¿QUÉ SIGNIFICA "CATCH 22"?

GETTING A JOB WHEN YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IS A "CATCH 22"

I have noticed that most of my students in Spain don't know this expression, even the high level ones. It was first coined (used) in a novel that is called "Catch 22". This expression is all about a paradoxical situation.

It is quite difficult to explain so it is best to describe through examples:

1) To get a job you need experience but how are you going to get experience if you can't get a job in the first place?

2) To get a loan (prestamo) from the bank you need to demonstrate that you don't really need the loan. How are you going to show that you don't need a loan when you don't have any money?

I hope that helps!

Daniel