How am I ever going to get a job?

Is there a second tier of work that you're able to do but feel that you're overqualified for? I know you feel you can't do a lot of the required programming for some jobs, but what about doing easy content management work, like adding stuff to an intranet via WYSIWYG tools. Sometimes you can spin one of those jobs into something more. Same thing with tech support. A lot of companies hire from within before posting for a job. As for networking, do you have any friends or professional contacts? Do they have any friends who work at places that might have the sort of job you want? What about that guy you met at the bar or who lives in your building that carries his laptop around? Seriously, many jobs are filled by friends-of-friends, not by people who walked in off the street.

Just read your post where you answered an OSX question. Go find who handles corporate OSX support (some will be internal.) You clearly know the minutae...the question of working with others is what they'll be worried about. The shy/rudness thing could really hurt you. Perhaps there's a service like http://www.geekstogo.com/ in the UK. If you're so-so with people, you might see if they have back room/internal support. Oh, work cheap to start with. Get that first job.

That's why they call it an internship. Start with one at an Apple store or your University. No longer than 6 months. Now you have some practical experience - be movtivated, make great impression and people willl recommend you. If you *need* pay now, there are lots of shitty jobs that will pay with little/no experience (wallmart, your local computer store might see you as a valuable commodity even if you don't know how to talk to customers yet..)

Call up your local non-profits (advocacy groups for the disabled [developmental/physical], SPCA, support programs for the homeless/street-kids, &c). Email, phone, walk into their offices, whatever. The pay won't be as good but you'll get a shot at acruing some experience and it may open up networking opportunities.

When I was younger I always worried about bugging the hiring person; 'didn't want to bother them'. Now that I have to hire people I feel that was wrong. Keep calling and emailing until you get a yes or firm no. I know this will be hard for you because you said you are shy but stick to it and defiantly try for jobs that are described as being above your qualifications, most of that stuff is bullshit. I respectfully disagree with the 'shit job' stuff as it tends to hurt your motivation. You might wake up one day going to work and realize you are on you're way to your 'shit job' and haven't done anything toward a career in decades. *looking around blinking at the fluorescent glare feeling old*

Volunteer opportunities that will help you build your portfolio as well as your networking base: http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/SiteIndex/AssetSearch/search?assetTypes=VolunteerOpportunity&country=United%20Kingdom&fetchLimit=30&languageDesignation=en&onlyFetchAssetProperties=1&sid=36115666-1-fNfWa&siteClassifierName=idealist&sortOrderings=modificationDate&startIndex=0&validStatusTypes=APPROVED&validStatusTypes=UNAPPROVED&validStatusTypes=DEFERRED, specifically positions like http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/SiteIndex/AssetViewer/view?asset=VolunteerOpportunity&asset-id=115065-98&sid=36115666-1-KAdPm, http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/SiteIndex/AssetViewer/view?asset=VolunteerOpportunity&asset-id=112059-161&sid=36115666-1-KAdPm, or http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/SiteIndex/AssetViewer/view?asset=VolunteerOpportunity&asset-id=101752-167&sid=36115666-1-vKEOF Try http://london.craigslist.org/eng/ Develop projects in your spare time for organizations on the web where you know your approach could improve things and put them in your portfolio as an example of how you approach projects.

Why not take some acceptable day job that keeps you away from customers and work on an open source project at night. (For instance, I ran copy machines during the day while learning how to program and whatnot...) That way, you can build up a reputation, dip your toes in the industry, and get some skillz in the process...

The shyness thing is going to be the thing that gets you if you let it. You get jobs by meeting the minimum requirements for the job (generally below what is listed in the advertisement, and often not much more than being intelligent and hard-working), and having the interviewer like you. If you can cope with the pain of rejection, then your best bet is to do as many interviews as you possibly can - eventually the interviewer will be someone with a similar personality and / or looking for "rough diamonds" (this honestly does happen!), sees your potential past the words on the CV and hires you. Whatever you do, don't be fatalistic about applying for jobs - apply for ANYTHING that sounds interesting. The worst that can happen is it costs you a stamp and a little time. If you don't meet the requirements, then spend a lot of effort on a well crafted cover letter, and if you can cope with it, try to telephone the person responsible ahead of sending your CV to explain your situation and tell them a little about yourself. You will find you get more interviews this way, as people (in the UK at least), tend to find it hard to blow out someone they've spoken to in person. Good luck!

http://rentacoder.com/RentACoder/default.asp is a good place to pick up some beer money and maybe pad your portfolio a little. There may be similar services in the UK, but I know people who have used Rent-a-coder, and it doesn't really matter where you are.