# Noncompetitive Entry-Level Jobs in Boston **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831 "2012-05-23T14:04:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bpelta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/1 "2012-05-23T14:04:22Z")
I’m a graduate of Touro College. I’m 25 years old and a really big guy. I have written for peer-reviewed journals, including a double book review for _Harvard Ukrainian Studies_. I know a lot about the history of Orthodox Judaism. I volunteer once a week at the local public Internet center as a Front Desk Assistant. I have experience working with online research, and writing. As a teenager, I worked with kids with developmental disabilities, including my brother who has PDD-NOS. I’ve been looking for work for about a year to no avail. I have another post asking about the possibility of finding a [job working with kids with developmental disabilities.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=652760) This post, on the other hand, is about general jobs – any jobs – which I’d have a really good shot at getting here in Boston. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/2 "2012-05-23T14:18:42Z")
> [@Bpelta](#): > > I’m a graduate of Touro College. I’m 25 years old and a really big guy. I have written for peer-reviewed journals, including a double book review for _Harvard Ukrainian Studies_. I know a lot about the history of Orthodox Judaism. I volunteer once a week at the local public Internet center as a Front Desk Assistant. I have experience working with online research, and writing. As a teenager, I worked with kids with developmental disabilities, including my brother who has PDD-NOS. > > I’ve been looking for work for about a year to no avail. I have another post asking about the possibility of finding a [job working with kids with developmental disabilities.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=652760) This post, on the other hand, is about general jobs – any jobs – which I’d have a really good shot at getting here in Boston. “Noncompetitive?” As in, they just give it to you on the spot? Manual labor, maybe. Or McDonald’s. Anything above that, it’s going to be competitive. Of the things you’ve listed, your experience with disabled kids is, ISTM, the most marketable as a job skill. Unfortunately, to get anything better than Teacher’s-Aide type stuff, you’ll likely have to be certified. IME, research/writing skills are valuable if they complement other useful skills, but they are not much valued by themselves. It might be helpful to explain what your degree is in and what kind of jobs you’re applying for. ---
**Author:** ![Bpelta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/3 "2012-05-23T14:36:08Z")
> [@furt](#): > > “Noncompetitive?” As in, they just give it to you on the spot? Manual labor, maybe. Or McDonald’s. Anything above that, it’s going to be competitive. > Of the things you’ve listed, your experience with disabled kids is, ISTM, the most marketable as a job skill. Unfortunately, to get anything better than Teacher’s-Aide type stuff, you’ll likely have to be certified. IME, research/writing skills are valuable if they complement other useful skills, but they are not much valued by themselves. > > It might be helpful to explain what your degree is in and what kind of jobs you’re applying for. My degree is in Jewish Studies. Manual labor is fine, if you know of something, I’d be much obliged. I’ve applied for Wendy’s, but didn’t get anything. Ironically, when applying, I actually forgot to apply for Mcdonald’s, so thanks for that, filling out that application now. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/4 "2012-05-23T14:36:18Z")
I had never heard of Touro College, so I looked up its Wikipedia entry: > **[Touro University System](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touro_College)** > > Touro University is a private Jewish university system headquartered in New York City, with branches throughout the United States as well as one each in Germany, Israel and Russia. It was founded by Bernard Lander in 1971 and named for Isaac and Judah Touro. Its main campus in New York City is the largest private Jewish university in the US. Touro initially focused on higher education for the Jewish community, but it now serves a diverse population of over 19,000 students across 35 schoo Touro re... It appears that it’s accredited, so that answers my first question. It sounds like the sort of place with alumni who might be able to help each other. Can you contact some sort of alumni network and ask about help in getting a job? Incidentally, what does the fact that you’re a really big guy have to do with anything, unless you’re looking to play in the NBA? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/5 "2012-05-23T14:45:41Z")
Dumb question, but what are the typical career paths for graduates of Jewish studies programs? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/6 "2012-05-23T14:47:01Z")
Rabbi Teacher Drive-Thru Window That’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Bpelta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/7 "2012-05-23T14:49:16Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > I had never heard of Touro College, so I looked up its Wikipedia entry: > > [Touro University System - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touro_College) > > It appears that it’s accredited, so that answers my first question. It sounds like the sort of place with alumni who might be able to help each other. Can you contact some sort of alumni network and ask about help in getting a job? Incidentally, what does the fact that you’re a really big guy have to do with anything, unless you’re looking to play in the NBA? My dad keeps telling me how people discriminate against big folks, that’s all. I was at Touro’s very small Miami branch, which makes me less connected than others. To my knowledge, we don’t really have an alumni network. I have been in touch with some alumni and talked to them about possible opportunities, but to little avail. One fellow had some connections, but they were all in San Francisco or LA, and would require me to fly out there for an interview, which my bank account will not permit. ---
