This may sound like it really really sucks short term and the short term is waay too long, but get one of those crappy "minimum rage" full time jobs like McD's or WallyWorld or the such and using that money to survive off of attend a trade school that has a short certificate program, like welding since you know that interests you... Yes a McD's job will suck horrifically but it is short term... And being a back of the house cook or a late night stock boy isn't as people direct as cashier or deli counter kinda thing. Once you got anything on your history other than that big black mark (i.e last job was McD's/ got a welding certificate), I hopefully think that will change things a lot - least it did for a buddy of mine. (He worked at Taco Bell, then Little Ceasars as his craptastic jobs while doing the trade school.)