.

All banks are constantly in need of tellers. If you are willing to work part-time during peak hours or on a Saturday, you are even more employable. Teller positions, though not paying that well, are an excellent entry into professional work. The jobs also provide a lot of training.

Good luck!

There are many companies who prefer to hire freshers only. Monster, Yahoo Hotjobs, Careerbuilder are some of the largest job boards, where you can apply for jobs and upload your resume. Since Craigslist, allows free job postings, many smaller companies post their vacancies on this online classifieds website. You can also search for jobs from multiple websites using aggregators like SimplyHired and Indeed. Referrals also are becoming a increasingly popular way to get hired. More details and website links available at
http://www.pcworkathome.net/jobwebsites....

1.Take some specialised course at some community college that offers co-op. This means you will get to work at some company as part of your coursework- you can list that as work experience.
2. Volunteer. Offer your services free of charge provided the company will give you a work experience certificate after a few months.
3. Maybe you are having just plain bad luck. keep trying.

While you are looking you could get valuable "work experience" by being a volunteer at your favorite local charity. You won't get paid, of course, but charity work always looks good on a resume, and if you do well there, you might even get offered your first paying position with that organization.

Bear in mind, too, that you are far more likely to find out about job openings through acquaintances, friends and family than you are through agencies & recruiters. That's why "networking" is so important. Most "good" jobs never get advertised...

Good luck, and don't forget, January is peak hiring time for most businesses...

Happy New Year!

Think about what you said in your question. If ALL JOBS really required experience, nobody would be working, would they?

A liberal arts degree doesn't open a lot of job opportunities unless you specialized in some area where there are lots of jobs. And besides that, with so many layoffs over the last few years, competition is tough since lots of people are out looking for jobs.

Keep looking, you'll find something. Good luck.