Feeling helpless?

I finished studying photography back in 2004. Since then i have been in and out of employment with jobs like lab assistant, cafe hand, photo lab operator , book binder, and have been fired from my most recent job at a photo album factory because i developed a bad case of rsi in my shoulder and the only jobs my boss had for me where repetitive.

I just cant do this anymore. im a hard worker, i apply for jobs all the time. Im not one of those who want to live on tax payers money. i despize it. But no employer will give me a chance , as soon as you make afew mistakes. *bang* your gone..

I have arthritis in my feet and the doctor has recommended i dont do anything repetititve. Im no good at customer service and hate it...what an i do?.

I feel for you. I am in the same problem. I am intelligent and a hard-worker (even though I don't have the education to prove it) when I am interested in what I am doing. I cannot force myself to work a job I'm either not good at or not interested in. I will do it poorly and I will get fired.

If you are in the United States, we are living in difficult times. Unemployment is going up, demand for education is rising but education prices are rising as well. Corporate/industrial jobs are high and creative jobs are difficult to find, moreover succeed in. You are not alone and you are most certainly not doing anything wrong.

Location can sometimes be a big problem. If you're in a city too small, you will find it difficult to find a job that interests you because many small cities rely upon factories to support bigger cities just to financially support their own community. Bigger cities have more jobs and more opportunities, and many times, more cultures with more variety.

If relocating isn't an option, have you thought about any sort of communications service? Telemarketing-like jobs often don't require education and train you. Some can pay pretty decently if you work for a well-known company.

If this isn't ideal (it certainly isn't for me) write down the kinds of jobs you want. Write down your skills and what you have to offer. Write down skills you think you need to get the job you want and how to work on them. Make a resume if you haven't already.

Right now, photography is the popular art field. Perhaps you can find a local photographer and ask her/him how she/he got started. Maybe you can build yourself a website to showcase your work and advertise it in the local paper or at a local art supply store under "photographer for hire". My mom hired a photographer for her wedding and paid over $1,000 for a set of photos that mostly contained closed eyes and unsmiling faces. They were terrible, but the photographer got a lot of money for them, regardless.

I've also seen it to be popular for photographers to publish a book of trips/photojournalisms. Publishing a book does not require any sort of education, just finding the right client and publisher. A library or even the internet should be able to help you figure out how to do something like that if you're interested.

It's hard.. I'm having problems just finding a job, myself, and right now, I'm not being picky when I really, really want to avoid tedious factory jobs. Just know you're not alone.

Well it is photography you studied so shouldnt you try to get a job in a photography lab? (even a shop that develops photos?)

I dont know why you would be working in a factory when you are trained as a photographer.

I think what you should do is just apply for every photographer job you see - whether its a beginners position or more established.

Join every job finding website and just go to as many interviews as possible - even if you go to a job interview every day until you find one.

The more interviews you go to the more chance you will get a job. Dont forget things like newspapers and magazines who need photographers.

You dont have to do a job that revolves repetitive action - you should avoid jobs like this because you know you cant do them.