Do you know anyone who can write you a letter of recommendation? The parent of a kid you used to babysit, someone whose lawn you used to mow, or a favorite teacher? A "To whom it may concern" letter talking up your punctuality, dedication, trustworthiness - any of that - can help to get your application to the top of the pile.

If you've applied for a job that you really wanted, and then you didn't get a call, do you have the cojones to walk into the place and ask to speak to the manager? In a totally friendly way, ask her if she can give you any feedback on your application, or any pointers that can help you get a job in the field. People love to be helpful.

How about volunteering? If you don't, you should. You'll need to get going on this quickly so that you can add it to your resume/applications. What sorts of places need young, unskilled volunteers? I don't know - maybe look in summer-focused nonprofits, like youth programs or outdoor theater like Shakespeare in the park? Hopefully other Qlanders have some suggestions.

Good luck, and don't get discouraged! You only have to get your first job once!

Start off doing temping to put something, anything on a resume? Make sure you learn some office skills and basic software/PC competencies.

"I proclaim I will do whatever, take any shift, do basically anything that doesnt involve standing on the street corner or the removal of my underpants"

There's no need to lessen yourself. There are plenty of people with the same ideas that they should debase themselves and go as low as possible work-wise. You shouldn't even have to do retail, all willing.

Make sure your older, more successful friends look over your resume, and whenever you update it to add things.

It's not about how you look, it's about who you are.

Try focusing less on surface things and focus more on the ways that you are the best person for the job you're applying for. If you can convince them you are a good fit, will do the work competently, are low-drama, and will show up consistently, you'll get hired regardless of piercings or whatever. They will simply ask you to take them out when at work if things like that are a problem.

And nobody in the real world really cares about anything related to high school so don't sweat it. I dropped out at 16 and it hasn't hurt me much.

Every employer knows they are taking a chance hiring an 18 year old -- references or not. Don't be so self conscious about being inexperienced, it probably detracts from your ability to impress them in other ways, like with your brain and attitude.

It sounds like you are doing most things right; don't sell yourself short! People who don't suck at their job or life in general are usually in high demand at any company.

The thing that was the key to me getting my very first job at age 17 was the fact that I was enrolled in a community college and that looked great to them as far as me being ambitious and willing to do the work. I had actually just enrolled in classes and hadn't even completed the quarter yet so the sooner you could get your G.E.D. and get enrolled into something that really interests you, the better chance you will have. Otherwise you will just have to keep on trying until something comes along that is the right fit for you and the employer. Good Luck.

If you can take the piercings out for the interview do so (most interviewers are older and less tolerant), ask friends and relatives to help you out, get letters of reference (from same relatives pref with different last names if you have absolutely no one else to write them), don't tell them you are going back to school in Sept since they won't necc. want to hire you, train you, then lose you in the fall, don't even say you are going to work part time in the fall, feel free to claim you graduated from HS, no one will check that. Best way to find jobs is through other people, word of mouth - let everyone know you are looking, this works. Dishwasher, hotel room cleaner, night shifts at fast food restaurants (or almost anywhere that doesn't pay more for night shift), usu. takes months to find a job so don't worry that it's you. Restaurants often hire just with a face to face talk, this can be helpful. Places that hire like that with no formal application process - at least you'll know right away. Try not to be looking for jobs that will compete with below minimum wage under the table illegal immigrants, you can't compete. And sign up with every temp agency in the land.