27 year old white male.
Dropped out of High School after my junior year to go to college for a year before enlisting (if you're under 20 and trying to go to cool schools, at the time they offered age waivers for a year of college, this is not the case anymore AFAIK). Enlisted for four years, did okay, never saw combat, wasn't hurt in training.
Got out, went to college, BS in PoliSci (Judicial Politics and PolStats). Super useful. Worked at the VA to supplement my GI bill while at college. Graduated in August of 2020.
Since then I have:
Worked as waged (W2/1099-hourly) at two gyms, three marketing firms (two digital, one print), two food service establishments, two law firms (Landlord Tenant and Patent, both as a LA/Pl, I'm a notary), as an Amazon Delivery Driver, and a Retail Sales Associate at a footlocker.
I have also worked in less-formal (cash in hand, 1099-lump, non-1099 contract work, etc) venues such as: being an au pair, selling nude photos of myself on the internet, "hustling" in the running shoe market (scalping vaporflys is so deeply cathartic), and coaching (I'm USATF and USTFCCCA certted, and let's not pretend like it's a real job).
My last *real* job was in april of '21, I was downsized because the company was pivoting away from slots-based ads in favor of CPC/CPA style, and my platform was exclusively Cost per Slot. So,,,,I've applied to a little over 700 jobs in 9 states since then, with the ability to relocate. I have received 28 calls back, half of those became viable phone screens, of which 6 led to interviews. I thought the interviews went well, but I have yet to be selected.
I'm looking for any job that pays $17+/hour. That's my only standard for what I've been looking for. No interest in benefits, the nature of the work, or who I have to work with. I do not care about any of that: my standards are as low as they can reasonably go and I can't find anything. I'm willing to work and willing to move to work, I'm not really sure what's wrong with me. If I can't work, provide for my family, and be a meaningful member of society, should I really keep going? I'm not really sure what the point in trying is.