Feel like a loser..

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I am having quite a rough time at the moment. I'm 17 years old, currently enrolled in my last year of high school. I have been trying to search for a job for MONTHS and I have been applying at places like Subway, Little Caesars, McDonalds etc, y'know the entry level jobs, and not getting hired. McDonalds turned me down cause they found someone with more experience (I believe I caught them when they were just about to stop hiring, and that was my 3rd time applying there). and Subway and the others have not called back. I have applied at other locations too, including other such fast food restaurants and retail chains such as London Drugs (only here in Canada) for example. No one is hiring around my area basically, and it's ticking me off. I can't find work, which brings me to my next problem. My mom, who is now divorced from my father, will not let me drive. She will not let me get my Learners, because she will not let me drive her car. She does not want to pay for my driving lessons, and does not want to pay for my insurance. Thus I must get a job and save up for all of this myself, which is I what I am trying to do. But thanks to the recession, it's tough. I do have volunteer experience, hundreds of hours of it. And I do have reference letters, which I attach. I am finding it tough to concentrate on my school work when I have these problems on my mind, my grades right now are decent and my past grades are quite good.

My last and final problem lies in social activity. I don't get out much, mainly because my mom is extremely overprotective. I have snuck out when she is at work and hung out with friends, and I am willing to do it again and again (and I probably will). I am going to be 18 in a few months, and she says she will still keep this amount of control over me because I am living under her roof. Which brings me back to getting a job, so I can save up to move out.

Sorry for the big block of text

Like you said, it's probably more the recession than you.
When the unemployment rate is high, employers are going to want to hire adults in the hopes that they'll be more stable employees because they need the job more. Someone with rent to pay and kids to feed will be more desperate for that job than a kid who wants to be able to drive. Also, being in your last year of high school, aren't you likely to go away to college next year? That means that you'd be working for them for less than a year.. it makes it harder to justify the expenses of hiring and training a new employee when it's likely you won't be working for them for all that long. You're not a loser for the fact that employers want to hire somebody who needs the job in order to keep their home, you're another victim of the recession.

I don't mean to make it sound like it's not important to you, because I know it is.. I'm just saying what I think employers' reasoning probably is, in the hopes that it'll help you not take the trouble find a job so personally.

I don't know what part of the country you are in (though with the reference to London Drugs, I am assuming BC / Alberta).

If you are in the Lower Mainland, I recommend talking to the temp agencies. There is going to be tons of temporary work around the Olympics and Paralympics which should be great for building the resume up a bit.

Also, remember that as we climb out of the recession (and inevitably we will) then there will be new jobs available in the market.

We are having a recession to. I understand feeling like a looser because you can't get work. I feel like one to. These aren't situations in any job hunter's control, really. Oh, by the way, log down your volunteer experiances, and your highschool's name and address. Keep your edgucation updated to, as things change and people normally forget what they/we learned, because they/we don't practice it enough. They might be usefull in the future. Keep a good perminate record of stuff.

I didn't do that, but was supposed to. curses.. Hope you feel better soon.

Which state do you live in and what are your interests? It may be possible to come up with something that can make you some money knowing these, or at least in a few months maybe.

Canadian Armed Forces

These guys are always hiring, and once you turn 18, enlist, and at the same time, they will help you get your license, get you an education, and give you housing away from your demented controlling mom while paying you at the same time.Just don't mention your AS to the recruiter or those doing the medical.

OR, if you want to get out now, see your dad about signing consent papers instead of your mom since they are divorced, and you can join at 17.