Update

[wallwalker]

I am about to graduate with my CS degree.

I've been hunting for a job, but so far I've had a fair number of interviews and no offers; they tell me I need more experience. This is, of course, for entry-level positions. I've been trying to volunteer at the local Free Geek to get experience, and working on my own side projects. I don't know how much of that I need to count as experience for their purposes.

That has to be my focus for now. So far we have survived on my boyfriend's income, but I'd like to be able to do something useful with this degree.

Comments

[raisedbymoogles]

ugh, the experience trap. good luck!

[wallwalker]

Thanks. Just gotta keep trying, even if it is demoralizing.

[samuraiter]

Good to hear from you here, and positive karma as your search continues.

[wallwalker]

Thanks. Staying positive is the hard part, I won't lie. The last two rejections hit especially hard. One because they flew me to another state for the interview and then still didn't hire me, and I really liked the company... another because it was for a home office in an industry that I know so well that I thought they'd definitely at least want a second interview.

[lassarina]

....experience for entry level what fresh hell is this

I'm so sorry.

[wallwalker]

It'll be okay. I just have to keep trying.

It's apparently quite common. I had the same thing told to me several times when applying for internships. And I've read the same thing from others - including a guy with a CS degree in Ireland who attempted to get internships to get his foot in the door, and was told the same thing about an unpaid internship.

It's enough to make me wonder if "Lack of experience" is just what they say when someone doesn't seem quite right for them, for whatever reason. People are so used to hearing it that they don't think twice about it.

[lassarina]

Oh, that's wretched. I'm so frustrated on your behalf.