**Author:** ![Bpelta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/8 "2012-05-23T14:51:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Dumb question, but what are the typical career paths for graduates of Jewish studies programs? Grad school in something else and then using grad school to reach another career goal, perhaps becoming a professor of Jewish Studies. Long story short, I need a job, grad school’s not an option now. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/9 "2012-05-23T14:56:43Z")
Do you mean big as in fat, tall, muscular, or some combination of the three? If you mean tall, the [opposite is true](http://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/re/articles/?id=362). ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/10 "2012-05-23T15:00:21Z")
No, the evidence is clear that people are slightly more likely to hire taller people. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/11 "2012-05-23T15:11:30Z")
Since he said ‘big’ and not ‘tall’ I made the assumption that he is overweight. That shouldn’t be a barrier to working but it isn’t an advantage in personal interviews even if the employer is trying to be non-discriminatory. Boston’s a tough market. Thousands of college graduates flooding the market every year, many with diplomas and connections more impressive than yours. I think finding something working with disabled kids might be a good place to start. Have you checked the Massachusetts state website for social service-related jobs? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/12 "2012-05-23T15:17:00Z")
> [@](#): > > No, the evidence is clear that people are slightly more likely to hire taller people. Huh? That’s what I said. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/13 "2012-05-23T15:23:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Rabbi > Teacher > Drive-Thru Window > > That’s about it. Messiah ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/14 "2012-05-23T15:27:18Z")
I don’t know if they do it in Massachusetts specifically, but I was taught that it is pretty easy to get into license plate manufacture. The problem is you can’t quit when you want and regardless you end up with a criminal record. ---
**Author:** ![Bpelta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/15 "2012-05-23T15:28:48Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Since he said ‘big’ and not ‘tall’ I made the assumption that he is overweight. That shouldn’t be a barrier to working but it isn’t an advantage in personal interviews even if the employer is trying to be non-discriminatory. Yeah. > [@](#): > > Have you checked the Massachusetts state website for social service-related jobs? I find the government site very confusing, personally. I’m guessing that would be somewhere under Health and Human Services, but I don’t see it…maybe I’m just missing something here… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/16 "2012-05-23T15:55:32Z")
> [@Bpelta](#): > > Yeah. > I find the government site very confusing, personally. I’m guessing that would be somewhere under Health and Human Services, but I don’t see it…maybe I’m just missing something here… There might also be Mental Health, Rehabilitation Services, Children’s Services and a bunch of others. Not to mention every public and private school in the state. Does Massachusettes have local “unemployment offices” where job seekers can get counseling? Even if they don’t have any job leads, they can teach you how to navigate the state’s web site. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/17 "2012-05-23T15:56:08Z")
> [@](#): > > I find the government site very confusing, personally. I’m guessing that would be somewhere under Health and Human Services, but I don’t see it…maybe I’m just missing something here… State agencies typically hire on a centralized basis. [Try here.](https://jobs.hrd.state.ma.us/recruit/public/3111/job/job_search_results.do?search.public=Jobs) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/18 "2012-05-23T16:27:02Z")
Check [USAJobs.gov](http://USAJobs.gov) for federal job openings in the Boston area. The VA seems to have several that you might qualify for, and [here](http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/315803500) and [here](http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/315215400) are a couple of entry-sounding positions at other agencies. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/19 "2012-05-23T17:38:46Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Dumb question, but what are the typical career paths for graduates of Jewish studies programs? Well, I know only one person who has a degree in Jewish Studies, but she did not have a typical career path: She became an office manager for a high-tech startup, then after a few years experience there became an office manager for a pharamaceutical company. She started learning more and more about the details of the regulatory processes and got a job at another pharma company as an assistant in their regulatory division (they deal with the mountains of paperwork about drug trials that get sent to the FDA). She’s stayed in pharma regulatory ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831/20 "2012-05-23T17:42:12Z")
Could you get your weight under control and enlist? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noncompetitive-entry-level-jobs-in-boston/622831.md?page=2)