Lack Of Work History... What Companies Will Accept Me?

So just to update this for the last time. My application to Swift Transportation was accepted and I have a start date. They were willing to overlook my lack of work history and accepted me with a simple explanation that I was caring for my Grandmother and that is why I don't have on the books employment for the last few years. Start Date is set for July 23'rd.

You definitely cannot go wrong with Swift. Excellent company. Good luck!

Congratulations sir. Must feel great moving forward. Yeah, I hear ya about living in California. I was born in Oakland and have lived in various areas. It's all too expensive.

Coachella Valley was affordable in '04. Rent was 450 a month for a one bedroom. By '12 I was paying over 750. I was an operations manager for a security company. Then another company came in and bought everyone out....as well as laying everyone off.

Headed over to AZ. Not bad,but like most places a lack of employment. I've been looking into trucking since '11 and knew at some point I would make my move out of the security industry.So it's not something I am just jumping right into just because.

Swift is my number one pick.

Best of luck. Will follow your diary if you do one

Wilbur C. Yeah California has some of the highest cost of living in the nation besides Hawaii. Not a fan of the politics here either. looking forward to moving. AZ is too hot for me unless I was up in the mountains maybe. Looking at somewhere much further North like Montana. I know, I know... It gets COLD in the winter. LOL I have friends who live there. I'm ready for it. Tired of the heat and dryness of inland California. I want some land that's not a desert.

Glad to hear you got accepted somewhere. And Swift is a great choice! I went with CRST because the team driving has some extra benefits that I liked. The downside of teaming is pretty minimal for me right now.

I was also in a similar boat to yours, I shut down a business I was running and spent a year taking care of my father-in-law during late stage cancer. I had nothing to show for that year as far as employment, and a few places didn't like it and a few (Wilson and Millis) recruiters just strung me along until I finally figured out they wanted me to go away, lol.

But... Big piece of advice here is for you to get letters from family members (as stated here earlier) that state what you were doing, etc., during that time. I was accepted without needing them, but about a week into school the records department came and asked me about that time. When I was able to just hand over notarized letters from family members and from hospice care (advice I got here on this site) they were VERY happy to copy those and put them in my file as verifiable history.

So, whether it seems like you need them or not, best advice is to get some notarized letters together, anyway. If you take them and dont need them, hey, awesome! But if they just might help later on... Always better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Congratulations on your school acceptance. Hope to see ya around here more!

Jeremy C. Thanks for that information, I'll see about getting a letter. My Grandma is still with us and pretty healthy for a 90 year old but she needs help with certain daily activities and household chores. She doesn't drive and I took care of that stuff for her. Another family member one of her daughters has stepped up to help out and free me up to go back into the workforce. I can get my Grandma to write a letter and we can get it notarized. I'll be starting a diary to document my journey. I'll definitely be around the forum more. I've gotten a lot of good information and motivation from the people here. I appreciate everyone's advice, input and motivational encouragement.

You definitely cannot go wrong with Swift. Excellent company. Good luck!

Danielsahn-

Thank you! That's good to hear. I've been looking into companies for a while and originally Swift was at the top of my list. Then I let others influence my opinion. There are entire groups and pages on Facebook dedicated to making fun of Swift and talkin trash about their drivers. After the feedback I've gotten here and a good recommendation from an acquaintance I trust who started his career with Swift and recommended them highly as a great place to start my career I feel like my opinion has changed again and I'm happy to be going there. I need to get my foot in the door and with my lack of work history their willingness to take me and work with me is what I need. I will be working very hard to be a good student and learn everything I can from my instructors and trainers. I'm going there with the mindset that my entire being will be dedicated to becoming a competent and safe driver so I can start earning and building good experience and work history. I'm excited to finally get started.

Swift hires a lot of people. They also fire a lot of people.

Take a look st this:

Internet of Lies and Misinformation

And then listen to this Podcast Getting Career Sdvice from the Wrong People

You definitely cannot go wrong with Swift. Excellent company. Good luck!

Danielsahn-

Thank you! That's good to hear. I've been looking into companies for a while and originally Swift was at the top of my list. Then I let others influence my opinion. There are entire groups and pages on Facebook dedicated to making fun of Swift and talkin trash about their drivers. After the feedback I've gotten here and a good recommendation from an acquaintance I trust who started his career with Swift and recommended them highly as a great place to start my career I feel like my opinion has changed again and I'm happy to be going there. I need to get my foot in the door and with my lack of work history their willingness to take me and work with me is what I need. I will be working very hard to be a good student and learn everything I can from my instructors and trainers. I'm going there with the mindset that my entire being will be dedicated to becoming a competent and safe driver so I can start earning and building good experience and work history. I'm excited to finally get started.

Swift does get made fun of, yes. However, I hear more people complain about other major carriers over the CB, than Swift. I have been the focus of some trash talk a few times, both when I was with Swift, and now, with Hummer, when it took me 13 pu ups, and a few goals, to back into a parking spot. Once I set the brakes, I hopped on the CB, and made light of the situation. I laugh at myself, more than anyone else does.

But keep this in mind. Focus on what you have to do. Don't worry about the noise going on around you, because that is just what it is, noise. At the end of the day, if you get from point A, to point B, and backing into the dock, or parking spot without hitting anything, then you have succeeded.

Right now just focus on what you need to do, to get your CDL. We are all here to answer questions, and offer support. There are a lot of current, and former Swift drivers here.

Clay! I root for you and I will definitely follow your journey.

I hope some day I can start my own adventure too.

Hey Clay! How is it going? Have you started your training?